Jandek

Governor Rhodes

1986 · Corwood 750 · USA

Artist
Jandek
Title
Governor Rhodes
Release
Telegraph Melts
Year
1986
Label
Corwood # 750
Language
English
Country
USA
Genre
Folk · Psychedelic Folk
Primary theme
Post-War

Annotation

Reclusive singer/songwriter Jandek, from Houston, Texas, released the song "Governor Rhodes" (Corwood Industries # 0750) in 1986, a reference to James A. Rhodes, the Governor of Ohio during the Kent State demonstration, who had called in the National Guard. Perhaps in defiance of Rhodes' actions, and in solidarity with the 60s hippie movement, the song consisted of Jandek and an unknown female vocalist called Nancy chanting "love in life, in magic, in celebration" and other similar variations, repeating each line after each other. (1) (2)

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

About the artist

Jandek is the recording project of Sterling Smith (born 26 October 1945), a Houston, Texas-based American lo-fi and outsider folk musician who has issued more than 120 albums since 1978 on his own Corwood Industries imprint, a label which releases no other artist, and who kept his personal history and appearance almost entirely secret until beginning to perform live in 2004. "Governor Rhodes" is the eighth track of the album 'Telegraph Melts' (Corwood Industries 0750, 1986). [Source: Wikipedia]

Themes

Kent State · Anti-War

In collections

Kent / Jackson State Songs