Philip Jeays: Mr Jeays

Last December I left you on tenter hooks wondering whether my number was going to come up at the Jeays Christmas Extravaganza song request raffle. I can now reveal that, after a nervous wait, it did come up. Not only that, it was my number not Lucy's, so (by prior agreement) I got to ask for my first choice which was Perry County. I think Lucy and I may have been present at the world premiere of that song, one spring night four years ago in Wimbledon Library. The story goes that Phil and close friends went on a journey through the songwriting belt of the southern USA, to see if his style would go down well (cue chuckles of disdain from the older, wiser Mr Jeays as he reflects how Nashville is not known for its love of Jacques Brel). Traveling from Nashville to Memphis, or vice-versa, they were advised to avoid the interstate and take the more scenic backroads. Stopping at a gas station diner, Phil's companion, Geoff — the same Geoff who had a song in his name on October (I think the house, car and wife may have been extrapolations) — allegedly took a fancy to the teenage waitress. On the way back, Geoff suggested that they drop in at the same diner, and that Phil should write a song about her, "because then it'll look like you're the dirty old man."

And thus Perry County. History does not (yet) record Geoff's version of events, but the song frequently moves me to tears.

The other song that was a staple of Jeays live shows long before this album came out was the title track, Mr Jeays, which is even better. The intro to this one references the song Mr Toad, a conceited and self-regarding song written and performed by Mr Toad in Toad of Toad Hall. I think you'll get the drift from the lyrics of Mr Jeays, but you won't get much sense of the tour de force performance. (I didn't request this at Christmas because someone else already had: you could bank on that.)

In summer 2005, we loyal members of the Jeays email list (and now Facebook group) were prevailed upon to pay for copies of this CD before they were produced, to provide the cashflow necessary for production. I paid for two, both signed by Mr Jeays himself, and gave one to Katherine (sadly only half impressed).

I think this is the best Jeays album yet. According to Jeays news, there were recording sessions for a new album in March just past. I'll happily pre-order another couple of copies when the call comes.

MusicBrainz entry for this album Listen to none of this album at Last.fm