Folk University
Folk Monday – Doug Jayne – Folk University
So in the Top 5 new adds for one of the Americana Music Chart this morning, I saw a name that I didn’t recognize, Doug Jayne with an interesting album titled Folk University So I went to Rhapsody and found the album, gave it a quick listen. I liked what I heard. So later today, I put the album on the Sansa and have been enjoying it all evening!
Doug Jayne is the host of two radio shows, and co-owns one of the few remaining independent record stores, the Last Record Store, in Santa Rosa, California. He also heads Jackalope Records, a label releasing local artists’ work. Folk University is a collection some of my folk music favorites mostly from the 60s and 70s by artist like Phil Ochs “Draft Dodger Rag”, Gordon Lightfoot “Early Morning Rain”, “Lonesome Traveller” by The Weavers and Kingston Trio, oh and one from the 1860s Stephen Foster ” Hard Times Come Again No More”. My two favorites are fine covers of Fred Neil’s “The Other Side of This Life” and Richard Farina’s “Pack Up Your Sorrows” From an article at Bohemian.com
“…..I really tried to make a record that people would want to listen to. My inspiration was certainly the folk era of the ’60s, which I really enjoyed as a kid. But I realized . . . you know when a kid has a toy, and sees a bigger toy, he drops the one toy and moves on? That’s exactly what happened when I saw the Beatles. No more folk—’I must rock!’”
and on why he chose these songs Jayne says:
“Most of them were chosen because they suited me and my ability. If I were to put together a compilation of folk music, I would probably choose totally different songs.”
Jayne has produced some critically successful albums. He formed an Americana Band Laughing Gravy in 2003. The seven piece group features Allegra Broughton and Sam Page from the band Solid Air, as well as one of Jayne’s long time collaborators, multi-instrumentalist Kevin Russell. Their first album, A Tribute to Gram Parsons was released in 2005 and nominated for a Grammy in the Best Country Album category (The Dixie Chicks won). Jayne’s 2007 release Voices In The Wind(which is on the player for listening tomorrow) received great reviews, spent some time on the Americana Music Charts, and was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Contemporary Folk / Americana Album but lost to Dylan’s Modern Times whose “Only a Hobo: is covered on Folk University!
So if you don’t know these folk songs, welcome to the Folk University, you’re in for a treat! If you’re like me and know them, then sit back and enjoy hearing them sung again by someone who loves them as much as you do! You can check Doug Jayne’s music at his page at efolkmusic.org and at his Myspace page
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Here’s a gem of an album for us old school folkies.
Doug has come up with a wonderful set list consisting of his favorite folk songs from the coffee house days. This is one of the most pleasant listening experiences I’ve had in a long time. Artists covered include Dylan, Lightfoot, Ochs, Neil, Cohen Guthrie and more. You’ll know all of the songs, but there is something about hearing them all in one place, by one voice that makes for a magical listening experience. (Wanna turn a kid on to folk music? Start here and they’ll be on their way.) Village Records
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Doug Jayne’s ‘Folk University’ CD release party
Doug Jayne, co-owner of the Last Record Store in Santa Rosa and leader of the whimsical band, Laughing Gravy, has a local following all his own, partly based on his earlier band, Stupid White People, his annual tributes to Gram Parsons and other adventures.
To celebrate the release of his newest CD, “Folk University,” a 12-song homage to the ’60s folk music boom, Jayne and friends will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, at Sebastopol’s Studio E.
The band will include Sam Page and Allegra Broughton from the Solid Air duo, Kevin Russell, Bobby Lee, Teresa Tudury, Allen Sudduth, Dean Wilson, Dan Ransford and Ron Stinnett.
Admission costs $20, and includes a copy of the CD. The disc will be available starting Sunday, Dec. 5, for $9.99 at the Last Record Store. For information, directions: (707) 542-7143; http://www.northbaylive.com/
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Folk University is a salute to the 60’s Folk Era.
DOUG JAYNE – Folk University (Jackalope)
12 songs newly recorded. Beautifully packaged. The collection includes both familiar and some long-forgotten chestnuts written by the likes of Gordon Lightfoot, Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs, Fred Neil and others. Mostly Americana arrangements with steel guitar, fiddle, dobro and nice harmonies. Doug is a record store owner from Santa Rosa, CA.
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Doug Jayne is a musician and record store owner (The Last Record Show in Santa Rosa CA) with a new album, Folk University, or “Folk U” . The album, which features his Laughing Gravy alumni, is a 12 song musical romp featuring tunes by Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, Phil Ochs and Fred Neil, to name a few. Nice selection of songs, good players, definitely worth a listen. Click below to hear a track >>
I Ain’t Got No Home / / FREE Download / Doug Jayne Artist Page
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Folk U!
Doug Jayne revisits topical tunes with ‘Folk University’
By Brian Griffith
Doug Jayne not only hosts two radio shows, on KRCB-FM and KRSH-FM, and co-owns one of the few remaining independent record stores in the area, the Last Record Store, he also heads Jackalope Records, a label releasing local artists’ work. This week, Jackalope releases Jayne’s own Folk University, his homage to the post-Hootenanny, pre-electric acoustic music of the early ’60s.
“It sounds like a big ‘duh,’” Jayne says on the phone from his Jackalope studio, “but I really tried to make a record that people would want to listen to. My inspiration was certainly the folk era of the ’60s, which I really enjoyed as a kid. But I realized . . . you know when a kid has a toy, and sees a bigger toy, he drops the one toy and moves on? That’s exactly what happened when I saw the Beatles. No more folk—’I must rock!’”
A few years ago, Jayne discovered much of that same forgotten music on his brother’s iPod while reading How Can I Keep from Singing?, David Dunaway’s biography of Pete Seeger. The rediscovery came at a perfect time, when Jayne was unhappy with his own songwriting. “I write a lot of songs that don’t see the light of day,” he says, “and I was inspired by this strong material.” But why these particular tunes? “Most of them were chosen because they suited me and my ability. If I were to put together a compilation of folk music, I would probably choose totally different songs.”
The album features 12 tracks, including songs by Phil Ochs (“Draft Dodger Rag”), Fred Neil (“The Other Side of This Life”), Stephen Foster (“Hard Times Come Again No More”) and Bob Dylan (“Only a Hobo”), among others. Jayne’s release show this weekend is split into two sets: one of material from Folk University and one of original songs, backed by the ever-present talents of his many friends. “I’d probably do better if I worked with strangers—then I could charge more,” he jokes of Jackalope Studios. “But I’d much rather spend a few hours with friends and make a 10th of the dough than with a douchebag band.”
Jayne celebrates the release of Folk University backed by a non-douchebag band on Saturday, Dec. 4, at Studio E in rural Sebastopol. Address provided with ticket. 8pm. $20 admission includes CD. 707.542.7143.
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