Jess Roden

Jess Roden - The Player Not The Game - 1977 - Island

"The Player Not The Game" is a wonderful album of jazz, soul and blues from one of the most underrated vocalists and songwriters ever to come out of England. His voice has been described as "one of the quintessential white soul voices of the '70's". For over 40 years, he done just about everything in rock music, except becoming a household name. He has appeared on albums by The Meters, The Doors, Steve Winwood, The Who, Mott the Hoople, Keef Hartley, Sandy Denny, Paul Kossoff, Jim Capaldi, Stomu Yamashta, Peter Green, and many more. He has a voice of pure gold, and to many people in the record buying world, he remains an undiscovered treasure. "The Player Not The Game" is HR by A.O.O.F.C. It's a vinyl issue, but the man's great talents can be appreciated adequately. Check out his brilliant "Blowin'" album. A 5 x CD album, "The Hidden Masters - The Jeff Roden Anthology" containing over 80 remastered tracks from the original master tapes is supposedly due for release. Watch out for that! Check out Jess' "The Best Of" album on this blog. Read http://musiquarium.wordpress.com/2007/02/18/unsung-heroes-no1-jess-roden/ for a lot of detailed information about this unsung hero [All tracks @ 320 Kbps: File size = 77.4 Mb]

TRACKS / COMPOSERS / MUSICIANS

1 Misty Roses - Tim Hardin

Leon Pendarvis : Piano
Rob Mounsey : Fender Rhodes & A.R.P. 2600
Gary Mure : Drums
Anthony Jackson : Bass
David Carey : Vibes
Scott Hamilton : Tenor Saxophone
Cliff Morris : Electric Guitar
Charlie Brown : Acoustic Guitar

2 Sensation - Jess Roden & Steve Webb

Rob Mounsey : Fender Rhodes & A.R.P. 2600
David Carey : Vibes
Francisco Centeno : Bass
Gary Mure : Drums
John Tropea : Lead Guitar
Cliff Morris : Guitar

3 Lonely Avenue - Doc Pomus

Leon Pendarvis : Piano
Rob Mounsey : Clavinet
Anthony Jackson : Bass
Gary Mure : Drums
Erroll Bennett & Rubens Bassini : Percussion
Scott Hamilton : Tenor Saxophone (Solo)
Cliff Morris : Lead Guitar
Charlie Brown : Guitar
Howard Johnson : Baritone Sax
Lou Marini : Alto Sax
Harold Vick : Tenor Sax
Alan Ralph : Trombone
Delores Hall, Benny Diggs, Michael Gray, Arnold McCuller & Jess Rodden : Background vocals

4 The Quiet Sound Of You And I - Bruce Roberts & Edgar Bronfman

Leon Pendarvis : Fender Rhodes
Rob Mounsey : Piano
Buddy Williams : Drums
Francisco Centeno : Bass
Cliff Morris & Lance Quinn : Guitars
David Carey : Vibes
Erroll Bennett : Percussion
Scott Hamilton : Tenor Saxophone
Delores Hall, Michael Gray, Benny Diggs, Arnold McCuller & Jess Roden : Background vocals

5 The Hardest Blow - John Cartwright

John Tropea, Cliff Morris & Franklin Micare : Acoustic Guitars
Erroll Bennett : Percussion
Leon Pendarvis : Piano
Rob Mounsey : Fender Rhodes
Harold Vick : Tenor Saxophone
Francisco Centeno : Bass
Milt Hinson : Acoustic Bass
Gary Mure : Drums

6 Drinking Again - Johnny Mercer & Doris Tauber

Gary Mure : Drums
David Carey : Vibes
Shirley Scott : Piano
Cliff Morris & Charlie Brown : Guitars
Anthony Jackson : Bass

7 Woman Across The Water - Jess Roden

Leon Pendarvis : Piano
Gary Mure : Drums
Francisco Centeno : Bass
John Tropea & Jeff Mironov : Guitars
Erroll Bennett : Percussion
Rob Mounsey : Fender Rhodes, A.R.P. 2600 & A.R.P. SE.IV.
Delores Hall, Michael Gray, Benny Diggs, Arnold McCuller & Jess Roden : Background vocals

8 In Me Tonight - Jess Roden

Leon Pendarvis : Fender Rhodes
Rob Mounsey : Piano
Cliff Morris & John Tropea : Guitars
Harold Vick : Soprano Saxophone
Francisco Centeno : Bass
Gary Mure : Drums
Erroll Bennett : Percussion
David Carey : Vibes
Delores Hall, Michael Gray, Benny Diggs, Arnold McCuller & Jess Roden : Background vocals

OTHER CREDITS

Strings -
Violins : Max Pollikoff, Sandford Allen, Gene Orloff, Paul Gershman, Max Ellen, Mathew Raimondi, Joe Malin & Charles Libove
Violas : Al Brown, Manny Vardi, Julien Barber & Selwart Clarke
Celli : Charles McCracken & Kermit Moore
Horns -
Alto Saxophones & Clarinet : Lou Marini & Raymond Beckenstein
Tenor Saxophones : George Marge, Harold Vick & Walter Levinsky
Trumpets & Fluglehorns : Alan Rubin, John Faddis, Virgil Jones, Burt Collins, Micheal Lawrence & Victor Paz
Baritone Saxophone & Bass Clarinet : Howard Johnson

SHORT BIO

Singer/guitarist Jess Roden was born in Kidderminster in England's West Midlands, and his first band was the Shakedown Sounds. In 1967, he joined the Alan Bown Set as their new lead singer. Although their records never charted nationally, he did pick up a fandom in London (and belatedly became something of a star on the Northern Soul scene) with the release of their single "Emergency 999". He remained with the Bown group through 1970, after which he formed the band Bronco, and later worked on Wildlife, the third Mott The Hoople album, and with Keef Hartley on the album Lancashire Hustler. In the mid-1970's, he teamed up with ex-Doors John Densmore and Robby Kreiger in the Butts Band, and sang on their first album. Roden finally emerged as a solo artist in his own right in the mid-1970's on Island Records, with his 1974 self-titled solo album, which was cut in New Orleans and included Allen Toussaint and Art Neville on keyboards. His albums throughout the 1970's got great reviews but he never saw any significant sales; in between his own work, he managed to sing and play on albums by Carol Grimes, Jim Capaldi, Stomu Yamashta, Sandy Denny, and Grace Jones. He was with the group Rivits on Island, for one album at the outset of the 1980's. © Bruce Eder © 2012 Rovi Corporation. All Rights Reserved http://www.allmusic.com/artist/jess-roden-p20236/biography

BIO (WIKI)

Jess Roden (born 28 December 1947) is an English rock singer and guitarist. Roden's first band was The Raiders followed by The Shakedown Sound which also included the guitarist, Kevyn Gammond, and keyboard player August Eadon (aka Gus Yeadon). In 1966, he joined The Alan Bown Set as their new lead singer. Although their records rarely charted, Roden and the band did pick up a considerable fans in London, and belatedly became a minor star on the Northern soul scene, with the release of their single, "Emergency 999". He remained with the Alan Bown through to the late 1960s, but left after recording the album The Alan Bown! His vocals were re-recorded by his replacement Robert Palmer for the UK release of the album, although Roden's original vocals remained on the U.S. release. Roden later appeared as a backing vocalist to Palmer on his 1983 appearance on The Tube. In 1970 Roden returned to Worcestershire and formed the band Bronco but left after two albums to embark on a solo album. During this period, he also worked on Wildlife, the third Mott the Hoople album, and sang and played on albums by Carol Grimes, Jim Capaldi, Sandy Denny, and sang lead vocals on Keef Hartley's 1973 album Lancashire Hustler. His solo album plans were sidelined when, in the same year, he was asked to team up with ex-Doors John Densmore and Robby Krieger in The Butts Band, together with Phil Chenn (bass) and Roy Davies (keyboards). The album was recorded in London and Kingston, Jamaica and released in America on Blue Thumb and Island (rest of the world). Roden, Chenn and Davies remained with the group for one album and a brief US tour. Roden finally emerged as a solo artist in the mid 1970s on Island Records, with his 1974 self-titled solo album. It was recorded at Olympia and Basing St Studios in London as well as New Orleans, Louisiana, and included contributions from Allen Toussaint and Art Neville on keyboards. He then formed The Jess Roden Band (originally Iguana - based in Southampton), with whom three further albums were recorded (Keep Your Hat On, Play It Dirty, PLay It Class and Blowin') - the latter recorded live in Birmingham and Leicester during 1976. Always a major touring draw, the band never achieved significant record sales and disbanded in 1977. Following the ending of the JRB, Roden relocated to New York and cut two further solo albums for Island (The Player Not The Game and Stonechaser). He formed The Rivits with Peter Wood (who co-wrote Year Of The Cat with Al Stewart), for one album Multiplay. During initial sessions for a second Rivits album that was due to be recorded at Compass Point Studios, Roden sang back-up vocals for Grace Jones Pull Up To The Bumper. On returning to New York, Roden worked as a graphic artist while, at the same time, recording Seven Windows, an album that was produced by Steve Dwire and Michael MacDonald. Just before the album was released, Roden returned to live and work in the UK. He returned with a new band, The Humans, in 1991. With a line-up featuring Jim Capaldi, Gary Grainger, Bill Burke and Nick Graham, the outfit produced two albums, only for Roden disappear from the music scene once more in the mid 1990s. One rare recent appearance was at Granville's Brasserie, in Stone, Staffordshire. As of April, 2008, according to his brother Nick, "Basically he now runs his own graphic design business, but not in New York. He lives near to London and is enjoying the quiet life. Up until about 4-5 years ago, he sang about once a year with an outfit called the SAS band with other singers and musicians. I believe Roy Wood, Roger Taylor, Brian May, Paul Young, etc. were also involved. I cannot speak on his behalf, but when I went down to see him two weeks ago, I asked him if he would be doing anymore singing, but seeing as he has not sung in such a while, I can honestly say it is most unlikely."