And he’s still sending stuff….
Jackie Leven – Love Is Shining Down On Me
A bouncy start on this 1983 by Scottish folk singer Jackie Leven. Produced by Tom Newman (who worked with Mike Oldfield) there is a distinct folk feel with a bit of tech going on, Synth sax. Carol Wolf helps out on vocals. Usual case of being chewed up and spat out by a major label, Virgin in this case.
Brief biog from discog
He started his career as a folk musician in the late 1960s, he was then singer in the new wave band Doll by Doll. He later recorded as a solo artist, releasing more than twenty albums under his own name or under the pseudonym Sir Vincent Lone.
JADE – Sky
From Discogs
The JADE group was founded in August 1987 in Fürstenwalde. The band played in a quartet from the start and celebrated their debut in 1989 with singer André Nietschke, guitarist Dirk Buhtz, bassist Thomas Köntopp and drummer Matthias Rudolph at the workshop week of youth dance music in Frankfurt/Oder.
Interesting New Wave shapes and from their only ever release, a 7″ EP from 1989.
Jeff Sutherland – I’m Cry’n
From 1984 and very obscure, self released synthpop from 1984. Recorded in I.R.L Studios , London and produced by Rikki Silvan. Fierce drum machines punch and dark analogue synths. Minimal synth fans will love it! Gawd knows why someone thought it was a good idea to slow it down on this sample.
Jeremy Kidd – Petals + Ashes (A Song For Emma Goldman)
An odd one this. From 1985 and a tribute song ?? Co-produced by Roy Neave it seems it’s from Hull (UK) Recorded there and mixed at Studio de la Grande Armée, Paris (eh ?)
- Bass – Bernie Dolman
- Co-producer, Vocals – J. Kidd (ex- Red Guitars)
- Guitar – Dave Greaves
- Keyboards – Danny Woods
- Keyboards [Extra Key’s] – Tony Burnet-Smith
The question who is Emma Goldman – quick google and …A born propagandist and organizer, Emma Goldman championed women’s equality, free love, workers’ rights, free universal education regardless of race or gender, and anarchism. – Not sure what all the Egyptian iconography is about ?
Jim ‘An’ Joe – A Place To Hang His Hat + Hatless Mix
From New Zealand and this 1986 bit of slow tempo quirky electronica with weird vocals, produced by Trevor Reekie.
- Synthesizer [Additional Emulator] – Dave Dobbyn (DD Smash)
- Synthesizer [Emulator II] – Steven McCurdy
- Vocals, Keyboards, Written-By – Joe Hoonhout and written by Jim Sededin (hence Jim and Joe)
Whistling synths and a bit of a Red Box feel. The Hatless mix is a sort of Dub with the Emulator working overtime.
Jinx – Too Late – Rêve Inconscient
A ten minute track ? No 2 tracks segued together. French New Wave from ’87. Using a New Order sequencer and Latino rhythm’s. On the Paris label, Le Kiosque d’Orphée.
- Drum – Gérard Dubos
- Guitar – Pascal Doucet
- Bass – Vincent
- Keyboards – Rodolphe, Marco, Manu
- Vocals – Manu, Rodolphe, Nadine
The B-side is sung in French. a dark / light duet. Very Factory Records influenced. Coldwave and wistful in only the way the French can convey.
Jo Lemaire + Flouze – Je Suis Venue Te Dire Que Je M’En Vais
More French stuff, synth from 1981. A Serge Gainsborough with more than a touch of melancholy. A nice wailing deep lead synth and understated female vocals. Great Stuff!
Joey Akins – Marie
A bit more synthpop with a Capital P. From the US and 1986, although it sounds much older. Italo disco New Wave from Georgia to be precise. I guess he was a saxophonist as well, hence the solo. Should have stuck to playing that instead of singing.
John Shirreff – Nocturne
More Canadian synthpop this time with live drums. From the self released album, “In The Garden”. Quite Epic production and released in 1989.
Bio from Discogs;
John Shirreff was the lead singer and one of the founding members of Toronto 80’s band Breeding Ground. He also released a solo album titled “In The Garden” that features Chris Tait from Chalk Circle as well as singer Maria Del Mar.
So there is a bit of Goth darkness here with plenty of synth blips.
John Victor & Corsair Band – Take Me Away / Succeed
Both sides of this slightly synth bit of Pop from 1987. On Tampa (Florida) label Blue Dolphin. A bit Go West , a bit Kenny Loggins. Produced by Peter Schless who probably arranged.
“Take Me Away” is a slightly sugary. “Succeed” starts of like mid-80’s then follows down the Phil Collins path.
Manufactured for the teeny boppers shame about his vocals.
Jolly Joker – Svjetlo Na Istoku
As international as always. from 1985 and from Yugoslavia and a classic synth duo. Recorded at Studio AB, Rijeka
- Backing Vocals – Elena Matkovic
- Vocals, Computer [Commodore 64 !!!], Drum Programming [Linn Drum], Synthesizers [Yamaha DX7, Juno 106, Polymoog] – Andrej Basa
Sounds very Faltermeyer.
Jonathan M – In Our Hearts / One Turns Love Around
Canadian (Nova Scotia) artist Jonathan Mullane and these 1991 tracks from his debut album “Following Yesterday” revealing a bit of love for the Psychedelic Furs on the first one (with some Roxy Music in there)
Like the punchy synth rock of “One Love…” always loved a synth bass.
The songs seemed to be recorded in the late 80’s.
Band line-up;
- Bass – Bruce Dixon
- Drums – Carl Boswick and Doug French
- Guitar – Chris Westall and Norm McMullin
- Keyboards – Brad Parsons and Jim MacDonald
- Vocals, Keyboards, Guitar, Bass, Programmed By – Jonathan M
Jullan – Mysterious Marionette
To Japan and a track from 1984 from the album “Imaginary Doll”
- Vocals, Synthesizer, Guitar – Atsushi
- Vocals, Synthesizer, Piano [Acoustic], Drum Programming – Jullan Hiroshi
Vocoder and David Sylvian vocals and not bad at all. Lyrics are a bit weird.
Junco Run – Secrets And Silence
Canadian duo of Annie Moss and Alvin Collis (both ex of the Vancouver band The Work Party) A band sound with a bit Scott Walker styled vocals. Waltz time, guitars and released in 1981. Sound like it was recorded live.
Justus – Take Me Home
US trio (Donny Hackett (vocals), Kevin Pahl (drums and keyboards) and Rod Pahl (guitars and keyboards) finish off this selection with this from 1984. Eighties guitar sounds with a nod to U2 and with full on Simmons. Eeeek! More Christian Rock has crept in!
https://qiwi.gg/file/omEv7759-LoSongs-TheLetterJ
myvinyldreams 
Wow thanks Lo and DJ!! Lovin’ it… Keep ’em coming!
Ditto, loving this series of shares, thank you Lo & DJ!!
Thanks Tom and Retro (and others that usually chime in later like George Mike FF)… Thanks DJ Jed for curating once again the mess I send him. Thanks LBNF80s for your 4000+ song YT series.
Some math, spending about 3 minutes per song, it comes to about 200 hours (not counting time to rip/name the songs), so 30 minutes a day (longer some days, less some days) listening to his channel was about 400 days. Thus why the songs tricked in to DJ Jed. I am still re-listening and picking songs out (and bugging him with emails here and there, lol).
But gang, I sure love a new music find, bet yall do too. Thus why we do what we do. Thanks for sharing the music !
mar del plata’s nightly surf scene
Thank you for another LO collection. I always enjoy them as I always find some new artists I like!
Thank you so much!