CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

.

High in a Room - the Anthology

Search: Poor sod
by: Smoke

Release Date June 24, 2002
The "My Friend Jack Eats Sugar Lumps" LSD-inspired lyric was immediately banned by the BBC in 1967 when the Columbia 'My Friend Jack' 45 was released, but luckily, The Smoke had pirate radio stations on their side at the time, and it went to #45 in the UK Charts. With its 'freaky' guitar sound, the track, and the lyric, were absolutely ideal for the hippie-trippy Summer Of Love, and had the airplay been available the song could well have achieved Top 5 or even #1.
Unfortunately, though, the balance of The Smoke's repertoire could not match this amazing track, and the rest of their output was rather plain and somewhat uninspiring. But other than record dozens of tracks with the 'Jack' guitar effects, they were pretty much stumped. An attempted ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

.

The Very Best of Jake Thackray

Search: Poor sod
by: Jake Thackray

Release Date April 14, 2003
As a tiny lad in the late 60s I used to love Jake's tv appearances - I loved the sound of his guitar playing and his deadpan delivery and his vocals used to have me in stitches, though I couldn't have understood 99% of the lyrics! Then last year, four decades later, I read an article on the release of Jake's boxed set in Mojo magazine. Straight onto Amazon I ordered myself a copy of the Very Best of Jake Thackray. What a fabulous delight. I have since ordered another five copies which I've sent out to various friends, and here I am on Amazon again, ordering another three copies for further friends. Spreading the word. Jake, you're fab, unique and wonderful. There will never be anyone else like you. Wishing you were here.

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

.

Jake in a Box: the EMI Recordings 1967-1976

Search: Poor sod
by: Jake Thackray

Release Date April 17, 2006
Wow, I was quite shocked at the polarisation of the reviews of Jake's EMI releases (you just need to add the full recording of his live performance (Live Performance) to have pretty much the full works). Ah, but there is an explanation for the disappointment. Jake Thackray was a fantastic solo performer with a beautiful classical guitar style. Now helpful producers don't always recognise art, they like to domesticate it. The first CD starts with the over orchestrated LP "The Last Will and Testament of Jake Thackray" - yes they manage to musically imitate the pony's harness jingling in "The Little Black Foal". It's a bit of a teeth clencher when you know Jake well and just detracts from his dour West Riding accent and deadpan song writing. (I'm just getting ... Read More: