SOUNDTRACK: THE JACK FAMILY-“You Are My Sunshine” (Moose: The Compilation, 1991).
Back in the 1990s, it was common to buy a compilation or soundtrack or even a band’s album based on one song. Only to then find that you didn’t really like anything else on it.
Maybe that single sounded like nothing else on the album. Maybe the movie was almost entirely one genre, but they had that one song that you liked over the credits. Or maybe the compilation was for something you didn’t know, but a song you really wanted was on it, too.
With streaming music that need not happen anymore. Except in this case.
I bought this compilation, used, recently exclusively for one song, Rheostatics’ “Woodstuck.” It’s a goofy song and this is the only place you can get the studio version. The actual compilation was not well documented, so I didn’t know what the other bands on it might sound like. It turns out to be a compilation for Ontario based Moose Records which specialized in Rock, Folk, World & Country. They put out another compilation in 1992 and that’s all I can find out about them.
According to Reno Jack’s biography: The Jack Family was a bunch of musicians who jammed out to whichever song was chosen by whoever was singing. Unrehearsed and free floating each member choosing an alias with the last name Jack just having fun away from the pressures of presenting original music. The band had names like Reno Jack, Bunk “Everyone Drums” Jack, Chief Don Jack, Mercedes Jack, Monterey Jack, Nevada Jack, One-Eyed Jack, Y “Tip” Jack and The Jackets backing singers.
This is the slowest, mopiest take on “You Are My Sunshine” I have ever heard. Reno Jack is know for “country blues” and this version sounds like the most depressing part of both genres.
[READ: July 30, 2019] “The Pancake Supper”
Thomas suggested that all of the teaching analysts go out for a pancake supper twice a year. Not at the fancy pancake house, but at the modest open-all night Pancake House & Bar.
Because Breakfast foods, except for cereals, that contain inordinate amounts of sugar, have, in my experience, a comforting, antidepressant quality.
The first to arrive was Manuel Escobar who disagreed with that sentiment: “I suppose that is true is you are an American.”
Escobar flirted with the waitress. He also wanted to make love to Thomas’ wife. Thomas was introspective about this:
It has occurred to me from time to time that an affair between this man and my wife could be harmless enough, and might solve a variety of problems in my home life.
Up next was Maria who immediately praised Escobar’s work. (more…)
I Just Read About That... 