Search - Jo Mama :: Jo Mama/J Is for Jump

These are my memories

monkuboy | Temple City, CA United States | 09/06/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This will give away my age, of course, but Jo Mama was on my turntable during my junior and senior years in high school (and beyond) so being able to listen to them again on CD brings back lots of great memories. As a bit of background, they were the opening band during James Taylor/Carole King's 1971 tour. Charles Larkey, the bassist, used to be married to Ms. King. Daniel Kortchmar (aka "Kootch") was a well-known session guitarist who later was part of The Section, and also made a solo album. He's played on several of James Taylor's albums. The CD info incorrectly identifies him as "Danny Kootch." In an interview one time, he said he likes being called either Danny (or Daniel) Kortchmar or Kootch, but not Danny Kootch.



As for the CD: whoever did the transfer did a nice job. Given the recording limitations back in 1970 and 1971, the sound quality is clean, well balanced and has decent bass.



Music-wise, they were pretty eclectic (listen to the sample tracks). The most distinctive things about the group were Abigale Haness' nice vocals and the tone quality of Kootch's guitar (which someone told me he achieved by filing down the frets). It's pleasant music to listen to but for me it's the memories that make these two albums special. My favorite tracks: Sailin', Keep on Truckin', The Word is Goodbye and Love is Blind.



More trivia: The pizza parlor on the 1st album, O Sole Mio, was an actual place on north Western Avenue in Los Angeles and was owned by an eccentric Italian guy who made pretty decent pizzas. It's been ages since I've been that way so I imagine it is gone by now.



Finally, thanks to Wounded Bird records for combining the two and re-releasing these albums. The price is a heckuva lot better than having to pay for the imported versions!"