JOHN JENKINS - Kathleen
Liverpudlian artist John Jenkins returns with a brand new single, ‘Kathleen’, his take on the Townes Van Zandt-composed gemstone.
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‘Kathleen’ is taken from Jenkins’ upcoming album If You Can’t Forgive You Can’t Love, due for release on 6th August ahead of a 10-date national tour. The album also features the critically-acclaimed single ‘Desert Hearts’ and upcoming track ‘Strangers On A Train’, a duet with Alison Benson.
On taking on an alt-country classic, Jenkins states
"I feel like I have a cooler older brother when I hear Townes Van Zandt songs. He's a song writing genius and listening to him has opened a door into a world I might have missed without his music. John Prine, Guy Clark, Iris DeMent, Nanci Griffith and Mary Chapin Carpenter all set the bar to which I aim as a songwriter, but Townes Van Zandt speaks directly to me.
‘Kathleen’ is one of his best songs and I love the string arrangement... so, when I was working on some of my own compositions with Merseyside violinist and arranger Amy Chalmers, I decided it would be a great one to cover. We've given it a touch of the blues, but all the best bits of Townes are still present. It's funny, when Texas singer Sam Baker told me a song I'd just performed at the AMA-UK Awards & Conference a couple of years ago reminded him of Townes Van Zandt, I was embarrassed to say I'd not got on board as a big fan of Townes. It just goes to show you, it's never too late to find out about great music."
The upcoming release follows Jenkins 2020 album ‘Growing Old – Songs from my Front Porch’ which received critical acclaim in the likes of Maverick Magazine, RnR, Americana UK, Fatea and Liverpool Sound and Vision.
“One to watch”
NSAI – Nashville Songwriters Association International
As a member of his own James Street Band, along with performances with The Persuaders and Come in Tokio, John Jenkins has shared stages with the likes of Elvis Costello, Chris Difford (Squeeze), Echo and The Bunnymen, The Beat and Jarrod Dickenson.
‘Kathleen’ was co-produced by John Jenkins and Jon Lawton (Sami Yusuf, Two Black Sheep) and mastered by Pete Maher (The Rolling Stones, U2, Patti Smith)