Biography
In 1970 Jamme issued a little-known but agreeable self-titled debut whose gentle tone evoked the softer edges of the Beatles and drew from California pop and rock currents. Yet the band’s tangled history, laced with connections to far more prominent names, proved arguably more compelling than the recordings themselves.
The group had roots in the mid-’60s Washington, D.C. outfit the British Walkers, whose lineup included an authentic British guitarist, Paul Downing. In 1967 Downing relocated to Los Angeles alongside his girlfriend Nancy Throckmorton and moved in with her mother, Susan Adams, who had been John Phillips’ first wife. Downing spent time in the San Diego band the Hard Times, formed a friendship with Phillips, and contributed guitar to sessions held in Phillips’ home studio. He later added guitar parts to several tracks on the Mamas & the Papas album The Papas & the Mamas. In spring 1968 Phillips encouraged Downing to assemble a new band, which he formed with former British Walker Tim Smyser on bass and fellow British expatriate guitarist Don Adey; drums were handled by Terry Rae, previously of the Palace Guard.
This lineup commenced work on Jamme’s album inside Phillips’ Bel Air home studio, though the path to completion proved anything but straightforward. Preoccupied by the dissolution of both the Mamas & the Papas and his marriage to Michelle Phillips, Phillips prompted Rae’s exit. An attempt to install post-Van Morrison Them drummer Dave Tufrey in the drum chair fell through, leaving session players Jim Gordon, later of Derek & the Dominos, and Jerry Allison of the Crickets to handle drumming duties. Phillips next pressed Downing to dismiss Smyser in favor of another musician; when Downing refused, the project slipped further into uncertainty and Smyser soon joined the waning Standells. Eventually, assistance from Adey’s bassist brother Keith allowed the album to be finished and issued in March 1970 on Phillips’ Warlock label. Predictably, given the turbulent circumstances, the LP attracted scant attention, though a 2010 CD reissue on Now Sounds returned it to circulation, adding eight bonus tracks and detailed historical liner notes.
The group had roots in the mid-’60s Washington, D.C. outfit the British Walkers, whose lineup included an authentic British guitarist, Paul Downing. In 1967 Downing relocated to Los Angeles alongside his girlfriend Nancy Throckmorton and moved in with her mother, Susan Adams, who had been John Phillips’ first wife. Downing spent time in the San Diego band the Hard Times, formed a friendship with Phillips, and contributed guitar to sessions held in Phillips’ home studio. He later added guitar parts to several tracks on the Mamas & the Papas album The Papas & the Mamas. In spring 1968 Phillips encouraged Downing to assemble a new band, which he formed with former British Walker Tim Smyser on bass and fellow British expatriate guitarist Don Adey; drums were handled by Terry Rae, previously of the Palace Guard.
This lineup commenced work on Jamme’s album inside Phillips’ Bel Air home studio, though the path to completion proved anything but straightforward. Preoccupied by the dissolution of both the Mamas & the Papas and his marriage to Michelle Phillips, Phillips prompted Rae’s exit. An attempt to install post-Van Morrison Them drummer Dave Tufrey in the drum chair fell through, leaving session players Jim Gordon, later of Derek & the Dominos, and Jerry Allison of the Crickets to handle drumming duties. Phillips next pressed Downing to dismiss Smyser in favor of another musician; when Downing refused, the project slipped further into uncertainty and Smyser soon joined the waning Standells. Eventually, assistance from Adey’s bassist brother Keith allowed the album to be finished and issued in March 1970 on Phillips’ Warlock label. Predictably, given the turbulent circumstances, the LP attracted scant attention, though a 2010 CD reissue on Now Sounds returned it to circulation, adding eight bonus tracks and detailed historical liner notes.
Albums
