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        Not Pete Atkin >> Off-topic >> Jake T on BBC FOUR tonight
        
(Message started by: Seán Kelly on Today at 17:43)

Title: Jake T on BBC FOUR tonight
Post by Seán Kelly on Today at 17:43

I know this is well off-topic - and I am not sure I see any link between his work and that of PA/CJ (discuss :) ) - but knowing there is some overlap in audience I thought I would mention that, for those who can receive it, there are a couple of Jake Thackray programmes on BBC Four tonight - starting at 11.40pm with an hour long documentary followed by half an hour of tv performances.
Seán

Title: Re: Jake T on BBC FOUR tonight
Post by Gerry Smith on Today at 23:44

I saw the show last night (twice!). I agree that there are few direct comparisons between the output of JT and that of PA/CJ. Thought it was interesting though that JT should be considered a troubador in the true French tradition whilst we consider PA an English Chansonnier! Interesting too that JT made his name in folk clubs, where he, as PA were somewhat out of genre.

Title: Re: Jake T on BBC FOUR tonight
Post by Ian Chippett on 08.10.06 at 11:13

Gerry wrote:

<<Thought it was interesting though that JT should be considered a troubador in the true French tradition whilst we consider PA an English Chansonnier! Interesting too that JT made his name in folk clubs, where he, as PA were somewhat out of genre. >>

JT owed an awful lot to Georges Brassens even though he had his own distinctive qualities: he even translated (freely) "Le Gorille" which was one of GB's greatest moments. I don't think Pete can be considered as a "chansonnier" in the same way apart from the lyrical interest of his songs.

As for the folk club thing, can anyone think of a British singer-songwriter from the 70's who made it any other way? You had to be part of a band. There was no other circuit available.

For lovers of the chanson, try John Greaves' album on Le Chant du Monde called, er, "Chansons" which includes a brief contribution from Robert Wyatt, another of the great "English" singers. He's also preparing an album of settings of our old friend the obsolete M. Verlaine which should be with us shortly.

Ian C

Title: Re: Jake T on BBC FOUR tonight
Post by naomi on 08.10.06 at 20:26

I watched the programmes wide-eyed with delight - and with astonishment that I could have not known all about the wondrous Jake T before !!

Yes, of course I used to see him on TV in the 1970s - but I must have been too young (and/or too ignorant) to have understood what he was all about. Well, that's my plea in mitigation.

I managed to find out about Jacques Brel in the meantime - but not, until this weekend, about Mr T !!

Naomi

Title: Re: Jake T on BBC FOUR tonight
Post by BogusTrumper on 14.10.06 at 22:06

on 10/08/06 at 20:26:07, naomi wrote :

I managed to find out about Jacques Brel in the meantime

Naomi

I got lucky - I saw the American Film Theatre release of "Jacques Brel is alive and well and living in Paris" when it came out (1974? 75?).

I still remember it fondly

Title: Re: Jake T on BBC FOUR tonight
Post by Seán Kelly on 17.10.06 at 17:33

Delighted to have connected you and Jake Naomi. I'd love to know, when you have done further research, which if any Thackray items we might expect sneaking into your own repertoire in the future - a tough set of choices I suspect :)
Seán

Title: Re: Jake T on BBC FOUR tonight
Post by Secret Drinker on 23.10.06 at 11:16

on 10/17/06 at 17:33:06, Seán Kelly wrote :

May I propose The Hair of the Widow of Bridlington? That lends itself well to a female singer (unlike, say, On Again! On Again! which probably doesn't) :)

Lyrics here (http://www.jakethackray.com/content/view/115/26/) (and you'll find the lyrics of all JT's songs on the same site)

Cheers

Paul

Title: Re: Jake T on BBC FOUR tonight
Post by naomi on 31.10.06 at 16:39

Very many thanks, gents.

I had in mind "The Black Swan" (a lovely song, which also appears on the website in French) - but yes, the "Widow of Brid" would be fun to try. Having said that, don't get me wrong: it's hard work to do justice to such high-quality compositions, however enjoyable that work may be !!

I haven't yet managed to track down sheet music for Mr Thackray's songs, so if anyone has any clues whether they exist in piano/voice versions I'd be grateful if they could let me know.

It's true that many of Mr T's songs can only be sung by a man - and much of their appeal lies in the persona of the wry yet romantic Yorkshireman behind them.

As with PA/CJ's work, I remain convinced that if these songs were given more airtime, the fanbase would increase exponentially. After all, in the 1970s the late Mr T was a favourite with BBC1 audiences. Let's hope that the BBC now shows the BBC4 programmes about him on one of its mainstream channels - rather than confining them to its minority channel.

Many thanks again, Seán and Paul.

Naomi

Title: Re: Jake T on BBC FOUR tonight
Post by Kevin Cryan on 01.11.06 at 11:24

Naomi,

As far as I know, Thackray's songs have never (officially) been transcribed for voice and piano.

There are some guitar and voice arrangements available on The Jake Thackray Website (http://www.jakethackray.com/content/category/3/66/26), and on the Musicroom.com site you'll find Jake Thackray: Song Album Volume 1 (http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/017849/details.html), an album of songs, which includes Lah-Di-Dah ,The Poor Sod, Worried Brown Eyes, and The Last Will And Testament Of Jake Thackray, again arranged for guitar and voice, but I imagine you know about these two sites already.

Not much help, is it? Sorry about that.

Kevin Cryan