#jamme

“Sans Titre" et "Stèle" de Frank André Jamme (1996) à l'exposition “Poésie” à La Fab. d'Agnès B., Paris, décembre 2022.

Jamme recorded an obscure, pleasant self-titled album that couldn't help but remind listeners of the mildest side of the Beatles when it was issued in 1970, influenced by California pop/rock. The story of Jamme, however, was quite complicated and interwoven with far more famous figures, and arguably more interesting than the music the group made. Jamme evolved in some respects out of the mid-'60s Washington, D.C. group the British Walkers, who did indeed include a genuinely British guitarist, Paul Downing. Downing moved to Los Angeles in 1967 with his girlfriend, Nancy Throckmorton, staying with her mother, Susan Adams, who'd been John Phillips' first wife. Downing joined the San Diego band the Hard Times for a while, and got to know Phillips, playing on some sessions in Phillips' home studio. After Downing played guitar on some tracks on the Mamas & the Papas album The Papas & the Mamas, Phillips suggested Downing put a group together, which he did in spring 1968 with fellow ex-British Walker Tim Smyser (on bass) and fellow British expatriate guitarist Don Adey. The drum slot was filled by Terry Rae, who had played with the Palace Guard. This was the personnel that began recording Jamme's album in Phillips' home studio in Bel Air, but the road to the LP's completion wouldn't be smooth. Phillips was distracted by the breakup of both the Mamas & the Papas and his marriage to Michelle Phillips, and instigated the departure of Rae. A plan to replace him with post-Van Morrison Them drummer Dave Tufrey didn't work out, with session drummers Jim Gordon (later to be in Derek & the Dominos) and Jerry Allison (of the Crickets) contributing to the sessions. Phillips then asked Downing to replace Smyser with another musician, and when Downing balked, the album fell deeper into limbo, Smyser soon joining a fading Standells. With help from Adey's bassist brother Keith, the album was finally completed and released in March 1970 on Phillips' Warlock label. Unsurprisingly given the chaotic circumstances, the LP didn't gain much exposure, although a 2010 CD reissue on Now Sounds restored it to availability with eight bonus tracks and thorough historical liner notes..... by Richie Unterberger....~ The sleeve of the self titled Jammë LP would lead you to believe that the album was solely the work of two British brothers Keith and Don Adey. That's was what I thought for years but the story runs a little deeper than that. Don Adey was playing a gig with his band Churchill Downs in 1967 when he met up with fellow ex-pat Hard Times guitarist Paul Downing who were sharing the bill that night. Downing had recently played guitar on the Mamas & Papas album "The Papas & the Mamas" when Papa John Phillips suggested Downing put a group of his own together , which he quickly did with ex British Walkers, Tim Smyser on Bass and Terry Rae (ex Palace Guard) on drums along with Don Adey on guitar. Phillips was impressed with the band and secured them a recording contract with Dunhill on the basis that he and Terry Melcher produce the album (Melcher would not last the duration following tensions between the pair). The recording sessions took place at Phillips' own home studio/24 hour party drug den in Bel Air which allegedly saw George Harrison and Keith Richards drop by for a visit! Phillips was going through a rough patch at the time, with the Mamas & Papas on the verge of splitting and his marriage with Michelle on the rocks. These personal problems would take it's toll on the Jammë sessions. Terry Rae was the first to be kicked out of the band by a jealous Phillips after he'd overheard Michelle and friend Mia Farrow, tripping on acid at the time, promise to take Rae on a trip to France. The drums were taken over by ex Them, Dave Tuffrey, then Jim Gordon (Derek & the Dominoes) and finally Jerry Allison (the Crickets). Phillips then turned on Smyser and getting Downing to do the dirty work of kicking the bass player out of the band, which was done with much hesitation. Bass duties were handed over to the Wrecking Crew's Larry Knechtel and then eventually Don Adey's sibling Keith whose contributions on the album stretched as far as a few vocal harmonies and bass on two tracks! The two brothers were only surviving members by the time the recording was finished nine months later, hence them being the only two on the cover. The record was released in 1970 and bombed, most probably due to it sounding years out of step with the current music scene at the time. It also got a UK release where it died a similar death. Surprisingly, despite the chaotic recording sessions the resulting album comes across as a sweet collection of popsike nuggets with a similar vibe to the (equally chaotic) Left Banke or Rubber Soul period Beatles complete with nasally Lennonesque vocals. Personal highlights include the Merry Go Round-alike "She Sits There" and the lyrics on "Strawberry Jam Man", "would you like to sail a boat, way out on the sea? would you like an ice cream float or a cup of tea?" ...~ Tracklist A1 Poor Widow A2 She Sits There A3 Jan A4 Strawberry Jam Man A5 Richman B1 My Old Lady B2 Changes B3 Empty Feelings B4 Scarborough Rose B5 Matthew O'Grady

#rockinthenightaway ;) stöbere und #jamme mit einem alten #songbook - das Ding ist Gold wert ... #guitar #eguitar #rockenüben #kreativmusik #kreativsein #kreativitätauftanken #griesbrei ;) fällt schon langsam auseinander das Ding #lespaul #schreiben #autorenleben #podcast #hoerspiel #produktion #studioweltenbrecher (hier: Berlin, Germany) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn9uyybAlcC/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=y115v6de0q94

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Wenn's mit dem #Schreiben gerade nicht so läuft, #jamme ich halt etwas vor mich hin ;) #rockenüben #lespaul & #samplitudeprox & ich #kreativitätauftanken #eguitar #kreativenleben #prokrastination (hier: Kurfürstendamm) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnXNBqWFXDo/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=qdq2y1w01if4

Van Jamme – Fool’s Love (HyperViolet for Pr.) Van Jamme's track "Fool's Love" is a slow ride, that'll have you introspecting until the silence snaps you out of it.