Jackie McAuley - S/t (Irish Psych Folk 1971)

Of all the many musicians to pass in and out of the lineup of Them when Van Morrison was their lead singer, Jackie McAuley -- with the possible exception of Peter Bardens -- was the most interesting, save Morrison himself of course. Though his term as Them's organist in 1965 was brief, he went on to make interesting sounds both as part of the Them spin-off band the Belfast Gypsies, and half of the folk-rock duo Trader Horne (with ex-Fairport Convention singer Judy Dyble). His self-titled debut solo album was a minor but pleasant, versatile, early-'70s singer/songwriter record with strong shades of folk-rock, blues, and jazz. McAuley has an engagingly straining voice, and it was put to good use on varied, heartfelt compositions that can evoke a much rawer Elton John or the Band if they were influenced by "Let It Be" (the song, not the album). In different moods were the brisk country-folk-rock of "Country Joe," apparently inspired by Country Joe McDonald; the world-weary autobiographical tone of "Away"; and "Cameraman, Wilson and Holmes," which switches back and forth from a nearly baroque classical harpsichord backing to a breezy jazzy one, and rates as the record's high point. The entire album is included on the 1991 CD reissue Jackie McAuley...Plus, which adds both sides of the 1971 non-LP single "Rockin' Shoes"/"One Fine Day." ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

Henry Lowther (Violin ,Horn),

Jackie McAuley (Guitar,Keyboards,Vocals),

Tony Roberts (Flute),

Roy Babbington (Bass),

Pete Hossell (Jug),

Mike McNaught (Keyboards),

Mike Travis (Drums)

http://homepage.eircom.net/~jmcauley/

At seventeen Jack and his brother Pat joined the band Them and embarked on the road to rock and went to London. It was at this time Jack became friends with rock and roll legend Gene Vincent. This was to become the most significant change in McAuleys career. "Gene really was the one who gave me the confidence to write". After Them fell apart Jack moved to Dublin and frequented the back room folk sessions at O'Donahues pub where a bunch of lads who called themselves the Dublinners often played. Later Jack went to Copenhagen where he set up a band and recorded an album called 'The Belfast Gypsies' on Sonnet Records. He then returned to London and joined a little Jazz/rock outfit and went off to the Lebanon for three months. This was in the wake of the Arab /Israeli war, and the impression of the Palestinian refugee camps scattered along the roads, and the suffering, injustice, capitalism, hunger and despair was later to become a driving force in McAuley's lyrics. Back in London Jack teamed up with Judy Dyble of Fairport Convention to play the folk circuit. They soon signed a contract with Pye Records and recorded an album under the name Trader Horn. Judy Dyble later married and retired from music and Jack went on to record his first solo album for Pye records, aptly entitled 'Jackie McAuley'

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