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Kevin · Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 144 Location: Mesresyside

Great news that Jim now has 'Jackpot' on the way with a release date and track listing announced. Thank you for your efforts Jim!
I was looking at the Track listing and was excited to see a JTL version of Si's song 'See How They Run'. I'm probably wrong but there does not seem to be a Lindisfarne version of that, or of 'Stick Together' available on CD. I also see that the live stuff is from the Plymouth concert and so will feature Jacka.
I guess there must be a lot of folk who have not heard Jackpot as it is quite difficult to get hold of on Vinyl. It is a very different JTL sound to their previous albums and I think it is a corker. It contains my second all time favourite JTL song - Billy's 'Take Some Time'. I just love this song and when I told Billy that many years ago he seemed a bit bemused, as though he was shocked that someone would think so much of one of his songs. It really is a good number. Oh, before anyone asks, my favourite JTL recording was Dave Price's 'Big Ocean Liner'. It is brilliant, great fun and I love the way that Ray slaps the drums around.
Jackpot - a real treat on the way for those who have not heard it.

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Kevin

"Well I may not be funny but I got your money,
aint that a laugh?"

Barry-USA · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 4:57 pm Post subject:

Kevin:

I too really like Jackpot. Amsterdam & Trinidad are my favourite cuts. Can't wait for the re-release

Jim Henderson · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 4:59 pm Post subject:

Thanks Kevin, hope you like the package.

You're right about 'Stick Together' and 'See How They Run' not being on CD, although 'Stick Together' is on the Japanese CD of "Back And Fourth" as a bonus track. If I'm ever involved in any reissues of this era then I will try to rectify this. 'When It Gets The Hardest' was only ever on a Music Club compilation CD which is long-deleted so that's another track that deserves a CD outing.

I love 'Jackpot' - my favourite JTL album (along with "It's...") so it was a real pleasure to work on this reissue and the band members, including Jacka, helped out a lot with the booklet. The Plymouth tracks are great - the Jacka-Mitch vocal combination on 'Hungry For Love' is outstanding.

Kevin · Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 144 Location: Mesresyside

Cheers Jim - really looking forward to it. I have the Plymouth bootleg which is not bad quality wise. I amazed Jacka once by playing 'Hungry for Love' to him and he could not think when or where it had come from. Yes, I suppose that Jacka and Mitch do sound good singing together. I can't wait to hear the polished version of the Plymouth Bootleg songs.
'When it Gets the Hardest' is a good number. I bought that poxy Music Club CD just to get that track. I would love to hear more of the Jackson/Harcourt repetoire and some Harcourts Heroes. I really did like the songs they had on Jacka's album and it was a shame that we did not hear more from them but the record company wanted to hear 'hits' and insisted on some other, more 'commercial' songs being recorded. That said, 'Everything will turn out fine' is a stomper and Jacka looked cool on the promo of 'Little Town Flirt'.
Another forgotten gem is 'Brand New Day'. What an amazing single. The usual sparks vocally between Jacka and Alan - they really did sound fantastic and it was always a good live number too. Should have been a hit.
_________________
Kevin

"Well I may not be funny but I got your money,
aint that a laugh?"

Michael · Joined: 25 Apr 2008 Posts: 274 Location: The Geordie Delta

Nice work, Jim!
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The Caffreys - The Negative Feedback Band

Barry-USA · Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 7:02 am Post subject:

My copy arrived today. Many thanks Jim. The demo version of Amsterdam is like another song entirely. The Plymouth tracks are great with Jacka.
Many thanks Jim

Jim Henderson · Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 7:25 pm Post subject:

Kevin · Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 144 Location: Mesresyside

After much Shilly-shallying on my part I finally got my act together, ordered and received my CD of Jackpot.
It is a well put together product and the demo tracks are very interesting listening.
I found the sleeve notes extremely illuminating but what impressed me most was something I had not realised before - just how talented a musician Walter Fairburn is and how much he contributed to the Jackpot sound. There are some gorgeous bass parts from Phil Murray too.
It is a great shame that by 1976 JTL were flogging a dead horse. The music scene changed so much that year and anything like JTL were doing was regarded as 'old hat' and scoffed at. I still think from being able to hear this enhanced product that this was their finest studio creation and deserved a better reception than it got. 'Take some time' still my favourite Billy song until 'Born at the Right Time' but listening to this CD has thrown a whole new light on 'Trinidad' for me.
The focus on here should be JTL and not Jacka who merely added his bits as a session player and to help them out on their live commitments at the time. But, as a dyed in the wool and unashamed Jacka fan, I enjoyed his contributions to the album - great harmonica on both 'Eight Ton Crazy' and 'Trinidad' and he sounds on top form on the live tracks. Much better than the bootleg indicated. However, although he sounds good singing with Billy I would not say the effect was that special - certainly not the brilliant sound Jacka and Hully could create when singing together. Also, I was disappointed that 'Captain Pugwash' was not one of the live tracks used as I loved it as a kid and think the harmonica work Jacka did on the tune on the Plymouth Bootleg was exceptionally good.
_________________
Kevin

"Well I may not be funny but I got your money,
aint that a laugh?"

Michael · Joined: 25 Apr 2008 Posts: 274 Location: The Geordie Delta

One thing that became apparent after a recent chat with Murray, Mitchell and Laidlaw is that they're amazed Walter could remember so much about the Jackpot sessions... they can barely remember them!

In fact, there was a long debate about where the demos were recorded, and they're still none-the-wiser...

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The Caffreys - The Negative Feedback Band