- Cowboy Ranger
- Trains
- The Dark Heart
- Jeremy Says
- Tick Tock
- Wake Up
- Comes A Time
- Lesson
- Streets
- Georgina's Tune
Released January 2003.
Review:
SA Rock Digest, 17 February 2003
We've just met Joe Public, now meet Citizen Jones. This new Gauteng band/group/duo (?) is essentially the songwriting collaboration between Rich Jones and Chantal Gussenhoven, with the songs on their debut album, 'Romance And Finance', being performed by Rich Jones and a bunch of his mates from various other bands and walks of life.
That illustrious "bunch of mates" include Mike Meiring (Highway Jam), Mark Belling (Mean Mister Mustard), Ekkie Ekhart (Currently playing with Highway Jam, Kwatcha and Vinnie and the Viscounts). Kai Horsthenke (Highway Jam), Brett Collings (Highway Jam), Tim Trotter (ex-Amersham), Ant Duke (Station manager of 5fm and founder member of The Usual Suspex), Quentin Zeelie (sadly passed away). Adam Lomas and Nathan Waywell (Starskii), Ackroyd Threngle, Wendy Oldfield, and Hilton Brooker (Mean Mister Mustard).
Rich Jones played his first gig at the legendary Vic Hotel in Grahamstown at age 17 and has performed sporadically since then including at Splashy Fen and Woodstock 04. Has been in a number of semi-notorious bands in Johannesburg including The Wild Palms and The Stress Junkies, who were Roxy regulars as well as stints in Cockers and Mojos.
Jones was also with the late Capital Radio for nearly ten years operating under the name of "The Doctor" or "Doctor Jones". He has worked on various other stations and currently resides as music programmer/presenter on Radio 2000.
'Romance And Finance' was produced by Neil Snyman, and features the songs: 'Cowboy Ranger', 'Trains', 'The Dark Heart', 'Jeremy Says', 'Tick Tock', 'Wake Up', 'Comes A Time', 'Lesson', 'Streets', and 'Georgina's Tune', which was written for Rich's mom who was from Scotland and is a Celtic-tinged celebration of her life.
There are very few albums nowadays that get more than one play on my CD player, but Citizen Jones just refuses to budge. The rich (no pun intended) voice of Rich Jones reminds me in places of that guy from the Crash Test Dummies {Brad Roberts - ed.} and singer-songwriters like Shawn Phillips, Jim Croce, Warren Zevon and Steve Miller.
The musicianship is superb throughout and really enhances the finely-crafted songs. The fast-paced 'Jeremy Says' gives a different perspective on life and powerful rocker 'Wake Up' tells it like it really is, pulling no punches. Let this album get stuck in your CD player.
Biography:
Citizen Jones is a songwriting collaboration between Rich Jones and Chantal Gussenhoven with the material performed by Rich and a bunch of his mates from various other bands and walks of life. Chantal and Rich write more material than they can use and hope to interest other artists to take advantage of this creative overflow.
Chantal Gussenhoven
An entrepreneur and business brain of note. Also has a great way with lyrics and arrangements. A Johannesburg woman not into attending school reunions or looking back except from a safe distance. Sometimes emotional, sometimes ruthless but always with her heart in the right place.
Rich Jones
From various places in the Eastern Cape. Played first gig at the legendary Vic Hotel in Grahamstown at 17 and has performed sporadically since then including Splashy Fen and Woodstock 04. Has been in a number of semi notorious bands in Johannesburg including The Wild Palms and The Stress Junkies who were Roxy regulars as well as stints in Cockers and Mojos. Was also with the late Capital Radio for nearly ten years operating under the name of The Doctor or Doctor Jones, inventor of characters Cedric The Concrete Chicken, N3-Detour and various others. Known for gargling coffee on air. Has worked on various other stations and currently resides as music programmer/presenter on Radio 2000. Has recently given up smoking so approach at your own risk. Otherwise to be seen regularly in Melville, his favourite place in South Africa.
Producers
Neil Snyman, the original without whom etc...
Snafu Fubar, rumoured to be related to Neil, no-one has ever seen him.
The Album
Romance and Finance - it's what it all seems to come down to.
The Songs
Cowboy Ranger
About love lost and the acceptance of the fact that it might not be back again in this lifetime.
Trains
Looking back while looking forward. The contrast and similarity of hope and regret.
Dark Heart
Written in memory of Rich's father.
Jeremy Says
About a friends brother who lost it from the internal pressure buildup. He seemed to make more sense in his world than "sane" people do in theirs.
Tick Tock
Pulling the hands of the Doomsday clock back through self-examanation, criticism and rock and roll.
Wake Up
We are exposed constantly to all sorts of sick behaviour and we become desensitized to it all. This is a reminder that bad stuff is bad stuff and we all need to work towards making it go away.
Comes A Time
Featuring the late Quentin Zeelie on bv's. To live a fuller life we all have to look at our own some time along the way.
Lesson
Introspection on getting older and realising the cycle just goes on and on.
Streets
An acceptance of humanity and what drives people. Written after a walk around Durban's South Beach/Point Road area and featuring real people seen.
Georgina's Tune
Written for Rich's mom who was from Scotland. A celtic-tinged celebration of her life.
Musicians
Rich Jones
Loves everything with strings and plays as many as he can get away with on the album. A somewhat reluctant vocalist brought out of the shell by the astute psychological maneuverings of Neil and Chantal.
Mike Meiring
Founder member of the legendary Highway Jam, Mike throws in some sizzling and occasionally sensitive guitar work as well as the stunning mouth organ work on Cowboy Ranger.
Mark Belling
Frontman of Mean Mister Mustard plays the atmosphere-laden lead guitar on Cowboy Ranger with the cooking, hooky bit at the end of the mouth organ solo.
Ekkie Ekhart
He's been around forever and played with anybody who's anyone. Currently playing with Highway Jam, Kwatcha and Vinnie and the Viscounts. A priviledge to have him tooting his horn on this album.
Kai Horsthenke
The original 'man van skraal' plays fretless with those impossibly long fingers. A well known composer in his own right, sometimes goes under the name Kai Alami. Presently with Highway Jam.
Brett Collings
Stands on head to relax. Has played with who's who of musicians. Currently with Highway Jam. Well known for ability to interpret vague musical directions.
Tim Trotter
Late of the much loved and sadly defunct Amersham, currently under the weather, ie living in the UK. Popped into the studio while on holiday. The world's largest, pinkest metronome.
Ant Duke
Station manager of 5fm. Fondly recalling the days of Jesus sandals, beards and busking for a living on Ios. Also a founder member of The Usual Suspex who can be spotted gigging in Melville on the odd occasion. Still searching for a 12 string guitar that will stay in tune.
Quentin Zeelie
Sadly passed away. A man with a child's wonder at the excitement of life. We will always wonder what could have been. A great friend, a great voice.
Adam Lomas
Monastically inclined ex-frontman of Amersham lends harmony in a disharmonious world. When can we expect the next Starskii album?
Ackroyd Threngle
From a sonic bunker not far from here comes 'ou Akkers'. Bass dynamite last seen in trendy athletic gear working towards winning the New York marathon. Eat your greens.
Wendy Oldfield
Wotta voice, wotta babe. Recorded her bits in about 30 minutes while Rich kept her son occupied with crayons and paper just under the microphone. Thanks Wendy.
Nathan Waywell
Ex Amersham and now Starskii, Nate joins Adam in the harmonies. You can't mistake their sound. They would also like you to consider vegetarianism as a way of life. (can I have my cheeseburger back now lads?)
Hilton Brooker
Quiet, self-effacing genius. Mean Mister Mustard are bloody lucky to have him. Pay him well boys.
web: Brian Currin