Obscure discography nuggets

[mark sturdy]

Through my occasional trawling of internet backwaters in search of interesting Jake bits, I’ve come across a few releases that aren’t mentioned on the main discography on this website. How many of you have these in your collection? I don’t!

‘Where Would You Rather Be Tonight?’ – various artists compilation including an exclusive recording of ‘Tortoise’

‘The Camera and the Song’ – compilation of music from the BBC series of the same name. Haven’t heard this, but assume Jake’s version of Country Bus here is from the series rather than the usual LP version. Can anyone confirm?

This is the weirdest of the lot – the soundtrack album of Richard Stilgoe’s 1988 musical Body Work, featuring Jake as The Heart! The songs are all Stilgoe’s rather than Jake’s, so of limited interest to most of us I suspect, but quite a curio, especially as it’s (I think) the last material Jake released in his lifetime.

[Hugh Williams]

Excellent find, Mark.
I seem to recall watching “The Camera and The Song” but have no real recollection of anything specific.
The Richard Stilgoe “musical” is definitely a new one on me, which although not a complete surprise, is a bit strange because I like his work and saw him in concert many years ago with the late (great) Peter Skellern in Chester’s (long gone) Gateway Theatre (saw Jake there too a couple of times !).
Anyway, thanks very much for the posting.
Good man.
Hughie

[Pam]

Amongst my many LPs, CDs, etc of Jake, I actually have the audio cassette tape of “Body Work”, which I must have listened to, many years ago. But I can’t remember anything about it!

[Hugh Williams]

Do you still have the capability of playing the cassette, Pam ? (I know a lot of people have dumped their old equipment : I haven’t
, but there again I’m something of a hoarder !)
Assuming that you do and that you do “play it again, Pam” (see what I did there ?) could you let us know your verdict ?
Personally I’m intrigued.
Hughie

[mark sturdy]

The tracks are on YouTube. Jake’s only on two of them I think, and only briefly. In fine voice though!

https://youtu.be/r-TDQkJ2vlc

https://youtu.be/LLlUAu2_U3s

[Hugh Williams]

Well, well !
Fascinating.
Thanks for that, Mark.

[Paul]

The Camera and the Song album features the familiar studio version of Country Bus, I believe.

I have copies of both Where Would You Rather Be Tonight? and Body Work. The former features Tortoise, and is Jake’s final release of a new original song. Body Work is indeed an oddity, and Jake doesn’t sound at his best, as by this stage in his career his voice was in decline.

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