Jake Thackray review + watch "The Bull" video

Jake Thackray. Now there's a name that many will not have heard of. If you are familiar with this chap you will chortle and remember with fondness his wry take on the world and his very clever use of lyrics.

He was born on 27th February, 1938 in Yorkshire and unfortunately died 24th December, 2002. If there was any type of comparison I would have to say he was like a folky Noel Coward, but from Leeds, and with a little bit more "Bull".

Jake Thackray was first brought to my attention back in 1978 when I was visiting a friend of a friend, who was to be a potential guitarist in one of my first punk bands. The thing that swung the job for him was his record collection. For a young man with bleached blonde long hair and glasses, I immediately dismissed him as not punk, but when I noticed Stiff Little Fingers and The Clash in his collection I had to quickly reavaluate my thoughts of him as a musical companion. But I digress.

On further sifting of his record collection I noticed artists that I had never heard of before, like Jethro Tull and Weather Report then there was Jake Thackray. I was immediately impressed with this man's take on life. As a budding lyric writer, I fell in love with the way this man told his stories.

Jake would play a folky jazz style guitar and spoke/sang the lyrics in baritone over the music.

Here is the first Jake Thackray song I ever heard which turned me into an instant fan:

Jake Thackray - "The Bull" video:

For me, this is Jake's take on the George Orwell book "Animal Farm".

With lyrics like "if you're gonna put people on pedestals, wear a big hat" you have to love this man. One of the finest entertainers to have gone under the radar, being missed by the general public, I feel it is my job to point these people out.

"The Last Will And Testament Of Jake Thackray" is a brilliant take on how he wanted people to to behave after his death. I only hope that his friends and family took heed and acted in accordance.

Watch "The Last Will And Testament Of Jake Thackray" video:

Buy Music:

Jake Thackray on amazon.co.uk

There is a website dedicated to the memory of this great man who has influenced many other great artists. You can easily go visit it by hitting this link:

Jake Thackray website

By: Dave Tommo