What's Happening?
Jed Davis has completed Jobriath's song "Miss Arkansas," which was originally recorded in 1971 but remained unfinished for over half a century. Davis discovered the instrumental track in 2013 while compiling the archival album *As The River Flows*. The initial
recording, found on an Electric Lady reel, was deemed unusable due to out-of-tune guitar and bass. However, Davis later found a handwritten score containing the missing lyrics and vocal melody, which provided the key to finishing the song. Over several years, Davis utilized modern audio technology to recover original performances, including Jobriath's piano and some of Billy Cross's guitar, and built a new arrangement around them. Davis also performs the lead vocal on the completed track. The project involved extensive audio restoration and the addition of new instrumentation, including drums, bass, and guitars, with contributions from musicians like Sheridan Riley, Pablo Arruda, and Vitaliy Tkachuk.
Why It's Important?
The completion and release of "Miss Arkansas" is significant for fans of Jobriath, offering a new piece of music from an artist whose career was cut short. This effort highlights the potential of modern audio forensics and archival research to bring previously lost or incomplete works to fruition. For the music industry, it demonstrates a method for preserving and reinterpreting historical recordings, potentially opening doors for other artists' unfinished works to be revisited. The project also underscores the enduring legacy of artists like Jobriath, whose influence continues to resonate decades after their initial impact. The meticulous process of reconstructing the song from disparate elements showcases the dedication required to honor an artist's original vision while adapting it for contemporary audiences, providing a valuable case study in music archaeology and production.
What's Next?
The completed song, "Miss Arkansas," has been released as the fifth single from Jed Davis's album *There’s No Wrong Way To Do It Wrong* and is available for purchase on Bandcamp and streaming on Spotify. This release may generate renewed interest in Jobriath's catalog and potentially inspire further efforts to unearth and complete other unreleased material. Davis has indicated that there are many other great unreleased Jobriath tracks he would love to work on, but significant challenges exist regarding rights issues, especially since the passing of Jerry Brandt, Jobriath's former manager. Future developments could involve other curators or rights holders attempting to navigate these complexities to bring more of Jobriath's unreleased music to light, though the legal hurdles remain substantial.
Beyond the Headlines
The story of "Miss Arkansas" delves into the ethical and artistic considerations of completing an artist's work posthumously. Davis's approach, which involved preserving original elements while adding new interpretations, raises questions about authorship and authenticity in such projects. The reliance on handwritten scores and early recordings highlights the importance of physical archives in an increasingly digital world. Furthermore, the challenges faced with rights issues underscore a broader problem in the music industry concerning the accessibility and preservation of historical recordings, particularly for artists whose estates or rights holders are complex. This project serves as a testament to the passion of dedicated individuals like Jed Davis who commit years to honoring an artist's legacy, navigating both technical and legal obstacles to share previously unheard music with the world.
