Dr. Hook - Jay David .com

Jay David's New Solo CD "Didn't It Rain!"

Dateline Santa Rosa California.........

Musician Jay David (the artist formerly known as Prints) has released his first ever, full length SOLO album (CD), titled "Didn't It Rain !". Jay played all of the instruments, sang lead and all of the backgrounds, did all of the production, and wrote several of the album's tracks. Amazingly, it was recorded and arranged in whole, on a simple home studio sythasizer!

The album is composed of a couple of old standards that held a special place in Jay's heart, as well as a couple of not so standard oldies, and a few of Jay's own compositions. Jay David is perhaps best known for his work on the first few Dr Hook & The Medicine Show albums, having been a charter member of that group. Jay toured the world for several years, and had gold records with the band, appearing on their first 3 seminal albums. Jay had began in the music biz quite a long time previous to his Dr. Hook days, and also worked in the biz again post Dr. Hook. Jay started on radio almost straight out of the womb, beginning around the age of two! Jay has appeared with and/or worked with artists Brenda Lee, Dan Hicks, David Crosby, Ben E. King, and the Isley Brothers among others.

Jay had always planned to produce some music of his very own, and has finally gotten around to doing just that. Working in seclusion on a small home studio set up, he hammered out a dozen or so tracks over the past year. Upon mastering them at a local studio, clearing the legal crapola, forming his own indy label, and pressing up the first run of 1000 CDs, plus enlisting a friend to ship them, he's in business!

As predicted there was one change to the previously announced track list. With a single additional song added to the #3 position, the final count is at 11 + a Prelude! The tracks are now as follow:

Jay David - Didn't It Rain!

1. Fire - Jay David
2. Noah 3. That Lucky Old Sun
4. Dream
5. Hush Little Baby
6. Lawyers Dice - Jay David
7. You Belong To Me
8. a. Prelude - Jay David
8. b. In Your Room - Brian Wilson
9. Old Folks Bop - Jay David
10. Can't Tie My Shoes Blues - Jay David
11. I Think I Believe

Review

"Noah" is a song some will have heard before. Jay originally heard it as the flipside on one of his mother's records as a kid back in the early 50s. He wanted to pay homage to a song he still loves. It originally appeared on the back of Kay Starr's single "Side By Side" (we ain't got a barrel of money...). Noah is the story of the old guy with the ark, and the animals, you know the one!

"You Belong To Me" was recorded by several artists, Bob Dylan among them. It charted several times and was a hit for The Duprees. It's biggest success was had by Jo Stafford who took the song to #1 in 1952 - FIFTY years ago!

"In Your Room" is a re-working of the old Beach Boys hit, with a special introductory prelude written by Jay. The Beach Boys songs are well known for their fabulous layering of vocals, well Jay has somehow done them justice with this unbelievable layering of himself! The harmonies on this track are Jay on Jay on Jay and one of the finest sounds on the whole thing in my opinion.

"Lawyers Dice" is a Jay original which skewers some in the legal community who would ride on others' backs.

"Old Folks Bop" was written and sang in real time, a train of thought piece about getting a little older.

There are some others , but that gives ya something to wet the whistles.

Mike Paquin

Review of Didn't It Rain!
May be reproduced IN FULL with credit to author and weblink
©2006 Mike Paquin DoctorHook.com

Jay David - Didn't It Rain CD Review
by LeeLeeMonkey (Jay David's daughter!)

A Multi Colored Landscape....
...is just one phrase I thought of when I asked myself how I would describe my Dad's new cd.. I've heard lots of the songs during production a few months ago, was familiar with a lot of it, some of which was even played live to me..some of the songs I had never heard before until tonight..
I just got the cd earlier today so I thought I would write a little review and I do this trying to be as unbiased as possible.

The music stands on its own easily..every song composed, arranged and played by Jay David. His vocals make these audible paintings complete, leaving one to only sit back to listen and daydream. Some things just have to be experienced and I think it safe to say this is definitely one of them.

I know Mike did a great job of describing each track not too long ago so I'll just touch on a few of the songs for now..

Fire...An uplifting number that makes me want to get up and dance, a definite handclapper!

That Lucky Old Sun...the emotion in his voice gets me. Every time.

Hush Little Baby...some ragtime sounding piano, a funky cool number, I especially like the break where the drums step in..yeah!

You Belong To Me...very flowing and romantic, this is one I would love to slow dance to..

Prelude and In My Room...ok I am very partial to this one in particular I admit. So I will repeat what one of my dearest friends said upon hearing this: "This is better then the Beach Boys!"

Old Folks Bop...This is one you want to play over and over to make sure you don't miss a word, very jazzy and smoooooth.

Can't Tie My Shoes Blues...A fun bluesy song (fun..? blues?..wha?? yeah it works, trust me) it has cool noises thrown in for good measure, yay!

Ok well that is this monkey's little review for now, maybe I can write more later?.. I hope everyone has a great New Year, take care all of you Hookers!
Much Love
Lisa
the daughter of the artist formerly known as Prints.

Musician Jay David is perhaps best known as an original member of seminal swamp-boogie-country-laugh-rock group Dr. Hook And The Medicine Show. Jay’s musical résumé actually dates back to way before his Dr. Hook days. Jay began performing at age 2 on New York City’s NBC radio. Jay could be heard singing live each Sunday on the Horn and Hardardt Children’s Hour show. Billed as “Little John David from Bayonne New Jersey”. At age seven Jay got into marching bands, at 16 he won the US National Championship in Drum & Bugle Corps. Jay served 3 years in the US Navy during the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Leaving the service in 1963, he once again began drumming professionally. Jay was a club performer in the mid 60s, playing regularly at New York’s famed Peppermint Lounge among other venues. During 1967-’68 Jay was the drummer for world famous Country Music artist Brenda Lee (famous for the hit “I’m Sorry”). In 1970, while working as the staff drummer for Mercury Records in New York City, Jay heard a demo of the Shel Silverstein penned song “The Last Morning”. Jay was subsequently asked to become the drummer for the new act responsible for recording the demo, ”Dr. Hook And The Medicine Show”. Jay contributed greatly to the group as their drummer, and also handling split duty on early press interviews along with singers Dennis Locorriere and Ray Sawyer. Jay also arranged several of the group’s hit songs. Jay is one of 5 musicians that made up the band heard on that first album, though the band is best known as a 7 piece. Jay recorded 3 Dr. Hook albums that saw immeasurable success, including top hits and gold records worldwide. The band’s schedule included almost non-stop touring up to 300 nights per year. Jay left the group at a time when he felt unhappy and disillusioned with the state of affairs within the band and with their management. Jay's credits also include work with Dan Hicks, The Isley Brothers, Ben E King, Chet Atkins, Red Foley, Brenda Lee, and David Crosby among others. Jay was the first musician from NY/NJ admitted into the “Nashville Local” (in 1966!). The Nashville guys didn’t take kindly to New Yorkers, but Jay was admitted into the Union and played the 1966 NARAS show (the pre-curser to the Grammy’s). A professional Musician for 40 years, Jay looks forward to sharing some old stories and his new music with old fans and new.Watch this space for some musings from Jay, as well as info about previously unreleased music and new musical offerings from Jay David.

Please visit these sites while we are under construction