Track Listing

1. Waiting For The Sun
2. Crowded In The Wings
3. Clouds
4. Two Angels
5. Take Me With You (When You Go)
6. Sister Cry
7. Settle Down Like Rain
8. Witchita
9. Nevada California
10. Martin's Song

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #40738 in Music
• Released on: 2006-08-28
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
Because the Jayhawks' lyrics are more interested in expressing a mournful mood than in evoking any specific emotion, and since their strengths are searing guitar solos and cathartic, Gram Parsons-influenced harmonies, it makes sense their best album would come when they teamed with a producer (George Drakoulias) who could make all that sorrowful noise come to life. Hollywood Town Hall is such a sonic marvel, in fact, that even the new version of the beautiful, if vague, "Two Angels" (repeated from their earlier album Blue Earth) sounds less a retread than a revelation. Though still obscure, like everything here it sounds breathtaking. --David Cantwell

Customer Reviews

put a little jayhawk in your soul
As there was no review for this truly great record I thought I'd rectify matters. If you don't know this band I guess this one and "Tommorrow the green grass" are the obvious choices - both well worth having but I think this one is slightly fresher and tighter. If you like a bit of harmony based, super-tuneful (and tasteful) country rock then this will definitely be your thing.

I need to tell you the lead guitarist is seriously good - no over-indulgence; he just does a blistering good solo and gets out of the way. They're all good players/singers but he really stands out. None of these songs outstays their welcome and all of them retain (for me) an engaging charm and lack of pretension.

Where it all began...
I never thought of myself as a country music fan - but one Saturday night back in 1992, I happened to see the Jayhawks play on a rare TV performance. The next day I bought this album and haven't looked back since.

Hollywood Town Hall is timeless American rock music. With a standard two guitars, bass and drums line-up (save for the odd organ winding its way in and out of the arrangements), three things set the Jayhawks apart from more mortal bands. Firstly, the lead guitar is permanently driven through a fuzz pedal, giving the album a nostalgic and very American sound. Secondly, the vocal harmonies of Olson and Louris are absolutely watertight - and these aren't the ten a penny harmonies heard everywhere in music, these are something very special. Hearing the two of them play off each other is astounding, as if they'd been singing these songs together all their lives.

But the third, and most defining, characteristic of the band is the songwriting. Ten gems lie here for the taking, each one evoking pictures of the sprawling American Midwest, and the triumphs and tragedies in the lives of the people scattered across the land. An album of beautiful, intimate rock songs that deserved much more plaudits than the band received. And, because it inspired them to make the phenomenal follow-up 'Tomorrow The Green Grass', a small part of me is glad about this.

Straight to track seven
The thing about the Jayhawks is that they will keep you company in any mood. This album is no exception. Feeling good? Then "Settled Down Like Rain" is a great one for all you people out there that like to sing along in your cars when no one else is around! My advice is never go on a long journey without a Jayhawks record in the glove box. The album seems so simple in places; not contrived but, like the next melody, or harmony, or bass riff is the only one that could possibly have followed the last. Its the sort of music that makes you think that you could be a song writer, HOWEVER, when you get home and get your guitar out, you can't come up with anything that comes close! That's their skill, making very good music sound so simple and effortless.

The first time you hear the album, you will think it is OK. The second time, you will start to really like a few tracks. And by about the 5th playing, some words will just stay with you, and you will fall in love with it. "Wichita" (track 8) is almost impossible to not sing along to.

By the very nature of this classic American rock, I would suggest that having too many albums like this in your collection is not a good idea. It is a 4 piece line up, with clear, catchy rhythms and melodies, and there are lots of bands that do that - BUT, the Jayhawks do it as well as anyone I know, so if you are going to have at least one, very solid, American County Rock album in your collection: Get this one. Its great.