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Apart from THE
UNDERTAKERS UNEARTHED and IS THIS WHAT YOU WANT? none
of Jackie Lomax's albums had been issued on CD and there were no
websites devoted to Jackie Lomax and his outstanding contribution
to the world of pop/rock/soul. Something had to be done, and
www.JackieLomax.com first appeared on the World Wide Web at the
beginning of 2001, to do just that, and to focus attention on the
albums that had still to appear on CD.
During the first half of 2001, Jackie Lomax put the finishing touches
to his first solo album in years and years and years. Entitled THE
BALLAD OF LIVERPOOL SLIM, it once again featured Jackie's unique
r & a big B. His voice and song-writing were better than
ever and his guitar-playing was nothing short of brilliant.
JACKIE LOMAX says '...I'm on a pool team called Grumpy
Old Men, and we beat everyone in the Ventura County area, and made
it to nationals in Vegas. I'm an average player - not great.
But I got 'Liverpool Slim' from my pool playing, not my musical
career. I thought the title, and the cover painting I did,
both suited the album. The painting is of a guy with a saddle
and a guitar… I love soul music, and I miss soul music; you don't
hear much of it these days. And I love blues and R&B;
The Blues Made Me Do It on that album is a straight-out blues
song, but again, something more uptempo would be considered R&B,
and there are Motown and Al Green influences… Ray Charles, Stax/Volt….sounds
funny coming from an Englishman, doesn't it?'
JACKIE LOMAX says '... I think Free At Last is a really
good song, but it may be a bit different from the rest of the album;
it may have a bit more of a country feel, but it's got a soulful
country feel. And I like The Blues Made Me Do It; I've heard
things like it before, but not quite like it. And I think
that's kind of where I fit in. I take influences from Memphis,
Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, it doesn't matter to me - it's all
American, and I try to incorporate influences from all over…. I
busted my ass getting this album out; it took me months to get things
together - the artwork, to say nothing of the finances…..
I'm really on my own, but I've got an MP3 site now, and if someone
downloads something and likes it, maybe I could end up on a label.
I've only been online for a few months, and I've already heard from
people I haven't heard from in 30 years. It's wonderful, but
it's also a little disconcerting…'
The album is as good as anything he has recorded and was originally
available to buy on CD or to download via www.mp3.com.
Japan were quick to issue THREE and LIVIN' FOR LOVIN'
and DID YOU EVER GET THAT FEELING? on CD, as well as
the BADGER/WHITE LADY album.
In August 2003, Jackie Lomax made a triumphant return to the Cavern
in Liverpool to play two gigs as part of Beatles Week 2003. Playing
with Wonderwall -- Stan Bullock (drums), Chuck Martin (keyboards),
Brad Newell (guitar) and Marc Diffendal (bass) - half of his set
was taken from his Apple recordings with the other 50% being
made up of LIVERPOOL SLIM songs. He also found time to play with
the current line-up of the Undertakers which still includes Geoff
Nugent and Brian Jones. A splendid time was had by all.
In 2004, THE BALLAD OF LIVERPOOL SLIM
received a off-line release on the 7th Street Songs label. That
version also included a new song, written after the death of George
Harrison, called Friend-A-Mine. With 7th Street Songs, Jackie
seems to have found a label that appreciates his history but are
more interested in his future.
Apart from his new record deal, a continuing gig schedule and appearances at various Beatles-related and George Harrison tribute events, the highlight of 2004 for Jackie was soul legend Percy Sledge recording a wonderful version of Fall Inside Your Eyes for his 2004 album, SHINING THROUGH THE RAIN.
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