Album Released, Now Available: Work Can't Wait for Beauty
August 4, 2023
Songwriter, guitarist and vocalist Jonathan Jay Babcock presents Work Can't Wait For Beauty, an album of New England-based folk, love ballads, retro-pop, a sea shanty and lullaby. Producer and drummer, Marco Giovino, notably was Tom Jones' USA musical director, Robert Plant's Band of Joy drummer, produced Malcolm Holcombe and more. Recording main vocals, drums, bass and guitar in a whole band setting, Giovino sought to elicit a listener reaction of "What is this? Who is this? Wow!"
Varied and interlaced with unexpected harmony, each track strikes as listenable, pleasant, and catchy—a great road trip album for your car’s music system. Songs range from classic Guthrie folk style to fun retro-pop reverie. Babcock has a gift in recounting historical tales with memorable melodies in the tracks Four Trains Crash On The Airline Trail, Boston’s Great Molasses Flood Song and Darn Man. A unique assemblage of music in so many ways, one being Babcock's creation of a sea shanty tune for a poem written by his grandfather's cousin aboard a ship bound for India in 1859. You'll find yourself anticipating what the next song will bring as each is a strong statement of its own theme. You'll be thinking, "This song would be great in a movie."
Take a listen, then tell your friends about this album to help spread the word!
"Heartless Scene" Song Story & Album Update
March 17, 2023
Mixing, mixing and remixing all the sound sources is not an easy task. Sam Margolis, mixing manipulator par excellence and producer Marco Giovino expertly finessed the process.
Heartless Scene, the last song recorded, proved to be the most challenging, evolving with changed title, key, tempo and instrumentation. Not originally on my list for the album, Marco heard something in this track after finding it amongst all of my song catalog, which he had prompted me to send him.
Ten years ago, I wrote Heartless Scene after witnessing and overhearing a painful, heart-wrenching cell phone break-up while waiting at the supermarket deli counter. Then, I called it "Just Let Me Go."
While exchanging emails with the late songwriter PF Sloan (Secret Agent Man, Eve of Destruction...), I bravely shared the then-titled song. His reply: “Hi Jonathan. Took a listen to what you sent...and I felt there was something there....thanks, namaste, pf".
I had forgotten until this morning when preparing my press kit, that it was this very song that PF had sent this kind comment on, although I'm sure his reply really meant the song needed ‘some’ work. Surely, it did indeed. I’m glad I followed through. Thanks PF and thanks, Marco
Featured in The Yankee Express: "Jonathan Babcock brings folk songs to the masses"
March 24, 2023
I'm honored to be recently featured in The Yankee Express, which interviewed me about my songwriting, Mass Cultural Council Grant, and new album in the works.
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Album Details and A Sea Shanty Song Story
January 26, 2023
Track recording finished! Next stop, mixing.
Great thanks to musicians:
Deborah Wade, backing vocals and tambourine
Jim Chapdelaine, guitar
Joe McMahon, bass
and of course Marco Giovino, drums and percussion
Additional contributions from Dana Anderson and Brooks Milgate on keys
Along with Molly Thomas viola, Joe "Sonny" Barbato, accordion and Sam Margolis as recording engineer.
Lost Shirt Sea Shanty: My family's 19th century cowbell, marching blocks once owned by Frank Zappa's drummer, and a Pogo Stump Fiddle from the old Waterfront Mary's, borrowed from Webster Lake Gifts in Webster, MA can be heard on Lost Shirt Sea Shanty. Sailor vocals courtesy of Sam and Marco.
More song stories to follow.
New Album in Pre-Production with Marco Giovino
December 4, 2022
Album in the works! Pre-production is underway for my songs of topical folk, retro-pop, love, a sea shanty and a heart-felt lullaby for all ages.
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I am excited to be collaborating with Marco Giovino as album producer and drummer! Marco Giovino is a national talent who has worked with Tom Jones, Robert Plant, Patti Griffin, John Cale and many more. Yes, I AM name dropping.
Keep an eye out for updates. Do I need to say, I am thrilled? Ok. I am.
- JJB