Jonesy (2)

British progressive rock band active in the 1st half 0f 70s. The band was formed in 1971 in London by John Evan-Jones, hence the name Jonesy. Together with the American-born keyboard player Jimmy Kaleth, then they was joined by David Paull on bass and Jim Payne on drums. After signing with Dawn Records at the end of 1971 the group released "No Alternative" in October 1972. Just before the debut album it was issued a single which had the distinction of being the 1st 45 (and one of only a few) to be released in Quadraphonic. The album failed to chart and David Paull with Jim Payne departed. They were replaced by Evan-Jones brother Gypsy on bass and Richard "Plug" Thomas on drums. The line-up was enhanced still further by the arrival by renowned musician Alan Bown on trumpet and flugelhorn. "Keeping Up" was released in May 1973 with ever growing audience and increased record sales. In November 1973 was released "Growing" that became the biggest selling Jonesy album and the most acclaimed. But the failure to secure more overseas work, particularly in America, along with growing worsening of relations with the record label led Jonesy to the dissolution. Shortly afterwards the Evan-Jones brothers put a new line-up of Jonesy together, bringing in David Potts on drums, Bernard Hagley on electric horns and Ken Elliot on keyboards. Without a record deal they recorded an album at Escape Studios, Egerton, UK, but when it was robbed, the band's guitars and the master tapes were stolen. All that remained of the album were a few cassette copies of the mixes. At this point Jonesy disbanded definitively. The cassette recordings made in 1974 finally saw the light of day on an italian record label as "Sudden Prayers Make God Jump" in 2003. In 2021 the 1974 master tapes were rediscovered, a newly restored version of the album was made and issued on Esoteric Recordings 3-CD compilation "Waltz For Yesterday (The Recordings 1972-1974)".