Review- Davy Jones ‘Manchester Boy:Personal File’ 7a Records Release

After the initial popularity of The Monkees waned by 1970, the Colgems label was swallowed up by Bell Records which by that time was issuing recordings by the Partridge Family featuring the new teen sensation David Cassidy. After releasing one final “Monkees” single ‘Do It In The Name Of Love” with Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones intended to continue as a solo artist tackling the more mature music he had developed on the last couple of Monkees album. The Powers That Be at the time however wanted Davy to continue in his ‘Teenybopper Idol’ image. For his first Bell album Davy had submitted several demos that showcased his mature side. These were rejected by Bell Records who teamed Jones with Bobby Sherman’s producer Jackie Mills, the result being the bubblegum heavy 1971 ‘Davy Jones’ album, which featured the Top 60 hit ‘Rainy Jane’. The album itself didn’t chart and Davy continued to record demos, most of which were self-released on the 1990’s ‘Just For The Record’ box set in both cd and cassette editions, now a rare collector’s item.

7a Records has remastered and released 15 songs from the box set in a new compilation ‘Manchester Boy: Personal File’ on cd and for the first time on vinyl. The songs in this collection have a more warm, brighter sound and intimacy due to the sparse instrumentation that Davy incorporated that bring out the mature feel he had originally intended. A digital single featuring “Man We Was Lonely” b/w “King Lonely The Blue” was released on all digital platforms on September 16.

There are so many highlights on the album, such as covers of Paul McCartney’s ‘Man We Was Lonely’, James Taylor’s ‘Fire And Rain’ and ‘Blossom’, Bobbie Gentry’s ‘I Saw An Angel Die (Was It A Dream)’, Nina Simone’s ‘Feeling Good (Dragonfly)’. Jones also wrote and co-wrote eight of the songs on the album; the title track ‘Manchester Boy’, ‘If I Knew’ with Bill Chadwick, ‘Please Believe Me’, ‘Can’t Believe You’ve Given Up On Me’, I’m Coming Home’, ‘Proud Proud Man’, ‘Leavin’ It Up To You’ and ‘Goodbye Old Friends’.

The acoustic nature of the music adds a powerful intimacy to the lyrics, this is basically Davy Jones unplugged.

The cd edition contains a 28 page booklet filled with many rare photos and an excellent essay by Joe Alterio on Davy’s solo period. The vinyl edition comes in a gatefold sleeve and is pressed on 180g black and white vinyl, the cd replicates the splatter design.

If Davy Jones had had his say, this is the solo album he would have released instead of the more bubblegum 1971 Bell album. This collection truly showcases Jones as a serious artist and it’s a shame things didn’t turn out as he had intended. Thanks to 7a Records, fans can now hear the more serious side of Davy Jones. For those who don’t have the ‘Just For The Record’ box set, ‘Manchester Boy: Personal File’ is a fine sampler of the set. Hopefully, 7a Records will release more gems from the Davy Jones vault on future releases.

1. Manchester Boy
2. King Lonely the Blue
3. Man We Was Lonely
4. If I Knew
5. Feeling Good (Dragonfly)
6. Blossom
7. I Saw An Angel Die (Was It a Dream?)
8. Bluebird (In My Garden)
9. Fire and Rain
10. Please Believe Me
11. Proud Proud Man
12. Can’t Believe You’ve Given Up on Me
13. I’m Coming Home
14. Leavin’ It Up to You
15. Goodbye Old Friends

For more information and to sign up to the 7a Records mailing list, please visit: www.7arecords.com

Fred Velez, 2022.

Fred Velez is the author of the books ‘A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You: The Monkees From A Fan’s Perspective’ and ‘A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You 2: The Monkees From International Fan Perspectives’.