More Fun with The J's with Jamie (MP3s)

1. Ya Turned Me On, Baby (2:22)
2. My Cigarette and I (2:24)
3. Love Come Take Me Again (2:26)
4. Like Someone in Love (2:25)
5. This Ole House (2:14)
6. The Sound of Money (2:28)
7. Let There Be Love (1:52)
8. Bewitched (2:52)
9. Baby Won't You Please Come Home (2:21)
10. Little Boy Blue (2:37)
11. Here's Love (2:13)
12. Laugh It Up (2:27)

Bonus Track
A Lot of Livin' to Do (2:23)

Here's an album-sized helping of the most listened-to group of the 1960s to help you chase those economic blues away. THE REMARKABLE J'S WITH JAMIE was the group's second studio album, featuring a variety of standards, Broadway show tunes, and originals. This is one of the best takes on "This Ole House" that you're ever likely to hear, and "Laugh It Up" is a guaranteed spirit lifter.

I've also included "A Lot of Livin' to Do," the group's contribution to Columbia's TWO FOR THE AISLE compilation of popular Broadway tunes.

For a group so often heard on the radio, beloved by fans and prolific in the advertising industry, there isn't a lot known about the J's with Jamie. My previous post of AMANA SIDE BY SIDE got me in touch with Jamie herself, and she agreed to answer a few questions via e-mail. You'll find my questions and her answers after the jump.

How many commercials did the group record?
25 or 30 commercials per week for nearly decade (1958-67)

What was a typical recording session like? Were they done quickly in a few takes, or was there a lot of production involved?
A typical session for local commercials usually lasted an hour. Major national products like Schlitz Beer and Sears would take a few hours to complete. The jingle was the thing and little or no production was the main thing.

Was singing a goal for you or a dream that came true?
I was trained as a dancer...singing just happened when I was 16 years old. I never had any formal training as a singer. I did work with a pianist who who got me an audition to become the lead singer for The Mellowlarks, a successful 50's night club and recording quartet. I was hired shortly after graduating from high school. I went on the road as lead singer for 5 years. I also appeared on a live NBC national show from Chicago called Club 60 for a year. I left the group in 1958 and began doing commercials immediately. We formed the J's With Jamie in 1958 from our base in Chicago.

Who influenced you as a singer?
Sarah Vaughn.

You were nominated for a Grammy for Best New Act in 1964. How much temptation was there to record more albums and go on tour?
Opportunities did occur, but with two young daughters, I did not want to go on the road anymore.

When did the group disband? What happened to the rest of the group?
Despite out extraordinary success in Chicago, we disbanded the group and relocated to New York City in 1967 and formed a commercial production house. Our bass Len Dressler and tenor Don Shelton stayed in Chicago and continued to sing.

How come none of the albums have been released on CD?
I don't know why no CDs have been produced. I am flattered indeed to know that we have influenced other singers. I had a great time doing what I did and am proud our success.

My thanks to Jamie for taking the time to write to me and, of course, for all the wonderful music she helped to make.

Comments

[Upandaway]

Concur-sions from this corner. I *would* have paid for this, but now it's too late...!

Tnx!

[Kip W]

Man, "Little Boy Blue" is a heartbreaker. I clicked on it to see if it was the poem by Eugene Field, and it sure was. I needed "Laugh It Up" after that. Thanks for the smooth sounds. Great work, as usual.

[Ivy]

Thanks very much for posting these wonderful tracks. I really enjoyed the earlier post about the Js with Jaime. Their songs and arrangements are fresh and innovative.

[soilworker]

Man, I'd like to hear all these commercials!

Are you able to post The J's with Jamie's Cool Yule too? Thanks.

[hearitwow]

Thanks to a fellow J's with Jaime fan, I've got "Cool Yule" and the rest of the cuts from their two Christmas EPs. I'll be posting them right after Thanksgiving.

Turkey first, then Christmas. Unless you're doing that lay-a-way shopping now.

[Ryan]

Does anyone know the years these records were released other than just "the 60s?"
Thanks!!

[Hear It Wow]

Ryan,

Only Columbia and the group knows for sure, and Columbia wasn't kind enough to include copyright dates on their records in the early 1960s.

The only thing that's known for sure is that their Hey, Look Us Over album was nominated for a Best New Artist Grammy in 1963, so that album came out either in late 1962 or early 1963. If we assume one album a year, that puts "Remarkable" and "Two Sides" in 1964, and the industry-only Christmas EPs around 1961 and 1962.

[Ryan]

Thanks for the quick reply. Would you assume the Amana record to be at about 1964 as well? Also, I don't know if anyone has any dates on the non-album singles? For example, I'm assuming that "a theme from 'a summer place'" is from the 1959 movie of the same name, but I haven't seen the film and IMDB doesn't mention them on the soundtrack info...

Thanks again!

[Will Cochran]

What a treat! I haven't heard anything about this group in almost 50 years but their great blend and musicianship have remained in my head. No that I know the quality of the group - from listening once again and learning that two of the group are former Hi-Lo's it all becomes clear. Jamie has a great voice and just the diction a jingle producer would love.

[Keith Bernstein]

I was a fan in the late 1960s and haven't heard this great group since. The group was given plenty of airplay on WNEW-AM in New York; I used to hear material from the "Jamie and the J Silvia Singers" album all the time (and I bought it as well) but was unfamiliar with the earlier stuff. Thanks for posting all of this wonderful music.

Has anyone put together a complete discography?

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1597176398]

Jamie is my mom. I'm thrilled to see how much her talents are still appreciated.