Jackson C. Frank by Jackson C. Frank

RECOMMENDATION OF THE WEEK:

Jackson C. Frank by Jackson C. Frank

This week’s Recommendation Of The Week is an album that I have come to love and listen to more once the season turns to fall. Jackson C. Frank by Jackson C. Frank is an album that has spent much of its existence in obscurity. I first heard of it from the Other Music Documentary, released in 2019, about the great, and unfortunately gone, indie record store in the East Village in NYC. Other Music was one of the great Indie record stores that has left this world over the years and the documentary is excellent! An album that they discuss in great detail is Jackson C. Frank’s self-titled debut. They play the song “Blues Run the Game”, which caught my attention immediately as something I needed to know more about.

On first listen to this great lost masterpiece, I was hooked. The music is very simple folk, mostly blues shuffles and dark folk songs, but it is delivered with a great power and purpose. With each note, you start to feel the solemn darkness here. Once the words mix, the mood builds and builds, and eventually you realize that this album is a story of a man in pain sharing his tales of great tragedy. It is sad, dark, and bitter, but such a beautifully haunting, intimate album. There is not one bad song on it and it's a record that should be a known by all. It was never distributed properly and faded quickly into almost non-existence right from its release in 1965. Jackson C. Frank’s story is a brutal, heartbreaking tragedy, very much like his music. This was his only album, as he was completely taken advantage of by the record company and even Paul Simon, who produced this album.

Jackson C. Frank lived his days out almost as a hermit, a nomad, floating in and out of society in both New York City and London. As the years passed, his mental health deteriorated greatly, eventually ending with him in a nursing home in Massachusetts. He died of a heart attack at 56 in 1999, completely unbeknownst to anyone of his mastery as a songwriter and musician.

He left a legacy that saw him exist in complete obscurity and unknown by most music fans. Many musicians, including Nick Drake and Sandy Denny, revered him and some have called him one of the greatest songwriters to ever live. I would have to agree.

This is an album that I find a great comfort in the fall. Although it is very solemn and dark, it has an incredibly warm and comforting feel. I find it perfect for colder, greyer fall mornings. It’s an album that is an integral part of my collection.

My favorite songs on the album are “Milk and Honey”, “My Name is Carnival”, “I Want to Be Alone”, “Just Like Anything” and ”Blues Run the Game”. But really, every song is great as this album is a masterpiece! I can’t recommend this album enough!

Essential Track: “Milk And Honey”