THE CHRONICLE

Where It Started - 1982

A group of new and old friends on a South Wales Rhymney valley train heading from the village of Pengam to the nation's capital Cardiff. The topic of Mike's acoustic guitar playing came up in the conversation and Paul remarked that he wrote poetry and lyrics and maybe they should get together sometime.

The two exchanged material. Mike provide a cassette of two original acoustic songs The Sea and The Answer To Our Love. Paul provided a few poems and lyrics and a cassette with melodies. Mike was struck by Paul's skill in producing lyrics along with an accompanying melody, without being able to play any musical instrument. Paul rang Mike to say that he really liked the style of the two songs and was excited about what they could do together.

So started the decades-long musical journey of Mike Davies and Paul Ivor Jones.

It was 1982.

Maybe the earliest photo of Mike and Paul; taken for a local newspaper article circa 1983

Mike and Paul embarked on a typical path that most songwriters tread. 'I wouldn't say that we were, by any means, natural songwriters, our early songs were certainly stepping stones to better things', Mike says, 'It was a learning and development journey but there was certainly always a vibe between us and an excitement to what we did.'

Days Of Lost Haven - 1984-1989

As Lost Haven the duo played a variety of folk clubs in and around South Wales, and even dabbled with playing covers in local pubs and clubs.

Neither Paul nor Mike could drive and so they relied on voluntary drivers to transport them between gigs. Their most frequent and reliable driver was the poet Ian Thomas, the author of the 2021 collection of poetry The Past Is Another Country.

Both Paul and Mike hold Thomas' poetry in high regard, especially his tributes to battlers - soldiers, miners, freedom fighters...

The poet Ian Thomas sharing the stage with Lost Haven, circa 1987

Par Avion - 1989-2005

Years of air mailing letters and cassettes between Australia and Wales

The Digital Era - 2005-2020

The duo (both) get email

Resurgence: 2020-2021 - The phone box ballad year

2020 was a momentous year for the duo. Mike retired from a 30 year career in the Australian public service which (in his words) 'freed up a hijacked headspace' and, motivated by political protest, resumed songwriting under the solo artist Anderson, of a Painter. In July 2020 Paul, still actively writing, suggested to Mike 'we ought to do some songs together-life's too short. What's stopping us?' Nothing, evidently, based on what followed.

It was the Year of the Phone Box Ballad: 12 months, 7 released albums of original material, all recorded on a mobile phone in a small box room of Mike's home.

What's In A Name?

The duo decided their band name would draw from the title of their earlier CD (You're Welcome To) Jumbotown.

The name Jumbotown came from Paul's readings about historical villages, towns and communities within Mynyddislwyn, a district in South Wales and one of his favourite mountainous walking areas. Perhaps the most fitting account of 'Jumbotown' is left to Phil Thomas and his work Jumbletown Cowboys where the narrator describes a 'ramshackle settlement known locally as Jumbletown [possibly] a corruption of Jumbotown... named after a giant of a man called Jumbo Kelly who lived there. The name Jumbotown certainly appears on parish records'

(Click here for more of Phil Thomas' work.)

Jumbletown Cowboys

Phil Thomas

Buy track

This is an excerpt from a song and story cycle written by Phil Thomas in 1998 to tell the story of Artie Moore...a young man living in the watermill at Gelligroes in the Sirhowy Valley of South Wales who picked up the distress messages from the sinking Titanic on his homemade radio set...AND NOBODY BELIEVED HIM! Jumbletown Cowboys (Jumbletown was

This is an excerpt from a song and story cycle written by Phil Thomas in 1998 to tell the story of Artie Moore...a young man living in the watermill at Gelligroes in the Sirhowy Valley of South Wales who picked up the distress messages from the sinking Titanic on his homemade radio set...AND NOBODY BELIEVED HIM! Jumbletown Cowboys (Jumbletown was sometimes called 'Jumbotown') is the scene setter for the show that tells the story of the community of transient workers who lived near the mill. The show has been performed in UK, Australia and USA over the years and is included here in honour of Mike Davies and Paul Ivor Jones...the Jumbotown Band.

Please feel free to share but please credit the writer where possible.

building the return album

The first song the reinvigorated duo created together was Stranger You Arrive, Stranger You Leave.

(Click here to find it on your favourite music platform.)

The title came from a 'sadly departed' DJ friend of Paul's who talked about working at an unfriendly pub in Risca, South Wales. He said you would walk in there a stranger and walk out feeling exactly the same way - every time!

The lyrics intend to conjure up 70's jive B-movie images.

"Wonderful song, soulful performance, and great lyrics as always", Us And The Otters

"Fantastic! This went perfect with my sunday morning coffee, sitting out on the deck, bird song seeping through the headphones, fresh morning air on my face. 😊☕🐦", Tamara Wight

Credits:

Guitar: Mike Davies
Vocals: Mike Davies
Track cover photo: Ashwin Deth

STRANGER YOU ARRIVE, STRANGER YOU LEAVE

Jeepus up and gone
Jesus down the main track
Holding out one last big deal
Honey are you coming back?
Gotta get out of the city
Anywhere will do
Gotta get out of this city
Anywhere with you

Don't get all showbiz on me
I've seen you in the nude
I know where you steal those records
It's the same place that I do
Gotta get out of the city
Anywhere will do
Gotta get out of this city
Anywhere with you

Bad as Duke Redbone
Give me the willies too
I'm on a prison phone
Can't get through to you
Gotta get out of the city
Anywhere will do
Gotta get out of this city
Anywhere with you

Sloppy skies, denim rise
Floppy hat, shields your eyes

A stranger you arrive
A stranger you leave
Read in your eyes
Words they don't believe
Gotta get out of the city
Anywhere will do
Gotta get out of this city
Anywhere with you

Copyright Michael Davies and Paul Ivor Jones 20 July 2020

Stranger You Arrive - Stranger You Leave

Jumbotown

Buy track

Stranger You Arrive - Stranger You Leave was followed a couple of weeks later by On Lost Highway.

(Click here to find it on your favourite music platform.)

Kick-started by a body of lyrics from Paul, in the bridge Mike tried to reinforce a sense of quiet desperation and resignation.

Credits:

Guitar: Mike Davies
Vocals: Mike Davies
Track cover photo: Boudewijn Live

ON LOST HIGHWAY

Hold on a minute, I'm sure it'll appear
Used to be there last time I was here
I'll just check, pass me the phone
What do you mean we left it at home?
Where do we go
Do we go from here?
There used to be a time I tell ya
When everything seemed so damn, so damn clear

Make up your mind you're causing confusion
Was it a sign, was it an illusion?
I'll ask that man, slam on the brakes
He's drunk carry on what a mistake
Where do we go
Do we go from here?
There used to be a time I tell ya
When everything seemed so damn, so damn clear

Where do we go
Do we go from here?
There used to be a time I tell ya
When everything seemed so damn, so damn clear

Let's take a breath and get it together
Pretty nice around here, you can't fault the weather
Have you noticed it's getting all narrow?
Tarmac's gone, we're running on gravel

Hold on a minute, I'm sure it'll appear
Used to be there last time I was here
I'll just check, pass me the phone
What do you mean we left it at home?
Where do we go
Do we go from here?
There used to be a time I tell ya
When everything seemed so damn, so damn clear

Copyright Michael Davies and Paul Ivor Jones 1 August 2020

On Lost Highway

Jumbotown

Buy track

Over the hurdle: The second album: Tin pan

An artist's second album is said to be the hardest but the duo was fortunate enough to find that theirs flowed quickly and naturally from their first. 11 tracks fuelled with a continuing stream of new material, the two songwriters joked that they felt like they were sitting in the infamous Tin Pan Alley.

Being South Welshmen they contemplated calling the album Tin Pan Valley but Robert Plant had beaten them to that title. Tin Pan it was.

The cover photo was taken by Paul. Rusted, weather-worn abandoned machinery and equipment strewn through beautiful natural environments feature throughout Paul's writing.

making of harvest: album #3

Making Of Harvest became an album made up of many tracks which proved popular in pre-release form with many in the BandLab folk community.

The striking cover photo is by Carina Brewer, its laid-back got-to-escape-the-city-if-you-can country feel capturing the atmosphere of a number of songs on the album.

'Great acoustic guitar playing... great folk music right there', Sandie M BBB Barossa Radio in Tanunda/Nuriootpa South Australia

continuing... something new from the base of old

The title of the fourth album is the full refrain from the song Base Of Old, track 13 of the 14-track album. The duo was very much initially inspired by 1960s/70s artists and the phrase 'something new from the base of old' is recognition of the, albeit often subconscious, role which that and other foundations play in their songwriting process. As Mike says 'we don't deliberately aim to sound different, we don't aim to mimic or be true to any particular genre either, what comes comes, but there is always a foundation.'

The album cover is a photo taken by Tobias Tullius from his 1992 Ford Transit van. For the duo, the photo as album cover conveys moving forward into new things but always indelibly from the road along which you came.

The track Three Random Verses proved popular in pre-release form on BandLab.

Here's what some fellow songwriters had to say about it:

"What's not to love about Jumbotown! I could listen to your music everyday.......oh wait, I DO!! 😊", Tamara Wight

"Add this to the pile of incredible songs you guys have put out. It’s another really great track!!!", Dean Loebach

"Wonderful song and great lyrics", Us And The Otters

"Beautiful song! Fantastically sung and played!", Manamar

(Click here to find the track on your favourite music platform.)

Credits:

Guitar: Mike Davies
Vocals: Mike Davies
Track cover photo: Ava Sol

THREE RANDOM VERSES

You were passing through you said
But took a long time to go
You were easy on the eye
Even easier to know
Talked as fast as those cars
The ones that few can afford to drive
Part of your manic charm
That brought the days alive

Three random verses
Were all that you left
I've no title yet

I couldn't take you away from all that
On me you did rely
Centred my heart when you said
I didn't even try
Now I'm feeling tired, tired eyed
Windy visions careen
Messages in neon
Above petrol drugged machines

Three random verses
Were all that you left
I've no title yet

What do your words really mean?
I ponder puzzles in my dreams
What did you want me to know
Nearly 8 long years ago?

Now I'm locked in soul surroundings
They have a warm emotive feel
Coursing through me now
Making everything so real
I pulled my coat a little tighter
Stood like the truths been said
Swayed to a beat down to my toes
With the music in my head

3 random verses
Were all that you left
3 random verses
Were all that you left
3 random verses
Were all that you left
I've no title yet

Copyright Michael Davies and Paul Ivor Jones 25 January 2021

Three Random Verses

Jumbotown

Buy track

V for the fifth

The duo's fifth album, simply entitled "V", was released on the 1st of May 2021. It featured 13 tracks, including a performance video of the track Gold Ships.

The album cover used a photograph by Lawrson Pinson who said "I wanted this photo to symbolize how individuals are often dragged down by others or their wave of negativity." This resonated strongly with Mike and was particularly pertinent to the track Walk Away which also used the photo as part of its cover artwork.

The album opens with the track Gold Ships, a song about the invasion and raping of ancient cultures, fuelled by greed.

Some comments from fellow songwriters

"Sounds fantastic'", Manamar

"Excellent job boys!", Tim Driver

"More great stuff guys. I always love the lyrics and subjects!!!", Dean Loebach

"Loving the sound of that guitar and those vocals Great track👍", Cal McTabber

Credits

Guitar: Mike Davies
Vocals: Mike Davies
Track Cover Artwork: Peter Olexa

(Click here to find the track on your favourite music platform.)

See the performance video here.

GOLD SHIPS

Superstition is a flaw to be exploited
Thought the starsailors from the east
Taken to the city in the great lake
That was the end of its prosperity and peace

Up to the snowlines people driven
The condor man stripped of wings to fly
Disease of slavery below them
Above them cold indifference of the sky

Gold ships leaving
Ships appearing
Temples of the sun
They're low in the water
Strict to the order
With many more to come
(Better run)

Made to speak a different language
Worship one so alien to their ways
Living with mind and soul pollution
No spirit wind could blow it away

Gold ships leaving
Ships appearing
They're working every tide
Warrior people
Not church and steeple
Their eyes burning wild
(Burning wild)

Superstition is a flaw to be exploited
Thought the starsailors from the east
Taken to the city in the great lake
That was the end of its prosperity and peace

Gold ships leaving
Ships appearing
Temples of the sun
They're low in the water
Strict to the order
With many more to come

Gold ships leaving
Ships appearing
They're working every tide
Warrior people
Not church and steeple
Their eyes burning wild
(Burning wild)

Copyright Michael Davies and Paul Ivor Jones 18 February 2021

Gold Ships

Jumbotown

Buy track

At 1 minute 21 seconds, the shortest track on the album is Stuff.

Short and quirky but didn't stop it from making #36 on 2 June 2021 in The Chap Man's Top 40 on Australian Central Coast Radio.

Catch the YouTube video here

What some other recording artists had to say about it:

"Great one!! We all probably have too much stuff, but THIS is just enough!!!", Dean Loebach

"Groovy track! I love it!", Tim Driver

"Always so good. ❤❤", Timothea Evans

(Click here to find the track on your favourite music platform.)

Credits:

Guitar: Mike Davies
Vocals: Mike Davies
Track Cover Photo: Juliane Liebermann

STUFF

Stuff held
Stuff denied
Stuff clear
Stuff disguised
Stuff that fills up a room

Stuff thought
Stuff said
Stuff wanted
Stuff instead
Stuff piled up to the moon

You can move in anytime
What's yours is yours, what's mine is mine

Stuff that might last a day

Stuff outdated
Stuff thrives
Gets broken
And revived
Stuff I can't throw away

You can make yourself at home
But there are standards to maintain

Stuff I can't throw away

You can make yourself at home
But there are standards to maintain!

Copyright Michael Davies and Paul Ivor Jones 11 March 2021

Stuff

Jumbotown

Buy track

There's Always Something For Someone

The sixth album There's Always Something For Someone was preceded by the single The Ballad Of D.B. Cooper.

Wikipedia: Dan Cooper is the pseudonym of an unidentified man who hijacked a Boeing 727 aircraft in the northwest United States... on the afternoon of Wednesday, November 24, 1971. He extorted $200,000 in ransom and parachuted to an uncertain fate. Despite an extensive manhunt and protracted FBI investigation, the perpetrator has never been located or identified. It remains the only unsolved case of air piracy in commercial aviation history. A fascinating story told in a new song.

'Brilliant storytelling and wonderfully played and arranged track!!', Tom Benz of Them Damned Ol' Hillbillies

'Great song boys! Only the other day I watched a documentary about this guy, awesome! What a great mystery!', Tim Driver

(Click here to find the single on your favourite music platform)

Credits:

Guitar: Mike Davies
Vocals: Mike Davies

THE BALLAD OF D.B. COOPER

D.B. Cooper, ace parachuter
Man most wanted by the FBI
D.B. Cooper, ace parachuter
Dropped like an angel from the sky
When he leapt out of that plane
And dove into the clouds
Did he find himself in heaven
Or just in the trees?
We'll never know

D.B. Cooper, ace parachuter
Not one fed could ever find him
D.B. Cooper, was one slick dude!
Set his ransom on the high wing
Of a 727
But not one cent was spent
Not one dollar gone
The ransom never touched
Where did he go?

People said they'd seen him
D.B. the star!
Many claimed to be him
In their heads no doubt they are

"D.B. Cooper, ace parachuter"
Man most wanted by the FBI
"D.B. Cooper, ace parachuter"
Dropped like an angel from the sky
When he leapt out of that plane
And dove into the clouds
Did he find himself in heaven
Or just in the trees?
Or just in the trees?
Or just in the trees?
We'll never know...

Copyright Michael Davies and Paul Ivor Jones 11 May 2021

The Ballad Of D.B. Cooper

Jumbotown

Buy track

Words and music Michael Davies and Paul Ivor Jones 2021

SEVERN

The album Severn was released on 20 August 2021. Consisting of 10 tracks of original compositions, it was described by the duo as the last of the Phone Box Ballad series. 12 months, 7 albums, 85 songs, 82 of which were written in that 12 month period.

The duo's long-term writing partnership was clearly reinvigorated and produced a platform of material which they intend to build upon in 2022 and beyond.

Mike was playing around with a tune in DGDGBE tuning and had some dummy lyrics snubbing grammar police which included

"I'm sure many folk would agree
It's Marianne and me
The grammar police might cry
"It's Marianne and I!"'

Unbeknownst to Mike, at the same time 12000 miles away Paul was working on a lyric about Leonard Cohen's love affair with Marianne Ihlen on the island of Hydra! When Mike sent the draft tune, Paul replied with his uncanny lyric and the song was born.

'I was hooked 7 seconds in, based on that guitar intro alone!! Your catalogue of amazing songs is growing so fast, you may need to change the name to JumboCITY just to make more room!!', Dean Loebach

'Wonderful song', Us And The Otters

(Click here to find the song on your favourite music platform)

Credits:

Guitar: Mike Davies
Vocals: Mike Davies
Track Cover Photo: Despina Galani (of the island Hydra)

MARIANNE AND I

It's an easy roll poverty
Marianne and me
Got the bluest sky
Marianne and I
I don't care
As long as we're a pair
Marianne and me
Marianne and I

One time I would smile and restrain
Now we're a long way from the London rain
So we built something new
He was no good everybody knew
Don't give a damn
About your married man
Marianne and me
Marianne and I

Blending like all the colours of the sea
You and I making covert memories
The scent of thyme comes rolling
Down to us by the waterside
Of this Aegean isle

Now everybody agrees
Marianne and me
Sweetest light in our eyes
Marianne and I
And I don't care
As long as we're a pair
Marianne and me
Marianne and I

Marianne and me
Marianne and I

Copyright Michael Davies and Paul Ivor Jones 14 June 2021

Marianne And I

Jumbotown

Buy track

The Video 'Hiatus' period

Following the August 2021 release of their album Severn, the duo entered a 'hiatus' brought on by a relocation of Mike within Australia. The intention was never to stop writing but rather to transition to more of a studio-quality recording to future releases. That transition was delayed and extended due to COVID restrictions and State lockdowns within Australia. Whilst the duo continued to share new material with the BandLab community, they decided to use the 'hiatus' to also share the new material PRE-release more broadly but in video form.

Catch the videos below; click through to YouTube to see the lyrics.