Jandek on Corwood
Encyclopedia
Jandek on Corwood is a documentary about veteran reclusive folk/blues artist Jandek
. Unlike most popular music documentaries, the subject himself is not seen in the film in any way; instead, various critics, disc jockeys and journalists, many of whom have had some contact with the notoriously reclusive artist, discuss Jandek, his equally mysterious independent record label
Corwood Industries
, and his music (which reached 39 albums at the end of 2004).
While Jandek himself does not appear in the movie (except in the form of the pictures on many of his album covers and in excerpts from the only phone interview he has ever done in his career, with musician and writer John Trubee for Spin Magazine in 1985), he did authorize and endorse the project through Corwood Industries (any correspondence to the artist is usually signed "Corwood" rather than "Jandek"), allow the filmmakers to use whatever recordings from his discography they saw fit, and suggest people that could be interviewed for the documentary.
The film ends with the mention of the release of his 2002 album I Threw You Away
; after the film's release in theaters, this album and its succeeding four releases are excerpted in a bonus feature on the DVD.
The film only saw limited theatrical release, as the producers planned to distribute the film primarily as a DVD. The DVD release contains several bonus features, including an album cover commentary on Jandek's albums from 1978 to 2001, the full tape of the John Trubee interview, all of the printed reviews of Jandek's albums from OP and Option
magazines, and other materials.
Jandek
Jandek is the musical project of an anonymous outsider musician who operates out of Houston, Texas. Since 1978, Jandek has self-released over 60 albums of unusual, often emotionally dissolute folk and blues songs without ever granting more than the occasional interview or providing any biographical...
. Unlike most popular music documentaries, the subject himself is not seen in the film in any way; instead, various critics, disc jockeys and journalists, many of whom have had some contact with the notoriously reclusive artist, discuss Jandek, his equally mysterious independent record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
Corwood Industries
Corwood Industries
Corwood Industries is a Houston, Texas-based company whose only output would appear to be the music of Jandek. It is not known what other ventures, if any, that Corwood Industries may be involved with....
, and his music (which reached 39 albums at the end of 2004).
While Jandek himself does not appear in the movie (except in the form of the pictures on many of his album covers and in excerpts from the only phone interview he has ever done in his career, with musician and writer John Trubee for Spin Magazine in 1985), he did authorize and endorse the project through Corwood Industries (any correspondence to the artist is usually signed "Corwood" rather than "Jandek"), allow the filmmakers to use whatever recordings from his discography they saw fit, and suggest people that could be interviewed for the documentary.
The film ends with the mention of the release of his 2002 album I Threw You Away
I Threw You Away
I Threw You Away is the 32nd album by Jandek, and one of two released in 2002. Corwood Industries release #0770.-Track listing:#Blues Turned Black – 12:14#It Seems Forever – 7:39#I Threw You Away – 8:10#Frozen Beauty – 11:50#The World Stops – 9:01...
; after the film's release in theaters, this album and its succeeding four releases are excerpted in a bonus feature on the DVD.
The film only saw limited theatrical release, as the producers planned to distribute the film primarily as a DVD. The DVD release contains several bonus features, including an album cover commentary on Jandek's albums from 1978 to 2001, the full tape of the John Trubee interview, all of the printed reviews of Jandek's albums from OP and Option
Option (music magazine)
Option was a music magazine based in Los Angeles, California.-History:Originally called OPtion, it, along with Sound Choice, were the dual successors to the earlier music magazine OP, published by John Foster and the Lost Music Network and known for its diverse scope and the role it played in...
magazines, and other materials.
Jandek Songs In The Film
- 1) "Ghost Town By The Sea" from Graven Image
- 2) "Naked In The Afternoon" from Ready for the HouseReady for the HouseReady for the House is the debut album by Jandek, and was released in 1978 by his own Corwood Industries label, with the catalog number #0739. The artist has said in letters that the number was meaningless. Corwood Industries reissued the album three times on CD, first in 1999, then sometime in the...
(Sample lyric: "I got a vision of a teenage daughter who's growing up naked in the afternoon") - 3) "What Did I Hear?" from "Later OnLater OnLater On is the third release by avant-folk/blues singer/songwriter Jandek, and the second released by Corwood Industries in 1981. It was reissued on CD in 2000....
(played during spinning record visual, spiraling into center hole; snippet from printed review describing music as "suicidal void". Sample lyric: "you deceived me mister, it sure seems that way...I guess you knew that wasn't possible..I guess there's no such thing as today") - 4) "You're The Best One" from Six and SixSix and SixSix and Six is the second album by reclusive Houston musician Jandek, and the first to be released under the Jandek name . It was released in 1981, by Corwood Industries...
(Sample lyric: "you're the last one I want to see...you're one in a million") - 5) "Niagara Blues" from The Living EndThe Living End (Jandek album)The Living End is the eighteenth album by outsider musician Jandek and the only release of . Corwood Industries #0756 continues the bluesy band sound of the prior two albums, but adds a new, thinner-voiced female vocalist to the mix.-Track listing:...
(Sample lyric: "Sometimes I go to Niagara, sometimes I go to the grave") - 6) "The Beginning" from The BeginningThe Beginning (Jandek album)The Beginning is the twenty-eighth album by Jandek. It was released in 1999, and was given Corwood Industries release number 0766. It is considered the final album of Jandek's "second acoustic phase".- Track listing :#"It's February"...
(solo piano, played over album cover discussion) - 7) "They Told Me About You" from Ready for the HouseReady for the HouseReady for the House is the debut album by Jandek, and was released in 1978 by his own Corwood Industries label, with the catalog number #0739. The artist has said in letters that the number was meaningless. Corwood Industries reissued the album three times on CD, first in 1999, then sometime in the...
(discussing the Jandek on Corwood print ad) - 8) "Om" from Somebody in the SnowSomebody in the SnowSomebody in the Snow is the nineteenth album by Jandek and his only release of 1990. Released as Corwood #0757, the album is a curious mixture of more "blues-lounge" band tracks with female vocals, some acoustic and drums tracks and a few of the strangest songs to ever find home on a Jandek...
(Wordless chant/cry with multiple overdubbed vocalizations, discussing theories of his mental health and reclusiveness) - 9) "Nancy Sings" from Chair Beside a WindowChair Beside a WindowChair Beside a Window is the fourth album by avant-folk/blues singer/songwriter Jandek, and Corwood Industries' first release of 1982 ....
(discussing first use of outside musicians) - 10) “John Plays Drums” from Your Turn to FallYour Turn to FallYour Turn to Fall is the seventh Jandek album, and was released as Corwood 0745. It was reissued on CD in 2001.- Overview :Your Turn to Fall marks something of a transition in Corwood history, for several reasons...
- 11) Down In A Mirror from Chair Beside a WindowChair Beside a WindowChair Beside a Window is the fourth album by avant-folk/blues singer/songwriter Jandek, and Corwood Industries' first release of 1982 ....
(discussing the way to listen to Jandek—“having a few glasses of wine and sitting down with Jandek and just listening”. Sample lyric: “we can’t deny there’s spirits in this house you shut the door the wind closes two more”) - 12) "Upon The Grandeur" from One Foot in the NorthOne Foot in the NorthOne Foot in the North is the twentieth album by Jandek, and the only to be released in 1991. It is Corwood Industries release #0758, and featured voice and electric guitar for about half the album before drums and a second, more "polished" lead guitar joined along.-Track listing:#Yellow Pages –...
(electric guitar) - 13) "Point Judith" from Six and SixSix and SixSix and Six is the second album by reclusive Houston musician Jandek, and the first to be released under the Jandek name . It was released in 1981, by Corwood Industries...
(Representative of “1st period”. Sample lyric: “settle back easy and make up your mind to stay”) - 14) "Governor Rhodes" from "Telegraph MeltsTelegraph MeltsTelegraph Melts is the twelfth album and first release of 1986 by musician Jandek. It was released as Corwood Industries #0750.-Track listing:#You – 1:38#On the Planes – 2:48#Go to Bed – 2:46#Ace of Diamonds – 4:43#Twenty Four – 4:55...
" (Representative of “2nd period”. Sample lyric: We are here in earth in life in sky in magic in rain in love in fire in celebration) - 15) “I Passed By The Building” from Blue CorpseBlue CorpseBlue Corpse is the fifteenth album by Jandek, and his second for 1987. Essentially a duet album with "Eddie," it addresses heartbreak and is considered by many to be the easiest point of entry into the Corwood catalog.- Track listing :...
(Representative of “3rd Period”) - 16) “Rain In Madison” from Glad to Get AwayGlad to Get AwayGlad to Get Away is the twenty-fourth album by Jandek, and was released as Corwood Industries#0762. It continues the acoustic sound of the prior two albums.-Track listing:#Bitter Tale – 2:25#Hey Mister Can You Tell Me – 3:33#Ezekiel – 2:49...
(Representative of “3rd Period”.) - 17) "I Need Your Life" from Put My Dream on This PlanetPut My Dream on This PlanetPut My Dream on This Planet is the twenty-ninth album by Jandek, and his only new release of 2000 . The first of three consecutive a capella albums, it is Corwood Industries #0767.-Reviews:...
(Representative of Spoken Word/A Cappella album trilogy) - 18) "You Didn't Lie" from Nine-ThirtyNine-ThirtyNine-Thirty is the tenth album by Jandek, and one of two released in 1985, and was released as Corwood 0748. It was reissued on CD in 2001.-Track listing:#Tell Me When – 2:13#Left The Beach Last Sunday – 2:14#Bells and Voices – 2:28#Faye – 2:55...
(Discussing mystery of Jandek as being part of the appreciation of the music. Sample lyric: “I got someplace that was very hard to get out of Didn’t get too close Wouldn’t get too close”) - 19) "I'm Ready" from On The Way (More standard acoustic strumming and chords than typical of Jandek style.)
- 20) “Pending Doom” from I Woke UpI Woke UpI Woke Up is the twenty-sixth album by Jandek and his only release of 1997. Released as Corwood Industries #0764, it introduced a new male vocalist who sings most of the tracks.-Track listing:#First Awake Moment – 2:26...
(Texas Monthly interview. Percussion and voice only.) - 21) "Walking In The Meadow" from White Box RequiemWhite Box RequiemWhite Box Requiem is the twenty-fifth album by Jandek, and his only for 1996.Released as Corwood Industries #0763, it is essentially a "concept album" about a man who opens a "Pandora's box" of sorts...
(Texas Monthly interview continued. Staccato plucking on acoustic guitar, no vocals. - 22) “The Electric End” from Lost CauseLost Cause (album)Lost Cause is the twenty-first album by Jandek, and his only of 1992. Corwood Industries release #0759, it marks the end of the "electric phase" and, really, of an era...
- (Another excerpt of "The Beginning" from The BeginningThe Beginning (Jandek album)The Beginning is the twenty-eighth album by Jandek. It was released in 1999, and was given Corwood Industries release number 0766. It is considered the final album of Jandek's "second acoustic phase".- Track listing :#"It's February"...
appears again.) - 23) “I Went Outside” from Put My Dream on This PlanetPut My Dream on This PlanetPut My Dream on This Planet is the twenty-ninth album by Jandek, and his only new release of 2000 . The first of three consecutive a capella albums, it is Corwood Industries #0767.-Reviews:...
- 24) “New Town” from New Town (Dr. DementoDr. DementoBarret Eugene Hansen , better known as Dr. Demento, is a radio broadcaster and record collector specializing in novelty songs, comedy, and strange or unusual recordings dating from the early days of phonograph records to the present....
discussing how the Jandek story will end. Sample lyric: “I thought I would send you the last song I wrote”) - 25) “Only Lover” from Blue CorpseBlue CorpseBlue Corpse is the fifteenth album by Jandek, and his second for 1987. Essentially a duet album with "Eddie," it addresses heartbreak and is considered by many to be the easiest point of entry into the Corwood catalog.- Track listing :...
(Discussing fame and the dashing of your expectations about an enigmatic person. Sample lyric: “worst I had to tell you was I followed you here”) - 26) “I Knew You Would Leave” from Six and SixSix and SixSix and Six is the second album by reclusive Houston musician Jandek, and the first to be released under the Jandek name . It was released in 1981, by Corwood Industries...
(Jandek says this is “the one that I think had the most impact out of everything so far, the one that I thought had the best poetry” in 1985 telephone interview.)