Jackie DeShannon Keep Me In Mind: The Complete Imperial And Liberty Singles Vol.3 (CD)

Over the last couple of years Ace Records have been taking a long and leisurely look at the recording career of the exciting and unpredictable singer-songwriter Jackie DeShannon. Their previous two compilations of her 1960s singles from the Liberty and Imperial labels, “You Won’t Forget Me” and “Come And Get Me”, have been replete with firm favourites and unexpected treats. Their new release, “Keep Me In Mind”, continues the story from 1967 through to 1970.

Jackie’s songwriting talents continued to bloom. Whether on her own or with collaborators, including top West Coast man-about-the-studio Jack Nitzsche and fellow singer Jimmy Holiday , Jackie came up with a string of commercial, tuneful and thoughtful songs which are a delight to listen to. Try for size the tender ‘Holly Would’, the breezy ‘Brighton Hill’ and the complex ‘Mediterranean Sky’.

Jackie also retained her unfailing ability to find the best works of other songwriters and adapt them to her own impressive vocal and emotional range. This album includes early works by Leonard Cohen, Robbie Robertson, Carole Bayer, Toni Wine and John Sebastian, as well as songs by Hal David, John Barry and Holland-Dozier-Holland.

Halfway through this joyful collection comes Jackie’s own version – the original and best – of her song ‘Put A Little Love In Your Heart’, a million-seller which encapsulates the views of a generation and has been covered by hundreds of other performers. Listening to the simple but perfectly expressed message still brings a lump to the throat and tears to the eyes of any thinking person.

Other highlights are her personal ode to ‘Laurel Canyon’ (several years before the place was rediscovered by Joni Mitchell ) and the emotional and raw medley of ‘You Keep Me Hangin’ On’ and ‘Hurt So Bad’. Jackie’s interpretation of ‘The Weight’ may not be as well remembered as the Band’s, but it actually achieved a higher rating in the US charts.

For those who like to delve beyond the hits, there are some nice surprises. The two sides Jackie recorded in partnership with Bobby Womack demonstrate her real affinity with soul music, while her Christmas single is a true collector’s item. ‘Didn’t Want To Have To Do It’ is a very rare 45, as it was cancelled to make way for ‘The Weight’. And the title track, ‘Keep Me In Mind’, was only released on a single in the UK. The final track is Jackie’s stunning interpretation of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Bird On The Wire’, another cancelled single.

Jackie DeShannon’s recording career continued to blossom into the 1970s and beyond, on Capitol, Atlantic and Columbia Records. And she has continued to write top quality songs through the decades, her most recent hitting the downloads in 2012. Thanks, ACE, for giving us this complete and rewarding insight into the early days of Jackie’s brilliant career.

By Peter Lerner

(acerecords. co. uk)

Jackie DeShannon

Buddy

Jackie Dee

Buddy

(Jackie Dee)

Lib F 55 148; master: LB 867

recorded 1958, Nashville, Tennessee with Jackie De Shannon: vocal; other details unknown

 

Jackie Dee, of course, was Jackie DeShannon, and Buddy was a very early entry from the woman who later toured with the Beatles and went on to score hits with Needles And Pins, When You Walk In The Room, What The World Needs Now Is Love and Put A Little Love In Your Heart.

Later still, she co-wrote Bette Davis Eyes. All the above were some way in the distance when Buddy was cut in Nashville in 1958. Some see it as an oblique tribute to Buddy Holly, and Jackie herself seemed to reinforce that view in her 'Goldmine'interview (September 6, 1991): "It was a master [Liberty] picked up," said DeShannon. "'Buddy' (which was about Buddy Holly) was doing very well, but at just about that time 'The Witch Doctor' came out and all the pressing plants were busy on that one song. [Liberty] could only concentrate on one record, so we lost ours." The song was published by Buna Music, owned by Murray Nash (the former Mercury and Hickory A&R man who also produced Sue Thompson and the Sprouts), so it might very well have been Nash who produced the session and sold it to Liberty.

Jackie, or Sharon Myers to give her true name, was born in Hazel, Kentucky on August 21, 1944, and moved with her parents to the Chicago area when she was eleven. She recorded for Mar-Vel (as Sherry Lee), Gone and Liberty (as Jackie Dee), Fraternity (as the Cajuns with Jacquie Shannon), and on PJ, Sage, and Dot (as Jackie Shannon), and Edison International (as Jackie DeShannon). Her tour of the minor labels complete, she returned to Liberty in 1960.

 

- Colin Escott -

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