CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

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Jake in a Box: the EMI Recordings 1967-1976

Search: Rain on the mountainside
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 ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

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The Very Best of Jake Thackray

Search: Rain on the mountainside
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.