Their 1972 debut album is as good as any rock ?n? roll album released that year in our humble opinion. Includes the hit "Run Run Run," "Shake That Fat," "Babylon," "I Make Love," "Barstow Blue Eyes," "99 Days," "Academy Aw... more »ard," "Take It Easy," and "Flying Home." A Collectors? Choice Music exclusive!« less
Their 1972 debut album is as good as any rock ?n? roll album released that year in our humble opinion. Includes the hit "Run Run Run," "Shake That Fat," "Babylon," "I Make Love," "Barstow Blue Eyes," "99 Days," "Academy Award," "Take It Easy," and "Flying Home." A Collectors? Choice Music exclusive!
CD Reviews
5 seems a bit generous
J. C Clark | Overland Park, KS United States | 07/15/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Jo Jo Gunne had many things going for them, but there were many other bands of similar sound that made it hard for them to make a name. Only one radio semi-hit (Run Run Run) didn't much help. And though they produced 4 relatively solid LPs ina fairly short time, they never made much of a dent. I always thought side one of this with side one of Bite Down hard would have made a classic: those are five tasty songs. Silly, simple, sure, but fun and energetic....Remember the LP? This is a faithful transfer, though without any extras, that sounds as good as it did then. Wondering where to begin with Jo Jo Gunne? This is a fine place. These guys could play, and Jay Ferguson really was a excellent singer, even when his material wasn't much to work with."
California Rock And Roll
David Dill | Norman, Oklahoma | 03/18/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Rising from the ashes of SPIRIT were JAY FERGUSON and MARK ANDES. Joined by Mark's brother, MATT ANDES, on guitar, and Texas drummer, CURLY SMITH, JO JO GUNNE was born. From the opening drum beat of RUN RUN RUN to the keyboard driven SHAKE THAT FAT to the story of a touring rock and roll band in 99 DAYS, JO JO GUNNE showed the rest of America that the West Coast could rock and roll. MATT ANDES is an excellent guitarist matched with the masterful keyboards of JAY FERGUSON and the bass and drums of MARK ANDES and CURLY SMITH make JO JO GUNNE one of America's best bands."
Head banging music from the early 70's...
RJ | wa | 08/25/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This was what we listened to when it was friday after work and a group of buddys and myself would kick back and, well.. "relax" from the week behind us. It was sooo tooo bad that JoJo Gunne didnt quite click with the rock radio stations at the time. Some airplay though not much.. There was another party band simular in sound that was coming up at the same time called Bachman Turner Overdrive. They sort of stole the show. But damn!!!.. Jay Ferguson and the boys could hammer a tune out and make it feel good. Disco was coming up, the punk rock music was wearing us out and we just wanted to sit back and get down with some straight forward rock. Not overproduced and re-re-remixed and mastered. You can actually count all the instruments on one hand. JoJo Gunne was the answer in 1973. It still is now. A new re-union album with the original band is in the works for release this year. Can't wait.."
You should of seen them in person!!!!
Sal Paradise | 11/19/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"They played on a bill with Traffic and JJ Cale at the old Winterland in SF. I remember thinking, "Who the hell is Jo Jo Gunne?" Well I found out when they walked on stage. These are some guys from Spirit. Holy sheepdung. They blew everyone away. Loud, fun, never seen anything like it. Jay Ferguson on piano was a sight to see. The 4 stars is that this music was meant to be seen live. In my weak opinion, it didn't translate as well listening on record player. Fun, fun music though."
Protypical Early '70s Rock
Sal Paradise | Minneapolis, MN | 06/01/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"After reading Darth Kommissar's clinical Spotlight review of this record, I was sure of two things: 1) he wasn't around when this album was made, and 2) you can't analyze Jo Jo Gunne outside of the context of the time. The eight Customer reviews capture the essence of this record far more clearly.
In short, this record is rock solid. And it is THE place to start if you are looking into Jo Jo Gunne (this assumes that you've done the essential pre-requisite research into Spirit). It wasn't about greatness, it was about kicking out jams on Friday night, just as "RJ'ledog3'" said in his review.
In the early '70s, music had turned a corner. The Beatles were gone and there was no direction home. Altamont, Kent State, and the death of the New Left portended a darker future. The impact of bands like Led Zeppelin, Alice Cooper, Black Sabbath and The Stooges were peeling the layers of 60s idealism and basic, no-frills rock and roll bands rushed into the vacuum. Jo Jo Gunne was one of those bands. Still, Jay Ferguson was a convincing singer and songwriter and the tunes on this first album are almost universally strong, if never great. None of their subsequent albums would be so consistent (though the technical quality might be a touch better as der Kommissar suggests) despite the occasional gem. It was all over for Jo Jo Gunne in a couple of years. Jay Ferguson would finally attain radio success in a solo career in the late '70s before spontaneously combusting.
In the end, Jo Jo Gunne is not great rock & roll. But it is worthy. Any serious student of early 70s rock should definitely have this disc in their archive."
Track Listings (9) - Disc #1