Biography
Jeff Murphy first gained recognition for serving as lead guitarist and vocalist in the pioneering power pop outfit Shoes. Born and raised in Zion, Illinois, he acquired an early fascination with both music and studio gear after receiving a record player and the 1961 single “Rock Around the Clock.” The Beatles and the wave of British Invasion bands that followed shaped his tastes, along with the incisive pop of Badfinger and Big Star. In 1973 he joined his brother John Murphy and friend Gary Klebe to start a group; Jeff and Gary handled guitars, John played bass, and Skip Meyer—whom Gary had met through his sister—sat behind the drums. They chose the name Shoes and focused exclusively on songwriting and home recording rather than live performances, relying on a makeshift setup built around Jeff’s TEAC four-track reel-to-reel. The band tracked two albums in 1975, One in Versailles and Bazooka, though these circulated only among acquaintances. Their first widely available release, Black Vinyl Shoes, appeared in 1977 on the band’s own Black Vinyl Records imprint. The album earned widespread critical acclaim and was subsequently licensed by the established independent PVC/Jem Records. Elektra Records took notice and sent Shoes to England to cut 1979’s Present Tense in a fully equipped 24-track studio. Both that record and its 1981 successor Tongue Twister drew favorable reviews and modest sales, yet the band’s aversion to touring blocked any major breakthrough. After issuing 1982’s Boomerang, Shoes left Elektra. The album marked the first time the group worked at their newly built professional 24-track facility in Zion, Short Order Recorder. Jeff oversaw day-to-day operations at the studio and produced outside artists while the band slowly prepared its next project. Following Skip Meyer’s departure, 1984’s Silhouette surfaced initially in Europe only. Once Shoes regained control of their Elektra catalog, they reactivated the Black Vinyl label and issued the compilation Shoes Best, which renewed public interest. Stolen Wishes followed in 1989 to further praise. Since then Jeff and his bandmates have periodically delivered fresh recordings and archival releases, all through Black Vinyl Records. Jeff also maintained an active production career, collaborating in the studio with Material Issue, the Sneetches, the Squares, and Herb Eimerman; the latter partnership yielded a joint album under the name the Nerk Twins. In 2006 Jeff released his debut book, the memoir Birth of a Band: The Record Deal and the Making of Present Tense. After Short Order Recorder closed in 2007, he returned to home recording and completed his first solo effort, Cantilever, performing and writing every part himself.
Albums
