h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

There have been some great sources for jakes' lyrics, Jakes Progress being one of my prize possessions, but can anyone help with chords for some of his songs. I have many worked out, probably the easier ones, but would love to hear from anyone who has others, particularly 'The Bull', 'The Kiss' and 'The Blacksmith and the Toffee Maker'. I am happy to offer some of my versions in return.
Don't know much about that maths stuff!

Hi Phil. It seems there are not that many of us Jake fans on the net yet. I don't have chords songs you mentioned, but I do have a copy of Jake's Songbook from 1976 with 13 tabs (incl. chords) plus easy chords for a few of his songs which I regularly perform - Sister Josephine, Isobel Makes Love Upon National Monuments, Bantam Cock, On Again On Again, The Tortoise Song. Like you say, perhaps we can swap chords!

Hi All,
There may not be many of us Jake fans on the net yet but we must spread the word!
It very refreshing to hear like minded people discussing one of the greatest wordsmiths of all time.
Being only 24, it is quite unusual for someone like me to be a JT fan and I can't exactly bring it up as a topic of conversation in the pub!
I have, however, converted some of my friends through such songs as Country Bus and Fine Bay Pony...........but there is much work to be done!
I am also a guitarist and have a keen interest in your discussions about Jake tabs and I will keep my eyes peeled for tabs and lyrics that will hopefully be posted on the net!
Thanks all - and keep listening!
James

Just to let you know that there are other Jake fans in this Universe and who knows which other (universes)? I became a fan back in the 1970's, saw him loads of times, still love listening to his albums and find the words so clever. Hope you've all found "The (Unofficial) Jake Thackray homepage" run by Edmund from Oxford. It's FULL of fascinating information.

Does anyone have any information on how Jake is now, or what he is doing? Does he ever perform nowadays?

OK, so I've been quiet for a while - did this site go off-line for a while. I do several of Jakes songs, including The Lodger, The Gypsy, On Again, The Jolly Captain, Isobell makes love, Tell me about the one, and, of course, Sr. Josephine. I recently got a photocopy of the songbook through Edmunds site but the chords change so bloomin' fast!!!
I don't have much time so contact me if I can help - I've decided against The Bull but am working on The Widow of Brid!
Cheers

Phil

I've been a fan of JT for many years, and perform several of his songs at folk clubs. If I can help anyone who is having difficulty playing the guitar parts, I'd be happy to. Sadly Jake is not performing now - he lives in Monmouth, not far from me but I've never met him. Locals tell me that boozing has got the better of him these days, and if that's true, it's a shame because he is a prodigious talent. A truly great wordsmith. I'd welcome correspondence from anyone who shares my enthusiasm for Jake's work. paul.hobday@virgin.net

I've heard much the same story about how Jake has become something of a recluse now. What I'd like to know is whether he knows just how much he is still loved and respected. Finding these pages,( via "The Unofficial Jake Thackray webpage", which I found easily searching for Jake Thackray via Google) has inspired me to listen to his music yet again, to buy the "Ideal" CD (from Amazon if anyone else wants it) and has led to a long correspondence and hopefully real friendship with someone else who contributed to this page. We both rave about him, such a clever and talented man, his songs still give such pleasure. I went to loads of his concerts in the 1970's and met him several times - I even interviewed him for our local radio station folk show!

Jake, if you happen to find this, you still have many admirers who really care about you.

Id also love some Jake tab, or chords (any scrap would do),
I think im probably one of his younger fans (16), does he still tour?
And why dont they re-release his records on CD - my dads vinyl are a bit worn out.

so there you go.

Dear young researcher
As mentioned, the Unofficial Jake Thackray site has info on how to get the CD and also to order a copy (photo) of the now-out-of-print songbook. Email me at philreckless@hotmail.com fo some basic chords, or Paul on one of the above messages.
Good luck in your singing career - I hope you will sing them out, maybe at folk clubs etc. They always go down well.
Phil

P.S. You make me feel quite old talking about your Dad's vinyls!!!

I was recently struck by a nostalgic urge to re-visit Jake Thackray's songs - I was a teenager in the 70s when he was at the peak of his popularity. I found to my disappointment that only the 'lah-di-dah' compilation was now available, and decided to try and see him perform live.

I eventually tracked down Jake himself, and wrote to him asking where I could see him perform. He very kindly replied, telling me that he doesn't appear in public any more, and is much happier since he stopped. He is still, however, writing songs and performing them for his friends (lucky friends!).

No chance of seeing him in the flesh then, but I wonder whether it would be possible to get some or all of his albums reissued, as there seems to be a very healthy interest in his work worldwide. I have written to ask if he has any objection to my making enquiries along these lines with record companies. What do you lot think?

I am just another fan of Jake, starting from 74, when I bought two of his records.

I wonder if Jake can be convinced to record other songs than those which appear in the only CD available.

By the way, I am an Israeli and I don't know whether there are other Israeli fans of Jake.

I thought that Jake will become an English version of Georges Brassens, but it has not happened, interesting why.

Eliahu

To all readers; if you get this in time, i've heard that BBC Radio 4 are including Jake in a programme about Georges Brassens when he came to Cardiff many years ago, to be broadcast on WEDNESDAY 22ND AUGUST from 3:45pm until 4pm. Should be interesting!

Sarah, I'd like to ask you about something - would you contact me on pam2sway@yahoo.co.uk please? from another long-time Jake fan, Pam

hi ive been after the song book for a while dont suppose you could just give me the chords to country bus could you

Sarah,

As a long standing fan of Jake Thackray I would quite like to drop him a line myself. Is he amenable to 'fan mail' and would his house number be 75?

Regards

David

Finally found something on Jake - just rediscovered the latest compilation as I had been brought up as a kid with my dad playing all of his stuff. Not until I got a bit older did I realise the genius. Saw him with me dad in the mid 80's and since my dad died in 93, its like my old man's singing to us, as he used to sing all the Thackray classics when we were on long journeys. I still have all of the old man's Jake records from the 70's, all in good nick as well. Fantastic organic bloke.

Hello David,

Haven't been here for a while, so didn't get your message until tonight.

Don't know whether JT's amenable to fan mail generally. I wrote enclosing an SAE and got a very friendly reply. I don't see how receiving letters telling him how much he is missed could do any harm, though. You're right about the address, BTW. I expect you found it the same way I did - easy when you know how.

Good luck. I'd love to hear if you get a response.

Hi Sarah,

Thanks a million. Will mail the man and let you know how I get on.
My email address is david.anson@localdial.com
Best regards, David

Phil

Could you help me with chords or tab for JT's On Again......?
I have just discovered the site containing all this geat enthusiam for Jakes songs. I was only talking about the man last week and saying what a shame it was that there was no song book (with Chords) available. It's great to find all this info.

Cheers Alan

Hello Alan,

Pleased to meet another JT fan. If there's any new information it's sure to appear here sooner or later, so it's worth checking in every now and then, I think.

Sarah

Hi all,
It's been a while since I checked in. Great to see such an interest in Jake. I have some fairly simple chords to a few Jake songs (Sister Josephine, The Lodger etc..)if anyone wants them. Let me know and I can e-mail them to you.
I very much like the idea of asking Jake to record some more stuff but I shan't hold my breath...