Sixties music-poet, Jake Holmes has been favorably compared to the likes of Tim Buckley, Bob Dylan, Bob Lind, Jesse Colin Young, Bruce Cockburn and Jesse Winchester. His late 60's releases - "Above Ground Sound of Jake Holmes" (Tower), - "Letter to Katherine" (Capitol) and "Jake Holmes" & "How Are You" (Polydor) lead to the 1970 hit "So Close" from the album "So Close, So Very Far to Go" (Polydor) and the subsequent CBS release, "How Much Time."
His work was also featured in the films "Dusty and Sweets McGee" and Woody Allen's "Bananas." His songs have been recorded by artists from Tom Rush to Nina Simone to Frank Sinatra including Frank's entire "Watertown" album co-written by Jake and Bob Gaudio, writer for The Four Seasons.
Today, aside from producing catchy TV jingles as a partner for 3 TREE PRODUCTIONS, Jake is spitting hot SLAM POETRY and producing political, socially-wise tunes that make you think.
Jake Holmes was also a part of a 60's radical folk/comedy trio called "JIM, JAKE, & JOAN".
He, along with JIM CONNELL and red carpet diva JOAN RIVERS, went on to perform in a 60's beatnik movie called "ONCE UPON A COFFEEHOUSE".
Jake Holmes is an accomplished JINGLE WRITER, composing some of the catchiest TV commercial jingles ever written. Among the instantly recognizable favorites are "BE ALL YOU CAN BE"for the U.S. Army, "GILLETTE: THE BEST A MAN CAN GET" and the catchy soft drink ditty "BE A PEPPER". Here's the video.
Jake also wrote "ZACK THE LEGGO MANIAC". Here's the video.
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One of many journeyman New York folk-rock singer/songwriters of the late '60s, Jake Holmes, is known as the author and original performer of "Dazed and Confused." It is still not widely recognized that he wrote and recorded the first version of this song on his 1967 solo debut album, prior to it being covered (in concert) by the Yardbirds, and then becoming one of the most famous numbers in Led Zeppelin's repertoire. A big part of why that's not widely recognized is that Holmes, for murky reasons, was not credited as a writer on Led Zeppelin's recording, which gave sole author credits to Jimmy Page. For that accomplishment alone, Holmes is worthy of a footnote.
Holmes had worked in a group with fellow folk-rock singer/songwriter Tim Rose before going solo. "Dazed and Confused" was on Holmes' 1967 debut LP The Above Ground Sound of Jake Holmes, which had an odd, edgy folk-rock sound built around a drumless trio, featuring Holmes' rapid rhythm guitar strums and Ted Irwin's spidery acid folk-jazz-lead guitar lines.
Hi, I like your original version of Dazed and Confused... I have always wondered why you never sued Jimmy Page and Led Zeppelin for at least partial writer's credit for their version. Willie Dixon was successful for getting credit and back royalties for whole Lotta love, and one other song which escapes me right now.
RALLY AGAINST GREED: "Balance The Bucks" Concert in D.C. “Balance The Bucks,” a free concert program to be presented on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., is slated for 2 pm Sunday, September 6. The unprecedented musical performance will feature artists from across the country on stage at the Sylvan Amphitheater adjacent to the Washington Monument. The concert will feature a line-up of original tunes focusing on issues such as economic justice, redistribution of wealth, salary disparity, bailouts, foreclosures and the general impact of rampant greed. Event organizer and host Delmark Goldfarb hopes to “try to punch a hole in the cloud of money influence which soothes and smothers the Capitol.” For further details and/or to be a part of the sing-out, contact 503 708 7306; Del.Goldfarb@hotmail.com.
Enjoy the unique/fresh quality of this short set you decided to share. Most valuable when everybody everywhere is looking for some breathing air; ' hard to find an empty chair.... Thanks!
I have been listening to your first album and I have been loving it. I'm inspired by your story. Love your guitar playing. I just found out about Jake Holmes' Story a few days ago and wanted to say I was inspired, Just came off guesting on a friends gig so I'm a bit hyped. Always nice to play without the pressure of being a frontman. Forgive the enthusiasm, but it is sincere.
Hi Jake I hope you are well. Did you ever get a chance to listern to my Music? I would still love to hear your veiws good or bad. Just click on my profile picture. Cheers mate. dreadyzeppelin. London
Hello Jake, Thanks for the add on and thanks for one of the most beautiful songs that kept me crying through the 70's - So Close. I still have the LP I bought in 1972 or 73. Regards, Adina
His work was also featured in the films "Dusty and Sweets McGee" and Woody Allen's "Bananas." His songs have been recorded by artists from Tom Rush to Nina Simone to Frank Sinatra including Frank's entire "Watertown" album co-written by Jake and Bob Gaudio, writer for The Four Seasons.
Today, aside from producing catchy TV jingles as a partner for 3 TREE PRODUCTIONS, Jake is spitting hot SLAM POETRY and producing political, socially-wise tunes that make you think.
