Jackpot

Jack the Lad were one of the big hopes of the early '70s but, by the time they cut 1976's Jackpot, the excitement had very much fallen away -- which was a shame, because the group remained as exhilarating as it ever was. Naturally reminiscent of parent band Lindisfarne but without the crash in quality that hallmarked that band's later, saddest years, Jackpot is an effervescent folky feast, stuffed full of singalongs and spontaneous madness, a treat that this reissue amplifies via the inclusion of seven sterling bonus tracks. It begins with four songs from the original pre-LP demos: the album-opening "Eight Ton Crazy" (which itself is a classic slice of Andy Fairweather Low songwriting), Billy Mitchell's "Trinidad" and "Amsterdam," and -- most impressive of all -- Simon Cowe's "See How They Run." Cowe quit the band shortly before the album sessions themselves kicked off, leading to the loss of both this delightful number and the ramshackle excitement that he naturally contributed to the music. This cut reveals what listeners missed out on, although it's to Jack the Lad's credit that they never allowed the album to suffer unduly. It remains a remarkable set. The final three cuts on the reissue were recorded live in Plymouth, England, on the tour that followed the album's release and never made it onto vinyl: Woody Guthrie's "Will You Miss Me," a rocking rendition of Johnny Kidd's "Hungry For Love," and a folky medley that takes listeners all the way back to Lindisfarne's own early days on the folk circuit. In fact, the only regret here is that the reissue doesn't include the rest of the show -- on a good night, Jack the Lad were a terrific live act, and this sounds like a very good night indeed. ~ Dave Thompson