Jackson C. Frank’s Beautiful Music From a Tragic Life

Jackson C. Frank’s life featured a lot of pain, but he also created great beauty with his 1965 folk album, which featured “Blues Run the Game.”

Jackson Carey Jones was born on March 2, 1943, later taking the surname of his stepfather to become Jackson C. Frank. Between the birth and his death at age 56 on March 3, 1999, Frank encountered many tragedies and released one of the great “lost” folk albums of the 1960s.

Paul Simon produced Frank’s 1965 album, Jackson C. Frank. The album failed to launch the career that Frank’s music deserved, although it influenced other artists and is loved by man today. The leadoff track, “Blues Run the Game” has been covered by several artists and appeared on TV and in movies.

Livin’ is a gamble baby,
Lovin’s much the same;
Wherever I have played, and
Whenever I’ve thrown those dices,
Wherever I have played,
The blues have run the game.

A number of singers have since covered the song. Artists who covered “Blues Run the Game” include Nick Drake, Sandy Dennis, Counting Crows, and John Mayer. The wonderful TV series featured Frank’s original version over a montage giving the heartbreaking backstory of one of the characters.

Paul Simon would also record “Blues Run the Game” with Art Garfunkel. The song appeared on the Simon & Garfunkel box set Old Friends.

Frank would never release another album during his lifetime, although he did create more music (now available). His life seemed to be haunted. When he was eleven, a furnace exploded at his school, severely burning Frank and killing fifteen of his classmates, including his young sweetheart.

After recording his 1965 album, Frank suffered from depression and other mental and physical health problems. At one point he was homeless. He died of pneumonia in Massachusetts in 1999.

The following short clip from a Buffalo news stations gives a little more information about his life.

I only discovered Frank’s music recently after seeing a reference on Twitter. It is clear he was a great talent, so it is no wonder that he is well-respected despite the unfortunately small amount of music we have from him. Check out more of his music if, like me, you are new to his work.

Leave your two cents in the comments.

  • John Lennon and Paul Simon Presenting Grammy for Record of the Year
  • The Last Simon & Garfunkel Concert
  • American Tune
  • American Tune: We Came on a Ship in a Blood Red Moon
  • Dion: “New York Is My Home”
  • Whatever Happened to Mike Ireland & Holler?
  • ( Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

    Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge: “Help Me Make It Through the Night” (Duet of the Day)

    Make It Through the Night

    In 1970, Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge met on an airplane flight, leading to Kristofferson getting off the plane with Coolidge in Memphis instead of continuing on to his planned destination of Nashville. The two would eventually marry. Although the marriage would not last, the two made some great recordings, including performances of Kristofferson’s “Help Me Make It Through the Night.”

    In the 1972 UK live performance below, a viewer can easily see that the two are captivated by each other. Kristofferson does not take his eyes off Coolidge and the two are touching or nearly touching throughout the song.

    The performance appears to capture two people intensely in love in the time leading up to their marriage the following year. Or maybe they were just acting. You be the judge.

    In 1978, Kristofferson and Coolidge both appeared on an episode of The Muppet Show. During that episode, Coolidge sang her hit song “We’re All Alone.”

    On the episode, Kristofferson did sing “Help Me Make It Through the Night.” But he had a new partner, Miss Piggy.

    Kristofferson and Coolidge divorced in 1980 after a rocky marriage reportedly marred by Kristofferson’s alcoholism and infidelities. The two had a child, created some great music, and got through some lonely nights together.

    “Help Me Make It Through the Night” originally appeared on Kristofferson’s self-titled 1970 album. The album also features other classics written by Kristofferson, who recently retired.

    Leave your two cents in the comments.

  • Longing for the Freedom of My Chains: Dobie Gray’s “Loving Arms”
  • This Is What We Call the Muppet Show!
  • Is Kris Kristofferson’s Greatest Song “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down”?
  • Internet Venom, Toby Keith’s Death, . . . and Grace from Willie Nelson
  • I Love Trash
  • Senator Robert Byrd Played Fiddle On Hee Haw
  • ( Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

    Cover of the Day: Mo Pitney Sings “If Hollywood Don’t Need You”

    Singer-songwriter Mo Pitney performs an acoustic cover of Don Gibson’s classic song “If Hollywood Don’t Need You.”

    Mo Pitney Hollywood

    You may never have heard of Mo Pitney or the Don Gibson record “If Hollywood Don’t Need You.” But if that is the case, and you love a great country ballad, you need to watch Pitney’s acoustic performance of the song alone with his guitar in the woods.

    I recently discovered Pitney and his wonderful voice. So I only recently ran across this pandemic video he posted on Facebook in October 2020. The young Illinois native is early into what looks to be a promising career. The singer-songwriter has released two studio albums:  Behind This Guitar (2016) and Ain’t Lookin’ Back (2020). Both are worth checking out for both Pitney’s voice and his songwriting.

    This performance of “If Hollywood Don’t Need You,” with nothing but a guitar and the trees behind Pitney, reveals the depth of Pitney’s talents. He takes a great song, which has been one of his favorite songs since he was a kid, and he breaks your heart.

    Don Gibson released his version of the song — also known with a parenthetical as “If Hollywood Don’t Need You (Honey I Still Do)” — in 1982. Originally appearing on Gibson’s album Listen to the Radio, “If Hollywood Don’t Need You” went to number one on the country charts for Gibson, who passed away in 2003.

    Pitney made a video for the song back in 2016. But in this 2020 performance and video, the setting in the woods highlights the aching in the song’s tale. The singer professes his love in a letter to the woman who left him to pursue her dreams. He knows he has to let her go, hoping  she makes “the big time” and that her dreams come true. But, he reminds her, if Hollywood doesn’t need her, he will be there waiting for her.

    The song was written by Bob McDill. The songwriter wrote country classics, including Gibson’s “Good Ole Boys Like Me,” which we previously wrote about.

    Here,”If Hollywood Don’t Need You” has several layers. On the surface, the singer is wishing the best to his former lover while letting her know he misses her. But underneath it all one may hear the words as an appeal asking her to return.

    And no matter how you interpret the lyrics, there also is a cool reference to actor Burt Reynolds: “Oh, and if you see Burt Reynolds / Would you shake his hand for me? / And tell old Burt, I’ve seen all his movies.” Check it out.

    Leave your two cents in the comments.

    Jackson Browne Covers Tom Petty’s “The Waiting”

    Check out Jackson Browne covering a Tom Petty classic.

    Jackson Browne Tom Petty

    Jackson Browne recently covered Tom Petty’s classic song “The Waiting.” Browne, who last year had COVID-19, shows that he still has his great voice.

    Browne recorded “The Waiting” as part of a webcast on October 23, 2020 to celebrate Tom Petty’s 70th birthday. Check it out.

    Leave your two cents in the comments.

  • The Pines at Night (Matthew Ryan) Releases Full Album,”A Year of Novembers”
  • A “Song for a Hard Year” from The Pines at Night
  • Jackson Browne’s Double-Song Combo, “The Load Out/Stay”
  • I’ll See You In My Dreams: Goodbye 2020, Hello 2021
  • There Will Be Another Christmas
  • We sang, “Silent Night” All Day Long
  • ( Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

    Hank Williams Live Show from July 1952 (Audio)

    Listen to a live performance by Hank Williams from July 1952 in Pennsylvania.

    Hank Williams Live Show

    I have been listening to the recent six-CD release of Hank Williams performances from The Mother’s Best radio shows as well as reading a biography. So, I cannot get enough Hank. There are not a lot of live performance recordings so I was happy to find this gem.

    Below is the audio from Hank Williams performing on July 13, 1952 at Sunset Park in West Grove Pennsylvania. In less than six months, the great singer-songwriter, who was born on September 17, 1923, would be dead on January 1, 1953.

    By the time of the 1952 performance, alcohol and heart problems were already haunting Williams, nipping at his heels. But his legendary talent was still on full display. So check out this live performance.

    Leave your two cents in the comments.

  • Sam Williams: “Can’t Fool Your Own Blood” (Song of the Day)
  • D.L. Menard: “The Back Door”
  • The Irresistible Rhythm and Harmonies of The Cactus Blossoms
  • Trailer for Hank Williams Biopic “I Saw the Light”
  • Preview of Tom Hiddleston as Hank Williams
  • Marty Brown Plays “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” in Hank Williams Studio
  • ( Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)