Early Jack Jones on JASMINE label

[Gloria]

Mariana: yes, we're talking about the same music and the same Jasmine CD, called This Could Be the Start of Something. Jack only made one full LP for Capitol, called This Love of Mine (caveman cover) - then it got reissued as Jack Jones In Love (closeup photo), then Capitol had Jack record some rock 'n' roll singles, then they fired Jack, and then they licensed out bits and pieces of this catalog for compilation LPs to Pickwick and Sears, plus a U.K. LP called The Romantic Voice of Jack Jones. The new CD is the first time that all of this music has been released together.

Marian: you're probably right about public domain, and that may be why we're seeing this CD issued at the 50-year mark. All you can hope for is that the remastering is done right, even if this CD does appear to be cheaply packaged. I'm sure that Jack would have chosen for this music to never see the light of day again, but this CD does finally offer his entire Capitol output on one product, and that's hard for fans to pass up. I'm the proud owner of Jack's caveman LP too - I used to think that he'd tell the whole story behind the photo, but judging from recent interviews, those days still seem too unpleasant for Jack to want to elaborate on for very long.

[Terence Lee]

I am puzzled that Mariana has received her CD when the Amazon site lists the release date as Nov 23. How is the sound quality Mariana? I hope the CD is not mastered from vinyl.

[mariana44]

Hi Terence, to be quite honest, I do not know how it sounds--it is still sealed, as I have had no time yet to play it. As Is aid previously, I got it direct from "Jasmine records". It is in mono, but apart from that, very little information--it just says "transfers and digital processing by Tall Order Mastering".

[Mark Fox]

I'm guessing it's taken from non-masters but it sounds good to me.
Sleeve notes are a bit sparse but the content is fine.
All the 12 tracks recorded for 'singles'releases and the 11 from the Capitol album.Picture is from the period,back picture is from the'LONDON'era.
Are these recordings really from over 50 years ago?
Personally,I love it-currently in my car-cd changer.
Thanks,Jasmine.

[Marian]

Good to hear you are enjoying it Mark. I wish I'd bought from Jasmine now, but maybe Amazon EU will come up trumps this time.

[mariana44]

I am gathering that "I never had it so good" is another cd---the one with music from "Harbour" etc.

After so long with nothing from JJ , now it seems we now have 1 plus another 2 on the way---just like a number 7 bus !!!!!!!

[Marian]

You've got it Marian! Hopefully a DVD too in the not too distant future.
I've been writing about "I Never Had it So Good" on the Jack Jones thread, which is why you might have missed it.
Marian

[mariana44]

I had not read about the dvd--that is VERY exciting!!

[ROBERT M.]

Jasmine, usually release very good quality CDs

[Mark Fox]

I'm playing it in my car just now-my wife approves-so it must be O.K.

[mariana44]

I listened to part of it last night---I would need to listen to it a few more times to get used to the songs on it--they al sound pleasant enough--but nothing outstanding .

[Gloria]

I'm glad to hear that the sound quality is good - and that I'm not the only one who likes this music. I should be getting my copy Monday or Tuesday.
I actually had some of this music copied to CD some time back, and then to my iPod. At one point I deleted I'm a Fool to Want You, figuring that it interrupted the mood and flow of the other songs, but eventually put it back on - in a strange, twisted way, I guess I like it. Jack seemed to be attempting a more classical style of singing on the traditional pop songs - probably a reflection of the training he received during his high school years. By 1960, his true voice (plus a newfound confidence level) came through when he recorded Shall We Dance with Billy May.
I don't feel that any of the Capitol recordings measure up to what Jack accomplished at Kapp, but I still enjoy the early songs, and look forward to being able to play them all together.

[mariana44]

Gloria, that is strange you mentioning about Jack findng his TRUE VOICE
on the "Shall we dance" album, as I thought that this album [Jasmine records], there were many songs where , if I had not known it was JJ singing, i really do not think i would have recognised the voice--i am not saying there was anything wrong--but not the JJ that I am accustomed to listening to.

[Gloria]

Mariana: I get the impression that Jack felt that he was supposed to sing that way - it's more in the style of Perry Como or 40s-era Sinatra. Maybe his father's classical influence made him feel that way, and it didn't help that the folks at Capitol were totally clueless about his talent. Jack's voice was made for modern pop, and it had a bit of a jazz undertone, which he acquired from growing up during the popularity of West Coast Jazz. With Kapp, Jack was finally working with gifted people, and he learned to relax and let his unique voice emerge (but if I were in Jack's shoes, and being asked to perform in front of Billy May's orchestra at the age of 22, I can't imagine finding the poise and confidence that he did).

[Mark Fox]

Let's hope for a CD release of'SHALL WE DANCE'-long overdue!