THE MOVIE "INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS" GOT IT WRONG! THE REAL JIM AND JEAN!
The fine film Inside Llewyn Davis takes place in New York's Greenwich Village of the early sixties when the folk music scene was just beginning to gain momentum. The picture, created by the quirky Coen Brothers is a complete distortion of the "way thing were" in that time and place. One of the things that the Coen Brothers got right was the duo Jim and Jean, who were an important act at that time. Jim is played by Justin Timberlake and Jean by Carey Mulligan. And they do a fine acting job, as does the rest of the cast. The singing is excellent and TBone Burnett has made a fine album of the folk songs from the film. But there is no sense of community and sharing of music and ideas that was such a positive part of the folk scene in the sixties. It was fun! The characters in the film seemed to be interested in each other almost entirely besides the music. The folk scene was a miracle of timing. There was a great talent every few feet from Bob Dylan to Phil
Ochs to Peter, Paul and Mary to Jose Feliciano to Buffy Sainte-Marie to the Clancy Brothers and on and on. Including Jim and Jean, who play such a major role in the film. The real Jim and Jean were more upbeat and positive than their film counterparts. I have added a link here to a YouTube video of them that should illuminate the folk music scene better than the film does even though introduced by Art Linkletter! http//youtu.be/OFANftfYNbs
In the film Jean is a bitch. The real Jean was a sweet, loving person. She died of cancer several years ago, but not before she did a reunion concert with Jim in New York. Jean grew up in California where her mother had a house on the beach in Malibu. Her brother Brian is the lead guitarist in Paul McCartney's band, so music was an important part of her life from very early on. She moved to Greenwich Village in New York to find her way as a singer; she found Jim Glover and they were a musical match made in Heaven. Jim grew up in a Communist home where his Father was very active. The result was cautionary tales and FBI harassment. It scared Jim and made him suspicious of strangers. And a strong proponent of JFK conspiracy theories. He believes that Phil Ochs was in Dallas watching the terrible event and Jim's tour bus was also in Dallas. There are photos that include a person who looks like it could be Phil Ochs. Since he had spent his younger years under FBI harassment, it made him attuned to political and CIA mischief. Google Jim Glover for more about his theories about a JFK coup! Jim is still performing at clubs and Folk Festivals.
Ochs to Peter, Paul and Mary to Jose Feliciano to Buffy Sainte-Marie to the Clancy Brothers and on and on. Including Jim and Jean, who play such a major role in the film. The real Jim and Jean were more upbeat and positive than their film counterparts. I have added a link here to a YouTube video of them that should illuminate the folk music scene better than the film does even though introduced by Art Linkletter! http//youtu.be/OFANftfYNbs
Jim and Jean recorded three albums, the first the eponymous album on the Philips label. It is the most folksinger ish album. They then moved to Verve-Forcast for two albums "People World" and "Changes," named for their excellent performance of the Phil Ochs masterpiece. Jim was Phil's roommate at college in Ohio and he taught Phil how to play guitar.. Together they played around town as “The Sundowners". Jim moved to New York City where he met and fell in love with Jean Ray. They were a magic duo. Phil followed Jim to New York and began playing the 'basket houses' where you were paid by the audience as you passed the basket around for tips. Phil Ochs came to the attention of the folk community when word got around that he was raking in the dough in the basket houses! At first he slept on Jim and Jean's couch. Their friendship lasted until Phil took his own life. Jim is a supporter and booster of Phil Ochs songs and Jim and Jean recorded several of them. On their first album they sang Phil's "There But For Fortune" and his musical arrangement of Edgar Alan Poe's "The Bells" - great melody and great performance by Jim and Jean. One of the highlights of their Verve-Forcast albums are great performances of Ochs "Crucifixion" and ”Changes”. Jim wrote just two songs for the three albums and one was covered by Steeleye Span and the other, “What’s That Got To Do With Me?” was covered by Sly Stone.
In the film Jean is a bitch. The real Jean was a sweet, loving person. She died of cancer several years ago, but not before she did a reunion concert with Jim in New York. Jean grew up in California where her mother had a house on the beach in Malibu. Her brother Brian is the lead guitarist in Paul McCartney's band, so music was an important part of her life from very early on. She moved to Greenwich Village in New York to find her way as a singer; she found Jim Glover and they were a musical match made in Heaven. Jim grew up in a Communist home where his Father was very active. The result was cautionary tales and FBI harassment. It scared Jim and made him suspicious of strangers. And a strong proponent of JFK conspiracy theories. He believes that Phil Ochs was in Dallas watching the terrible event and Jim's tour bus was also in Dallas. There are photos that include a person who looks like it could be Phil Ochs. Since he had spent his younger years under FBI harassment, it made him attuned to political and CIA mischief. Google Jim Glover for more about his theories about a JFK coup! Jim is still performing at clubs and Folk Festivals.
“Changes” http://youtu.be/ELvnUcGPkTE
Contact: Herb Gart yes@therainbow.com
The First Rainbow LLC 404-810-1152
1650 Barnes Mill Rooad
Suite 1214
Marietta GA 30062
The First Rainbow LLC 404-810-1152
1650 Barnes Mill Rooad
Suite 1214
Marietta GA 30062
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