Jack Jones

The album "Bread Winners" was a tribute to the band Bread, with eight songs written by David Gates and two by Jimmy Griffin and Robb Royer. In my opinion, this is an album of unique class, style, and talent - the interpretations, the arrangements, and the very special Bread's music!

Stone Jack Jones is a survivor. On two separate occasions the rare and mysterious blood condition that courses through his steely West Virginian veins almost killed him. Doctors couldn't fully explain or treat his malady, but Jack pulled through, even after receiving last rites on one occasion. While recovering from one of his near death experiences he pondered the necessity of death, the torturous pain that comes with the death of someone you love, and eventually arrived at the simultaneously comforting and alarming conclusion that he was both alive and dead at the same time.

The match-up of neo-pop crooner with composer is a felicitous one, especially given that this album was recorded in Paris with arranging and conducting. The result is that the treatment of familiar songs such as and is less gimmicky than usual: and slow down, and treat in a more melancholy-than-usual manner. Elsewhere, 's blues and jazz influences are on display, notably on and 's lugubrious lyrics sometimes overstate the wistful tone of ' s melodies, but , by keeping his emotions in check, brings the two into harmony. The liner notes claim this is the singer's favorite of his own albums, and it is certainly one of his least compromised. So often, he has tried on record to balance his pop roots with the commercial demands of contemporary pop-rock; here, he is going all out in one particular style, and the approach works for him.

What a collection of songs! All the hallmarks of a Kapp album are here again: gorgeous ballads, reinterpretations of pop standards and current hits, several jazz excursions, powerful stage anthems, plus another surprising, unforgettable obscurity. The brilliant Marty Paich is back to chart this entire album - he and Jones have done so much incredible work together since the young singer was first signed at Kapp. And Doug Talbert is once again at piano - he contributed so much to the Kapp masterpiece, Jack Jones Sings. There's such a smooth romanticism to this entire album.

By many measures, Jack Jones was the most popular crooner to emerge between the heyday of Elvis Presley and the rise of the Beatles. In the span of two years, he snagged two Grammys for Pop Male Performance "Lollipops and Roses" in 1962 and "Wives and Loves" in 1964 which was enough to lay a foundation for a career that lasted well into the 21st century. Although his charting hits dried up in the early '70s prior to that, he was a fixture on the Adult Contemporary charts, racking up the number one hits "The Race Is On," "The Impossible Dream (The Quest,)" and "Lady" between 1965 and 1967 he continued to perform in Las Vegas and on the road, making the occasional foray into pop culture, like when he sang "The Love Boat Theme" in 1980.

By many measures, Jack Jones was the most popular crooner to emerge between the heyday of Elvis Presley and the rise of the Beatles. In the span of two years, he snagged two Grammys for Pop Male Performance – "Lollipops and Roses" in 1962 and "Wives and Loves" in 1964 – which was enough to lay a foundation for a career that lasted well into the 21st century. Although his charting hits dried up in the early '70s – prior to that, he was a fixture on the Adult Contemporary charts, racking up the number one hits "The Race Is On," "The Impossible Dream (The Quest,)" and "Lady" between 1965 and 1967 – he continued to perform in Las Vegas and on the road, making the occasional foray into pop culture, like when he sang "The Love Boat Theme" in 1980. …

By many measures, Jack Jones was the most popular crooner to emerge between the heyday of Elvis Presley and the rise of the Beatles. In the span of two years, he snagged two Grammys for Pop Male Performance – "Lollipops and Roses" in 1962 and "Wives and Loves" in 1964 – which was enough to lay a foundation for a career that lasted well into the 21st century. Although his charting hits dried up in the early '70s – prior to that, he was a fixture on the Adult Contemporary charts, racking up the number one hits "The Race Is On," "The Impossible Dream (The Quest,)" and "Lady" between 1965 and 1967 – he continued to perform in Las Vegas and on the road, making the occasional foray into pop culture, like when he sang "The Love Boat Theme" in 1980. …