JEREMY MORRIS INTERVIEW

ROAD TO PARADISE: With a remarkable seven new albums to his credit in 2024 alone, JEREMY MORRIS has once again reiterated his right to being the logical successor to the late James Brown's title of The Hardest Working Man In Show Businews Editor/Publisher Michael McDowell catches up below (Click on above image to enlarge).

NEW ADVENTURES:

CATCHING UP WITH

JEREMY MORRIS

By Michael McDowell

Many people long for a Brighter Day. But Jeremy Morris sang of it and lives it.

As the logical successor to the late James Brown's title of The Hardest Working Man In Show Business, the Portage, Michigan - based Morris successfully balances an itinerary that staggers the imagination: Pastor, family man, record label president, session musician, producer and musicologist are among the many responsibilities that he nevigates on a daily basis. 

And of course recording artist.

"I released seven albums in 2024", said Morris. 

Those in addition to an impressive catalog that includes more than five dozen releases, dating back to the 1970s. Comprised primarily of original material, Morris' albums reflect a healthy blend of the Gospel, garage and psych rock and prog rock.

Of those, The Future Is The Past is one that is most likely to placate all factions, with such standout titles as The Writing's On The Wall and Brand New Brain. Among his most endearing such projects since his extended cover of the Lemon Pipers' 1967 signature single, Green Tambourine some months ago.

The most recent of the lot is one that also lives up to its title: The Promise.

"Released on the ninth of December", said Morris. 

While of course a tie-in with Christmas was inevitable, The Promise more accurately celebrates the timeless truths of the Gospel via such engaging cuts as Can't Judge A Book, Shake The Dust and the eyebrow-raising The Redemption Of Dirty Mac.

Moreover, Wonderful takes the impact of the Gospel a step further with Morris' occasionally otherworldly delivery. Standout tracks such as You Make It All Work, Sing It Shout It, He's The Light and Jesus Is Brighter make Wonderful a musical overview of the Gospel in their own right. Its ad hoc companion piece, Mystery Of The Seven Stars takes the message to the next level via seven extended tracks that are sure to placate the Prog Rock contingent among the faithful.

Several other related projects have recently also seen the light of day from Morris' JAM label. Foremost among them is the archival Soul Saver.

" '70s recordings", said Morris.

"First time on CD!"

While Morris generally opts for the solo route in his recordings, he does have a number of acclaimed duo and/or group projects to his credit. The latest among them is the twelve-track collection, Footprints.

"With Ken Stringfellow", said Morris. 

The Hollywood native's credits include various projects with the Posies, Big Star, White Flag, Hawk and others. Stringfellow and Morris' studio chemistry is particularly evident in this latest project. 

Perhaps the most acclaimed of Morris' side ventures is his body of work with the Lemon Clocks. Their latest release, New Adventures contains much that will please the demanding garage and psych factions, including Vultures, Atmosphere and Cosmic Happy Helmet.

Most notably, the family man aspect of Morris' curriculum vitae shines particulatly brightly on one of JAM's  first new releases for 2025 by the Overly Polite Tornadoes.

"Mark and Holly Morris", said Morris, in reference to the group's Leave A Space album. Their trademark dreamscape approach avails itself quite succintly in Gravity's Pull, Lighting All The Candles and A Dream Of Golden Spoons.

Most encouragingly for the new year, Morris and the JAM label have stepped outside of the family plan for the debut album by compose and vocalist Jim Sadler.

"An eighty-four year old artist", said Morris.

"(With a) blues flavor. He makes his debut on JAM".

On top of this ongoing whirlwind of activity, Morris has also found the time to host a podcast, in which his musicologist side is showcased via his celebration of various albums from his vast archives. Recently in the spotlight on his podcast have been such classics as The Kink Chronicles compilation by the Kinks and Sugarloaf's 1970 debut album for Liberty. 

In all of it, Morris also finds the time to diligently search for additions to those archives. 

"I saw him at the recent record show in Kalamazoo", said one prominent area vinyl vendor. 

"There you go!", said Morris.

Indeed, Morris' ability to successfully balance such a vast array of responsibilities on an ongoing basis is reflective of his prioritization of the Gospel which he champions in his music, in the pulpit at Freedom Church in Portage and in the shining example he sets overall. In the words of one of the standout cuts from his Wonderful album, Morris is a sterling example of what happens when one opts to Let Love Flow.

ELECTRIC PRUNES JAMES LOWE MEMORIAL TRIBUTE

LUVIN': He was a mentor, a hero and a visionary of the highest order.  Blitz Magazine - The Rock And Roll Magazine For Thinking People Editor / Publisher Michael McDowell pays tribute to ELECTRIC PRUNES front man and cofounder JAMES LOWE (pictured above in 1967 and 2014), who passed away from natural causes on 22 May at age 82 (Click on above image to enlarge). 

AIN'T IT HARD:

REMEMBERING THE

ELECTRIC PRUNES'

JAMES LOWE

(1943 - 2025)

By Michael McDowell

The year 2002 was not a particularly encouraging one on this end. 

Pressing and protracted family business would soon take Blitz Magazine - The Rock And Roll Magazine For Thinking People away from its beloved Southern California home base for an extended season. 

As such, it seemed prudent during the final months of that year to make good on long standing invitations to get together with some of music's most impacting and enduring inspirations. They included rock and roll pioneer Freddy Cannon (with whom Blitz Magazine had worked some years earlier on an anthology project), the Tokens' Phil Margo, and Detergents / Archies cofounder and front Man Ron Dante.

Also among their number was a highly respected visionary and founding father of the genre known as first generation garage rock, Electric Prunes lead vocalist James Lowe. At that point, the band had recently returned to full time active status after a protracted sabbatical. As such, Lowe extended an invitation to Blitz Magazine to visit his Santa Ynez Valley headquarters for an afternoon of celebration in anticipation of what was to become one of the most remarkable returns to center stage in music history. 

Prior to that summit meeting, Lowe had inquired as to his guest's preferences in terms of beverage. In response, upon arrival, his wife, photojournalist Pamela Lowe greeted Blitz Magazine with a most memorable cup of home brewed green tea. 

Lowe then beckoned Blitz Magazine to accompany him across his fifteen acre estate to his state of the art recording studio, which had been utilized in various capacities by everyone from Fleetwood Mac to the Rolling Stones. After a brief demonstration of the studio's considerable capabilities, we sat down for a lengthy discussion of his fordmidable legacy. 

That exchange included an in depth look at the Sanctions and Jim And The Lords, the two bands that served as prototypes for what was to become the Electric Prunes. We of course dove extensively into the Electric Prunes' catalog itself, with Lowe more than graciously going into great detail on many of the band's most storied moments, including Luvin', Tunerville Trolley, Ain't It Hard, Little Olive and the larger than life Get Me To The World On Time. 

Lowe's post-Electric Prunes recollections were equally compelling, from his time spent in collaboration with the SGC label's signature signing, the Nazz to his final words to aspiring solo rocker turned Gospel superstar Keith Green, moments before the latter's death in a Texas plane crash in January 1982. 

Given his ability to speak with great authority on all facets of the industry, it was readily apparent that James Lowe was one of its most gifted visionaries. As such, by afternoon's end, Blitz Magazine affectionately dubbed him Professor Lowe; a reference that remained in place to the present day. 

What was not yet apparent at the time was Lowe's extraordinary gift for compassion as a human being. However, that attribute was to avail itself in short order.

In the Spring of 2003, damage from flooding caused by a rainstorm destroyed more than six hundred artifacts from Blitz Magazine's recorded archives. Among them were our entire Electric Prunes collection, including LPs, 45s and CDs. Word somehow reached James Lowe, who responded by sending to Blitz Magazine a rather large package containing copies of the entire Sanctions, Jim And The Lords and Electric Prunes discography. 

In the meantime, Lowe and founding bassist Mark Tulin had returned to active status with a vengeance. The Electric Prunes toured relentlessly throughout the decade of the 2000s, and relased a series of all new albums that represent some of the finest work of the twenty-first century to date. They included Artifact, Feedback and California, which were released on the band's Prune Twang label.

For the proverbial icing on the cake, around decade's end, the Electric Prunes celebrated their formidable return to form via a double bill performance with the Strawberry Alarm Clock in Hollywood, California. That landmark event remains one of the premier live showcases of the twenty-first century to date.

The Electric Prunes' renewed momentum continued unabated until tragedy struck on 26 February 2011. On that day, bassist Mark Tulin, an accomplished diver, died suddenly while participating in a combination nautical rescue exercise and pollution control mission in Avalon, California. 

"Mark loved you, man", Lowe said in response to Blitz Magazine's profession of sympathy at the time. Not surprisingly, in due course, that attribute was reciprocated by Lowe exponentially. 

In October 2014, tragedy struck in the worst possible way with the sudden and horrific passing of Audrey McDowell, Blitz Magazine's Cinematographer and Photo Editor (and wife of Blitz Magazine Editor / Publisher Michael McDowell). At the time, a number of industry friends and colleagues reached out far and above the call of duty on a regular basis to offer prayers, support and words of encouragement. Among them were the Delicates' Denise Ferri, beloved rocker Wayne Fontana, Toggery Five, Mindbenders and Herman's Hermits alumnus Frank Renshaw, the Belmonts' Warren Gradus (whose 2016 farewell single, Welcome Me Back Home was inspired by and dedicated to Audrey) vocalist Bernadette Carroll, and one time WKNR Keener 13 morning man, Frank "Swingin' " Sweeney. Their extraordinary kindness and selflessness under the worst of circumstances will never be forgotten. 

Also among their number was James Lowe, whose remarkable gifts for insight were augmented during that challenging season by his all too rare gift for listening. His abilities in that respect were an extraordinary blessing in a world where such attributes are all too often in short supply. 

That point once again cut to the heart with the news that James Lowe had passed away from natural causes on 22 May. He leaves behind his wife of 62 years, Pamela, as well as children Lisa, Cameron and Skylar. 

Throughout the decades, Blitz Magazine - The Rock And Roll Magazine For Thinking People has made it a point to choose its heroes very carefully. Most assuredly, James Lowe met that stringent criteria in every capacity. He was 82.