May 11, 2010

Jackson C. Frank


s/t (1965)

Another genius of 60's folk music whose career was railroaded by tragedy and shit luck...

"In the folk clubs of Britain in the 60's and early 70's, many regulars would have been familiar with those lines "Living is a gamble, baby, Loving's just the same." They came from a song called Blues Run The Game and were written by a young American singer-songwriter-guitarist named Jackson Carey Frank. The original version came out in 1965 on Frank's own debut album, Jackson C Frank, produced in London by Paul Simon and featuring guitar fills on one track by Al Stewart.
Later John Renbourn included the song on his So Clear album, and Sandy Denny recorded a couple of other Frank compositions. Over the years dozens of aspiring singer-songwriter-guitarists, in far flung pubs and festivals, covered Frank's works. Denny and Roy Harper even wrote songs about him..."
read on

sleeve notes from a 1978 re-issue written by Frank

4 comments:

  1. 'tragic' seems like an understatement. thanks for the post.

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  2. this guy had the saddest behind the music story I've ever heard/read

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  3. thanks for another great post; his songs were also covered by Nick Drake.
    ip

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