Truth and Janey -

Truth and Janey were an American Midwest hard-rock trio that issued two singles and the 1976/77 private-press albums No Rest for the Wicked and Just a Little Bit of Magic. Later archival releases documented concerts in Topeka and Davenport.

Members: BillyLee Janey (vocals, guitar), Steven Bock (vocals, bass, 1969-76), John Fillingsworth (drums, 1969), Denis Bunce (drums, 1970-76), Barton Peterson (bass, 1977), Gary Dare (drums, 1977)

Background

Truth and Janey formed in Cedar Rapids in 1969 when guitarist and singer BillyLee Janey met bassist and singer Steven Bock at an Iowa jam session. Drummer John Fillingsworth completed the first lineup. Janey played beforehand in the Driving Wheel Blues Band. Denis Bunce replaced Fillingsworth around 1970 and completed the first-recorded trio.

On Sound Communications, they issued their 1972 single “Under My Thumb,” a Rolling Stones in cover backed with the Janey original “Midnight Horseman,” produced by Phil Richardson and Rick Hamilton. The trio established Driving Wheel for their 1973 second single, “Straight Eight Pontiac” (b/w “Around and Around”), released under the shortened name Truth. They recorded both singles at A & R Recording Studio in Ames, Iowa.

Truth and Janey appeared at the 1973 Mississippi Blues/Rock Festival. The trio supported Savoy Brown at Turner Hall in Quincy, Illinois, during 1974 and toured the United States and Canada with Leslie West during 1974–75. They recorded their first album during 1975 and financed a pressing of 1,000 copies.

No Rest for the Wicked

Truth and Janey released their debut album, No Rest for the Wicked, in 1976 on Montross Records.

The album contains six originals by Janey and Bock. It also includes cover versions of “I’m Ready” by Willie Dixon and “Ain’t No Tellin’” by Mississippi John Hurt. “Remember” joins the sections “A Child” and “Building Walls” in a single indexed track.

“Down the Road I Go” stomps through a coarse riff and twin-harmony leads while close harmonies cross off-kilter turns. “The Light” rolls through a driving rhythmic figure. “I’m Ready” barrels through a revved-up blues pattern. “Remember: A Child/Building Walls” drifts through delicate falsetto phrases, veers into improvised breaks, then climbs through ascending power chords and Leslie-treated guitar.

“No Rest for the Wicked” bounds through bright strums and half-acoustic passages before sudden sprints tighten trio interplay. “It’s All Above Us” glides from acoustic strums into electrified sectional transitions. “Ain’t No Tellin’” kicks through an accelerated, syncopated figure. “My Mind” rolls easily beneath effects-treated leads.

A1. “Down the Road I Go” (3:58) – Bock–Janey
A2. “The Light” (5:41) – Bock–Janey
A3. “I’m Ready” (3:28) – Willie Dixon
A4. “Remember” (9:03) – Bock–Janey
— a. “A Child”
— b. “Building Walls”

B1. “No Rest for the Wicked” (4:46) – Bock–Janey
B2. “It’s All Above Us” (4:23) – Bock–Janey
B3. “Ain’t No Tellin’” (3:36) – Mississippi John Hurt
B4. “My Mind” (5:53) – Bock–Janey

Truth and Janey recorded No Rest for the Wicked during 1975 at A & R Recording Studio in Ames, Iowa. Studio owner Steve Monroe co-produced the album with bassist Steven Bock and engineered the sessions with chief engineer Bob Krusen. Bock devised the front sleeve around a hand reaching from the ground below an amplifier stack and guitar.

Monster Records reissued the album on compact disc in 2001 with the four early single sides. Rockadrome followed with another compact-disc edition during 2007 and restored the original sequence for a 2010 vinyl pressing.

Bock and Bunce left after completion of the album. Janey retained the group name with bassist Barton Peterson and drummer Gary Dare.

Just a Little Bit of Magic

Truth and Janey released their second album, Just a Little Bit of Magic, in 1977 on Bee Bee Records.

The album introduces Peterson and Dare as the new rhythm section. Dennis McMurrin added backing parts to the first two tracks and congas to “It’s So Free.” The group wrote eight titles and recorded cover versions of “Can’t Judge a Book” by Willie Dixon and “Blowin’ in the Wind” by Bob Dylan.

A1. “Just a Little Bit of Magic” (5:00)
A2. “Set My Soul a Burning” (3:30)
A3. “It’s So Free” (3:20)
A4. “Can’t Judge a Book” (3:50) – Willie Dixon
A5. “Big Deal”

B1. “Blowin’ in the Wind” (3:25) – Bob Dylan
B2. “I’ve Been Changin’” (3:55)
B3. “Jumpin’, Funkin’, Bumpin’” (4:50)
B4. “Eagles Nest” (2:15)
B5. “Are We Living in a Dream” (1:23)

Truth and Janey produced Just a Little Bit of Magic. Cedar Rapids guitarist and singer Dennis McMurrin engineered and mixed the sessions. He also sang backing parts on “Just a Little Bit of Magic” and “Set My Soul a Burning,” then played congas on “It’s So Free.”

Jim Phelps illustrated the front sleeve with a cartoon owl marked by stars above the hand-lettered group name and album title. Ginni Brown and Lisa Molden arranged the rear panel.

Later Recordings

Truth and Janey ended regular activity during 1978. Rock ’N’ Bach issued the April 8, 1976, Col Ballroom concert as the 1988 double album Live 4/8/76. The musicians had recorded the Davenport performance on an eight-track Ampex machine.

Monster Records recast the concert as the 2003 compact disc Erupts!. Rockadrome later restored the recording for an expanded double-vinyl edition.

The original trio reunited for live appearances during 2001 and entered the Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame four years later. Lion Productions assembled tapes from several 1974 Topeka concerts as the 2016 double album Topeka Jam.

Discography: