Jackson C. Frank

Jackson C. Frank was an American singer-songwriter whose life was plagued by sadness, mental health problems, and bad luck in general. In his short career, he only recorded one album. His self-titled 1965 debut. At the time of the release, it didn't get favorable reviews, but I guess that's to be expected when you have Bob Dylan, Buffalo Springfield, CSN&Y, Van Morrison and his debut, alongside many other amazing artists who I can't think to name, to compete with. Plus the album was nowhere near as, let's call it "upbeat", like some other albums at the time. Thanks to movies like "Joker" and "The Brown Bunny", Frank is slowly getting recognition and is now widely considered to be at a level with some of the greatest to ever do it.

The entire album is filled with great tracks with sparse arrangments, with only Franks guitar and a second guitar supplied by Al Stewart and Paul Simon (who also produced the album). The album opens up with "Blues Run The Game" which is a perfect introduction to what this album is all about, and it's followed by songs like "Don't Look Back" and "Yellow Walls" and side A is ended with "Here Comes The Blues" which perfectly ends side A with a taste of what's to come on side B.

Now comes the fun part, side B. In my opinion, side B is perfect. No exceptions. It is just pure melancholy and sadness, with lyrics that detail unrequited love and struggles with depression and sadness and the lack of reason to be happy. And he meant every lyric he wrote. At the age of 22 when he wrote this album, he had reason to be sad and depressed as if he went through 60 years of pure bad events and luck. His girlfriend died a fire that left him with more than 50% of his body burned, he had gland problems followed by joint pain.

Such a sad life. I tend to think about what could've happened to people like these, that had mental health problems that most of those around them didn't, or wouldn't want to, understand. If you're feeling down, talk with a friend, or a psychiatrist. Mental health is no joke, and if there's anyone who knows what's wrong with you, it's you.

I fully recommend checking out this album if you're feeling blue. Everything is recommended, especially side B.

A lot of the lyrical composition is sloppy, not fitting the music precisely. I feel like some of the themes he touches on just for a line or two would have flourished in the mind of a greater singer/songwriter, but here the seeds wither and die in the shallow soil of unoriginality. In other words, I don't believe a word he sings because of the way he sings it. And folk that lacks credibility fails.

Besides, his first name is a last name, and his last name a first. Fuck that guy.