Jimmy Jackson -

Jimmy Jackson (1945–2003) was an American soul singer from Harlem who released the 1976 album Rollin’ Dice on Buddah Records.

Background

James Coit Jackson was born on August 1, 1945, in Harlem, New York. His mother sang gospel, and Jackson won an Apollo Theater Amateur Night contest at age fourteen. He appeared at the Apollo the following week and pursued stage work after the contest. Jackson learned guitar and spent a brief 1966 stint with the New York Jets before his first documented single.

As Jim Jackson, he cut the 1967 Sandbag Records single “Welcome Me Home” (b/w “Some Love With Soul”), both originals arranged by Richard Babeuf for producer Mike Szymanski, the Long Island operator behind Sandbag and Omega Sound Studios in Rockville Centre.

Jackson next appeared as James Coit with the Szymanski-written and produced 1968 Phoof single “Black Power,” a brisk horn-spiked James Brown-styled cut backed with “Phillandrine,” a moderate shuffle with psych phasing. Jackson received press notice for “Black Power” and signed a Universal Attractions agency contract. He then appeared on Upbeat and The Ken Hawkins Show in Cleveland before a New Haven police post around 1970.

The Buddah Group signed Jackson to an exclusive contract after manager-producers Marty Kugell and Al Altman brought him to the label. Buddah issued his 1974/75 singles “I’d Love You To Want Me” (b/w “Without You”) and “Footsteps (In The Shadows),” the latter backed with a Kantlose Orchestra and Chorus instrumental version, all arranged by Gene Page. Jackson returned to the Apollo for a 1975 three-night bill with fellow Buddah acts, including Melba Moore.

Rollin’ Dice

Jimmy Jackson released his singular album, Rollin’ Dice, in 1976 on Buddah.

The album contains eight covers and two Jackson originals, arranged and conducted by Gene Page for a Los Angeles studio group with drummer Ed Greene, keyboardist Sylvester Rivers, bassists Henry E. Davis and Scott Edwards, congueros Bobbye Hall and King Errisson, and guitarists Roland Bautista, Richard Littlefield, Ray Parker Jr., Melvin Ragin, and David T. Walker.

Jackson employs vocal backing by Tuxedo Junction singer Marti McCall and Treasures vocalists Clydie King and Sherlie Matthews, plus Jackie Ward, Carolyn Willis, and the Waters sisters.

“Rollin’ Dice” glides down its descending line as Jackson lengthens and tightens short phrases through shifts in mood. “Footsteps (In The Shadows)” strides through percussive dancer material, with heated shouts set inside Page’s arranged sweep. “What Is?” sermonizes over a tense, soundtrack-like bed as Jackson turns love, hate, and life into hard questions. “Junkie” crawls from a ground-hugging bass figure into a taut social piece, with Page’s charts angled toward the same soundtrack-like tension.

A1. “Something’s Burning” (4:49) – Davis
A2. “Rollin’ Dice” (4:31) – Leka, Rose
A3. “You Say You Love Me More” (4:02) – Palmer, Darling, Stovall, Sprague
A4. “Without You” (2:54) – Ham, Evans
A5. “Romeo And Juliet” (5:05) – Goodison, Wainman

B1. “I’d Love You To Want Me” (3:00) – Lobo
B2. “Daddy Don’t You Walk So Fast” (3:35) – Stephens, Callander
B3. “Footsteps (In The Shadows)” (4:43) – Knight, Allan
B4. “What Is?” (2:50) – Jackson
B5. “Junkie” (4:32) – Jackson

Jackson recorded Rollin’ Dice at Gold Star Recording Studios in Hollywood with producers Al Altman and Marty Kugell. The engineering staff included Stan Ross, Billy Rose, and Matt Hyde; Rose handled the final mix.

Rollin’ Dice appeared in a sleeve with creative packaging by Milton Sincoff.

Buddah lifted “Rollin’ Dice” as a 1976 single on BDA 493 in a 3:52 edit. “Romeo And Juliet” became the subsequent 1976 single on BDA 543 after Buddah promoted Rollin’ Dice at a New York album-launch event.

Postlude

Jackson remained at Buddah for “Freedom To Express Yourself,” a 1979 Denise LaSalle cover issued on the DSC 136 twelve-inch series with “What Is?” on the reverse. He wrote “It’s Summertime Again” for a 1981 Sutra promo single and co-produced the side with arranger David Van De Pitte.

Jackson died on April 30, 2003, with the 1981 Sutra single as his final lifetime release.

Discography: