NIC JONES - An Introduction To Nic Jones
Topic Records TICD014
This year’s celebration of Topic’s illustrious 80-year recording life could never be complete without a contribution from Nic Jones’s two Topic LPs, Penguin Eggs and Game Set Match. I would not have wanted the job of attempting to make the selection – there’s so much to pick from.
I don’t feel it’s necessary to review this CD in the conventional sense – Nic’s music seems to be as familiar to many of the younger generation as it is to older fogies like me, and his influence permeates today’s music nearly as much as it did 40 years ago.
But there is one aspect of this offering which does require comment, and that’s the last two (bonus) tracks, recorded with accompaniment from son Joe and Belinda O’Hooley. Both pieces were chosen with his unerringly impeccable instinct for a good song. The first of them, I Only Spoke Portuguese, has a beauty and wistfulness that, for me, would make purchase of this CD worthwhile on its own; Nic’s mastery of the story and his delivery remain absolutely undimmed. And finally there’s his own composition, Now, which puts into words his own philosophy and gives a thought-provoking conclusion to the album.
My only regret is that his later, privately-issued live recordings couldn’t have been included – but then you’d have needed a double CD package. And next, how about a re-release of the Bandoggs album? Please?
www.nicjones.net
John Waltham
This review appeared in Issue 129 of The Living Tradition magazine