We were getting to a very important bit.....
Jake Thackray was a dyed in the blood Yorkshireman. He lived in an era before 'Political Correctness' was invented. And that is one of the great joys of this collection of his music and lyrics. He wrote songs about love, relationships, politics, class divisions, sex, hypocrisy and corruption. All the things that went on then and still go on today. But in Jake's day they called a spade a spade. Nagging wives, irritating in-laws, scabby cats, scruffy dogs, disrespect for figures of authority. And just about everyone and everything thwarting his attempts establish or maintain a sex life! Its based not in hatred. Just the truth...that we all think or recognise, but dare not mention these days sadly. His songs are honest, yet tender, bitter yet sardonic, melodic yet melancholy, sarcastic yet ultimately sympathetic, particularly towards life's loners and outcasts, the lost souls, the sad souls. There is all of life here. And all of death. Bizzare characters that seem so eccentric but so real that you KNOW there must be a 'Castleford Lady', or an 'Isabel' Or a 'Sister Josephine' out there somewhere! And you only have to read the papers to know that up and down the country the 'law' are still doing the 'Policeman's Jig'.
At times he is Nick Drake, but with a sense of humour, at times he is he is a cynical Matt Monroe. At times he reminds me of a singing version of Harold Steptoe, or Tony Hancock. Its hard to tell whether he has pretentions to greater things or whether his true genius is just to be himself. Either way, he is always Jake Thackray. And for that we should be thankful. A great musician, skilful guitarist, lyrical poet and a fine singer with a deep lugubrious voice that laments of longing and loneliness, dreams of pert little bottoms and silky skin, but ends up at a crummy little Jumble Sale! Sometimes with apparent success, but in ultimately he finds 'the dog in the dogma of romance, the Scallywag waiting to steal the girl, or simply accepts that for some (many) true love and romance are not meant to be, or not worth the disappointments, so just set the table for one. As Esther Rantzen used to say, after Jake did his spot on her show. 'That's Life!' And for Jake Thackray, and indeed for most of us, sadly it is! Fortunately, Jake left us with a legacy that almost makes life worth living, if only by listening to these songs for long enough to find out that it isn't!Read full review
