I’m sure Jakko will be familiar to at least a few members of the parish. It’s an absolutely fascinating memoir – one of the few where the “I was brought up in a terraced house…” is as fascinating a journey as the later “…and then I auditioned for” chapters. Eminently readable – not least because of the exquisitely parsed text, which is broken down into bite-sized paragraphs throughout. Inevitably he comes across heroes and legends early on in his career (So far we’ve been introduced to Ronnie Scott, Bill Bruford, Allan Holdsworth, Dave Stewart – no, the other one – and, er, Nicholas Lyndhurst) and his recollections are framed just the right side of wry to land perfectly. I’m only up to his time with 64 Spoons (nope, me neither) and I’m absolutely hooked.
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https://kingmakerpublishing.com/jakko-m-jakszyk/
Based on your final sentence, I’m guessing that I may be one of the few owners of The Legendary 64 Spoons album (Landing on a Rat Column)…
…and I have Jakko’s book, although I haven’t started it yet…
I mean, from the descriptions contained within, they sound terrific!
Great band, one of my favourite obscure acts.
Oooh, thanks for the heads-up. Jakko is one of my mostest musical heroes. Most recently I love his work with KC especially – it seems to be absolutely what he was made for. Wish I’d been able to buy this ahead of my forthcoming Irish jaunt, but I’ll order it and have it as something to lighten the blow on returning to these shores.
I’m reading it as well – he’s a great writer. His story is a lot about finding who he really is, in terms of his heritage… really interesting.
What you meant to say is “the PROPER Dave Stewart”, Not the idiot with the goatee who can’t enjoy his wealth.
Another shout-out for all-round good egg, Jakko.
There is an internet argument which suggests that you can tell when a popular turn has jumped the shark when they either employ a horn section or get Dave Stewart in as a producer.
Girlie backing singers where they’ve never been (needed) before, would be a third.
Self-titled album that’s four or five albums in, that’s another.
Difficult seventh album of covers/standards.
I bloody hate it when the “great American songbook” is the source of same, all bloody tuxes and big band bollox……
I can admire Sinatra and his ilk when they did it, first time, but Rod, Seal, Robbie, pur-lease…. It is the equivalent of Oasis doing a set of 70’s Prog classics.
(Which would be briefly of interest but would unlikely end well…..)
It would be amazing to watch Liam Gallagher scowling while Noel and the boys wind their way through Tarkus.
I was sort of imagining Yours Is No Disgrace…..
This + the one above describe Southern Accents by Tom Petty, which I am listening to now. That was one of those albums where they just keep adding stuff in the hope that it somehow gets better. I always struggled with this one although some people love it.
The whole Jimmy Iovine/Shelly Yakus axis was once a sign of career trouble.
Oh crikey, yes. See also: any Jam & Lewis production, exhibit A: Crash by The Human League.
Oh yes, that one should not have got past the drawing board. There was a Herb Alpert album produced by those two as well!
What he meant to say was “Dave Stewart AND Barbara Gaskin”. Jakko plays on a few of their albums, often alongside other KC member Gavin Harrison.
Beany!!!!
Whoops, I hadwritten a review of the full book ready for publication date which I have put up anyway .
It’s like the extended box set of this one. 🙂
The unreleased demos.