Janie Jones
Encyclopedia
Marion Mitchell better known by her stage name
, Janie Jones, was an English
singer. She became renowned for being a madame in London
during the 1970s, and was jailed for her involvement in the BBC Radio One 'sex for airplay' payola scandal. She first achieved notoriety in August 1964, when she attended the film premiere of London in the Raw, wearing a topless
dress.
Jones had been a pop
singer in the 1960s, her best results coming from the cackling novelty number "Witches Brew" which peaked at number 46 in the UK Singles Chart
. The cabaret singer was imprisoned for seven years in 1973 for her involvement in 'controlling prostitutes', and for her part in the Radio One payola scandal, that was broken by a story in the News of the World
.
Whilst in jail, she met and befriended the Moors murderer Myra Hindley and made numerous television appearances insisting that Hindley was a reformed woman and should be considered for release. However Jones developed a deep hatred for Hindley in 1996 when Hindley finally confessed to her crimes. In 1993 she wrote an autobiography titled 'The Devil and Miss Jones: The Twisted Mind of Myra Hindley'.
She is the subject of a song by The Clash
called "Janie Jones
", which was released in 1977 on the band's eponymous debut album
. Jones appeared in the music video
, being chauffeur
ed around London together with Mick Jones
. In 2006 the song was covered
by Babyshambles
.
In 1982, Jones, backed by members of the Clash and the Blockheads
and credited as Janie Jones & the Lash, recorded
a single
, "House of the Ju-Ju Queen" b/w "Sex Machine
", which was produced
by Joe Strummer
and released the following year. In December 1983, the British
music magazine, NME
, reported that Jones was on the 'comeback trail'.
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
, Janie Jones, was an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
singer. She became renowned for being a madame in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
during the 1970s, and was jailed for her involvement in the BBC Radio One 'sex for airplay' payola scandal. She first achieved notoriety in August 1964, when she attended the film premiere of London in the Raw, wearing a topless
Toplessness
Toplessness is the state in which a female's breasts are uncovered, with the areolae and nipples visible, usually in a public space. It can also refer to a female not wearing any clothing above the waist, which is the female equivalent to a male barechestedness.The history and even the present-day...
dress.
Jones had been a pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
singer in the 1960s, her best results coming from the cackling novelty number "Witches Brew" which peaked at number 46 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. The cabaret singer was imprisoned for seven years in 1973 for her involvement in 'controlling prostitutes', and for her part in the Radio One payola scandal, that was broken by a story in the News of the World
News of the World
The News of the World was a national red top newspaper published in the United Kingdom from 1843 to 2011. It was at one time the biggest selling English language newspaper in the world, and at closure still had one of the highest English language circulations...
.
Whilst in jail, she met and befriended the Moors murderer Myra Hindley and made numerous television appearances insisting that Hindley was a reformed woman and should be considered for release. However Jones developed a deep hatred for Hindley in 1996 when Hindley finally confessed to her crimes. In 1993 she wrote an autobiography titled 'The Devil and Miss Jones: The Twisted Mind of Myra Hindley'.
She is the subject of a song by The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
called "Janie Jones
Janie Jones (song)
"Janie Jones" is a song by the Clash on their eponymous debut album. The subject of the song, Janie Jones, was a famous madam in London during the 1970s and had been a pop singer during the 1960s....
", which was released in 1977 on the band's eponymous debut album
The Clash (album)
The album received positive reviews from critics and peaked at number 12 in the UK charts. In December 1979, critic Robert Christgau named it his favorite album of the 1970s....
. Jones appeared in the music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
, being chauffeur
Chauffeur
A chauffeur is a person employed to drive a passenger motor vehicle, especially a luxury vehicle such as a large sedan or limousine.Originally such drivers were always personal servants of the vehicle owner, but now in many cases specialist chauffeur service companies, or individual drivers provide...
ed around London together with Mick Jones
Mick Jones (The Clash)
Michael Geoffrey "Mick" Jones is the former lead guitarist, secondary vocalist and co-founder for the British punk rock band The Clash until his dismissal in 1983. He went on to form the band Big Audio Dynamite with Don Letts before line-up changes led to the formation of Big Audio Dynamite II and...
. In 2006 the song was covered
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by Babyshambles
Babyshambles
Babyshambles are an English indie rock band established in London. The band was formed by Pete Doherty during a hiatus from his former band The Libertines, but Babyshambles has since become his main project . Babyshambles has released two albums, three EPs and a number of singles...
.
In 1982, Jones, backed by members of the Clash and the Blockheads
Ian Dury
Ian Robins Dury was an English rock and roll singer, lyricist, bandleader and actor who initially rose to fame during the late 1970s, during the punk and New Wave era of rock music...
and credited as Janie Jones & the Lash, recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
a single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, "House of the Ju-Ju Queen" b/w "Sex Machine
Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine
"Get Up Sex Machine" is a funk song recorded by James Brown in 1970 and released as a two-part single on King Records....
", which was produced
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
by Joe Strummer
Joe Strummer
John Graham Mellor , best remembered by his stage name Joe Strummer, was the co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist of the British punk rock band The Clash. His musical experience included his membership in The 101ers, Latino Rockabilly War, The Mescaleros and The Pogues, in...
and released the following year. In December 1983, the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
music magazine, NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
, reported that Jones was on the 'comeback trail'.