In September 1973 Hobo got a letter from the manager of singer songwriter Jamie Lord. Jamie, who would describe his music as ‘Cosmic Folk‘, didn’t fit neatly into the traditional folk circuit. None the less, this 24 year old Warwick based talent was highly popular in folk clubs such as Rude Bear (run by Rod Felton and Dave Coburn) and a growing reputation on the Midland Folk circuit. An advert in Hobo says that Jamie was managed by Mick Donovan in Colliers Wood, London.  Mick Donovan wrote to Hobo in 1974 – (letter included here)

” Thought you might be interested, for a future edition, in some information about Jamie Lord, who’s rap[idly gaining a reputation as a major new talent on the Midlands folk Circuit.“


Mike Donovan included some date sheets (with some of  Jamie’s own artwork) and a cutting from the Leamington Courier (also included here).  Jamie was also an artist. According to the press cutting Jamie recorded some demo tapes – shame there’s nothing by Jamie on You Tube or on line anywhere that I’ve found.

His music and songs looked to the influence of Todd Rungren whose album

Mike Donovan’s letter to Trev Teasdel – Hobo Mag

  “Wizard a True Star” had been  reviewed for Hobo by Mike O’Hare of  Coventry Virgin Records (posted on this site). The letter (on this blog) also included an interview with the Leamington Courier on 31st August 1973 (also posted here). In his own words he described his music thus “It can’t be called folk music in the usual sense of the word. Folk music is dead. Everything I do is very alive and up to the minute, but it’s very difficult to find anywhere that has a large enough audience who are really into it.“
Jamie was also an artist, designing his own publicity scene here and hoping to work on a combination of lyrics and art work in a Tolkien style. More on this in the press cutting.

I saw and enjoyed Jamie’s works at the Rude Bear on many ocassions.

STEPMOTHER

Jamie also played in a Leamington band called Stepmother with Jim Pryal on drums (Jim has been in so many Coventry bands including Wandering John, Ning, Hot Snacks and many more).

Jim Pryal says of Stepmother
” I moved to Leamington in the early 70s and met up with a  bass player called Harry Frazer and a singer/songwriter called Jamie Lord.  With Mick Smitham we formed a band called Stepmother. I only remember Stepmother playing 1 gig  with that line up  and that was at the Regent hotel in Leamington. Quite an amazing gig. We also did a  recording  at Monty Bird’s studio in Snitterfield. Good to see info about Jamie on other parts of this site. . For whatever reason, the band folded. “

STEPMOTHER are now featured on The British Music Archive here
http://www.britishmusicarchive.com/S/302-stepmother

Recordings:

1. Elderly Lady

2. Lady Midnight

3. Geraldine

4. All The Young Girls

5. Twilight

Recording date:

Group Members: Jamie Lord (gtr, vocs), Mick Smitham (gtr, vocs), Harry Frazer (bass gtr), Jim Pryal (drums)

https://soundcloud.com/jamespryal/lady-twilight?si=82383652bdf946759bed1f89c702bf78

Additional Info: Stepmother originated from Coventry circa 1969. Recordings made at Monty Bird’s studios, Snitterfield, circa 1972.


Here are the words from the above press cutting

Jamie to Seek Success in the City

Finding a place where you can happily play your Gibson guitar and sing your Cosmic folk music can be quite a problem, as Warwick artist Jamie Lord has been finding out.

“It’s a little difficult to describe my music” he says “It can’t be called Folk music in the usual sense of the word. Folk music is dead, everything I do is alive and up to the minute, but it’s very difficult to find anywhere that has a large enough audience who are really into it.”

Jamie has been interested in music as long as he can remember and has been playing and performing since he was 15.

At 24,he has been professional for just over 6 months and finds that devoting his whole time to music is benefiting his writing.

“I write all my own songs” he said “I suppose you could describe them as being similar to stuff by the Incredible String Band and T Rex. It’s very commercial music.

With the support of his manager, Mike Donovan, Jamie made some demonstration tapes and sent them to several major record companies.

So far three of them have said they are interested and one has said they would like to make a single.

Success looks as though it may take Jamie away from this area. He has lived for most of his life in Warwick and has concentrated on playing locally but at the end of September he will move down to London.

Available

“To get some recognition you’ve got to really live in London for a while.” he said. “There’s far more scope down there and if i do manage to make any records, I must be easily available.”

Apart from writing music, Jamie is also known as an artist. He designs his publicity handouts and has had an exhibition at John Gould’s Gallery in Warwick and hopes to have another next year.

“Eventually, when I am better known, I would like to progress from straight music into a combination of lyrics and pictures. I can visualise producing a Tolkien-type fantasy, using these methods but obviously you have got to be widely recognised first before anyone will take notice.”

There are still a few opportunities left to see Jamie…

Here are some comments carried over from the Hobo Vox site where this post was originally hosted –

Sylvia Kus (2009)

We are trying to locate Jamie Lord. Pete Metcalfe my partner used to play the folk circuit with him in the 70’s. We would love to get in touch with him now.

Diane Flynn (2009)

I am hoping to get in touch with Jamie too. Sylvia do you remember me? The American girl with Jamie in the mid 1970s. I remember your cheesecake and artwork.

Pete Metcalfe (2009)
If you remember that cheesecake you’re in the club Diane. What has become of you and when did you split up with the boy wonder? Does anybody out there know where the boy wonder is??????????????

George Wooten 2009

I spent a half a day searching the internet for boy wonder on behalf of Diane (the American girl). No luck. When and where was the last time you saw him? I think he visited Diane on the west coast at one point. I think he liked it. My searches were targeted to England, so maybe a search on the west coast might yield results? You think?