Alun Ashworth-Jones
Encyclopedia
Alun Ashworth-Jones is the full name of the noted British
folk/blues/rock
songwriter, guitarist and singer Al Jones
, and is also the title of his first album, which this article addresses. He had previously made an E.P.
as part of the trio Anderson, Jones, Jackson. The album was originally issued by Parlophone
in 1969 and has been re-released in CD format by Mooncrest Records
in 2001, with additional, previously unreleased tracks.
Recorded 5 - 13 March 1969 at Sound Techniques, London
Tracks as original release, with the following additions:
Previously unreleased version from March 1969 sessions:
Tracks recorded 24 April 1969 at Sound Techniques, London and previously released on compilation album "49 Greek Street" (RCA SF8118):
Previously unreleased tracks recorded by Bill Leader
at Camden
in 1971:
Previously unreleased tracks, recorded 'live' at Les Cousins
, 17 March 1969:
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
folk/blues/rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
songwriter, guitarist and singer Al Jones
Al Jones
Alun Ashworth-Jones , known as Al Jones, was an influential English folk and blues songwriter, guitarist and singer, noted for his distinctive and original folk-rock guitar style and his often darkly humorous lyrics.-Early career:He first came to prominence in the Bristol folk scene in the...
, and is also the title of his first album, which this article addresses. He had previously made an E.P.
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
as part of the trio Anderson, Jones, Jackson. The album was originally issued by Parlophone
Parlophone
Parlophone is a record label that was founded in Germany in 1896 by the Carl Lindström Company as Parlophon. The British branch was formed in 1923 as "Parlophone" which developed a reputation in the 1920s as a leading jazz label. It was acquired in 1927 by the Columbia Graphophone Company which...
in 1969 and has been re-released in CD format by Mooncrest Records
Mooncrest Records
Mooncrest Records is a British record label that was formed in 1973 as a subsidiary of Charisma Records.They issued albums by Shirley Collins , Iain Matthews , Shakin' Stevens and Alan Hull . More recently they have handled Fairport Convention and Michael Chapman...
in 2001, with additional, previously unreleased tracks.
Original release
Parlophone PMC 7081, 1969Recorded 5 - 13 March 1969 at Sound Techniques, London
Track list
All compositions by Al Jones except where stated otherwise- "Siamese Cat"
- "Come Join My Orchestra"
- "Ire and Spottiswoad"
- "Tramp"
- "Sarah in the Isle of Wight"
- "What I Was Thinking" (Take 2)
- "River Bend (Instrumental)"
- "Railway Lines"
- "Big City"
Personnel
- Al JonesAl JonesAlun Ashworth-Jones , known as Al Jones, was an influential English folk and blues songwriter, guitarist and singer, noted for his distinctive and original folk-rock guitar style and his often darkly humorous lyrics.-Early career:He first came to prominence in the Bristol folk scene in the...
- vocals, guitar - Mike Piggott - violin
- Harold McNairHarold McNairHarold McNair was a renowned saxophonist and flautist.-Background:...
- flute - Gordon Huntley - steel guitar
- Percy JonesPercy JonesPercy Jones may refer to:* Percy Jones , American baseball player* Percy Jones , Welsh world champion flyweight in 1914* Percy Jones , bass guitarist...
- electric bass - Spike HeatleySpike HeatleySpike Heatley, born North London, February 17, 1933, is a British jazz bassist.Heatley was with Vic Ash's sextet in 1958, together with Ian Hamer , Johnny Scott , and Alan Branscombe and had then joined The Jazz Couriers some weeks before they disbanded...
- string bass - Brian DobsonBrian DobsonBrian Dobson is the third of three brothers, the others being Paul and Michael, who are well known for their talent as voice actors.- Anime Roles :*.hack//Roots - AI Harald...
- drums, percussion
Track list
All compositions by Al Jones except where stated otherwiseTracks as original release, with the following additions:
Previously unreleased version from March 1969 sessions:
- "What I Was Thinking" (Take 1)
Tracks recorded 24 April 1969 at Sound Techniques, London and previously released on compilation album "49 Greek Street" (RCA SF8118):
- "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry" (Bob DylanBob DylanBob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
) - "Running Shoes"
Previously unreleased tracks recorded by Bill Leader
Bill Leader
Bill Leader is an English recording engineer and record producer. He is particularly associated with the British folk music revival of the 1960s and 1970s, producing records by Davey Graham, Bert Jansch, John Renbourn, Frank Harte and others....
at Camden
London Borough of Camden
In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough were already developed and had a total population of 96,795. This continued to rise swiftly throughout the 19th century, as the district became built up; reaching 270,197 in the middle of the century...
in 1971:
- "Only a Butchers Knife"
- "Flying"
- "All My Friends Are Back Again"
- "Eight Foot Whelk"
- "Get Out of My Car"
Previously unreleased tracks, recorded 'live' at Les Cousins
Les Cousins (music club)
Les Cousins was a folk and blues club in the basement of a restaurant in Greek Street, in the Soho district of London. It had its heyday during the British folk music revival of the mid-1960s and was notable as a venue in which musicians of that period met and learnt from each other...
, 17 March 1969:
- "Rather Be the Devil"
- "A Mess of Blues" (Mort ShumanMort ShumanMort Shuman was an American singer, pianist and songwriter, best known as co-writer of many 1960s rock and roll hits, including "Viva Las Vegas"...
, Doc PomusDoc PomusJerome Solon Felder, better known as Doc Pomus , was a twentieth-century American blues singer and songwriter. He is best known as the lyricist of many rock and roll hits. Pomus was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the category of non-performer in 1992. He was also inducted into...
) - "That'll Be the Day" (Buddy HollyBuddy HollyCharles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
, Norman PettyNorman PettyNorman Petty was an American musician, songwriter, and pioneer record producer who helped shape modern popular music, including pop and rock....
, Jerry AllisonJerry AllisonJ.I. Allison is an American musician, best known for being the drummer for The Crickets and co-writer of their Buddy Holly hit "Peggy Sue"....
) - "La Bamba" (trad)
- "Night Is Falling"
- "While Travelling on a Train Going West" (trad)
- "Jupiter" (Gustav HolstGustav HolstGustav Theodore Holst was an English composer. He is most famous for his orchestral suite The Planets....
) - "Sheila" (Tommy RoeTommy RoeTommy Roe is an American pop music singer-songwriter.Best-remembered for his hits "Sheila" and "Dizzy" , critic Bill Dahl wrote that Roe was "widely perceived as one of the archetypal bubblegum artists of the late 1960s, but Roe cut some pretty decent rockers along the way, especially early in his...
) - "BoysBoys (The Shirelles song)"Boys" is a song by Luther Dixon and Wes Farrell, originally performed by The Shirelles and released as the B-side of their "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" single in November 1960.-The Beatles' version:...
" (Wes FarrellWes FarrellWes Farrell was an American musician, songwriter and record producer, who was most active in the 1960s and 1970s...
, Luther DixonLuther DixonLuther Dixon was an American songwriter, record producer, and singer. Dixon's songs achieved their greatest success in the 1950s and 60s, and were recorded by Elvis Presley, The Beatles, The Jackson 5, B.B. King, Dusty Springfield, and others...
)
Additional personnel
- Bob HallBob Hall (boogie-woogie pianist)Robert 'Bob' Hall , is a leading English boogie-woogie pianist. A long-time collaborator of Alexis Korner, he also performed regularly with bottleneck bluesman Dave Kelly and his sister, Jo Ann Kelly.-Career:...
- piano - Martin StoneMartin Stone (guitarist)Martin Stone is an English guitarist and book antiquarian. A longtime resident of Fingest in Buckinghamshire, he currently lives in Paris.-Musical career:...
- guitar - Gordon Huntley - steel guitar
- Ashley Hutchins - electric bass
- Larry Steele - bass
- Alun DaviesAlun Davies (guitarist)Alun Davies is a Welsh guitarist, studio musician, recording artist, and composer who rose to fame primarily with his supporting guitar work and backing vocals as accompanist for English musician Cat Stevens, from early 1970 to 1977...
- drums - "Yogue" - guitar
Review (external link)
By Richie Unterberger, AllmusicProduction
- Engineer, editing and remastering: Dave Garland
- Sleeve notes: John O'Regan (reissue)