The first Billy Jenkins album that I wanted, and the last one (so far) that I got. I can't remember where I first heard of Billy (possibly in the very early days of the late, lamented Mixing It, or possibly even before that?). I mentioned his cancelled Sheffield gig with the Voice of God collective before, and I could never seem to track down this album: it wasn't available at his Sheffield 2002 gig, and I was told at his Valentine's 2004 show that it was 'very rare'. To this day it's shown as "out of print" on Billy's website. However, a year later, I was browsing the website of the fabulous Babel Label (Oliver, who runs the label, has actually commented here, so, as I say, the fabulous Babel Label…) and saw that you can buy it online, which I promptly did. (In fact it appears that it may have been available from Amazon for some time, so I don't know quite what happened there, but everything comes to those who wait.)
The blurb on Billy's website says,
Some call this Jenkins' classic recording. From the micky-take Miles cover spoof to the pathetic trumpet playing of Skid Solo over such gems as Benidorm Motorway Services, McDonalds, Cuttlefish and Cooking Oil — it would be hard to disagree. Billy does. But then he would…
I remember reading somewhere that Billy wasn't happy with the disproportionate attention this album got. I don't know why. I have to say it doesn't sound so groundbreaking now as I remember when I first heard a track or two on the radio, but perhaps the world has just caught up since then. His guitar is not as prominent as it has been on more recent recordings, and it's all instrumental. Cooking Oil is a special favourite of mine — a slow mood piece — whereas some of the other tracks crack along like those bands you see in Kusturica films.
I was pleased to see that John Eacott plays on the album. John was in Loose Tubes, but is now a lecturer at Westminster University. I worked with him on the 2003 Cybersonica festival. Nice bloke.
As (exclusively?) trailed on this site by Oliver, Billy toured last autumn with a band, and I had an enjoyable evening listening to them at the Spitz.
 MusicBrainz entry for this album
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