West, Bruce & Laing was composed of an American guitarist/vocalist, Leslie West, and a Canadian drummer, Corky Laing, from early 1970s hard rock band Mountain and British bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce from legendary 1960s psychedelic blues rock act Cream.

The power trio issued two studio and one live album between 1972 and 1974. Cherry Red Records has compiled the three releases in a new three disc box set issued on its Esoteric Recordings imprint.

Disc one contains the group’s 1972 debut album ‘Why Dontcha’ which originally appeared on the CBS label. The long player consists of ten tracks, nine band originals and a take on an Eddie Boyd blues standard. The tunes are a fine mix of heavy guitar driven rock and mellower, melodic material. ‘Why Dontcha’ was the band’s best seller, peaking at #26 on the Billboard charts. The album’s opening title track is a three minute showcase for West’s lead guitar work as well as his trademark, belted, nearly screamed, vocals. The box set title track is a change of pace, with Bruce contributing vocals, piano, harmonium and organ on the mid-tempo rocker. “The Doctor” follows, with West’s menacing slide guitar to the fore. The bluesy “Turn Me Over” features vocals by Laing and slide guitar from West, with Bruce contributing mouth harp and acoustic guitar. The album’s sole cover has a Cream feel thanks to Bruce’s piano and vocals, with West displaying a gentle touch for a giant of a man. The mid-tempo “Shake Ma Thing (Rollin’ Jack)” features co-lead vocals from Bruce and West, the former’s piano complementing the latter’s guitar performance. “While You Sleep” displays the group’s versatility with West adding dobro and violin guitar to his lead vocals, while Bruce adds piano, acoustic bass and choir vocals, and Laing adding rhythm guitar. “Pleasure” blends West’s hot guitar with Bruce’s gorgeous vocals and piano, and Laing keeping perfect time. Blues rocker “Love Is Worth The Blues” has West belting out vocals, his violin guitar adding nuance to his inspired lead guitar line. The album closes with “Pollution Woman” composed by the band with the help of Pete Brown, Bruce’s writing partner on many classic Cream tracks. The mid-tempo rocker blends Bruce’s vocals and ARP synthesizer contributions with Laing’s acoustic guitar supplementing West’s lead electric guitar, a perfect closer to a fine long player.

The 1973 follow-up ‘Whatever Turns You On’ originally issued on the RSO label did not sell as well, but peaked at a respectable #87 on the Billboard charts. The long player consists of band penned originals, with Bruce writing or co-writing all nine, while West and Laing contributed to seven. “Backfire” is a straight ahead rocker led by West’s vocals and slide guitar. “Token” has a feedback laden intro before settling into a relaxed melody led by West’s guitar. “Sifting Sand” shifts gears with Bruce’s piano and synthesizer prominent. The Bruce/Brown composed “November Song” is another melodic tune, with gorgeous vocals, piano and synthesizer by Bruce. The band shifts into power trio mode on “Rock ‘n’ Roll Machine” with West’s lead line soaring over the top. “Scotch Krotch” written by the trio with Brown features a piano intro and vocals by Bruce, West’s guitar revving up as the tune progresses. “Slow Blues” is a piano and guitar led slow blues burner as the title implies, with Bruce’s vocals and West’s slide guitar especially notable. “Dirty Shoes” is an up-tempo number with West’s vocals and slide guitar joined by Bruce’s piano, the former delivering a shining solo. The album closes with the Bruce/Brown penned “Like A Plate” with Bruce vocals joining the steady groove of Bruce and Laing, West supplying restrained slide guitar.

Disc three features the band’s final release, 1974’s ‘Live ‘n’ Kickin’’ composed of four long tracks, two covers, one band original and a Jack Bruce solo composition. The album opens with a thirteen minute cover of The Rolling Stones’ “Play With Fire” featuring beautiful Bruce vocals, fiery guitar from West, tasteful tempo changes, and a drum solo by Laing, the tune ending with the trio firing on all cylinders. A nearly eight minute take on “The Doctor” is led by West’s menacing guitar and red hot slide work, the take closing with West and Bruce trading licks as they quote The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me.” The band’s cover of Cream’s “Politician” contains gorgeous Bruce vocals and tasty guitar work from West. The album closes with a ten and a half minute take on “Powerhouse Sod” a Bruce composition which was a standard in his live repertoire but had never been recorded. Bruce sings over the heavy groove of he and Laing before delivering an extended bass solo showcasing his instrumental prowess. The tune has a false stop at the seven minute mark before West and Laing join to drive the tune home, ending in a crescendo of feedback.

‘Out In The Fields’ comes in a clamshell box, each of its three discs coming in their own replica mini-LP sleeves. The set includes a lavishly illustrated sixteen page booklet with complete track listing, album artwork and an extensive essay by compiler Mark Powell. West, Bruce & Laing sound better than ever thanks to the 24 bit mastering job of Ben Wiseman. This box set will appeal to fans of hard rock, power trio rock and classic rock in general.

Kevin Rathert

West, Bruce & Laing “Out In The Fields: The Albums 1972-1974’ (Esoteric, 2025)