Jack Lee
Encyclopedia
Jack Lee is an American songwriter and musician best known for composing the song, "Hanging on the Telephone
."
(later of The Beat
) and Peter Case
(later of The Plimsouls
), Lee formed the seminal, yet short-lived Los Angeles
power pop
trio The Nerves
. Lee played guitar for the group - favouring a thin, unembellished, almost rhythmic playing style - along with composing and singing most of the group's songs. The band, originally based in San Francisco, made the move to Los Angeles in 1976, and began putting on a series of self-promoted and self-financed concerts, providing a focal gathering point for many members of L.A.'s nascent punk scene, as well as giving many of L.A.'s early punk bands their initial shows (The Weirdos
, The Screamers
and The Dils
, among others). This 'Do It Yourself' aesthetic (although not usually associated with music extant pre-punk) was also reflected in the Nerves' self-financed and self-released 1976 EP - the four songs from which (two of them Lee compositions) all going on to much-deserved reverence, if not mainstream recognition, amongst punk and power pop circles. Though in hindsight influential, this self-contained recording and gigging strategy most likely placed undue stress upon the relationship between the three band members. The Nerves' existence, always tenuous, finally disintegrated in the aftermath of another self-financed venture - this time a cross-country tour in the summer of 1977, with the band covering almost twenty-five thousand miles in a single 1969 Ford LTD
Wagon and playing with such notables as the Ramones, the Diodes
and Mink DeVille
. Though the press surrounding the band was nearly always positive and newer material sounded strong, it was not enough to hold the band together. The Nerves finally tore apart in 1978, less than a year before Blondie
would turn one of Jack Lee and the Nerves' songs into a new wave
classic and bonafide chart hit.
"Hanging on the Telephone
", Lee's most famous and enduring composition, originally the lead track on the Nerves' lone 1976 EP, found its way to the ears of the members of Blondie
during the recording sessions for what would become the group's widely successful third album, Parallel Lines
. The original song was written in 1973 while Lee was living in San Francisco and references the contentious relationship with the mother of the woman he was living with. It may also refer to his prior relationships with the mother's of his first two children. The song was originally recorded in 1975 at the Different Fur studio in San Francisco with local musicians and later the song exploded as the lead-off track on Parallel Lines
, going on to become a UK Top Five hit. Lee's signature song remains a popular cover choice of bands today (most recently revived by indie
singer/songwriter Cat Power
), even if most groups are unfamiliar with any version predating Blondie's. Lee also contributed a further number to Parallel Lines
, entitled "Will Anything Happen?", as well as the song "You Are My Lover" for Suzi Quatro
, which appeared on her album "And Other Four Letter Words"(like all of Suzi Quatro's records, the album was produced by Mike Chapman, who also produced Blondie's "Parallel Lines" in the same year). Lee later lent a 1983 hit to British singer Paul Young
, called "Come Back and Stay", the song may have been in context to one of his two teen sweethearts (with whom he fathered respectively a son and a daughter) or to his wife and mother of his two youngest daughters. This theme of loss of love, heartbreak and abandonment was derived from sharp life experiences which repeated again and again.
Following Parallel Lines
success, Lee slowly put together and released a solo album entitled Jack Lee's Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 in 1981, which featured re-worked recordings of Nerves songs, as well as new material. However, with the exception of this LP, and a self-titled album released in 1985, little since has been heard from Lee, who seemed content to largely resign from the commercial music world. Nevertheless, the strength of Jack Lee's songwriting and interest surrounding his first group remained fervent, so much so that in 2001, Spain's Penniman Records http://www.penniman-records.com/ re-released the Nerves' EP as a deluxe 25th Anniversary ten-inch record with extra demo and live material culled from their whirlwind 1977 tour. In 2008 Alive Records
released Nerves compilation One Way Ticket, which includes Jack Lee solo track "It's Hot Outside."
Currently, Jack Lee is at work on a new album and plans to tour with his band, Jack Lee Inferno, which made an appearance April 1, 2007 at The Radio Heartbeat Powerpop Festival in Brooklyn, New York.
Hanging on the Telephone
"Hanging on the Telephone" is a song written by Jack Lee and first performed by Lee's short-lived US West Coast power pop trio The Nerves, who placed it as the lead-off track on their 1976 EP, the band's only release. New Wave band Blondie popularised the song when it was released as the second...
."
Biography
Alongside Paul CollinsPaul Collins (musician)
Paul Collins is an American writer, author, music producer, and multi-instrumentalist. He is best known for his work in the power pop groups The Nerves, The Breakaways and The Beat.-Biography:...
(later of The Beat
The Beat (US)
The Beat , were an American rock and power pop group from Los Angeles, California that formed in the late 1970s. The Beat resurfaced in the 1990s and continues to tour and record new material as Paul Collins' Beat...
) and Peter Case
Peter Case
Peter Case is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist, who has had a wide-ranging career ranging from new wave music to folk rock to solo acoustic performance.-Early career:...
(later of The Plimsouls
The Plimsouls
The Plimsouls are an American rock band formed in Paramount, California in 1978.-Formation:Formed by singer, guitarist and songwriter Peter Case , the Plimsouls began as a trio in 1978 which included Case, bassist Dave Pahoa and drummer Louie Ramírez...
), Lee formed the seminal, yet short-lived Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
power pop
Power pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
trio The Nerves
The Nerves
The Nerves were a mid-'70s American power pop trio based in Los Angeles, featuring guitarist Jack Lee, bassist Peter Case, and drummer Paul Collins. All three members composed songs and sang. They managed an international tour in the U.S. and Canada, including dates with The Ramones, and...
. Lee played guitar for the group - favouring a thin, unembellished, almost rhythmic playing style - along with composing and singing most of the group's songs. The band, originally based in San Francisco, made the move to Los Angeles in 1976, and began putting on a series of self-promoted and self-financed concerts, providing a focal gathering point for many members of L.A.'s nascent punk scene, as well as giving many of L.A.'s early punk bands their initial shows (The Weirdos
The Weirdos
The Weirdos were an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California. They formed in 1976 and broke up in 1981, were occasionally active in the 1980s, and recorded new material in the 1990s...
, The Screamers
The Screamers
The Screamers were a punk rock group active in the Los Angeles, California area in the late 1970s. The Screamers were pioneers of a genre now known as "synthpunk," and can also be classified as art punk....
and The Dils
The Dils
The Dils were an American punk rock band of the late 1970s, originally from Carlsbad, California, and fronted by brothers Chip Kinman and Tony Kinman...
, among others). This 'Do It Yourself' aesthetic (although not usually associated with music extant pre-punk) was also reflected in the Nerves' self-financed and self-released 1976 EP - the four songs from which (two of them Lee compositions) all going on to much-deserved reverence, if not mainstream recognition, amongst punk and power pop circles. Though in hindsight influential, this self-contained recording and gigging strategy most likely placed undue stress upon the relationship between the three band members. The Nerves' existence, always tenuous, finally disintegrated in the aftermath of another self-financed venture - this time a cross-country tour in the summer of 1977, with the band covering almost twenty-five thousand miles in a single 1969 Ford LTD
Ford LTD
The Ford LTD was a car produced by the Ford Motor Company in North America. A range of full-size cars wore various forms of the LTD nameplate from 1965 to 1991 in the United States...
Wagon and playing with such notables as the Ramones, the Diodes
The Diodes
The Diodes are a Canadian punk/new wave band formed in 1976. They released five albums: Diodes , Released , Action-Reaction , Survivors , and Time/Damage Live 1978...
and Mink DeVille
Mink DeVille
Mink DeVille was a rock band known for its association with early punk rock bands at New York’s CBGB nightclub and for being a showcase for the music of Willy DeVille. The band recorded six albums in the years 1977 to 1985. Except for frontman Willy DeVille, the original members of the band played...
. Though the press surrounding the band was nearly always positive and newer material sounded strong, it was not enough to hold the band together. The Nerves finally tore apart in 1978, less than a year before Blondie
Blondie (band)
Blondie is an American rock band, founded by singer Deborah Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. The band was a pioneer in the early American New Wave and punk scenes of the mid-1970s...
would turn one of Jack Lee and the Nerves' songs into a new wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
classic and bonafide chart hit.
"Hanging on the Telephone
Hanging on the Telephone
"Hanging on the Telephone" is a song written by Jack Lee and first performed by Lee's short-lived US West Coast power pop trio The Nerves, who placed it as the lead-off track on their 1976 EP, the band's only release. New Wave band Blondie popularised the song when it was released as the second...
", Lee's most famous and enduring composition, originally the lead track on the Nerves' lone 1976 EP, found its way to the ears of the members of Blondie
Blondie (band)
Blondie is an American rock band, founded by singer Deborah Harry and guitarist Chris Stein. The band was a pioneer in the early American New Wave and punk scenes of the mid-1970s...
during the recording sessions for what would become the group's widely successful third album, Parallel Lines
Parallel Lines
Parallel Lines is the third studio album by American New Wave band Blondie, released in 1978 by Chrysalis Records. Their most popular and best-selling effort, Parallel Lines was the first Blondie album to be produced by Mike Chapman. The album reached number one in the United Kingdom in February 1979...
. The original song was written in 1973 while Lee was living in San Francisco and references the contentious relationship with the mother of the woman he was living with. It may also refer to his prior relationships with the mother's of his first two children. The song was originally recorded in 1975 at the Different Fur studio in San Francisco with local musicians and later the song exploded as the lead-off track on Parallel Lines
Parallel Lines
Parallel Lines is the third studio album by American New Wave band Blondie, released in 1978 by Chrysalis Records. Their most popular and best-selling effort, Parallel Lines was the first Blondie album to be produced by Mike Chapman. The album reached number one in the United Kingdom in February 1979...
, going on to become a UK Top Five hit. Lee's signature song remains a popular cover choice of bands today (most recently revived by indie
Indie (music)
In music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie" is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, and an autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing....
singer/songwriter Cat Power
Cat Power
Charlyn Marie Marshall , also known as Chan Marshall or by her stage name Cat Power, is an American singer/songwriter and occasional actress and model. Cat Power was originally the name of Marshall's first band, but has come to refer to her musical projects with various backing bands...
), even if most groups are unfamiliar with any version predating Blondie's. Lee also contributed a further number to Parallel Lines
Parallel Lines
Parallel Lines is the third studio album by American New Wave band Blondie, released in 1978 by Chrysalis Records. Their most popular and best-selling effort, Parallel Lines was the first Blondie album to be produced by Mike Chapman. The album reached number one in the United Kingdom in February 1979...
, entitled "Will Anything Happen?", as well as the song "You Are My Lover" for Suzi Quatro
Suzi Quatro
Susan Kay "Suzi" Quatro is an American singer-songwriter, bass player, and actor.She scored a string of hit singles in the 1970s that found greater success in Europe and Australia than in her homeland, and had a recurring role on the popular American sitcom Happy Days.-Music:Quatro began her...
, which appeared on her album "And Other Four Letter Words"(like all of Suzi Quatro's records, the album was produced by Mike Chapman, who also produced Blondie's "Parallel Lines" in the same year). Lee later lent a 1983 hit to British singer Paul Young
Paul Young (singer and guitarist)
Paul Antony Young is an English pop musician. Formerly the frontman of the short-lived bands Kat Kool & The Kool Cats, Streetband and Q-Tips, his following solo success as a solo recording artist turned him into a 1980s teenage pop idol...
, called "Come Back and Stay", the song may have been in context to one of his two teen sweethearts (with whom he fathered respectively a son and a daughter) or to his wife and mother of his two youngest daughters. This theme of loss of love, heartbreak and abandonment was derived from sharp life experiences which repeated again and again.
Following Parallel Lines
Parallel Lines
Parallel Lines is the third studio album by American New Wave band Blondie, released in 1978 by Chrysalis Records. Their most popular and best-selling effort, Parallel Lines was the first Blondie album to be produced by Mike Chapman. The album reached number one in the United Kingdom in February 1979...
success, Lee slowly put together and released a solo album entitled Jack Lee's Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 in 1981, which featured re-worked recordings of Nerves songs, as well as new material. However, with the exception of this LP, and a self-titled album released in 1985, little since has been heard from Lee, who seemed content to largely resign from the commercial music world. Nevertheless, the strength of Jack Lee's songwriting and interest surrounding his first group remained fervent, so much so that in 2001, Spain's Penniman Records http://www.penniman-records.com/ re-released the Nerves' EP as a deluxe 25th Anniversary ten-inch record with extra demo and live material culled from their whirlwind 1977 tour. In 2008 Alive Records
Alive Records
Alive Naturalsound Records – also known simply as Alive Records – started in 1994 in Los Angeles, California, by Patrick Boissel, is an independent record label specializing in garage rock, punk blues, garage punk, psychedelic rock, power pop and blues-rock music. It grew out of Boissel's...
released Nerves compilation One Way Ticket, which includes Jack Lee solo track "It's Hot Outside."
Currently, Jack Lee is at work on a new album and plans to tour with his band, Jack Lee Inferno, which made an appearance April 1, 2007 at The Radio Heartbeat Powerpop Festival in Brooklyn, New York.