Jake in a Box | ||||
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Box set by | ||||
Released | May 2006 | |||
Genre | Folk | |||
Label | EMI | |||
Producer | Norman Newell | |||
Jake Thackray chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | link |
The Guardian | link |
Jake in a Box is a 4-CD box set retrospective of the songs of Jake Thackray, recorded by EMI from 1967 to 1976. It includes his four studio albums, The Last Will and Testament of Jake Thackray (1967), Jake's Progress (1969), Bantam Cock (1972) and On Again! On Again! (1977), and six singles, digitally remastered, plus outtakes from the Last Will and Testament sessions, and songs recorded for an abandoned album in 1970.
All tracks are written by Jake Thackray, except where noted
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Lah-Di-Dah" (From The Last Will and Testament of Jake Thackray , 1967) | 3:18 | |
2. | "Country Bus" (From The Last Will and Testament of Jake Thackray, 1967) | 3:59 | |
3. | "The Cactus" (From The Last Will and Testament of Jake Thackray, 1967) | 3:27 | |
4. | "Scallywag" (From The Last Will and Testament of Jake Thackray, 1967) | 4:33 | |
5. | "The Black Swan" (From The Last Will and Testament of Jake Thackray, 1967) | 3:06 | |
6. | "Jumble Sale" (From The Last Will and Testament of Jake Thackray, 1967) | 3:38 | |
7. | "The Little Black Foal" (From The Last Will and Testament of Jake Thackray, 1967) | 3:09 | |
8. | "Personal Column" (From The Last Will and Testament of Jake Thackray, 1967) | 4:03 | |
9. | "Ulysses" (From The Last Will and Testament of Jake Thackray, 1967) | 4:46 | |
10. | "The Statues" (From The Last Will and Testament of Jake Thackray, 1967) | 3:45 | |
11. | "The Last Will And Testament of Jake Thackray" (From The Last Will and Testament of Jake Thackray, 1967) | 3:03 | |
12. | "Remember Bethlehem (The Intake School Carol)" (Single, 1967) | 3:08 | |
13. | "Joseph" (Single, 1967) | 3:32 | |
14. | "La Di Da (Tra La La)" (Single, 1967) | Thackray/Boris Bergman | 3:18 |
15. | "Le Cygne Noir" (Single, 1967) | 3:07 | |
16. | "Country Girl" (From Jake's Progress , 1969) | 3:34 | |
17. | "Family Tree" (From Jake's Progress, 1969) | 3:22 | |
18. | "Sophie" (From Jake's Progress, 1969) | 3:00 | |
19. | "Worried Brown Eyes" (From Jake's Progress, 1969) | 3:43 | |
20. | "On The Shelf" (From Jake's Progress, 1969) | 3:22 | |
21. | "Salvation Army Girl" (From Jake's Progress, 1969) | 2:54 | |
22. | "The Blacksmith and the Toffee-Maker" (From Jake's Progress, 1969) | Adapted by Thackray from a story by Laurie Lee | 4:29 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "The Hole" (From Jake's Progress, 1969) | 3:44 |
2. | "Caroline Diggeby-Pratte" (From Jake's Progress, 1969) | 3:07 |
3. | "Grandad" (From Jake's Progress, 1969) | 3:28 |
4. | "Mrs Murphy" (From Jake's Progress, 1969) | 2:54 |
5. | "One Eyed Isaac" (From Jake's Progress, 1969) | 2:30 |
6. | "The Nurse" (From Jake's Progress, 1969) | 2:07 |
7. | "The Castleford Ladies Magic Circle" (From Jake's Progress, 1969) | 2:27 |
8. | "Leopold Alcocks" (1970, previously unreleased) | 3:40 |
9. | "The Policeman's Jig" (1970, previously unreleased) | 2:35 |
10. | "The Shepherdess" (1970, previously unreleased) | 2:40 |
11. | "Pass Milord The Rooster Juice" (1970, previously unreleased) | 2:59 |
12. | "The Vicar's Missus" (1970, previously unreleased) | 2:33 |
13. | "The Ladies' Basic Freedom Polka" (1970, previously unreleased) | 3:15 |
14. | "My Roly Poly Girl" (1970, previously unreleased) | 3:08 |
15. | "My Pipe My Boots and My Lord" (1970, previously unreleased) | 3:56 |
16. | "The Kirkstall Road Girl" (1970, previously unreleased) | 2:45 |
17. | "Freda" (1970, previously unreleased) | 4:58 |
18. | "The Lodger" (1970, previously unreleased) | 3:59 |
19. | "Bantam Cock" (From Bantam Cock , 1972) | 2:51 |
20. | "Fine Bay Pony" (From Bantam Cock, 1972) | 2:48 |
21. | "The Singer" (From Bantam Cock, 1972) | 2:04 |
22. | "The Girl with the Fragile Eyes" (From Bantam Cock, 1972) | 2:55 |
23. | "Go Little Swale" (From Bantam Cock, 1972) | 2:39 |
24. | "Jolly Captain" (From Bantam Cock, 1972) | 3:33 |
25. | "Isabel Makes Love on National Monuments" (From Bantam Cock, 1972) | 3:34 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Brother Gorilla (Le Gorille)" (From Bantam Cock, 1972) | Georges Brassens/Thackray | 2:54 |
2. | "The Girl in the Window" (From Bantam Cock, 1972) | 2:52 | |
3. | "It Was Only A Gypsy" (From Bantam Cock, 1972) | 2:31 | |
4. | "Old Molly Metcalfe" (From Bantam Cock, 1972) | 3:45 | |
5. | "Sister Josephine" (From Bantam Cock, 1972) | 3:23 | |
6. | "Lullaby" (From Bantam Cock, 1972) | 1:11 | |
7. | "Country Boy" (Single, 1972) | 2:55 | |
8. | "Country Boy (Single)" (1972, previously unreleased) | 3:40 | |
9. | "The Prisoner" (Previously unreleased) | 3:20 | |
10. | "On Again! On Again!" (From On Again! On Again! , 1977) | 4:15 | |
11. | "To Do With You" (From On Again! On Again!, 1977) | 4:22 | |
12. | "The Ballad of Billy Kershaw" (From On Again! On Again!, 1977) | 4:34 | |
13. | "The Rain on the Mountainside" (From On Again! On Again!, 1977) | 2:46 | |
14. | "Isabella (Marinette)" (From On Again! On Again!, 1977) | Brassens/Thackray | 1:43 |
15. | "I Stayed Off Work Today" (From On Again! On Again!, 1977) | 4:52 | |
16. | "The Kiss" (From On Again! On Again!, 1977) | 3:53 | |
17. | "The Poor Sod" (From On Again! On Again!, 1977) | 1:18 | |
18. | "The Hair of the Widow of Bridlington" (From On Again! On Again!, 1977) | 3:51 | |
19. | "Over To Isobel (Je Rejoindrai Ma Belle)" (From On Again! On Again!, 1977) | Brassens/Thackray | 2:04 |
20. | "The Brigadier" (From On Again! On Again!, 1977) | 3:05 | |
21. | "Joseph" (From On Again! On Again!, 1977) | 2:46 | |
22. | "Famous People" (Previously unreleased) | 2:07 | |
23. | "The Gravedigger" (Previously unreleased) | 3:57 | |
24. | "Family Grave (Demo)" (Previously unreleased) | 3:44 | |
25. | "Little Thomas Haverley" (Previously unreleased) | 1:39 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "The Little Black Foal" (1967, previously unreleased) | 3:06 | |
2. | "Ulysses" (1967, previously unreleased) | 3:48 | |
3. | "Scallywag" (1967, previously unreleased) | 4:08 | |
4. | "Jumble Sale" (1967, previously unreleased) | 2:57 | |
5. | "I've Been Left on the Shelf" (1967, previously unreleased) | 3:20 | |
6. | "The Blacksmith and the Toffee Maker" (1967, previously unreleased) | Adapted by Thackray from a story by Laurie Lee | 4:13 |
7. | "The Cactus" (1967, previously unreleased) | 3:19 | |
8. | "Lah-Di-Dah" (1967, previously unreleased) | 2:52 | |
9. | "Country Bus" (1967, previously unreleased) | 3:16 | |
10. | "Family Tree" (1967, previously unreleased) | 2:26 | |
11. | "The Statues" (1967, previously unreleased) | 3:16 | |
12. | "The Last Will And Testament of Jake Thackray" (1967, previously unreleased) | 2:34 | |
13. | "Greasy Joan (One eyed Isaac)" (1967, previously unreleased) | 2:20 | |
14. | "Dog" (1967, previously unreleased) | 2:13 | |
15. | "Grandad" (1967, previously unreleased) | 3:04 | |
16. | "Isabella" (1967, previously unreleased) | Brassens/Thackray | 1:33 |
17. | "Salvation Army Girl" (1967, previously unreleased) | 2:39 | |
18. | "Isobel" (1967, previously unreleased) | 2:19 | |
19. | "Slowly Our Eyes" (1967, previously unreleased) | 2:37 | |
20. | "Sophie" (1967, previously unreleased) | 2:59 | |
21. | "The KG Girl (The Kirkstall Road Girl)" (1967, previously unreleased) | 2:20 | |
22. | "The Nurse" (1967, previously unreleased) | 1:37 | |
23. | "The Shepherdess" (1967, previously unreleased) | 2:26 | |
24. | "Remember Bethlehem" (1967, previously unreleased) | 3:23 | |
25. | "Joseph (including bonus track "Le Cygne Noir")" (1967, previously unreleased) | 9:33 |
"Dazed and Confused" is a song written by American singer-songwriter Jake Holmes in 1967. Performed in a folk rock-style, he recorded it for his debut album "The Above Ground Sound" of Jake Holmes. Although some concluded that it was about a bad acid trip, Holmes insists the lyrics refer to the effects of a girl's indecision on ending a relationship.
Georges Charles Brassens was a French singer-songwriter and poet.
John Philip "Jake" Thackray was an English singer-songwriter, poet, humourist and journalist. Best known in the late 1960s and early 1970s for his topical comedy songs performed on British television, his work ranged from satirical to bawdy to sentimental to pastoral, with a strong emphasis on storytelling, making him difficult to categorise.
"Let's Spend the Night Together" is a song written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, and originally released by the Rolling Stones as a double A-sided single together with "Ruby Tuesday" in January 1967. It also appears as the opening track on the American version of their album Between the Buttons. The song has been covered by various artists, including David Bowie in 1973.
"Daydream Believer" is a song composed by American songwriter John Stewart shortly before he left the Kingston Trio. It was originally recorded by the Monkees, with Davy Jones singing the lead. The single reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in December 1967, remaining there for four weeks, and peaked at No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart. It was the Monkees' third and last No. 1 hit in the U.S.
"Valleri" is a song written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart for the Monkees. The single peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent two weeks at #1 on the Cash Box chart in early 1968, and reached #1 in Canada and #12 in the UK.
"A Place in the Sun" is a 1966 soul single by American and Motown musician Stevie Wonder. Written by Ronald Miller and Bryan Wells, it was one of Wonder's first songs to contain social commentary. "A Place in the Sun" was his third Top Ten hit since 1963, hitting number 9 on the Billboard pop singles chart and number 3 on the R&B charts. Billboard described the song as a "folk-oriented release" to which Wonder gives an "exciting treatment." The Originals and The Andantes sang background vocals on the recording. Stevie Wonder also recorded a version of the song in Italian titled "Il Sole è di Tutti".
"The Last Time" is a song by the English rock band the Rolling Stones featuring the Andrew Oldham Orchestra, and the band's first original song released as an A-single in the UK. Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, and recorded at RCA Studios in Hollywood, California in January 1965, "The Last Time" was the band's third UK single to reach number one on the UK Singles Chart, spending three weeks at the top in March and early April 1965. It reached number two in the Irish Singles Chart in March 1965, and was released on the US version of the album Out of Our Heads on 30 July 1965.
"Tears of Rage" is a song with lyrics written by Bob Dylan and music by Richard Manuel. Dylan and the Band first recorded the song in 1967, but it was not released until 1975 on The Basement Tapes album. In 1968, the Band recorded it for their debut album Music from Big Pink.
Ike Isaacs was a Burmese-English jazz guitarist, best known for his work with violinist Stéphane Grappelli.
The Camera & the Song is a compilation album composed of songs by various folk bands and artists like Fivepenny Piece or Tír na nÓg from the BBC Two television series The Camera & the Song. The songs were broadcast in the early 1970s and this LP released in 1975.
The Last Will and Testament of Jake Thackray is the debut album by Jake Thackray. It was produced by Norman Newell in August 1967 and released on LP that year by EMI in the UK and Philips Records in the USA. The record company, unsure of how the public would respond to Thackray's lugubrious voice accompanied only by his guitar, added orchestral arrangements by Roger Webb and Geoff Love to many of the songs.
Jake's Progress is the second album by Jake Thackray. It was recorded at Abbey Road Studios, produced by Norman Newell, and released on LP by EMI in 1968. The album is currently out of print, but its songs, digitally remastered, are included in the four-CD retrospective Jake in a Box, which also includes alternate versions of eight of the songs – "Left on the Shelf", "The Blacksmith and the Toffee-Maker", "Family Tree", "One-Eyed Isaac", "Grandad", "Salvation Army Girl", "Sophie" and "Nurse" – recorded during the sessions for The Last Will and Testament of Jake Thackray in 1967. "The Blacksmith and the Toffee-Maker" was adapted by Thackray from a story from Laurie Lee's Cider with Rosie.
Bantam Cock is the third studio album by Jake Thackray. It was produced by Norman Newell and released on LP by EMI in 1972. Musical direction was by Geoff Love. The album is currently out of print, but its songs, digitally remastered, are included in the 4-CD retrospective Jake in a Box.
Live Performance is a live album by Jake Thackray. Recorded at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London in 1970, it was released on LP by EMI in 1971 and reissued in 1976. An expanded version was released on CD in 2006.
The Very Best of Jake Thackray is the name of two compilation albums by Jake Thackray, the first released on LP in 1975, and the second on CD in 2003. They were both released on EMI records and produced by Norman Newell. Although the two albums share the same title, their track lists greatly differ, and their covers each depict a different photograph of Thackray, albeit from the same photoshoot.
On Again! On Again! is the fourth studio album by Jake Thackray. It was produced by Norman Newell and released on LP by EMI in 1977. The album is currently out of print, but its songs, digitally remastered, are included in the four-CD retrospective Jake in a Box.
Jake Thackray and Songs was a six-part television series recorded in 1980 and broadcast on BBC2 in 1981, in which Jake Thackray and guests performed songs live in a variety of venues. A live album of the same name, recorded at the Stables Theatre, Wavendon, Milton Keynes, as part of the sessions for the TV series, was released on LP by Dingle’s Records in 1981. All six episodes of the TV series still exist in the BBC archives with Thackray's performances and some of those of his guests released as a DVD in October 2014. The album remained out of print and circulation for some time, until it was released on Spotify in 2022.
Lah-Di-Dah is a compilation album by Jake Thackray, released by EMI on LP and CD in 1991.
"He Touched Me" is a gospel song written by Bill Gaither in 1963.