[JAM / PAMSMember]

Every now and then we'll be going through an old tape looking for something and be reminded of a cool item we'd almost forgotten about. Or we'll get nostalgic and listen to a project we really liked but hadn't heard in ages. When that happens, I always think that many of our JAM fans would enjoy listening along with us. And now there's a place where you can. We've added a new page to the Collectors & Fans section of the JAM website. It's simply called “JAM Bits and Pieces”.

You won't find routine demos there, or re-sings you've heard a million times before. But you will find a collection of JAM things we like for one reason or another. And we'll keep adding to it as time allows.

The material featured on Bits and Pieces will probably not appeal to those who only want to hear one shotgun jingle after another, or those who believe that anything recorded before last Thursday is old fashioned and not worth hearing anymore. But for the ones who appreciate the finer musical and creative aspects of jingles, I hope you'll enjoy hearing some JAM items which are less well-known amongst collectors. I encourage you to read the text which accompanies each piece of audio to get the most out of it.

This page is a work in progress, and only has a few items to offer at the moment. There isn't even a link to it on our own site yet! But you JM'ers can beta test it and your comments left here will let me know whether the entire idea of the page has any merit. Thanks.

JAM Bits and Pieces

[jingleone]

As a big JAM fan, I am certainly biased with respect to JAM “Bits and Pieces”, but I think it is fantastic! Thank you Jon for these gems! The WMAL cuts were my favorites as “The #1 Voice” is my favorite jingle package of all time. I really enjoy hearing JAM packages adapted to different slogans as with the last jingle in the WMAL segment – a “Best Show 2” cut. Any chance of putting up some cuts with interesting and/or challenging lyrics? I hope this beta test proves successful to ensure more magic from the JAM “vault!”

[StarbrelzMember]

Obviously a terrific idea, if, over time, you post those nuggets from iconic stations that came in 5-inch tape boxes with 2 or 3 special cuts that never appeared on demos. Here's a suggestion: some of the Fresh Kiss cuts you did for WLS after Jam released the completed Fresh Kiss package I've heard them on 1985 air checks. (Doesn't hurt to ask…)

[bossabro]

Fantastic! Love the WMAL spots.

[tyty21]

john, once again, you've done it! you should realy get the WQIO cuts up there. if it's me, i'm the only one who heard a power station and fresh kiis cut from “super q”

[mumoss]

Gorgeous stuff. Thanks, Jon.

[dianablanton1984Member]

Impressive stuff, Jon!

I really liked the WMAL cuts in this piece; they stood out in the JAM Bits and Pieces section.

I have a question though: Who's the “High” girl in the WMAL contest bit? I assume the “Low” voice is Jim Clancy, but I am not sure on the “High” voice. My senses say it's either Jackie Dickson or Abby Holmes…

[Bigdave]

What a great site,Jon,and credit to you..

Possible inclusions for the future could include…

BBC Radio 1 specials (Janice & John in Japan,Bates In The States,Live Aid)

BBC Radio events (Radio Goes To Town,RDS Launch,The Radio Show)

ABC “Still the One” promotional cuts (much loved on this site!)

TV Offal (Victor Lewis Smith “It's Nice” resings and composite)

Unusual personal cut resings (for the lyrics!) and custom cuts (eg Ken R's “In The Mood”)

After 35 years at the top,I'm sure there's plenty of entertaining items that will feed our interest,Jon,so we look forward to what will appear!

[JingleMadMember]

Thanks John!

I'm not a huge Jam fan, but the page stays on the site.

[tyty21]

nice ones! keep it going!

[tyty21]

now speaking of resings, i've heard only airchecks, but didn't you go to WQSM in Fayetteville before TM? i've only heard the power station toh, but never heard a composite in the clear. wouldn't hurt to ask! BTW, this was 80's matterial

[topcat]

Maybe I'm stepping out of bounds here… but I don't think Jon was looking for your personal “wants” list in this thread. I think he wanted to know if you thought it was a good concept… and perhaps a “thank you” too.

Sheesh……

[RjM]

Definitely a page with merit Jon, yes! I love things like this; yes the audio is amazing as ever with JAM, but to also read the inside story and history behind it really adds to the enjoyment. What other jingle companies show such appreciation to their fans!?

[jingle fan]

THANK YOU Jon. What a great idea. Looking at the vault where you store the items I thought of how any of us in Jinglemad would if given the chance to be in that room would forget time and would just be like kids in a sweet shop not knowing what to try first. Here'.s hoping you may add more

[mbMember]

Thanks Jon, Love the opportunity to hear of some of the none standard work and the stories behind them. Love the idea you never wat might turn up next a real page to keep checking for new gems

[ratnobMember]

Ooooh, love this. I especially like the factual nature of it (those of us on the outside of the industry love the teeny details about those of you within it) – so could the writer/arranger bit always be included?

Many thanks, as ever, Mr W. Once a jingle fan, always a jingle fan, it seems – you understand our cravings!

[bruceup]

JAM / PAMS wrote:
Every now and then we'll be going through an old tape looking for something and be reminded of a cool item we'd almost forgotten about. Or we'll get nostalgic and listen to a project we really liked but hadn't heard in ages.
JAM Bits and Pieces

Very nice – the USAF stuff always makes me think of FH. I remember it as if I was actually there…

[GlennaMember]

Jon;
Asking a bunch of JAM Freaks like myself if its a good idea or not?
Its like asking us if we like Top Sirloin.
Which is what this idea is!!!!
GREAT STUFF!!!!!!!!!

[m_hodgeyMember]

There is nothing much more for me to say than as already been said; I like the concept behind this new page of your website and thanks for sharing with us first Jon.

[JAM / PAMSMemberAuthor]

Thanks to all for your comments. Please continue to post them as we continue.

I realize that this is all very subjective, and that you can't please everyone, but the idea of this page is to share cool projects and packages that you probably didn't know we did. As TC pointed out, this is not the place to look for copies of routine material. It's an eclectic assortment of what I would classify as “collector's items”. Put another way, this is stuff that I would have taken home a copy of (and in some cases did). There are a couple of new additions on the page now which further illustrate this and I hope you enjoy them.

While I'm here, here are a few answers to questions:

Who's the “High” girl in the WMAL contest bit?

Your guess was right, it's Jackie Dickson.

didn't you go to WQSM in Fayetteville before TM?

I'm not quite sure what this question means, but I personally have never been to WQSM. JAM did jingles for WQSM from 1984-1992, and again in 2002.

Once a jingle fan, always a jingle fan, it seems – you understand our cravings!

Well, I do remember my own collecting cravings from way back when. Sure I wanted copies of packages I knew, but I also wanted to hear what these great wrtiers, musicians and singers I respected were up to in-between the every day stuff. And it was always fun to find out that a track I'd known for years actually started out being something else. And to listen to clever stuff that's cool and creative. That's what I'm trying to bring you here.

JAM Bits and Pieces

[dianablanton1984Member]

Do keep those collector's items coming, Jon!

[LenGroat]

Jon ~ I have to echo what everyone has already said..

…no schreecing, no cloudy echo….

but lyric variation, inventive tracks, PERFECT group, male/ female vocals..

I'll select KKOL as my favourites ~ Jackie on lead, and the re-sings of cuts 7a 7B and 7C as THE one…

'Another Sunny Afternoon in El Paso'

MANY Thanks for sharing ~ Len

[JAM / PAMSMemberAuthor]

I'll select KKOL as my favourites ~ Jackie on lead

Well, Jackie normally sang lead on this package, but one of the things that gives the KKOL version a slightly different sound is that Judy is singing lead instead.

Glad you're enjoying these items; there are more to come.

[jingleone]

Great additions to JAM “Bits and Pieces!” Love the KKOL re-sings of “I'd Rather Be…” It's interesting to hear a package like that with a different logo and a shuffling of the singers. Also appreciate the story behind the story with your recollections of the different packages. Thanks again for sharing Jon — this is a wonderful addition to your site!

[IainJohnstonMember]

Fascinating! … and the “potted history” of each item really brings them to life :^)
Jon, that you can remember such detail of so much of your work & the effort that went into creating & producing it is one of the qualities that has always helped makes JAM stand out from the crowd.

Its the difference between “hand-made chocolates” and a Hershey Bar factory
(or in the UK, Mars Bar factory…)!

I know that every one of us would dearly like to ask to hear a bit of some of our rarest individual “Holy Grails” that we know reside in “The Vault“…but I think the random element of “for the ones who appreciate the finer musical and creative aspects of jingles” and the potential surprises that you are sure to reveal under that banner should indeed be the way for this great idea to develop!

(…but maybe one day, the “JAM Collectors' Holy Grail Request Dub Service” might perhaps appear ???)
:^)

[Author]

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