{"id":108764,"date":"2021-02-17T10:00:07","date_gmt":"2021-02-17T18:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/?page_id=108764"},"modified":"2024-07-17T14:38:50","modified_gmt":"2024-07-17T21:38:50","slug":"the-music-of-the-jonestown-express","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/?page_id=108764","title":{"rendered":"The Music of The Jonestown Express<\/i>"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Tom Graddon<\/strong> is a native of the United Kingdom, where he obtained an undergraduate and masters degree in Law from Aberystwyth University. Tom has written previously on criminal and constitutional law and works primarily in police station advocacy and mediation. His interest in Jonestown surrounds the community’s musical contributions and influences. He can be contacted at tom.graddon@gmail.com<\/a>.)<\/em><\/p>\n

Jonestown\u2019s legacy, for better or worse, lives on in the 300 cassettes which were recorded there between the town\u2019s inception and its eventual end. Many of these are recordings of Jones reading the news, People\u2019s Rallies and so-called White Nights, but a small number record the community\u2019s musical creativity and flair.<\/p>\n

The table below<\/a> sets out all the songs known to have been recorded by the Express <\/em>in 1978. There are 91 tracks recorded across 14 cassettes, ranging from covers of popular R&B hits to jazzy instrumental jams to politically charged original compositions. Included in the table is Q785, which is a poor quality, low-res copy of He\u2019s Able. <\/em>While this is not an Express<\/em> cassette, a number of artists from the Express<\/em> feature on the album including Marthea Hicks, Deanna Wilkinson and Loretta Cordell.<\/p>\n

The house band of the community, the Jonestown Express<\/em> was one of a handful of performance groups who played regularly for the Sunday night entertainment in the Pavilion, as well as for visiting guests and new arrivals. The seventeen-strong band featured vocalists, guitarists, drummers, horn players, saxophonists, a bass player, keyboardist and a band conductor. No wonder one visitor called them \u201cthe nucleus of a very majestic orchestra.\u201d<\/p>\n

The band, for the most part, was a collaboration of amateur and casual musicians, but\u00a0 Shirley Hicks and her sister Marthea were experienced performers outside of Jonestown and brought their slick professionalism to the band\u2019s performance. Joining them was Robert \u201cRob\u201d Edwin Davis, who graduated with a music degree from Washington State University and played the saxophone with Brian Bouquet, who worked with him in the carpentry workshop.<\/p>\n

Predominantly Marthea Hicks takes lead on vocals, with either Loretta Cordell or Deanna Wilkinson, who also sings on a number of tracks, playing piano. Prior to coming to Jonestown, Loretta had been instrumental in assembling the Peoples Temple Choir for their 1973 album, He\u2019s Able. <\/em>Between them they polished up the Jonestown Express<\/em> into a competent performing group, who played regularly not only for the community and its guests but also at venues around Guyana.<\/p>\n

Supporting the artists was 17 year old mic tech Don Scheid, who managed the recording equipment and gave lessons to the others in how to use it. It is largely thanks to him that any record of the band in performance exists at all.<\/p>\n

Only a few of the band\u2019s performances were recorded, and these are all performances that were made in Jonestown. The majority of the cassettes are undated and of varying quality, partly due to the constraints of the technology and also because different members of the band appeared to have recorded performances at times. As a result, there are considerable audio defects such as reverb, echo and tape distortion on some — but not all — of the recordings, although loud background hiss is common to all the tapes.<\/p>\n

The Express<\/em> stands as a demonstration of the band\u2019s aptitude and enthusiasm for music, and Shirley Hicks and Deanna Wilkinson in particular were fiercely talented vocalists. The songs of the Express <\/em>are at times heartbreaking for their joyfulness and their passion, made more moving in the knowledge that the members\u2019 careers as musicians were so brief and cut short as they were.<\/p>\n

<\/a>SCHEDULE OF CASSETTES<\/p>\n

Total Tracks: 91
\nInstrumentals marked in bold<\/strong>
\nSpoken word marked in italics<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
No<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nQ CASSETTE REF<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nTRACKS<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1.1<\/strong><\/td>\n172<\/strong><\/td>\nBetcha, By Golly, Wow<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1.2<\/td>\n<\/td>\nKeep on Running<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1.3<\/td>\n<\/td>\nThe Way We Were<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1.4<\/td>\n<\/td>\nEverybody\u2019s Talkin at Me<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1.5<\/td>\n<\/td>\nStrong, Gifted and Black<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1.6<\/td>\n<\/td>\nI\u2019ll Make the First Step<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2.1<\/strong><\/td>\n174<\/strong><\/td>\nMessage in Our Music\/Make it Happen<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2.2<\/td>\n<\/td>\nKeep on Dancing<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2.3<\/td>\n<\/td>\nI\u2019ve Just Seen a Face (instrumental)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2.4<\/td>\n<\/td>\nLove Ballad (for Jonestown)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2.5<\/td>\n<\/td>\nFloat On<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2.6<\/td>\n<\/td>\nThe Greatest Love of All<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2.7<\/td>\n<\/td>\nThe Jonestown Funk (instrumental)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2.8<\/td>\n<\/td>\nOur Love<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2.9<\/td>\n<\/td>\nAlfie<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2.10<\/td>\n<\/td>\nSummertime (and the Living is Easy)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3.1<\/strong><\/td>\n219<\/strong><\/td>\nThat\u2019s the Way of the World<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3.2<\/td>\n<\/td>\nMiner\u2019s Story (spoken word<\/em>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3.3<\/td>\n<\/td>\nThe House I live in (spoken word<\/em>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3.4<\/td>\n<\/td>\nA Change is Gonna Come (spoken word<\/em>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3.5<\/td>\n<\/td>\nA Knock on My Door (spoken word<\/em>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3.6<\/td>\n<\/td>\nEl Derecho De Vivir En Paz!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3.7<\/td>\n<\/td>\nA Vietnam Story (spoken word<\/em>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3.8<\/td>\n<\/td>\nDon\u2019t You Worry<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3.9<\/td>\n<\/td>\nNever Can Say Goodbye<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3.10<\/td>\n<\/td>\nKa\u2019Ba<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3.11<\/td>\n<\/td>\nComedy With Moms Mabley [likely Bertha Cook] (spoken word<\/em>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3.12<\/td>\n<\/td>\nLove Ballad (For Jonestown)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3.13<\/td>\n<\/td>\nHow Deep is Your Love<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3.14<\/td>\n<\/td>\nComrades<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3.15<\/td>\n<\/td>\nEverybody\u2019s Talking About me<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3.16<\/td>\n<\/td>\nI\u2019ll Make The First Step<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3.17<\/td>\n<\/td>\nJonestown is So Beautiful to Me<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3.18<\/td>\n<\/td>\nStrong, Gifted and Black<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4.1<\/strong><\/td>\n275<\/strong><\/td>\n***<\/span>No identifiable or usable tracks***<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5.1<\/strong><\/td>\n338<\/strong><\/td>\nAbraham, Martin and John<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5.2<\/td>\n<\/td>\nGuyana is So Beautiful to Me<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5.3<\/td>\n<\/td>\nI\u2019ll Take the First Step<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5.4<\/td>\n<\/td>\nSummertime (and the Living is Easy)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6.1<\/strong><\/td>\n365<\/strong><\/td>\nMessage in Our Music<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6.2<\/td>\n<\/td>\nThe Greatest Love of All (instrumental)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7.1<\/strong><\/td>\n408<\/strong><\/td>\nThe Greatest Love of All<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7.2<\/td>\n<\/td>\nI\u2019ll Make the First Step<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7.3<\/td>\n<\/td>\nJonestown is So Beautiful to Me<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8.1<\/strong><\/td>\n410 (PRACTICE SESSION)<\/strong><\/td>\nLively Instrumental<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8.2<\/td>\n<\/td>\nEverybody\u2019s Talkin at Me (instrumental)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8.3<\/td>\n<\/td>\nKeep On Running (instrumental) Rehearsal 1<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8.4<\/td>\n<\/td>\nQuiet Instrumental<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8.5<\/td>\n<\/td>\nFunky Instrumental<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8.6<\/td>\n<\/td>\nKeep on Running (vocals) Rehearsal 1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8.7<\/td>\n<\/td>\nKeep on Running (vocals) Rehearsal 2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8.8<\/td>\n<\/td>\nSummertime (and the Living is Easy)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8.9<\/td>\n<\/td>\nGuyana is so Beautiful to Me<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8.10<\/td>\n<\/td>\nI\u2019ll Make the First Step<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8.11<\/td>\n<\/td>\nAbraham, Martin and John<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8.12<\/td>\n<\/td>\nSaxophone Instrumental<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9.1<\/strong><\/td>\n438<\/strong><\/td>\nCruising on the Cudjoe (instrumental)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9.2<\/td>\n<\/td>\nEverybody\u2019s Talkin about Me<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9.3<\/td>\n<\/td>\nFeel Like Making Love (rehearsal)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9.4<\/td>\n<\/td>\nGeorgetown Jam (instrumental)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9.5<\/td>\n<\/td>\nGolden Time of Day<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9.6<\/td>\n<\/td>\nShort Percussive Instrumental 1<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9.7<\/td>\n<\/td>\nShort Percussive Instrumental 2<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10.1<\/strong><\/td>\n442<\/strong><\/td>\nBe Glad (You\u2019ve Got Communism in Your Life)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10.2<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\u00a0Communism is the Way<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10.3<\/td>\n<\/td>\nJungle Jam (instrumental)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10.4<\/td>\n<\/td>\nTellin\u2019 the News<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10.5<\/td>\n<\/td>\nKeep on Running (partial)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10.6<\/td>\n<\/td>\nMovin\u2019 Around in Socialism Every Day<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
11.1<\/strong><\/td>\n466<\/strong><\/td>\n***<\/span>No identifiable or usable tracks***<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12.1<\/strong><\/td>\n723<\/strong><\/td>\nAin\u2019t Gonna Bump No More<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12.2<\/td>\n<\/td>\nSummertime (and the Living is Easy)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12.3<\/td>\n<\/td>\nAbraham, Martin and John<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12.4<\/td>\n<\/td>\nI\u2019ll Make the First Step<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12.5<\/td>\n<\/td>\nGuyana is so Beautiful to Me<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12.6<\/td>\n<\/td>\nMessage in Our Music<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12.7<\/td>\n<\/td>\nEverybody\u2019s Talkin at Me<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
13.1<\/strong><\/td>\n785<\/strong><\/td>\nHe\u2019s Able <\/em>(album — low quality)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14.1<\/strong><\/td>\n936<\/strong><\/td>\n3 Orchestral Instrumentals (Not JTE) 150% speed<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14.2<\/td>\n<\/td>\nA Mighty Long Way (over-recorded)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14.3<\/td>\n<\/td>\nGuyana is Good Enough for Me (partial, over-recorded)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14.4<\/td>\n<\/td>\nJoy to My Soul<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14.5<\/td>\n<\/td>\nI Thank You Jim<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14.6<\/td>\n<\/td>\nThis is Our Socialist Land<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14.7<\/td>\n<\/td>\nCan We Count on You?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14.8<\/td>\n<\/td>\nI was Glad (JJ Leads Singalong w\/Dianne Wilkinson)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14.9<\/td>\n<\/td>\n13 Orchestral Instrumentals (Not JTE) 150% speed<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
15.1<\/strong><\/td>\n975<\/strong><\/td>\nCan We Count on You?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
15.2<\/td>\n<\/td>\nComrade! (Welcome to the Socialist Land)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
15.3<\/td>\n<\/td>\nJonestown Calypso<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
15.4<\/td>\n<\/td>\nComrade! (Reprise)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Tom Graddon is a native of the United Kingdom, where he obtained an undergraduate and masters degree in Law from Aberystwyth University. Tom has written previously on criminal and constitutional law and works primarily in police station advocacy and mediation. His interest in Jonestown surrounds the community’s musical contributions and influences. He can be contacted […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":108786,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-108764","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/108764","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=108764"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/108764\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":127875,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/108764\/revisions\/127875"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/108786"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=108764"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}