Jake Thackray (27th February 1938 - 24th December 2002)

Here is another of my archive interviews with celebrities to mark their birthdays. 27th February would've been the birthday of singer-songwriter, poet, humourist and journalist, Jake Thackray. PLEASE LIKE & SUBSCRIBE if you can. There are many more of these interviews on the channel and many more to come.
Jake was best known in the 1960s and 70s for his topical comedy songs which ranged from satirical and bawdy to sentimental and pastoral. He regularly performed the songs on television and each one had a strong emphasis on storytelling, making him difficult to categorise.
He accompany himself on a nylon-strung guitar in a style that was part classical, part jazz. He was described as a "North Country Noël Coward" because of his witty lyrics and clipped delivery, combined with his strong Yorkshire accent and the northern setting of many of his songs. He said Georges Brassens was his greatest inspiration and he was also influenced by Jacques Brel and Charles Trenet. He also admired Randy Newman.Jake, in turn influenced, many performers including Jarvis Cocker, Mike Harding, Ralph McTell, Morrissey, and Jasper Carrott.
In this excerpt he begins by talking about his unique sound.

[@DeanJuvenal]

Saw him in Bradford, St George’s Hall, in the mid 1970s. Very few in the audience, so he invited us all to sit in the front seats of the stalls. A mesmerising performance.

[@MBallardRadio]

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[@thenoobpolice3002]

How marvellous to hear dear Jake speaking at length rather than just in snatches during his concerts.

[@MBallardRadio]

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[@jegor30]

Genius.

[@markhayward7400]

Interesting to hear Jake Thackray talk about the influence of the French chanson tradition on his music. His lyrics though come from a different place entirely. There is a very particular English, even Northern sensibility to his best work. You can take the man out of Kirkstall, but you can't take Kirkstall out of the man!

[@thesingingaccountant1]

Agree - he totally had his own style and didn't have the melodrama of chanson

[@MBallardRadio]

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[@DeanJuvenal]

A sad ending to a life that had been blighted by those who had a calling from their Xtian god to damage small children for their own pleasure.