Two glimpses into the genius that is Jess

It’s been a long journey, since starting a humble blog extolling the vocal virtues of one Jess Roden. Along the way, many other like-minded folk have joined that journey. Some more directly connected to the story than others, but all sharing one thing: the ability to recognize and appreciate one of the outstanding vocal talents of our time.

Now, the journey is nearing the end….and perhaps another one is beginning. Just up around the bend, the promise of a release so all-encompassing, that we will finally get to hear the wealth of this man’s work in all its glory. This is from a time when only talent would get you through the door. Read about the project at Neil Storey’s excellent blog HERE, & HERE For my part, I invite you to listen…….

Kev Moore

(Previously published in moore:music)

A tribute to Jess Roden – Sweet Danger

I finally finished the track this afternoon – one of my favourites – from the amazing ‘Butts Band’ album. I’ve occasionally played this just with an acoustic guitar on one or two solo shows here in Spain, but I really wanted to try and put a version down in the studio. I didn’t listen to the original while I worked on this,  I didn’t want to copy it note for note, rather do my own take on it. I’ve chucked in acoustic and electric guitars, electric piano, hammond, and a few other bits and pieces. All vocals and instrumentation is by yours truly, so therefore all mistakes are also! So here it is, tipping my hat to one the UK’s greatest ever vocalists……“Sweet Danger”.

Kev Moore

Jess Roden – The quiet sound of something in the wind….

Jess Roden

The Jess Roden official website has posted the following announcement:

“… there’s a major (and, we believe, really exciting) announcement due… very shortly… and this has, essentially, been the other aspect of ‘background work’ that’s been ongoing throughout most of this year so far….”

In the light of this I would like to speculate on what it is likely to be.
One could argue that the release of the recent Cherry Red compilation offered more of a tease than satisfaction – but it just might have provided that extra momentum deep within the machine that is the music industry to provide the will to address the entire Roden canon.

Could it be that we will finally witness an in-depth collection worthy of this amazing artist?

There can be no doubt that a career that has thus far spanned 4 decades, deserves to be addressed in greater depth than a single CD.  My own article concerning a fantasy boxed set proves that, even with the luxury of four CD’s, one struggles with what to leave out.

If you also factor in the mouthwatering prospect that in such a long career there have to be some undiscovered gems along the way, plus the lack of CD re-release of much of Jess’s work, then you are looking at a very expansive collection indeed.

So, if  there really is to be a release of this magnitude, what might be on it? It seems reasonable to assume there wouldn’t be a complete revisiting of the recent compilation – but what might have lain undisturbed in the vaults for so long?  Are there tapes that can be cleaned up and made ready for release?  Live recordings spring to mind, or perhaps outtakes that never made original tracklistings. Remember, before the advent of CD,  a mere 4 or 5 a side was enough for the product. Could there be unreleased tracks just waiting for an airing? Comments are welcome!

But whatever the news is, there’s something in the wind, and I sense the time is right for a release worthy of England’s golden voice.

Kev Moore

Jess Roden – The Fantasy Boxed Set?

Most of you know how much I champion the cause of Jess, who for my money is in the top three British vocalists of all time.  Not to long ago, our efforts throughout the blogosphere led to a raised awareness of this great singer, and the long overdue release of The Best of Jess Roden CD. But I now pose the question: “Can this man’s eclectic career really be done justice on just a single volume?”

I decided to indulge in an exercise – The hypothetical compilation of a definitive boxed set that would highlight Jess’s career in all its forms. I’m calling it the The Jess Roden Fantasy Boxed Set and I’m splitting it into 4 distinct volumes:

1  Jess Roden Solo

2 The Jess Roden Band

3 Jess and his bands – (Alan Bown,Bronco,Butts Band,Rivits,Seven Windows, The Humans)

4 Jess guest appearances - (Luther Grosvenor, Peter Green, Grace Jones, SAS Band, Sandy Denny, Keef Hartley, Back Street Crawler)

My track listing would be as follows, bearing in mind that I would avoid repeat tracks from the ‘Best of’ CD, making it a great companion piece:

CD 1

Ferry Cross

On Broadway

Feelin’ Easy

Trouble in the Mind

Misty Roses

The Quiet Sound of You and I

Sensation

Hardest Blow

Prime Time Love

Brand New Start

Bird of Harlem

One World, One People

CD2

Can’t get next to you

Stay in Bed

U.S. Dream

Mama Roux

In a Circle (alternate version)

If you don’t get what you want (unreleased)

Can’t get by without you (unreleased)

Raise your hand (unreleased)

Honey don’t worry (unreleased)

Yes indeed (unreleased)

Ratrace (unreleased)

CD3

Gonna Fix you good

Still as Stone

Strange little friend

Lazy Now

New Day Avenue

Love

Sweet Danger

Baja Bus

Love your Brother

Oo she do

Future Soon

Red Light On

Shakey’s got the blues

Light Brown Colour

Parachutes

So Fine, So Young

You’d Better believe it baby

If it takes just a little while

CD4

Cryin’ won’t bring you back

Fire down below

I wanna be free

Losing game

Circles

Australian Lady

I Know Something

I’m Ready

Okay, that’s as far as I’ve got!  Hoping to get another few possibilities for the ‘guest vocal’ CD  – any thoughts folks? Or indeed, what would be your own Jess fantasy box set? Let me know!

Kev Moore

Jess Roden: The Recognition he deserves…..

I’m posting today about a singer who has inspired and influenced me since I was around 14 years old. Hardly a week has passed in the last 37 years when I haven’t listened to a track by this most underrated, yet supremely gifted of British vocalists. I’m talking about Jess Roden.  Several years ago, I was moved to create a thread about him and his work, with the hope that it would introduce others to this great singer. My wishes were fulfilled, and more. It became a meeting place for Roden afficionados, fans returning to the fold like so many prodigal sons, amazed and delighted to find that their love of Jess’s music was shared by many, and with equal enthusiasm. The thread grew into a blog in it’s own right, with hundreds of comments being left from fans all over the world. It introduced me to a number of key figures in Jess’s life, including his brother, and Neil Storey, of Island records. I also believe it created the momentum for the release earlier this year of the first “best of” Jess Roden compilation on CD, and the possible tracklisting was discussed at length on the thread.

In the meantime, Neil Storey, who as well as having worked at the legendary label, is also a friend of Jess’s, undertook to create a website in his name. It is now launched and marks the continuing renaissance of this masterful vocalist in the public consciousness. So today, I would like to publicly thank both Nick and NBeil for their friendship and kindness, not to mention their hard work, and invite you all to visit the new site:

JESS RODEN

by Kev Moore

Wishing all readers a Happy and prosperous 2009!

Kev turns his back on 2008 and looks forward....

Kev Moore

Photo by Miki

A Very Merry Christmas

Unsung Heroes wishes all its readers and discerning music lovers a very Happy Christmas!

Unsung Heroes No. 9 – Nik Kershaw

Nik Kershaw - Have guitar, will travel....

Eternally damed as a lightweight 80′s designer pop star, Nik Kershaw is, in reality, an incredibly gifted musician and songwriter. His highly catchy 80′s hits a quite deceptive. delve beneath their glossy exterior and you find considered and clever arrangements and changes. take the song ” When a Heart beats” for example – the solo is completely off the wall, worthy of Bill Nelson or Robert Fripp, and the riff has a killer time signature.

When he disappeared off the radar as a solo artist after releasing four excellent albums, he resurfaced alongside Elton John on guitar – recording a duet with him, and wrote the No. 1 hit for Chesney Hawkes “The One and Only”. Success also came his way courtesy of a brace of hits he wrote for teen act Let loose. Further collaborations with Les Rhythm Digitales and Genesis’ Tony Banks further cemented his reputation as musician’s musician.

He returned in the 21st century with a pair of albums any artist would be proud to call their own. Eschewing the sequence/synth heavy production of his past and opting for a more acoustic-led approach, he delivered “15 Minutes” and “To be Frank” . Both albums an embarrassment of riches, a songwriting masterclass.

His latest release – “You’ve got to laugh” is available only on the internet. Forget any 80′s preconceptions, Nik Kershaw is one of the UK’s leading songwriters. He should be declared a National Treasure.

Check out this beautiful version of his biggest hit “Wouldn’t it be good” with more than a little help from Howard Jones.

Kev Moore

Unsung Heroes No.8 – Joyce “Baby Jean” Kennedy

Joyce "Baby Jean" Kennedy

Back in the musical melting-pot of the early 70′s there was a lot of experimentation going on with different kinds of Fusion, Out of the Heavy bands of the late 60′s and the funk and soul acts of the same era, musicians began creating something greater than the sum of its parts: Funk Rock. Undisputed pioneers of this genre were Atlanta’s Mother’s Finest – a multi-racial band that featured serious grooves, rock guitar – and the unmistakable powerhouse vocals of Baby Jean Kennedy. Criminally underrated as a singer, she and the band, which also features husband Glenn Murdoch as co-vocalist nevertheless enjoy a massive loyal following that remain with them to this day. Admired by countless musicians, a single show for Rockpalast in Germany in 1978 ensured them everlasting cult status. Never ones to shy away from controversy, titles like “Niggizz can’t snag rock’n'roll” and “Black radio won’t play this record” testify to their struggle against the musical pigeon-holing which affects so many of these crossover bands.

The plain fact is, like Living Colour, Dan Reed Network and Glenn Hughes – people shouldn’t waste time trying to work out what it is. It is what it is, man! Now crank those guitars, get into the groove and thrill to Baby Jean’s glorious voice!

Kev Moore

Unsung Heroes No. 7 – Dan Reed

L-R: Melvin,Dan P,Dan R, Blake, Brion

Back in the 80′s, as my Trapeze and Mother’s Finest albums had just about been played into oblivion, and the only funk around was Cameo in a red plastic jock strap, I was lounging at home preparing to watch a new “experiment” on British Television – All night programming. It seems quaint now, doesn’t it? but back then, the Yorkshire region was lucky enough to have been chosen to host “Music Box” – a series of hourly programmes running from midnight ’til six in the morning, consisting almost entirely of the promos that were being spewed forth from this video generation. The music, by this time – mid 80′s, was largely vacuous and disposable. But I remember the moment, the exact moment when the Dan Reed Network burst onto the screen with “Get to You”.

I almost fell out of my chair! This was what I’d been waiting for, the perfect fusion of 80′s technology with rock, funk and soul – the missing link to the funk rock of the 70′s. Dan’s voice was a perfect foil for the great band behind him. Possessed of a great scream, and soulful delivery, he really sold the song. Nasty bass from Melvin Brannon lll and Hendrixian guitar from Brion James really brought something to the party. Keyboard textures and stabs from Blake Sakamoto and wonderful interplay between digital rhythms and drummer Dan Pred completed this hard-hitting package.

Suffice to say, they screamed onto the scene, a great, cosmopolitan image, killer songs, Def Leppards management company, support slots for the Stones and Bon Jovi – they were going to be massive!

But they never were. I like to call it the Kev Moore kiss of death – any band I love never garners mass appeal. But I also think its a lot to do with the genre. People aren’t comfortable with crossover acts. Glenn Hughes and Mothers Finest suffer similarly. Rock fans aren’t comfortable with the danceable funky beats, and the dance freaks don’t want the guitars. Yet to me, this is the highest form of pop music. Rock you can dance to! Is there anything better? Not to me.

The Dan Reed Network released three killer albums, and they’re all worth checking out.

Dan Reed Network (1988)

Slam (1989)

The Heat (1991)

By 1993, the band members were beginning to go their separate ways, Dan Pred and Blake Sakamoto most notably appearing on the Slowrush album “Volume”. Dan Reed formed the band “Adrenaline Sky’ and released an eponymous album which featured 50/50 live and studio cuts. In 2004 he released an EP entitled “Sharp Turn” which was indeed a sharp turn away from the rock funk of his past. An almost eerie collection of electronica, the songs nevertheless shine through, showing that Dan had far from lost his touch.

Dan Reed

Following a period living in Israel, Dan, a deeply thoughtful and considerate man, has now emerged and undertaken a tour that precedes the release of his new album “Coming up for Air”.

His music was inspiring to me in the 80′s, and to my daughter too, who was too young to ever see DRN live, but in recent years Dan has become a friend of the family, and she realised her dream of seeing him work in his studio in New York.

A musician’s musician, his return to the stage is a welcome one.

Kev Moore