Hollywood Town Hall [Original recording remastered]

I never thought of myself as a country music fan - but one Saturday night back in 1992, I happened to see the Jayhawks play on a rare TV performance. The next day I bought this album and haven't looked back since.

Hollywood Town Hall is timeless American rock music. With a standard two guitars, bass and drums line-up (save for the odd organ winding its way in and out of the arrangements), three things set the Jayhawks apart from more mortal bands. Firstly, the lead guitar is permanently driven through a fuzz pedal, giving the album a nostalgic and very American sound. Secondly, the vocal harmonies of Olson and Louris are absolutely watertight - and these aren't the ten a penny harmonies heard everywhere in music, these are something very special. Hearing the two of them play off each other is astounding, as if they'd been singing these songs together all their lives.

But the third, and most defining, characteristic of the band is the songwriting. Ten gems lie here for the taking, each one evoking pictures of the sprawling American Midwest, and the triumphs and tragedies in the lives of the people scattered across the land. An album of beautiful, intimate rock songs that deserved much more plaudits than the band received. And, because it inspired them to make the phenomenal follow-up 'Tomorrow The Green Grass', a small part of me is glad about this.

*** This Review Is For The 2011 Extended LEGACY EDITION ***

After two accomplished Indie albums in 1986 and 1989 ("The Jayhawks" and "Blue Earth"), The Jayhawks finally made everyone sit up and take notice with their stunning 1992 breakthrough Americana effort "Hollywood Town Hall". This January 2011 Legacy Edition is a remaster of that revered 3rd album and now features 5 bonus tracks (two of which are previously unreleased).

American 88697 72731 2 breaks down as follows (61:12 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Hollywood Town Hall" released in 1992 on Def American 26829 (it finally charted in the USA in early 1993)
Tracks 11, 12 and 13 are "Leave No Gold", Keith And Quentin" and "Up Above My Head" - they first appeared on a Promo-Only 1993 Def American US CD compilation called "Scrapple" (11 was a bonus track on the European edition of the CD album, while 12 and 13 later turned up as non-album B-sides on the European and Australian CD singles for "Waiting For The Sun")
Tracks 14 and 15 are "Warm River" and Mother Trust You To Walk To The Store" - and are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

Tracks 1 to 15 are all written by MARK OLSON and GARY LOURIS and produced by GEORGE DRAKOULIAS - except "Witchita" (Track 8) which is co-written with Marc Perlman and Track 14 which is a Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Marie Knight cover version of "Up Above My Head, I Hear Music In The Air" (1949 Gospel tune on Decca)

The 2011 2CD Legacy Edition of "Tomorrow The Green Grass" is missing 3 non-album B-sides (when there was room for them) because they're on the superlative "Music From The North Country" American Recordings 2CD/1DVD compilation from 2009 - the same applies here. There are 2 outtakes on "Music..." called "Stone Cold Mess" and "Mission On 2nd" which are NOT on this issue - the band probably didn't want to duplicate what fans have already bought. It's worth mentioning that if you want a fuller picture, you'll need 'both' releases despite this being a supposed all-encompassing 'Legacy Edition'. I've reviewed "Music From..." and "Tomorrow..." separately.

Instead of a 3-way card digipak like "Tomorrow..." - this CD is in a jewel case and features an upgraded 20-page booklet with new liner notes by the album's producer and long-time band friend and admirer Greg Drakoulias. There's the original Joe Henry liner notes from December 1991 with new photos of the boys in the studio, out on the road, typed and handwritten lyric sheets - it's very nicely done and in keeping with the original artwork.

The original tapes have been remastered by VIC ANESINI (he also did "Tomorrow The Green Grass") and the sound quality is BEAUTIFUL - so sweet and warm. Tracks like "Waiting For The Sun", "Martin's Song" and "Settled Down Like Rain" were standouts anyway on the original CD, but here they sound just gorgeous. The remaster also makes you rehear a lot of the lesser-lauded gems on the record like the plaintive Ryan Adams guitar-feel of "Take Me With You (When You Go)" and "Nevada, California" - they now sound 'so' good and as growers - they've have stood the test of time.

To sum up - the remaster is superlative, the booklet is improved and the 5 bonus tracks are cleverly chosen and worthy additions.

Very, very good indeed....and as a band...I sorely miss them. Recommended.

As there was no review for this truly great record I thought I'd rectify matters. If you don't know this band I guess this one and "Tommorrow the green grass" are the obvious choices - both well worth having but I think this one is slightly fresher and tighter. If you like a bit of harmony based, super-tuneful (and tasteful) country rock then this will definitely be your thing.

I need to tell you the lead guitarist is seriously good - no over-indulgence; he just does a blistering good solo and gets out of the way. They're all good players/singers but he really stands out. None of these songs outstays their welcome and all of them retain (for me) an engaging charm and lack of pretension.