Jamul “Jamul” 1970. Lizard Records. Heavy blues rock from California. Today’s super-obscure pull is in honor of my Aunt Jeanie’s birthday today – she lives in Jamul, California, a smallish horse-country mountain town east of San Diego which has become increasing gentrified/urbanized over the years (some movie stars have built mansions on the hills). I’ve visited it a ton since ’93 when she started building her house on a mountainside and it’s changed a lot in 30 years, much less 50. I doubt this tavern where the photo on the back of the Jamul LP cover still exists – in 1970 it was the only bar in town, per an interview with Steve Williams (Harmonica / Vocals), but if it does I have a pretty good idea where, probably in the little “strip mall” (it’s not really) where there’s a small grocery/produce stand (or was the last time we there).

“Jamul” back cover

Jamul was the band’s only release. According to the Williams interview (there’s not much other info out there), they began as a cover band — at least a couple of those covers made it onto this release including the opener (and one of the better tracks) “Tobacco Road,” a pretty good rendition of “Long Tall Sally” and a downer vaguely country-blues version of “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.” There’s a few originals as well. I want to like it because of the title: “Sunrise Over Jamul” but it’s kinda messy – way too many elements mashed together without a lot of cohesion (piano, harmonica, blues guitar, growly white guy bluesy vocals, etc), “Movin’ to the Country” (this one is good ol’ 70’s mellow gold but there’s some decent harmonica sprinkled in) and probably one of the best tracks (besides “Tobacco Road”) “I Can’t Complain” which has a great groove and hook. Overall it’s very 70’s California – a bit of wild, dusty grit with some addled psych and hard blues. Jamul’s biggest claim to fame in their short career was backing Little Richard in 1970 which you can see here, along with their “video” for “Tobacco Road.”