The Reason and other Songs for 2024 (Promo CD)

John Jenkins

This Promotional CD has been made to go to Radio Stations & Reviewers and wasnt really intended to be made available for the public but because i've had no luck in securing funding for the next project (and i have 4 i really want to finish) i have decided to put a few out to try and raise some funds towards some studio time to start the next

This Promotional CD has been made to go to Radio Stations & Reviewers and wasnt really intended to be made available for the public but because i've had no luck in securing funding for the next project (and i have 4 i really want to finish) i have decided to put a few out to try and raise some funds towards some studio time to start the next album or finish the couple i have have started.

As most musicians will tell you its very hard to get paid gigs/shows/bookings unless you are doing ‘covers’ or a ‘tribute band’ or for those doing original music are on people's radar and have a booking agent that can get you (well me) on the ‘americana’ circuit. Despite the plaudits i have had for my music and the shows i have played either with Pippa Murdie or ‘The James Street Band’ the door is still closed for me unfortunately and its been very tough getting to the next level despite all the hard work being put in. I occasionally feel a bit like ‘Yozzer Hughes’ from ‘Boys from the Black Stuff’ - “Give us a gig”. Sales of music as well hasnt been much of late. Streaming pays nothing and CDs are fast becoming obsolete for most music fans these days apart from a few of us.

So this is the reason behind this limited CD being avaialble to the public,

So what is it?

John Jenkins My album ‘TUEBROOK’ was released on 7th July 2023 and received amazing reviews by those that came across it and had a listen. I purposely chose the songs for the album as they told a story that I wanted to tell. I had other songs I had been working on that I felt would not sit as comfortably as the final selection. Not that I felt they were inferior at all, they just told a different story; plus, they were ‘bigger’ in sound, and I really wanted ‘TUEBROOK’ to be an intimate album. I thought about what I would do with these songs and as each appeared to be quite different to each other I decided I’d put them out monthly in 2024 as standalone tracks. There were 6 and, as I write this, I have 5 finished and the 6th I’m still working on at Crosstown Studios. So, these are the songs that make up the first 5 tracks of this ‘promotional CD’ you have in your hands. • The Reason • Bury Myself in the Sand • I Don’t Want to Be That Guy Anymore • Do You Ever Think About Me? • Dressing Up the Truth

All tracks written by John Jenkins Recorded at Crosstown Studios Produced by Jon Lawton/John Jenkins Big thanks to the following who played on some of these songs and added such special magic touches: Jon Lawton/Chris Howard/Tony Peers/Pippa Murdie/Karl Parry/Margaret Ryan

John Jenkins and the James Street Band The ‘Looking for That American Dream’ album was the first album from me and my band. We are halfway through the follow-up and so far have 4 songs completed, 2 of which have been released as standalone tracks and 2 others of which are hanging around to go out. 3 other songs are nearly finished and I’ve about 10 songs waiting to record with the band once I get some funding to finish the album off. The 4 tracks on this album are the 2 already released and 2 mastered for the album awaiting release, including a cover of the wonderful Iris DeMent song ‘Easy’s Gettin’ Harder Every Day’ sung by James Street Band member Pippa Murdie. I thought it would be nice to give people a chance to hear some band material as well as my solo stuff. • Trying My Best to Get Away from You • Murphy’s Bar • Easy’s Gettin’ Harder Every Day • Dylan Highway

All tracks written by John Jenkins apart from Easy’s Gettin’ Harder Every Day (Iris DeMent) Musicians on these songs are: John Jenkins/David Nixon/Denis Parkinson/Pippa Murdie/Dave Orford/Chris Jones/Jon Lawton/Jo Pue John Jenkins and That Sure Thing Another project I was hoping to complete was a new ‘John Jenkins and That Sure Thing’ album which is basically songs of mine but sung by other artists. 3 songs have been completed so far. Funding and money (or lack of it) has stalled this project but I thought it would be nice to add these songs to this promotional CD so they can be heard at least. Sister Lee was kind enough to sing a song I specifically wrote for her, and we had a lot of fun recording this in a 1960s Phil Spector tribute way. This is called ‘Who Took the Stars Out of the Sky?’ Alison Benson and I wrote about 6 songs together and I released one on my ‘If You Can’t Forgive You Can’t Love’ album (‘Strangers on a Train’). I have plans to record all these songs at some point, but this tune, ‘My Foolish Girl’, I thought it would be nice to get local band ‘Pillow Torque’ to sing, again with one foot in the 60s vibe. Last but not last was a version of my song ‘The End of Summer’ completed during lockdown. I asked Julia Fiebelkorn (aka Dorothy Bird) to do harmonies to my recording and loved her voice that much that I cheekily asked her to do the main vocal as well. • Who Took the Stars out of the Sky? • My Foolish Girl • The End of Summer

All tracks written by John Jenkins except My Foolish Girl (John Jenkins/Alison Benson). Recorded at Crosstown Studios Produced by Jon Lawton/John Jenkins Big thanks to the following who played on these songs: Jon Lawton/Chris Howard/Tony Peers/Pippa Murdie/Jade Thunder/Pillow Torque/Sister Lee/Julia Fiebelkorn So, there you have this promotional album, some tracks already out there, some due out and some I am hoping will see the light of day with other songs as a completed project.

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Bury Myself in the Sand

John Jenkins

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Bury Myself in the Sand

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‘Bury Myself in the Sand’ is the second release of the year by John Jenkins, in follow-up to his critically acclaimed album ‘Tuebrook’, released in July 2023, and the March 2024 standalone track ‘The Reason’.
It is the second track of six that will be released monthly that, thematically, wouldn’t fit on the ‘Tuebrook’ album. ‘Bury Myself in the

‘Bury Myself in the Sand’ is the second release of the year by John Jenkins, in follow-up to his critically acclaimed album ‘Tuebrook’, released in July 2023, and the March 2024 standalone track ‘The Reason’.
It is the second track of six that will be released monthly that, thematically, wouldn’t fit on the ‘Tuebrook’ album. ‘Bury Myself in the Sand’ is a song about ‘having one of those days’ when you feel that the whole world is conspiring against you, nothing is going right, and you just want to disappear from people and places. Wonderful musical contributions from Chris Howard (Piano), Tony Peers (Horns) and Jon Lawton (guitar/bass and drum programming) makes the track cross into a different musical feel to John’s notable Americana writing and it has an uplifting jazzy touch despite the despairing subject matter. To be released on April 5th 2024, ‘Bury Myself in the Sand’ is co-produced by John Jenkins and Jon Lawton (Sami Yusuf, Ian Prowse, Only Child) and mastered by Pete Maher (The Rolling Stones, U2, Patti Smith).

This will be available from the usual digital retailers.

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The Reason

John Jenkins

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The Reason

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‘The Reason’ is the first release and new single by John Jenkins following his critically acclaimed album Tuebrook that was released in July 2023. Pitched between Richard Hawley and Roy Orbison in delivery, It is the first track of six that will be released monthly that, thematically, wouldn’t’t fit on the Tuebrook album. You would be forgiven if

‘The Reason’ is the first release and new single by John Jenkins following his critically acclaimed album Tuebrook that was released in July 2023. Pitched between Richard Hawley and Roy Orbison in delivery, It is the first track of six that will be released monthly that, thematically, wouldn’t’t fit on the Tuebrook album. You would be forgiven if you listened to ‘The Reason’ and thought it’s a song about love between two couples in a relationship, but it digs deeper than that and you will find it captures the unconditional bond and love of a son towards his mother within the emotional lyrics and music.

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Tuebrook

John Jenkins

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WHEN ORDERING THE PHYSICAL CD PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO ADD YOUR POSTAL ADDRESS

I am very pleased to announce the release date for ‘Tuebrook’, the follow-up to the Fretsore Records album ‘If You Can’t Forgive You Can’t Love’ from acclaimed Liverpool artist John Jenkins. Joining John on the recording is regular multi-instrumentalist and producer Jon

WHEN ORDERING THE PHYSICAL CD PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO ADD YOUR POSTAL ADDRESS

I am very pleased to announce the release date for ‘Tuebrook’, the follow-up to the Fretsore Records album ‘If You Can’t Forgive You Can’t Love’ from acclaimed Liverpool artist John Jenkins. Joining John on the recording is regular multi-instrumentalist and producer Jon Lawton and touring and live show partner Pippa Murdie (mandolin/guitar and vocals). Recorded at Crosstown Studios in Liverpool.

John’s songs unfold cinematically and capture moments of human vulnerability, and his warm, inviting vocals tell delicate stories of the intimacy of our daily lives. More stripped back than previous releases, the power of ‘Tuebrook’ comes from John’s blend of fiction and memoir—some songs are personal and intimate with details drawn from John’s own life, others are the stuff of novels and cinema.

Praise for the “Tuebrook” Album

Americana UK “This masterful collection highlights why Jenkins is fast becoming one of Liverpool’s most respected singer-songwriters”.

Rocking Magpie “Nothing could prepare me what was about to unfold …This Album let me speechless”.

Spill Magazine Toronto Canada “One incredible Album ... Tuebrook stands out in the same way Nebraska stood out for Bruce Springsteen”.

Liverpool Acoustic “This is a fantastic album and solidifies Jenkins as a truly formidable songwriting talent”.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * * ‘Tuebrook” is a piece of art that moves the listener, cajoles it, defends the right of the listener to feel the crush of overwhelming humanity, and then lifts with hope…this is an album for the age, and to hear it is to love it.”

Stereo Stickman 30th June 2023 A uniquely evocative collection of songs. ‘Tuebrook’ makes for a timeless and consistently heartfelt listen, and effectively extends further still the ever-genuine repertoire of John Jenkins.

Fatea Magazine July 2023 “At times warmly nostalgic but without rose-tinted glasses, at others movingly sad, it’s an album for those of a certain age who have come to look back on their own younger days and those with whom they shared them, and as such, it’s a little gem”

At The Barrier Magazine Aug 2023 “Some of the warmest and most intimate, wistful, confessional reveries that you’re likely to hear this side of Christmas”.

Welcomed early this year was the first single ‘Shadows,’ an intimate reflective song on towns and communities that have fallen by the wayside over the course of years.

“And all the places I cared about the most are no longer there.”

It was followed by the second single ‘Christopher Roberts’.

“‘Christopher Roberts’ is a gently compelling song that engages right from the beginning, thanks to the inclusion of actual and spoken recording from Jenkins’ childhood. Then, his delicate strum and understated vocal feel absorbingly intimate.” Americana UK

‘Tuebrook’ takes inspiration from the Americana and Liverpudlian songbooks. With influences from John Prine to The Beatles, and Mary Chapin Carpenter to Townes Van Zandt, the album highlights once again why John has received so much admiration for his songs.

John says “Tuebrook is an area in Liverpool that I spent a lot of time in when I was young. My Church, both infant and junior school (St. Cecilia’s), my dentist, doctor, the nearest shops, pubs, and friends were all in Tuebrook.

“I should point out from the offset that this album is not ‘Tuebrook the Musical,’ only about half the songs were written with Tuebrook in mind. I generally write story songs about fictitious people and places like a novelist would. As a songwriter, it was quite interesting for me to reach deep within myself and write about people I know or knew.”

‘43 and Counting’ is written from the perspective of a woman who wanted children but whose partner did not and has now left her for a younger woman. She is now at an age when meeting someone new and having children is going to be very hard.

‘Idaho’, with themes of tragedy and the struggle to overcome, uses a traditional melody to John’s storytelling lyric.

‘William’ is a song about a childhood friend who fell to drink and was unable at times to control his addiction even with everyone’s support and prayers. Emotional and heartbreaking, John reaches deeply into his soul to relate this sad tale.

“I had a lot of new songs I had been working on in Crosstown Studios and I had been asked so many times to release a stripped-back album without the usual pyrotechnics of some of the earlier album songs” states Jenkins. “Even though quite a few songs on the surface are autobiographical I am sure a lot of people can relate to some of the stories and emotions the songs speak about.”

‘Tuebrook’ is the lyrical soundtrack to people growing old and thinking about their past, family, friends, and places they once lived in.

‘Tuebrook’ is co-produced by John Jenkins and Jon Lawton (Sami Yusuf, Ian Prowse, Only Child) and mastered by Pete Maher (The Rolling Stones, U2, Patti Smith). The album is available from the usual digital retailers or as a physical CD.

John will be touring the UK with Pippa Murdie in support of the ’Tuebrook’ Album.

Acclaim for ‘If You Can’t Forgive You Can’t Love’

“5 Stars” - Liverpool Acoustic

“Super, Stunning Even” - Stereo Stickman “A splendid collection, 13 really powerful tracks” - Ralph McLean – BBC Radio Ulster "One of the strongest and best albums of this year" – Spill Magazine “A varied collection of strong songs that repays repeated plays” – Americana UK “Inspirational and highly recommended” – FATEA “His refreshing lyrical accuracy continues across the record, musical and thoughtful…” – R’n’R Magazine

More on John Jenkins

The ex-Persuaders and Come in Tokio man - a veteran of John Peel sessions and 80s post-punk - is carving out a path for himself as a renowned singer/songwriter on the UK folk, country, and Americana scene. Jenkins is a master of melody, understated lyrics, and deft chord changes, while his songs have been hailed wherever music is written about.

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Shadows

John Jenkins

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John Jenkins is a critically acclaimed staple of the Liver-pool singer-songwriter scene.

He was GSMC 2021 Music Award "Newcomer" Finalist, and Americana UK 2021 “Emerging Artist” Runner Up.

John will be releasing the follow up to the critically ac-claimed “Fretsore Record” solo album “If You Can’t For-give, You Can’t Love”, with a new solo album

John Jenkins is a critically acclaimed staple of the Liver-pool singer-songwriter scene.

He was GSMC 2021 Music Award "Newcomer" Finalist, and Americana UK 2021 “Emerging Artist” Runner Up.

John will be releasing the follow up to the critically ac-claimed “Fretsore Record” solo album “If You Can’t For-give, You Can’t Love”, with a new solo album due out on 7th July 2023 called “Tuebrook”. “Shadows” is the first release from this album.

Recorded at Crosstown Studios in Liverpool with Jon Lawton and Pippa Murdie. This song is an intimate re-flection on towns and communities that have fallen by the wayside over the course of years.

“And all the places I cared about the most are no longer there.”

“I guess this line from the song sums the whole thing up. Where I lived (Tuebrook) is a shadow of the place I re-member growing up in. This applies to the city as well and as far as I can see a lot of other places in the UK and beyond, all of which in need of funding. The sense of community I grew up in has changed, possibly as people grow old, pass on, move away”

“Shadows” will be released on March 3rd 2023, from all digital platforms and Bandcamp.

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If You Can't Forgive You Can't Love

John Jenkins

Available from Fretsore Records Bandcamp and Good Record Shops and Usual Digital Sources

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Growing Old - Songs from my Front Porch

John Jenkins

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