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Friday, October 27, 2023

Joe Jackson goes music hall on 'What A Racket' next month

Veteran musician Joe Jackson will 
release concept album 'What A Racket,' revolving around the songs of early 20th-century English Music Hall artist Max Champion, via earMUSIC on Nov. 24.

Previously unveiled first single "Health & Safety" is now joined by the title track as the latest single. Watch the video HERE

Max Champion was born in 1882 in London's East End and is thought to have been related to the great Victorian entertainer Harry Champion. As an up-and-coming performer he shared the stage with big stars such as Gus Ellen and Vesta Tilley, but his career (much like the Music Hall era itself) was cut short by the First World War, and his songs faded into obscurity. That is, until 2014, when Max Champion sheet music started to surface: first in Malta, then in England, and, intriguingly, in Belgium, where Max probably met his end in the trenches. 

By 2019, enough songs had been recovered for Joe Jackson to resurrect them with a 12-piece orchestra.

The album "Mr. Joe Jackson presents: Max Champion in 'What A Racket!'" will be released as a CD Digipak and 1LP Black Vinyl, Download and Streaming.

Plans are also underway to present this project as a live show in Spring 2024. More details soon. 

Music Hall originated in 19th-century London, transitioning from pubs and street performances to grand theaters by 1900. It attracted a diverse audience, spanning from commoners to aristocrats. The songs in this genre depicted life in the Victorian and Edwardian eras, often infused with humor, satire, sentimentality, patriotism, and occasionally darker themes like jealousy and murder. Some songs were also risqué but cleverly expressed.

TRACK LISTING (CD):

1. (Overture): Why, Why, Why?
2. The Sporting Life
3. Dear Old Mum -- A London-Irish Lament
4. Monty Mundy (Is Maltese)!
5. The Shades Of Night
6. What A Racket!
7. The Bishop And The Actress
8. Think Of The Show! -- A Thespian's Lament
9. Never So Nice In The Morning
10. Health & Safety
11. Worse Things Happen At Sea

Vinyl Split: Side A: Tracks 1-5 Side B: Tracks 6-11

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