Out today, on Spencer P Jones’ birthday, Beast Records and Spooky Records present ALL THE WAY WITH SPJ Vol.1, a unique international tribute to New Zealand-born, Australian rock’n’roll cult hero and underground icon Spencer P Jones.
Spencer P Jones, who died August 21 2018 at the age of 61, was a noted guitarist and singer-songwriter, known for his work with the Beasts of Bourbon and the Johnnys (and wider associations with artists including Rowland S. Howard and the Drones) as well as his ‘solo’ work with a succession of backing bands. He was also something of a gun for hire who worked with a number of international acts including, most famously, the Gun Club. Although he chose the underground as his primary base of operations, he occasionally worked with some of Australia’s biggest names, Paul Kelly and Renee Geyer included. Those are Spencer’s guitar licks you’ve heard countless times on ‘How To Make Gravy’.
Years in the making – indeed Spencer was able to work on a number of tracks early on in the piece – ALL THE WAY WITH SPJ Vol.1 is a fitting tribute to this internationally celebrated artist. There are some significant internationals included, included old friends the Violent Femmes, old Gun Club bandmate Kid Congo (also of Cramps and Bad Seeeds fame) and great American singer-songwriter Alejandro Escovedo, but the cast in primarily Australian and includes friends and fans like Adalita, Chris Bailey of the Saints, Jim Moginie of Midnight Oil, the Drones, Claire Birchall, Hoss and more.
The release of ALL THE WAY WITH SPJ Vol.1 comes ahead of the soon-to-be-announced publication of a Spender P Jones biography by Melbourne author Patrick Emery.
ALL THE WAY WITH SPJ Vol.1 is released today as a limited edition vinyl double LP, and as a download via Bandcamp. All proceeds from the Bandcamp download go to Support Act (Australia’s only charity delivering crisis relief services to artists, crew and music workers as a result of ill health, injury, a mental health problem, or some other crisis that impacts on their ability to work in music) as was Spencer’s wish.
ALL THE WAY WITH SPJ Vol.1 IS OUT TODAY ON BEAST RECORDS & SPOOKY RECORDS
Tracklist
SIDE A
RUTH BAKER BAND ‘You Let Me Down’
You wouldn’t guess by their name but Ruth Baker Band are a Spanish based band. When Spencer first heard their version of You Bring Me Down he smiled and said “This is the opening track of the album, this is a single.”
VIOLENT FEMMES ‘Run With It’
Friends of Spencer’s since sharing a bill with the Johnnys in Perth in the 80’s, the Femmes were only to happy to quickly hop on board to record a song for their stricken friend. Spencer appears on backing vocals.
JIM MOGINIE & THE FAMILY DOG ‘Freak Out’
The legendary Midnight Oil guitarist was self admittedly late to Spencer’s solo material, but the two hit it off and Jim and powerhouse that is the Family Dog dropped this James Baker/Spencer P Jones rocker.
CHICKEN SNAKE ‘Hot & Cold’
Headed by the perennially cool Jerry Teel, who met and recorded Spencer at his New York studio Funhouse in the early 2000s. Jerry comes from bands such as Chrome Cranks, Jerry Teel and the Big City Stompers, Knoxville Girls and many more.
ANDREW McCUBBIN ‘Duplicity’
Andrew McCubbin comes from the same pool of underground music that Spencer did and is a fine song writer in his own right. They crossed paths on many occasions. Spencer was smitten with the beautiful version of Duplicity that Andrew and partner Melinda recorded.
SIDE B
THE HOLY SOUL ‘I’m On To You’
These veteran Sydney art rockers are long time fans. Holy Soul lead singer Trent is an old soul and spent many late nights with Spencer in Sydney learning the secret chords from the master himself, SPJ.
HITS ‘People Fuck With Your Head’
Hits from Brisbane have been ripping up the East Coast of Australia and West Coast of France for years now. and with their Charles Bukowski-like frontman and explosive dueling guitars, they are the perfect band for Spencer’s tune People Fuck With Your Head
JAMES McCANN & THE NEW VINDICTIVES ‘ What Is Life in Jail’
Guitar-slinging singer-songwriter/journeyman (and this album’s co-producer) McCann has had a long and stories career – including early stints in the Drones in Perth and Nunchukka Superfly with Hard-Ons Blackie & Ray in Sydney – before hitting Melbourne 20-odd years ago and developing a close friendship with our man SPJ. He started work on this record with Spencer, then brought it to completion, along with Spooky Rec’s Loki Lockwood, after Spencer’s passing. New album, produced by Rob Younger, in the pipeline.
LOS CHICOS ‘The Day Marty Robbins Died’
Spanish scuzzy garage rockers Los Chicos hold Spencer dear to their corazons. Recorded in Australia, their version of The Day Marty Robbins Died features one of the last rip snorting slide lead breaks Spencer recorded.
CHERRYWOOD ‘Mean Arnold’
Melbourne super group CherryWood lend their down in the gutter folk rock to one of the catchiest numbers on the album. Vocalist Joshua Seymour’s throaty velvet growl draws you into a story of getting your music played on the radio at any cost. And again, in one of his last times in the studio, Spencer adds that catchy sweet gritty slide part that he does so well.
ADALITA ‘(She Walks) Between The Raindrops’
Magic Dirt were part of the generation of Australian bands who followed in the Beasts of Bourbon’s footsteps, gaining a level of popularity and influence that would have been unthinkable when the Beasts first started. Adalita is an enduring presence on Melbourne’s scene, and here she explores the beauty in SPJ’s songwriting.
SIDE C
THE DRONES ‘Slamming On The Brakes’
The Drones version of Slamming On the Breaks captures the band at arguably the peak of their powers. The first line up of the Drones featuring this album’s co-producer James McCann recorded a bunch of demos in Perth that ended up in Spencer’s hands converting him into a life long fan.
KID CONGO & THE PINK MONKEY BIRDS ‘When He Finds Out’
Kid and Spencer have been friends since Spencer joined The Gun Club on guitar for their 1983 Australian tour. As that friendship blossomed so did their support for one another’s musical endeavors. Kid, who of course is also known for his time in both the Cramps and the Bad Seeds, lends a sultry smoky vocal to the brooding menacing feel of When He Finds Out.
CHRIS BAILEY ‘The Monkey Has Gone’
Chris Bailey and Spencer met after a Saints show in Sydney in 1977, and again when Spencer’s band Cuban Heels supported the post-Kuepper Saints in 1980 , Chris doesn’t remember either event. But, they became firm friends and Chris adds an emotional intensity to The Monkey has Gone, another song from the last batch of songs Spencer wrote.
JOHNNY CASINO ‘Trick My Boat Wrong’
Johnny Casino’s version of Trick My Boat Wrong originally came out as a B Side on one of his singles. Johnny is a legend in the underground rock n roll music scene – he first made his name in Sydney’s internationally revered Asteroid B-612, and has plied his wares around the world. He now resides in Spain.
ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO ‘Sailors Grave’
Alejandro Escovedo became aware of Spencer through a recommendation by Kid Congo. He and Spencer had walked parallel paths, from punk days through to so-called ‘cowpunk’ (Al was in the legendary Rank & File when Spencer joined the Johnnys) through to dark-hued singer-songwriter stuff that was as influenced by Lou Reed and the Stones as it was Bob Dylan. Alejandro recorded his contribution on his Australian 2019 Tour one morning after an impromptu rehearsal backstage before a Melbourne show the night before.
SIDE D
GENTLE BEN & HIS SENSITIVE SIDE ‘Execution Day’
Ben Corbett, frontman from hard country punk rockers Six Ft Hick, appeared as the strange cross-dressing father in True History of the Kelly Gang while demonstrating his notorious back-bending notorious stage moves. He has also appeared on stage with Peaches executing the same moves. A fan and friend of Spencer’s, here he adds a gentler touch to the SPJ classic Execution Day with Gentle Ben & His Sensitive Side, now Gentle Ben & His Shimmering Hands.
HEAD ON ‘Destiny Minus You’
Head On are fronted by Seb Blanchais, founder of Beast Records, who first saw Spencer perform in France in the Johnnys when he was 17. He’s been a fan ever since. Here Head On gives the melodic track Destiny Minus You a menacing heavy rock slap around the head.
THE BRAVES ‘Clementine’
The Braves a young Melbourne band who bend influences in a way the Clash did. Try and tie them down, it isn’t easy. Here they take Spencer track Clementine and bend it into almost unrecognisable shapes, Spencer loved it.
HOSS ‘Only A Matter Of Time’
Known for singing and writing the late ’80s classic My Pal by God, Joel Silbersher has been leading Hoss almost ever since, combining all manner of guitar based rock’n’roll into a unique, intelligent and brilliant brew. new album soon, they promise!
PLEASURE MODEL ‘Stolen Car Serenade’
Wild cards in the pack, Pleasure Model recorded Stolen Car Serenade early into a career which was painfully cut short with the unexpected death of singer/guitarist James ‘Olof ‘ Collins. One of the strongest songs on the tribute, and a cut that Spencer never past comment on , knowing it was spot on the money. The band were absolutely faithful to the sometimes tricky chords Spencer would pull out of his hat. What could have been ?
CLAIRE BIRCHALL & THE PHANTOM HITCHHIKERS ‘The Whole Way Down’
Long underrated in the Aus music scene Claire traverses the grounds of Synth Pop, Rock, Folk and Country and even shreds guitar in one of Kim Salmon’s bands. Her version of The Whole Way Down was introduced to Spencer by James McCann who told him that too good to not include on the tribute. Spencer, ever dubious about being told what is a good version of a song he penned, took a week to call James back, offering only” You’re right about Claire”.
LOS DOMINADOS ‘News For You’
Los Dominados are fronted by rock royalty Helen Cattanach, long serving bass player with Spencer P Jones & the Escape Committee. Helen has been a fixture of the Australian music scene since the 90s with pop rock band Moler.
ALL THE WAY WITH SPJ Vol.1 IS OUT TODAY ON BEAST RECORDS & SPOOKY RECORDS