Mid 60's duo Jonathan & Leigh

Subject: Mid 60's duo Jonathan & Leigh
From: open mike
Date: 20 Apr 08 - 05:29 PM

In a post from another folk music list i found this:

In the mid to late 60's there was a duo who put out one LP on Vanguard:
Jonathan & Leigh. The LP title was "Third & Main."...The LP reviews
of the day, like High Fidelity, provided little information about them. I gleaned that their names were most likely, John Alden and Sandy Roepken. For years I have played their song, "Song For Shelley" ...

Does anyone know any more about them? Ever see them perform? Are they
still on the music scene, individually or together? Perhaps they are on
this list? I am currently using their song, "Constant Tuesday" as the theme song for my Tuesday radio show...

and searches turned up this info:
http://www.acerecords.co.uk/content.php?page_id=59&release=7423

Using the online BMI song register to cross-reference the songs from this album with others composed by John Alden (Jonathan), I was able to track down Alden's current label and through them both Jonathan and then "Leigh" (Sandy Roepken, now Sandy Lee Bashaw). Consequently, the reissue of this quietly excellent cult folk album now boasts extensive sleeve notes that tell the duo's fascinating history in full; includes photographs from their heyday in 1966 and '67; and a fine piece of 60s poster memorabilia.

Forged in the early 60s folk scene of Dayton, Ohio, Jonathan and Leigh arrived in New York City in 1967 to play the Greenwich Village folk club The Gaslight Café. Vanguard Records' Maynard Solomon was in the audience and was so knocked out that he signed them for "the biggest cash advance the company's ever handed out...$3000 against five percent of record sales" (as a local Ohio newspaper noted at the time).

The album was recorded in a converted church in New York with outstanding supporting musicians such as Russ Savakus, Richard Davis and Bill Salter; overdubs by Jay Berliner and Warren Smith were added later. The sound is very distinctive, with Jonathan And Leigh's heartfelt Ohio roots shining through in the strong vocals and the accompanying music veering between simple folk stylings and a jangly, electric-folk hybrid. The songs are superb. Having been honed over the preceding three years they worked together in Ohio, they represent an impressive début statement. Particularly fine are Winding River, Summer Sorrow (written for Mimi Fariña after husband Richard's tragic death in a motorcycle accident) and Tapestry (John's favourite of them all). Though John wrote most of the songs, Sandy came up with the tune to Winding River after John recited the lyrics down the phone to her. He recalled: "I talked the words down the phone to Sandy and she came up with the beautiful music."

However, the hoped-for success did not come and the duo returned to Ohio. Later John Alden moved to Los Angeles, where he remained for eight years before returning to Dayton. He was part of the band Starbuck (along with Leigh), who recorded a session produced by Don Everly for Atlantic (though the album was never finished or released). Subsequently John recorded two albums as part of the country band Electric Range - singing lead, playing guitar and bringing his song writing talents to that group. Electric Range's début features the Byrds Chris Hillman and was produced by the Eagles Randy Meisner. Sandy Roepken ("Leigh") went on to form a duo with her husband Michael Bashaw and they have worked together continuously since the late 60s.

By John Crosby

Subject: RE: Mid 60's duo Jonathan & Leigh
From: pdq
Date: 20 Apr 08 - 07:43 PM

The group Electric Range seems to have two records from 2000 and nothing before or since. There is an eBay site selling either CD for $5 plus a reasonable $2.50 in shipping. The self-titled one has Randy Meisner, Chris Hillman and Hoyt Axton, although there is no way to tell how much each contributes.

Subject: RE: Mid 60's duo Jonathan & Leigh
From: open mike
Date: 20 Apr 08 - 08:03 PM

i wish i could address the "help" section to ask the thread title to be changed to "Mid 60's duo Jonathan & Leigh" as this is the specific topic

the electric range sounds interesteing, though, and Chris Hillman was, I believe, a member of the The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Bros., Manassas, McGuinn, Clark and Hillman and The Desert Rose Band . according to the web and to this site: http://www.chrishillman.com/ he often collaborated with Gram Parsons....

Randy Meisner Online is a web site dedicated to former Eagle, former Poco member http://www.randymeisneronline.com/

http://www.hoytsmusic.com/ Has lots of info and songs of Hoyt Axton, but not Boney Fingers, which is the most memorable song of his I know .

This is an interesting connection with Jonathan & Leigh or Sandy and Michael Bashaw.

Subject: RE: Mid 60's duo Jonathan & Leigh
From: pdq
Date: 20 Apr 08 - 08:11 PM

I ordered a copy of Electric Range, the self-titled one. Report coming as soon as I have an opinion, perhaps a couple of weeks. Chris Hillman is a genius, literally. He got a PHD from Washington University in mathematics at age 54! I would put his musical output over the last 30 years with anybody's.

Subject: RE: Mid 60's duo Jonathan & Leigh
From: Big Mick
Date: 20 Apr 08 - 08:46 PM

I have fixed the thread title for you, open mike, per your request. When you need something like this, feel free to drop me a PM, and I will fix 'er right up.

All the best,

Mick
Forum Moderator