They Had Dylan Covered: Jake and the Family Jewels
When I come across this record album in the used vinyl rack at a favorite NYC record store, it reminds me of the first time I saw Jake and the Family Jewels perform. It was Toad's Place in New Haven, 1978 or 1979. This is the sign my classmate Charlie Hunter made for their dressing room. Charlie had a way with lettering and made all the painted window posters for Toads from about 1977-1981. Sometimes, I would go with him to see a show or he would tell me to see a certain band that - despite or maybe because of reading Rolling Stone religiously in those days - I had never heard of and would have missed. I saw Elliott Murphy this way, Root Boy Slim, NRBQ, and many others. Charlie also made beautiful illustrations for the magazine I edited back then.
There were two albums, I think, and that was it. I don't know why, but Jake receded into the background of my brain for many years only to be pushed to the forefront by a chance encounter in a record bin.
My wife - everybody - teases me about these musical adventures.
Walking west on Fourth street, I pass the hi-fi store, In Living Stereo - www.inlivingstereo.com - that my friend Stan has recommended to me a few times. I turn back and think of the question I have about the anti-skate mechanism on my Rega turntable. I see a Rega in the window and walk in. Maybe someone will be able to answer my question. There are two guys talking in the front room. I ask one of them if he can help me and within half an hour the three of us are sitting in the back room sharing stories and listening to records. Steve Cohen, one of the resident experts at In Living Stereo, puts Spirit's 'Clear' album on and we talk about one of my favorite underrated bands. Then, I pull out my just purchased 1970 'Jake and the Family Jewels' release, which I have NEVER heard, and ask Steve if he would mind playing it for me. It is a revelation. The disk is phenomenal, better than I would have expected, reminding me a little bit of Dan Hicks, or The Insect Trust, or Quicksilver...but really they don't sound like any of these bands. Steve studies the album cover and exclaims, "He's playing a Les Paul Junior with P90 pickups..."
Mostly originals, the disk includes covers of Jimmy Driftwood's 'Tennessee Stud' (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Driftwood) and Dylan's 'Open the Door, Homer,' from Dylan and the Band's 1967 unreleased Basement Tapes...Jake's version comes out fully five years before Dylan decides to release it on Columbia's 'The Basement Tapes' album, although bootlegs started circulating almost immediately. For a list of all the Basement Tapes songs: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Basement_Tapes_songs. The Columbia release is not complete. Maybe someday Bob and his Band-mates will release everything....
It turns out that Jake's choice of Dylan covers was a popular one. According to 'The Dylan Covers Database,' there are at least 24 cover versions of this song that have been released, including versions by Fairport Convention and Robyn Hitchcock. And in 1970, Jake's cover version wasn't even the first, having been scooped by John Walker, The Floor, Jack Downing and the Other Side, and several others.
But, really, you only need two: Bob's and Jake's.
http://baseportal.com/cgi-bin/baseportal.pl?htx=/dylancov/main&db=main&TrackCode==homer
Thanks for linking to my DataBase.
You might want to search out the 1971 eponymous LP by Quinaimes Band (Elektra EKS-74096), many of Jake & TFJ members play on it. Included is a great cover of Dylan's "Visions of Johanna"
Jake's other LP was "The Big Moose Calls His Baby Sweet Lorraine" (1972 - Polydor PD 5024), with "Minstrel Boy, "another obscure Dylan song.
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Where is Al Jacobs (Jake) now? I knew him way back when he was with the Fugs but lost touch over the years.
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here's jake! he's back...just like the fans stomping on the floor at Toad's yelling, "jake, jake, jake!!" wanting just one more encore...@ 3 in the morning...well, the wait is OVER! you GOTTA get this album by jake & the rest of the jewels...
google it-find it-buy it!!!
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jake is alive and well, and living in the City...paul, dave & ron, and the other hoardes of jake fans out there in etherland...jake and the rest of the jewels have just sealed a new album in shrink wrap....titled "a lick and a promise" - produced and engineered by jake himself...now, i know it is finished cuz i just played it in my car...the rest of the story?...how do you get your hands on one? damned fine question...as soon as i find out what retail outlets will be offering J&tROTJ - a lick and a promise, i promise to post the info here...no, here...no-no-over here? where? marco...polo!... this is great news for us jake fans, and for any fan of goodtime rock, funk, jazz and folk and r&b and blues; the time is now, the raising of the key witness...that's you, ya'll...the bunk, the jake, the jewels...have you heard the news?...seattle slew won the triple crown!...so check back here soon, check your other media outlets, check puddingbench.com...check cdbaby...and you will find out when and where...you can purchase...jake and the rest of the jewels...a lick and a promise!...
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That is great news, Bobo.
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Jake mentioned that cdbaby will have it for sale in the next few days and that it will then apparently migrate to Itunes BUT you should buy the actual cd as you get the lyrics,photos and and Jakes artwork.
Jakes' guitar playing is amazing and his voice better than ever...
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I just found this great blog page and I never blog .. but Paul Rosenblatt has inspired me to learn how. I can't say enough about Jake and his music. I can't stop playing the new cd. Thanks for the website info, Bobo!
email Jake here [ http://jakeandthejewels.com/contact/ ]to pre order or for more info.
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Jake and the rest of the Jewels
Welcome to the official site of Jake and the rest of the Jewels.
The new record "A Lick and a Promise" will be available online October 20, 2011 - email Jake here [ http://jakeandthejewels.com/contact/ ]to pre order or for more info.
COPYRIGHT © 2011, JAKE JACOBS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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Latched onto this album in 1972. Jake was a member of some obscure 60's band (can't remember just now) and this really reminds me of Lovin' Spoonful as well. I also had Big Moose, but this was hands down, the best. Glad to hear Jake is still doing.
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