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Compilation
Jim Ford was an American singer-songwriter, who after releasing one fantastic album in 1969 mysteriously disappeared from the music business.
It is such a shame that much of Jim Ford's fantastic music didn't see release until after his death. What makes it even more unfortunate is that he died just when there was an insurgance of interest in his music, and he was about to start recording again. Up until his death, his legacy had been built on just one obscure album (1969's Harlan County) and the few songs he had written for other artists, most notably "Harry Hippie" for Bobby Womack. Shortly before he died he was tracked down by Swedish journalist L-P Andersen, and Bear Family Records re-released Harlan County in 2007 with fifteen bonus tracks (see The Sounds Of Our Time). It was later that year that he was found dead in his trailer home, just as plans were being put together for a charity gig in London.
Just a few months after his death, Bear Family released Point Of No Return, a second compilation of newly discovered outtakes and demos (and one super-obscure single), easily as good as the first one. Apparently these recordings had been hiding in a canvas bag in his trailer all these years. They revealed more of his genius as a songwriter, with his down-home mix of country, soul and pop. Among the sixteen songs here are some alternative versions of ones originally released on The Sounds Of Our Time, the best being a stunning reworking of "I Wonder What They'll Do With Today". Also includes his own version of "Harry Hippie".
The more of Jim Ford's music that is discovered, the more it becomes clear that he was a vastly talented man, making the story of his career even more tragic.
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Compilation
Jim Ford was an American singer-songwriter, who after releasing one fantastic album in 1969 mysteriously disappeared from the music business.
In 2006 L-P Anderson, of Sweden's Sonic Magazine, managed to track down the elusive Jim Ford to his trailer home in California. Ford had been a singer-songwriter back in the late 60s and early 70s, and his songs had been recorded by many artists including Bobby Womack and Aretha Franklin. He had also released a brilliant album in 1969's Harlan County, but had never really got much recognition, and had since retired from the music business. Nobody had heard of him since the 70s.
On his rediscovery, he was able to help locate some lost master tapes, and Bear Family Records re-issued Harlan County in 2007 with 15 new bonus tracks. These new songs, consisting of demos and lost singles, are truly fantastic, so I have put them together here into an album of their own. The original Harlan County LP, without bonus tracks, can be found here.
Stylistically, the bonus tracks cover a broader range of styles than Harlan County's soul-rock, as they touch on rock, pop, R&B, soul, folk and country. Many of the songs aren't the best sound quality, and you can tell that a few of them are clearly unfinished recordings, but the material itself is brilliant, featuring what must be many of Ford's best songs, among them "She Turns My Radio On", "Linda Comes Running", "Big Mouth USA", "Hanging From Your Lovin' Tree" and "I Wonder What They'll Do With Today". The title track was co-written with Bobby Womack. Also features an excellent cover / re-working of Sam Cooke's "Chain Gang". The result is a brilliant compilation, which in reality gives a wider and much more accurate vision of Ford's music than Harlan County does.
With the success of the re-issue, there were plans for Ford to start recording again. Unfortunately it would not come to pass, as he died in 2007.
More from Jim Ford
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Jim Ford was an American singer-songwriter, who after releasing one fantastic album in 1969 mysteriously disappeared from the music business.
Jim Ford was born in Kentucky, then moved to New Orleans before finally making his way to California in 1966. It was here that he met Pat and Lolly Vegas, who on hearing his songwriting talent, managed to get bring him to the attention of Bob Keane of Del-Fi Records. Keane recorded Ford to release a few singles, but they never charted. However he did have some success with his songs being recorded by other artists, and over the years his songs were cut by artists including Bobby Womack, P.J. Proby, Aretha Franklin, Sylvia McNeil, Nick Lowe and The Temptations. In 1969 he recorded his only album, Harlan County, which featured backing from drummer Jim Keltner, guitarist James Burton, and piano from Dr John. It's a great collection of R&B-styled rock songs, with strong originals alongside Willie Dixon's "Spoonful", Delaney & Bonnie Bramlett's "Long Road Ahead" and Stevie Wonder's "I'm Gonna Make Her Love Me".
However within a few years of the album's release Ford had effectively dissapeared from the music business. He unfortunately died in 2007 amidst a renewed interest in his work, and the album was re-issued with lots of great bonus tracks (see Sounds Of Our Time).
More from Jim Ford
Download
It is such a shame that much of Jim Ford's fantastic music didn't see release until after his death. What makes it even more unfortunate is that he died just when there was an insurgance of interest in his music, and he was about to start recording again. Up until his death, his legacy had been built on just one obscure album (1969's Harlan County) and the few songs he had written for other artists, most notably "Harry Hippie" for Bobby Womack. Shortly before he died he was tracked down by Swedish journalist L-P Andersen, and Bear Family Records re-released Harlan County in 2007 with fifteen bonus tracks (see The Sounds Of Our Time). It was later that year that he was found dead in his trailer home, just as plans were being put together for a charity gig in London. 
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