After his stint with Cream, Jack Bruce was ready for a fuller expression of his talents as a bassist, singer, and composer. His 1969 solo debut, Songs for a Tailor, blended jazz, blues, and rock elements within accessible song structures in tandem with Pete Brown’s whimsical and slightly surreal lyrics. From the brooding complexity of “Theme for an Imaginary Western” to the brassy groove of “The Ministry of Bag” and the growling riffage of “The Clearout,” Bruce sounds inspired and unfettered here. Chris Spedding, Jon Hiseman, and George Harrison are among the British rock luminaries who help make Songs for a Tailor such an intriguing and often galvanizing set.