When the Music Is Over Vinyl

This one grew out of the welcome affection the brilliant and versatile Daru Jones and Devonne "DJ" Harrison have for JMI. In 2018, Daru had featured on JMI-4-S1 and we had a blast in the studio.

Later that year, DJ Harrison and our label owners met at a series of events, including a memorable show DJ put on at the Mercury Lounge. When we learned that Harrison and Jones had both collaborated with label favorite Jack White, it got us thinking: what other rock n' roll settings could they kill? And can we release some rock 'n 'roll and still be a jazz label?

First we realized that DJ's keyboard prowess and love of vintage gear make him a perfect fit for an electric analog keyboard. One of our favorite sounding analog keyboards growing up was the trippy, circus sounds produced by Ray Manzarek's 1960s Continental Combo Organ together with the Fender Piano Bass. Daru's seamless moves from rock to jazz to hip hop make him the perfect John Densmore to DJ's Manzarek.

But who could do the guitar? Not some Robby Krieger imitator: he's inimitable. An old friend of Mr. Mandel's, legendary ace axman Doyle Bramhall II, Steve insisted, would be perfect. One problem: Doyle was then and now the lead guitarist for Eric Clapton's busy touring schedule.

Anyway, in 2018 we tracked Harrison and Jones at Reservoir Studios where we not only got killer takes on the Doors' When The Music's Over, but a tight and soulful recording of an original Mandel/Hohl song called I Don't Fuck Around. We banked the 2" reels and waited for Mr. Bramhall to fit us into his schedule. And we waited.

Months passed, then years. By 2022, some of us had given up waiting. But not Mr. Mandel. He got his man and on one memorable day that year, Doyle, Steve and Doyle's partner Elle McPherson convened in The Bridge Studio in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. To say Doyle laced these tracks speaks too highly of laces. Just buy this record and listen. It's our first 12" single, it's mastered at 45 r.p.m. for glorious sound, and it's a wild ride. Cover design by Steven Mandel and Nathan Golub with additional photography by Ms. McPherson.