You Might As Well Read This Until September: “Jazzman” by Carole King

The “jazzman” King was talking about was Ray Charles’ saxophone player Curtis Amy, and on the record he’s portrayed by L.A. rep reliable Tom Scott. However, this is my kind of music; the lyrics were written by David Palmer, the man who sang lead on Steely Dan’s “Brooklyn (Owes The Charmer Under Me),” which a lot of the time is my favourite song, and “Jazzman” demonstrates a similar proud and patient majesty, rearing its head in the direction of life and inspiration like a sprig of lavender welcoming the blue in the air. I love how the old Brill Building handclaps are still in place, together with chord changes which I would call Rundgrenesque had Todd not borrowed a lot of King’s patented harmonic modulations for “Hello It’s Me.” Think of Lisa and Bleeding Gums jamming in the hospital and I’ll see you in early September.

Date Record Made Number Two: 9 November 1974

Number Of Weeks At Number Two: 1

Record At Number One: “You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet” by Bachman-Turner Overdrive

UK Chart Position: None
Other Information: Before Beeching closed it down, there was a railway station in Bothwell. The track has long since been replaced by a footpath but it will lead you straight to the old industrial estate in Birkenshaw. I wonder where the trains went and whether its passengers dreamed of Manderley or Waverley.

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