Jessica (song)
Encyclopedia
"Jessica" is a rock instrumental
written by Dickey Betts
, guitarist
of The Allman Brothers Band
, and Les Dudek
, who played with them soon after Duane Allman's death.
Jessica was first released on the band's 1973 album
Brothers and Sisters
, and has subsequently been used in many musical contexts. A January 2006 Wall Street Journal article referred to the piece as "a true national heirloom." It is widely known as the theme to the BBC Two
motoring programme Top Gear and its popular reformatted revival.
The tune, along with "Ramblin' Man
", is one of several tracks from the album which reflect a transition for the Allman Brothers foreshadowed by the stylistically similar Betts composition "Blue Sky
" on the band's previous album, Eat a Peach
, and accelerated with the deaths of band leader Duane Allman
and bassist Berry Oakley
.
The song is named for Jessica Betts, the daughter of Dickey Betts
and Sandy Bluesky.
. The signature melody line, as with all of Dickey Betts
' instrumental compositions, is played harmonically among various instruments, in this case, Betts taking the melody on guitar, Chuck Leavell
playing the top harmony line on the Fender Rhodes electric piano
, and Gregg Allman
playing the bottom harmony line on the Hammond Organ
. Leavell also plays grand piano on this tune, playing a solo around the 2:30 mark. Betts plays his guitar solo in the key of D Major
at 3:45. The acoustic guitar is played by Les Dudek
.
The original version on Brothers and Sisters clocks in at 7:30, although there is a shortened single edit, which cuts out some of the main theme at the end of the piece, trimming it to 4:00 exactly. This version is the one heard on most classic rock
radio stations, and any kind of various artist compilation on which "Jessica" has been featured. However, most Allman Brothers compilations use the full 7:30 version.
after the fatal motorcycle accident of Berry Oakley
.
Although not successful as a single, topping out at #65 on the Billboard Hot 100
chart, the tune achieved considerable airplay on progressive rock
and album oriented rock radio and helped make Brothers and Sisters a commercial success. A later live version of "Jessica" won a Grammy Award
in 1996
, twenty-three years after the initial release, for Best Rock Instrumental Performance
.
recreated the tune using nothing but exhaust notes from several cars, while in another episode the tune in its full version was heard to be played over the radio (most likely Sacramento Area radio) of the cars which the three presenters tested in America (the Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1
, the Dodge Challenger 2008 and the Cadillac CTS-V). "Jessica" is also used for most international versions of Top Gear, including the US version
, which used it as its theme only during the first season.
The tune was also featured in the movies Field of Dreams
, Did You Hear About the Morgans?
and Lassie
, and was used as the opening theme tune for the Dr. Dean Edell
radio show.
More recently, the tune was featured in the video game Guitar Hero II
, in the "Relentless Riffs" section of the PlayStation 2 version and in the "Return of the Shred" section of the Xbox 360 version. Also made an appearance in the phone version of Guitar Hero 3.
In television series, "Jessica" has been featured in The Simpsons
episode Little Big Girl
and the episode "Randy in Charge" of My Name is Earl
. In addition, during the Mystery Science Theater 3000
episode The Thing That Couldn't Die
, Tom Servo
would mimic the first few bars whenever someone referred to a character named Jessica by name.
The tune was featured as background music to an AAMCO
commercial.
The tune was featured on the "Local on the 8s
" monthly playlists several times between 2000 and 2010 on The Weather Channel
.
CFMJ Toronto
's Leaf Talk with Andy Frost used the song to conclude its programs.
The tune is often played as backgournd music on Angels Stadium of Anaheim's sound system as fans leave the stadium after an Angel's loss.
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
written by Dickey Betts
Dickey Betts
Forrest Richard "Dickey" Betts is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, and composer best known as a founding member of The Allman Brothers Band. He was inducted with the band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and also won with the band a best rock performance Grammy Award for his...
, guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
of The Allman Brothers Band
The Allman Brothers Band
The Allman Brothers Band is an American rock/blues band once based in Macon, Georgia. The band was formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1969 by brothers Duane Allman and Gregg Allman , who were supported by Dickey Betts , Berry Oakley , Butch Trucks , and Jai Johanny "Jaimoe"...
, and Les Dudek
Les Dudek
Les Dudek is an American guitarist.-Early years:Les Dudek's father, Harold, was born in Campbell, Nebraska, and was a World War II veteran in the United States Navy. His mother, Alma, born in Brooklyn, was a former Radio City Music Hall Rockette. Les has one older sister, Sandy, who was born in...
, who played with them soon after Duane Allman's death.
Jessica was first released on the band's 1973 album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
Brothers and Sisters
Brothers and Sisters (album)
Brothers and Sisters is the fifth album by The Allman Brothers Band, released in 1973.The group's first album recorded completely after the death of leader Duane Allman, and mostly after the death of bassist Berry Oakley, Brothers and Sisters saw the Allmans reach a commercial peak. The album...
, and has subsequently been used in many musical contexts. A January 2006 Wall Street Journal article referred to the piece as "a true national heirloom." It is widely known as the theme to the BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
motoring programme Top Gear and its popular reformatted revival.
The tune, along with "Ramblin' Man
Ramblin' Man (Allman Brothers Band song)
"Ramblin' Man" is a 1973 song by The Allman Brothers Band, featured on their album Brothers and Sisters. It was written by Dickey Betts, who also sang lead vocals....
", is one of several tracks from the album which reflect a transition for the Allman Brothers foreshadowed by the stylistically similar Betts composition "Blue Sky
Blue Sky (song)
"Blue Sky" is the eighth track by the Allman Brothers Band off the Eat a Peach album.Dickey Betts wrote this about his Native American girlfriend, Sandy "Bluesky" Wabegijig. And for a while, Betts refused to perform this after their 1975 divorce....
" on the band's previous album, Eat a Peach
Eat a Peach
Eat a Peach is a 1972 double album by the American Southern rock group The Allman Brothers Band; it was the last to include founding member and lead slide-guitar player Duane Allman, who was killed in a motorcycle accident on October 29, 1971 while the album was being recorded.-History:This album...
, and accelerated with the deaths of band leader Duane Allman
Duane Allman
Howard Duane Allman was an American guitarist, session musician and the primary co-founder of the southern rock group The Allman Brothers Band...
and bassist Berry Oakley
Berry Oakley
Raymond Berry Oakley III , was an American bassist and one of the founding members of The Allman Brothers Band.-Biography:...
.
The song is named for Jessica Betts, the daughter of Dickey Betts
Dickey Betts
Forrest Richard "Dickey" Betts is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, and composer best known as a founding member of The Allman Brothers Band. He was inducted with the band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and also won with the band a best rock performance Grammy Award for his...
and Sandy Bluesky.
Composition
The tune is in the key of A MajorA major
A major is a major scale based on A, with the pitches A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. Its key signature has three sharps.Its relative minor is F-sharp minor and its parallel minor is A minor...
. The signature melody line, as with all of Dickey Betts
Dickey Betts
Forrest Richard "Dickey" Betts is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, and composer best known as a founding member of The Allman Brothers Band. He was inducted with the band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and also won with the band a best rock performance Grammy Award for his...
' instrumental compositions, is played harmonically among various instruments, in this case, Betts taking the melody on guitar, Chuck Leavell
Chuck Leavell
Chuck Leavell is an American pianist and keyboardist, who was a member of The Allman Brothers Band throughout the height of their popularity, a founding member of the jazz-rock combo Sea Level, a frequently-employed session musician, and later, the keyboardist for Eric Clapton and The Rolling...
playing the top harmony line on the Fender Rhodes electric piano
Electric piano
An electric piano is an electric musical instrument.Electric pianos produce sounds mechanically and the sounds are turned into electrical signals by pickups. Unlike a synthesizer, the electric piano is not an electronic instrument, but electro-mechanical. The earliest electric pianos were invented...
, and Gregg Allman
Gregg Allman
Gregory Lenoir Allman , known as Gregg Allman, is a rock and blues singer, keyboardist, guitarist and songwriter, and a founding member of The Allman Brothers Band. He was inducted with the band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Georgia...
playing the bottom harmony line on the Hammond Organ
Hammond organ
The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
. Leavell also plays grand piano on this tune, playing a solo around the 2:30 mark. Betts plays his guitar solo in the key of D Major
D major
D major is a major scale based on D, consisting of the pitches D, E, F, G, A, B, and C. Its key signature consists of two sharps. Its relative minor is B minor and its parallel minor is D minor....
at 3:45. The acoustic guitar is played by Les Dudek
Les Dudek
Les Dudek is an American guitarist.-Early years:Les Dudek's father, Harold, was born in Campbell, Nebraska, and was a World War II veteran in the United States Navy. His mother, Alma, born in Brooklyn, was a former Radio City Music Hall Rockette. Les has one older sister, Sandy, who was born in...
.
The original version on Brothers and Sisters clocks in at 7:30, although there is a shortened single edit, which cuts out some of the main theme at the end of the piece, trimming it to 4:00 exactly. This version is the one heard on most classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
radio stations, and any kind of various artist compilation on which "Jessica" has been featured. However, most Allman Brothers compilations use the full 7:30 version.
History
"Jessica" was the first Allman Brothers tune recorded with new bassist Lamar WilliamsLamar Williams
Lamar Williams was an American musician, most known as the bassist for The Allman Brothers Band and Sea Level....
after the fatal motorcycle accident of Berry Oakley
Berry Oakley
Raymond Berry Oakley III , was an American bassist and one of the founding members of The Allman Brothers Band.-Biography:...
.
Although not successful as a single, topping out at #65 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart, the tune achieved considerable airplay on progressive rock
Progressive rock (radio format)
Progressive rock is a radio station programming format that prospered in the late 1960s and 1970s, in which the disc jockeys are given wide latitude in what they may play, similar to the freeform format but with the proviso that some kind of rock music is almost always what is played...
and album oriented rock radio and helped make Brothers and Sisters a commercial success. A later live version of "Jessica" won a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
in 1996
Grammy Awards of 1996
The 38th Grammy Awards were held on February 28, 1996. The awards recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year. Alanis Morissette was the night's big winner, scoring four trophies, including Album of the Year.-Award winners:...
, twenty-three years after the initial release, for Best Rock Instrumental Performance
Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance was an honor presented to recording artists for quality instrumental rock performances at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards...
.
Chart performance
| Chart (1973) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary | 68 |
| Canadian RPM Top Singles | 35 |
| Dutch Top 40 | 29 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 65 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary | 29 |
Cover versions
- The alternative rock group They Might Be GiantsThey Might Be GiantsThey Might Be Giants is an American alternative rock band formed in 1982 by John Flansburgh and John Linnell. During TMBG's early years Flansburgh and Linnell were frequently accompanied by a drum machine. In the early 1990s, TMBG became a full band. Currently, the members of TMBG are...
did a cover version of the tune, which was released on their Why Does The Sun Shine? (The Sun Is a Mass of Incandescent Gas) EPWhy Does The Sun Shine? (The Sun Is a Mass of Incandescent Gas)7" vinylPersonnelMusic* John Linnell – accordion, saxophone, bass clarinet, vocals* John Flansburgh – electric guitar, vocals* Brian Doherty – drums, glockenspiel* Kurt Hoffman – clarinet, saxophone* Frank London – trumpet...
.
- Country band Shenandoah does a cover of Jessica at the end of their number one hit "I Got YouI Got You (Shenandoah song)"I Got You" is the title of a song recorded by American country music group Shenandoah. It was released in January 1991 as the third single from their album Extra Mile. The song reached #7 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in March 1991. It also peaked at #4 on the Canadian RPM...
."
- Chuck Leavell did an entirely piano cover version of the tune on the "Southscape" album.
- Jazz fusion band Dixie DregsDixie DregsThe Dixie Dregs are an American band formed in the 1970s. Their mostly instrumental music fuses jazz, southern rock, bluegrass and classical forms in an often unique style.-Formation and early years:...
also did a cover version of this tune on their album "California Screamin'", released in 2000.
- The BBC series Top Gear features a heavier electric version of the tune as its opening theme, produced by Christian Henson, a British soundtrack composer.
- Hank MarvinHank MarvinHank Brian Marvin is an English guitarist, best known as the lead guitarist for The Shadows. The group, which primarily performed instrumentals, was formed as a backing band for vocalist Cliff Richard...
did a cover version of the tune on his 1992 album "Into the Light".
Appearances in popular culture
The tune is perhaps most famous as the opening theme to the original BBC TV show Top Gear, and for the 2002 format of the show, albeit a modernised cover version. In one episode, James MayJames May
James Daniel May is an English television presenter, journalist and writer. He is best known for his role as co-presenter of the award-winning motoring programme Top Gear alongside Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond....
recreated the tune using nothing but exhaust notes from several cars, while in another episode the tune in its full version was heard to be played over the radio (most likely Sacramento Area radio) of the cars which the three presenters tested in America (the Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1
Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1
The Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1 is a high performance version of the Chevrolet Corvette C6. Both the C3 from 1969–1971 and C4 Corvettes from 1990-1995 had ZR-1 models...
, the Dodge Challenger 2008 and the Cadillac CTS-V). "Jessica" is also used for most international versions of Top Gear, including the US version
Top Gear (U.S. TV series)
Top Gear is a motoring television series, based on the BBC series of the same name. The show's presenters are professional racing driver Tanner Foust, actor and comedian Adam Ferrara, and automotive and racing analyst Rutledge Wood. As with the original British version, the show has its own version...
, which used it as its theme only during the first season.
The tune was also featured in the movies Field of Dreams
Field of Dreams
Field of Dreams is a 1989 American fantasy-drama film directed by Phil Alden Robinson and is from the novel Shoeless Joe by W. P. Kinsella...
, Did You Hear About the Morgans?
Did You Hear About the Morgans?
Did You Hear About the Morgans? is a 2009 American romantic comedy film directed and written by Marc Lawrence. Golden Globe winners Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker portray the film's protagonists, Paul and Meryl Morgan, a recently separated New York power couple on the verge of divorce until...
and Lassie
Lassie (1994 film)
Lassie is a 1994 adventure family film directed by Daniel Petrie and featuring the fictional collie Lassie.-Plot:The Turner family moves from the big city to the rural countryside in Virginia, hoping to start a new life. The move creates problems for everyone, especially 13-year old Matt, who...
, and was used as the opening theme tune for the Dr. Dean Edell
Dean Edell
Doctor Dean Edell is an American physician and broadcaster who hosted the Dr. Dean Edell radio program, a syndicated radio talk show which aired live from 1979 until December 10, 2010.- Private life :...
radio show.
More recently, the tune was featured in the video game Guitar Hero II
Guitar Hero II
Guitar Hero II is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems and published by RedOctane. It is the second installment in the Guitar Hero series and is the sequel to Guitar Hero...
, in the "Relentless Riffs" section of the PlayStation 2 version and in the "Return of the Shred" section of the Xbox 360 version. Also made an appearance in the phone version of Guitar Hero 3.
In television series, "Jessica" has been featured in The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
episode Little Big Girl
Little Big Girl
"Little Big Girl" is the twelfth episode of The Simpsons eighteenth season, which was originally broadcast on February 11, 2007. It was written by Don Payne, and directed by Raymond S. Persi. Natalie Portman guest starred as a new character, Darcy. The title is a play on the Dustin Hoffman movie...
and the episode "Randy in Charge" of My Name is Earl
My Name Is Earl
My Name Is Earl is an American television comedy series created by Greg Garcia that was originally broadcast on the NBC television network from September 20, 2005, to May 14, 2009, in the United States...
. In addition, during the Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000 is an American cult television comedy series created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Best Brains, Inc., that ran from 1988 to 1999....
episode The Thing That Couldn't Die
The Thing That Couldn't Die
The Thing that Couldn't Die is a 1958 American black and white horror film from an original screenplay by David Duncan for Universal-International Pictures, produced and directed by Will Cowan.-Plot:...
, Tom Servo
Tom Servo
Tom Servo is a fictional character from the American science fiction comedy television show Mystery Science Theater 3000 . Tom is one of two wise-cracking, robotic main characters of the show, built by Joel Robinson to act as a companion and help stave off space madness as Joel was forced to watch...
would mimic the first few bars whenever someone referred to a character named Jessica by name.
The tune was featured as background music to an AAMCO
AAMCO
AAMCO is an American transmission-repair franchise founded by Robert Morgan and Anthony A. Martino during 1963 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
commercial.
The tune was featured on the "Local on the 8s
Local on the 8s
The Local on the 8s or Local Forecast is the portion of programming where viewers see current weather conditions and local weather forecasts for their respective area on The Weather Channel in the United States...
" monthly playlists several times between 2000 and 2010 on The Weather Channel
The Weather Channel
The Weather Channel is a US cable and satellite television network since May 2, 1982, that broadcasts weather forecasts and weather-related news, along with entertainment programming related to weather 24 hours a day...
.
CFMJ Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
's Leaf Talk with Andy Frost used the song to conclude its programs.
The tune is often played as backgournd music on Angels Stadium of Anaheim's sound system as fans leave the stadium after an Angel's loss.