Another one from the archives: The Job Song (version no. 2)
This one strikes out in a completely different direction from the original (version no. 1). It flirts pretty shamelessly with melodrama — an approach I would later abandon.
Recorded in the late nineties (I don’t remember exactly when) at a USC coffeehouse (I don’t remember exactly where), this may have been my first public performance of my own material since the demise of the Evelyn Situation (in 1995). And it shows. The performance is not the best (it was a one-off thing, not a regular version of the band). But a valiant effort was made by all: Jessica Klerks (vocals), Joe Tepperman (bass), and me (piano). If nothing else, this is an interesting document of a tune in transition (there would be one more version between this one and the Industrial Jazz Group version, which is my favorite, and which you can hear via the little ReverbNation widget in the upper right-hand corner of this page.)
[Photo: Seattle Municipal Archives.]
This is quite different from the version I know (from Leef). While it’s really neat to see the changes that song has experienced, I think going back to the upbeat tempo better serves the song. And even with all of the instruments on the IJG version, I think it’s so tight that it’s perfect. Perhaps I’m just saying that because it’s the version I heard first, but I really do like the one off of Leef. Thanks for letting us see the evolution of this song!
Yeah, I agree, Paul — the IJG version is my favorite too. This one was an interesting experiment, but I think it takes itself too seriously (which is probably because I devised it during a period of my life when I was taking myself too seriously!).
Thanks for listening!