“I hope you can live the sounds, pictures and emotions that enveloped us during the creation of this Joint Effort“ [Spencer Lee – Album Producer]
CD Cover
The CD was originally retro-reviewed in the Toorak Times in April 2014 as part of the series titled “Cream Of The Crate”.
The album is by Jeff St John’s Copperwine and is entitled Joint Effort. It was originally released in 1970 on vinyl – the Spin label, and then again in 1971 also on vinyl, by Festival Records. (And boy, do I wish I had a copy of either) This CD version represents a reissue by Vicious Sloth Collectables in 1994 (VSC 013).
One terrific thing about the CD, is that all the tracks were taken directly from the original master tapes. This means we hear the mix the way the group and the producer originally meant it to be heard.
Like many of the Cd’s that have been produced post the original vinyl production, all care has been taken with the audio element but the same cannot be said for the production of the information supporting the album.
The enclosed booklet that comes with the CD, in this case a single wallet size page – folded, really does not do the reissue justice.
Sure there are a couple of hundred words by well known music writer – Ian McFarlane and, give due, he writes well. But really, how can you get away with a reissue and not name ALL the members of the various line-ups that contributed to the success and the name – Copperwine? Sure Jeff gets a mention (of course) and Wendy Saddington and Glyn Mason; and the liner notes do mention Ross East (guitar), Alan Ingram (bass), Barry Kelly (keyboards), Peter Figures (drums). But surely as the years go on listeners should be aware of the other muso’s that contributed so much. So, I’ll name them! There was also Phil Wooding (guitar), Harry Brus (bass). And hey! a few pictures of the various line-ups would have been nice as well!
Jeff St John
OK, so the name of the album is “Joint Effort” and it behooves me to make mention of it, as a classic double entendre! There is no doubt about it, it is a great effort by the band and the producer and engineer, but, it is also a reflection of the … well lets call a spade a spade – it’s also a recognition about the dope smoking that was utterly (and delightfully) rife at the time!
Inner CD insert
Jeff St John was indeed a remarkable man. I actually remember him performing in the late 60’s, at venues like the Thumping Tum. It was amazing how he would throw himself around on stage in his wheel chair. His wheel chair? For younger readers it should be noted that Jeff suffered from spina bifida, a complaint that haunted him throughout his career, and indeed his life, and because of this he was almost confined to a wheelchair, although there were occasions when he would appear with two walking sticks.
Other artists who had a form of a ‘disability’ such as Grantley Dee, who was vision impaired, never looked comfortable on stage. However that was not the case with Jeff, he looked like, and acted like, he owned the stage. He would “throw” the wheelchair around on two-wheels while singing his head off, and I suspect that I was not the only one who never saw a man in a wheelchair, but an artist putting on and “ace” performance.
In order to provide just a brief bio of his career, I went to the following site – Jeffrey St John and the Embers
From 1961-1963: Vocalist, T.C.N.. Channel Nine, Sydney. He was a regular feature vocalist on teenage variety programmes.
From 1965-1971 Lead Vocalist Member of the bands The Id, Yama, and Copperwine, with The Id and Copperwine achieving national success, both live and with Top Ten hit singles. (Big Time Operator – The Id), (Teach Me How To Fly – Copperwine).
1972-1982 Self Employed. Ran a successful career in entertainment performing the roles of performer, writer (music and dialogue), producer and business manager. First artist outside America to be released on the ASYLUM label. National Top Ten hit single (Fool In Love).
From 1982 until now has done a lot of things including collaboration with Universities on various programs for the disabled, lecture tours on the same, and designing plus building a beautiful Harley Davidson trike plus of course fronting Jeffrey St John & The Embers.
Throughout his whole career the single most stunning thing about St John, was his voice! Amazing, as a description, begins to describe it. In the liner notes Ian McFarlane writes, “Rock writer David ‘Dr Pepper’ Pepperell made no secret of his views when he praised singer Jeff St John’s voice for its limitless power, its precise and meaningful phrasing and it’s sweetness…”like honey dripping from the hive“.”
Writer Glenn A. Baker , wrote when describing what Jeff’s voice, called it a, “….roaring, finely controlled voice“.
It is impossible to challenge either of these opinions – he had a voice that was to be believed. So, the tracks do some justice to that voice, but never loose sight of the fact, that no matter how well he sounds on a recording, it is and never was, as good as he sounded live, because the power of his delivery was beautifully melded into the power of his presence!
Track Listing
1. Cloud Nine
2. Sing A Simple Song
3. Fanciful Flights
4. Any Orange Night
5. You Don’t Have To Listen
6. I Been Treated Wrong
7. Days To Come
8. Reach Out
9. Can’t Find My Way Home
10. Train
11. I Remember
12. Environment In 3 Parts
a) At the Party, Mrs. Prothero (Environment, Part 1)
b) How many People (Environment, Part 2)
c) Highway (Environment, Part 3)
13. Teach Me How To Fly
14. Freedom Blues
15. Hummingbird
16. Keep On Growing
Rear cover
I’ll kick of the examples of the tracks on this fantastic album, with track #2 – Sing a Simple Song. A great song made famous by Sly & the Family Stone, the Copperwine put their own mark on the track, but in doing so keep that heavy ‘funk’ sound, that was the success of the piece. However Jeff takes it to another level, when he hits the falsetto parts, it makes the skin on the nape of your neck stand up.
This track is a great example of the description of his deliver as being powerful. It may be a “Simple Song”, but there is nothing simple about the arrangement and delivery by Jeff and the Copperwine!
Sing A Simple Song
But Jeff’s voice was also perfect for a more of a ballad approach, and so it seems appropriate to look at a track written by Jeff and drummer, Peter Figures.
Track #3 is Fanciful Flights. it features a nice piece of sitar work and a lovely piece of acoustic guitar, and Jeff singing with that “Honey Dripping” sound that was so well identified by Dr. Pepper. sadly, I could find no indication of who provided the female backing vocals on this track. I wonder if it was either Janice Slater or Alison McCallum, both of whom did sing backing vocals with Jeff at different stages.
It is a very nice composition and did give some indication of the ability of Jeff to construct a song. It was ironical that in the end he left the group over a disagreements that included his song writing.
The year was 1969, and “heady” years they were, and this track slips into the groove of the period so well.
Fanciful Flights
Again, the arrangement is excellent and while the chord progression is faithful to the original, this arrangement is different enough to make it very interesting. The organ playing while dominating the music, does not dominate the track, that, is left to Jeff, whose swirling delivery was a feature of the live performances.
So while this is not a live performance, in many ways it is an excellent example of how those of us who were fortunate to hear him live, heard him.
Reach Out
It would make perfect sense to feature the BIG hit, Teach Me How To Fly. I wasn’t going to because there is an excellent video clip, and I try to not duplicate the audio tracks with the video tracks – this is an exception!
This is in fact what might be called his “opus magnum” – a brilliant composition by Sid Barnes from Rotary Connection, Jeff and the Copperwine made it their own. Released in Australia in 1970 and reached #3 Sydney, #29 Melbourne, #6 Brisbane, #6 Adelaide & #30 Perth.
In many ways it deserved better, but then again many pieces of music that charted higher have long been forgotten, but ask anyone who knows of Jeff St John, and ask for his best piece of music, and chances are this will be nominated.
The track starts in the key of F#, not usually the first choice by music writers, but it works beautifully. The track starts it fairly gently, but soon mutates into a powerful, upbeat track that is almost impossible not to sing along with, even if it is simple the refrain, “Teach me how to fly!”. The middle eight guitar break and piano is short but stunning and all over, you could be forgiven for thinking it was written for Jeff, and if any track combines all the elements of his voice that have been identified, this track provides it!
Given that Teach Me How To Fly has become so synonymous with a man largely confined to a wheelchair. I mean the irony is not lost with lyrics such as:
Heard you got back on your- feet again
after falling, down so far!
well I’m so damn glad you reached the top
I’m so glad to see just, where you are !
Here I am , still on the bottom,
look at us, and give us a sign
Teach me teach me how to fly
Teach me teach me how to fly
Teach Me How To Fly
I’m glad the old vinyl Vs Cd argument is pretty much dead, even if it is replaced with Cd Vs downloadable mp3’s, because as I have remarked in previous Cream of The Crate Cd’s, it has meant that great albums have remained intact and available long after the vinyl has, for most people, become unplayable.
This album deserves to be remembered, and played. It takes us back to those wonderful years when we were rich with talent, and no longer need to look beyond our shores for music and artists to appreciate, and, dare I say – venerate! The tracks I have chosen to feature are by no means the only good one’s, the album is choc-a-block full of excellent material, from Cloud Nine through to Hummingbird – it’s a journey of discovery that YOU should take.
Jeff St John, regardless of the band behind him, made an impact upon the stage and our music psyche! With Copperwine he really shone. This album is a MUST for any one who appreciates great Australian talent. It is a must for anyone who collects Australian music, and, it is a must for anyone who cares enough about supporting folk with disabilities – a term I actually abhor, because people like Jeff St John showed that they do not have a disability, they simply have a different way of operating in the world, and given half a chance don’t just rise to the top, but raise the bar that defines the top.
The Cd is available on Ebay, but there was only one copy in oz, bringing around $25.00 (inc postage), but in the UK they wanted nearly $60.00. It’s a bit of a hit and miss thing, there have been copies available for around $12.00 and Discogs report the average prive is $16.00 – but the market is not exactly flooded with copies, so if you see it – do not hesitate, grab it!!
Thank you Jeff St John for it all!
VIDEOS – well Youtube, that first place of call for any music video, has a a number of “video’s available of Jeff, but not many with Copperwine, and even fewer with Jeff live. So here is all that I could locate, starting with the well known and loved, “Teach Me How To Fly”!
Teach Me How To Fly
Hummingbird
A doco on Jeff & the Copperwine (√)
