Jim Ford is a legend, at least among certain roots rockers. Even among this batch, his name is not especially well known, but he never was a guy who was pushed himself to the forefront, he was somebody that lurked in the background, popping up in places unexpectedly. He wrote songs that were turned into hits by Bobby Womack and Aretha Franklin -- "Harry Hippie" and "Niky Hoeky," respectively -- he was tight with Sly Stone, a regular in the debauched house where There's a Riot Goin' On was recorded (allegedly showing up on some of the sessions), dated Bobbie Gentry (later claiming that he penned her biggest hit, "Ode to Bobby Joe"), and posed in a Playboy photo comic with Tony Randall, among other adventures. Musically, he provided a pivotal influence on British pub rock in the '70s, most notably on Nick Lowe, who claimed Jim Ford as his greatest influence, cutting "36 Inches High" on Jesus of Cool and "JuJu Man" while he was in Brinsley Schwarz. Respected he may have been but popular he was not, and his 1969 debut, Harlan County, is the very definition of a cult album, something not heard by many but savored by those who did. And not just in retrospect, either: upon its release, it so inspired the British rock band the Koobas that they renamed themselves "Harlan County" and proceeded to re-record the entirety of Ford's album, which is an even greater gesture of devotion than Eric Clapton quitting Cream after hearing Music from Big Pink.

Harlan County saw some reissues over the years, including a release from Edsel in the mid-'90s, but it also slipped quickly out of print, following Ford into the realm of semi-obscurity. Like many cult artists, nobody really knows much about Ford. He hadn't been heard from since the '70s and managed to fall off the grid (not unlike his old friend Sly), but LP Anderson took the effort to seek him out in Northern California, coaxing him into an interview where Ford divulged his secrets, including the revelation of a stockpile of unheard tapes. Anderson's tale -- which was originally published in Sonic Magazine in 2006 -- provides the foundation for Bear Family's exceptional 2007 release The Sounds of Our Time, as his story is not only the bulk of the liner notes, but the discovery of rare tapes resulted in a whopping 15 bonus tracks to this definitive reissue of Harlan County. These bonus tracks aren't restricted to these newly found tapes, either -- several early singles are excavated, including the A-sides of the singles "Linda Comes Running," "Ramona," and "Hangin' from Your Lovin' Tree" (the first two from 1967, the latter from 1968, all lighter and poppier than what came a year later even if they mine a similar country-soul vein) and both sides of his 1973 single "Big Mouth USA" and "Rising Sun," which was his last release. That 1973 single came from the sessions for a full-length that was slated to be released on Paramount but was scrapped. Some of the sessions surface here -- including the delightful, R&B workout "Mixed Green" which works a food metaphor in a way not dissimilar to his disciple Nick Lowe -- along with a couple of straighter country songs cut a few years later: the terrific "Happy Songs Sell Records, Sad Songs Sell Beer," which is honky tonk via the Flying Burrito Brothers, and the lively "It Takes Two (To Make One)." But the bulk of the unreleased material dates from 1970, the year after the release of Harlan County, when Ford was cutting an album for Capitol that never was released. If two tracks cut roughly around the same time in Hollywood are counted, this amounts to a short, seven-track sequel to Harlan County which is a bit softer and a bit more laid-back than its predecessor, but it's plenty soulful and filled with great songs, chief among them his spare, original version of "36 Inches High," the clever, funny "She Turns My Radio On," "Go Through Sunday," and the slow, impassioned protest "The Sounds of Our Time," which echoes Sam Cooke and then a version of Cooke's "Chain Gang" which turns the song inside out.

These unheard songs are the big news to the roots rockers who have cherished a copy of Harlan County for years, and they live up to both the album and Ford's reputation. They're as good as anything on his lone released album, and they have a looser, funkier quality that makes them more endearing in some ways; it's easy to hear why he was an icon for many country rockers, whether they played in a pub in Britain or in studios in Hollywood. These 15 songs alone make The Sounds of Our Time necessary for those fans that already know Harlan County but anybody who loves soul, country, rock & roll, and great songwriting, this whole package is worthwhile as it showcases the rare cult figure whose cult does not overrate him -- if anything, he hasn't been rated enough, and hopefully this exceptional reissue will finally give him the credit he deserves.

Uncut
A potent gumbo of southern styles, sometimes funky, sometimes country, with thundering horns, spidery guitar licks, and a vocal style somewhere between Sam Cooke and Van Morrison.

Product Description
James Henry Ford was the composer of Aretha Franklin's Niky Hoeky and Bobby Womack's Harry Hippie. He was Sly Stone's friend and a big influence on Nick Lowe. In 1969 Jim Ford blended the sounds of gritty R&B with down-home country on the now legendary album, Harlan County. Its music occupies the land where R&B meets country, Memphis and Nashville meet Louisiana, and the Mississippi Delta meets Appalachia. Jim Ford had a tremendous impact on everyone who crossed his path. He is featured on Sly & The Family Stone's classic There's A Riot Going On and during a short stint in London 1971 he helped ignite what would later be known as the UK pub rock scene. In the '80s, Jim Ford disappeared into a haze of drug abuse and erratic behaviour. Many tried to find him, but no one succeeded until April 2006 when he was tracked down to a trailer park in Mendocino County, California. In the liner notes to Sounds Of Our Time, Jim finally told his full and almost incomprehensible story. In his modest mobile home we found master tapes galore spread out over the floor. Bear Family assembled the compilation Sounds Of Our Time, and finally Jim Ford got his long overdue recognition. Sadly, in November of 2007 Jim died.

Jim Ford has been described as otherworldly, and his charisma, humor and musical talents definitely were. Jim Ford's legacy will live on. Many Jim Ford projects are under construction and no devotee will be left disappointed. We aim to preserve his music and recordings for generations to come.

Point Of No Return is the second Bear Family release and features rare tapes culled from Jim Ford's north California mobile home. This time the focus is on recordings made during the early seventies that never saw light-of-day. In 1972 Bobby Womack scored a smash with Jim's song, Harry Hippie, but until now the original has been gathering dust in an old leather bag on Jim's floor. That only leads you to fantasize about the success that songs like If You Can Get Away or Point Of No Return might have had if they'd been released. I'll Be Ahead If I Can Quit While I'm Behind stems from mythic sessions held at London's Olympic Studios in 1971. This CD is essential to all the country soul lovers who made last year's Sounds Of Our Time into a smash

So, did anyone pick this up yet?


Thoughts? Opinions?
How does it compare to The Sounds Of Our Time?

A single CD Digipac containing 30 tracksand a 32-page booklet with a playing time of 79 minutes. "29 previously unreleased Unique acoustic home demos from the mythical creator of 1969's 'Harlan County'. Hear Jim Ford's creativity captured by a private cassette recorder in his living room. Many tracks on this anthology would be potential hits in the hands of today's artists. Stunning musical moments are interrupted by friends, drug deals, etc. Liner notes by singer, songwriter, musician, artist (and Jim Ford fanatic) Jeb Loy Nichols. - Jim Ford is the mythic artist behind 1969's legendary country soul album 'Harlan County'. After recording his sole album he hung out with Sly Stone and wrote for artists and friends like Bobby Womack, PJ Proby, The Temptations & Nick Lowe before completely disappearing from the scene in a haze of drugs and irrational behavior. When Bear Family managed to track Ford down in 2006 he was living in North California in a simple mobile home loaded with reel to reel tapes and cassettes. Some of these masters were included by Bear Family on popular anthologies like 'Sounds Of Our Time' and 'Point Of No Return.' This brand new CD, 'Demolition Expert' (Ford was a demolition expert when stationed in Germany during his stint in the U.S. army), sets focus on Jim Ford's acoustic home recordings. It is a unique opportunity for the listener to hear Jim's creativity flow. - You're invited to Jim Ford's living room to witness him come up with some truly soul shattering musical moments. You will also hear Jim be interrupted with drug deals on the phone and friends chattering and singing along. The recordings are a welcome and essential addition to any Jim Ford collection"