Tom Jans - 3 albums

There are not many who heard of Tom Jans but those who did all heard of Tom Waits. But not all who heard of Tom Waits heard of Tom Jans. About 35 years ago Tom Jans was as much an artist's artist as Tom Waits. The larger part of the public knew their names only by reading. Waits' name was in a kind of hip Apache-style on the sleeve of The Eagles "On the Border" as the writer of OL'55 and Jans' name was on an Elvis record. He wrote "Loving Arms", since then covered by just about everyone (from Millie Jackson to the Walker Brothers and the Dixie Chicks). By the mid-seventies both were solidly anchored on the Westcoast. Remember these are the years TW sang, voluntary or not, alongside Jackson Browne on the Bonnie Raitt-album "Homeplate" and wrote "Tijuana" with Jack "Peaceful Easy Feeling" Tempchin. Waits & Jans must have known each other from this time on. West Hollywood wasn't bigger than it is now and besides that there was ... Bette Midler who seemed to be on friendly terms with both Toms in those days. After his death she put up an advertisement to his memory in Billboard in which the lyrics of "My Mother's Eyes" were printed.

Tom Jans started as a more or less conventional folksinger. He made a record together with Mimi Farina (Joan Baez' sister) and an untitled solo-album for A&M in 1972. At this point Jans got in touch with Lowell George and he started to work with the clan around Little Feat. Two minor masterpieces came from that: "The Eyes of an Only Child" in 1975 and "Dark Blonde" in 1976. What made them special is the original perspective in the songs and their wide scope. Intense love songs are combined with songs that deal with the state of society, the Spanish Franco-regime etc. and it all seems to fit in. What keeps it together is autobiography. In fact the two records seem to be two episodes out of a larger work. This guy was trying to give shape to his life by putting it on records.



Tracks:
Margarita
Old time feeling (Tom Jans & Will Jennings)
Tender memory (Tom Jans & Will Jennings)
Slippin' away (Troy Seals & Eddie Selser)
Green River
Blue sky rider (Tom Jans & Will Jennings)
Loving arms
Free and easy
Meet me at the border (Jackie de Shannon)
Hart's Island

Credits: Lonnie Mack, Troy Seals, Reggie Young, David Briggs, Mike Leech, Kenny Malone, Weldon Myrick, Norm Rea, Mentor Williams, Kris Kristofferson, Dobie Gray. Produced by Mentor Williams.





Tracks:
Ready to roll
Why don't you love me (Jans/Shelley)
Bluer than you
Fineline
Distant cannon fire
Young man in trouble
Rosarita
Back on my feet again
Starlight

Credits: Kelly Shanahan, Kerry Hatch, Jerry Swallow, Scott Shelley, Bill Payne, Ernie Watts, David Paich, Mike Utley, Fred Tackett. Produced by Joe Wissart.





Tracks:
Carolina
Charlotte (Farina)
Kings and Queens (Farina/Jans)
The great white horse (Buck Owens/ L Scott)
Reach out (Farina)
Madman (Farina/Jans)
In the quiet morning (Farina)
Letter to Jesus (Farina)
After the sugar harvest (Farina/Jans)
No need to be lonely

Credits: Mimi Farina, Craig Doerge, Jim Keltner, Leland Sklar, Emil Richards, Edgar Lustgarten, Russ Kunkel, Sneaky Pete. Produced by Michael Jackson