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http://rapidcityjournal.com/blackhills2go/columnists/on-the-record-jumpin-jack-w...

Q: Who is the “Jack” named in the Rolling Stones’ classic, “Jumpin’ Jack Flash”?

A: It appears that inspiration — once again — is found in the unlikeliest of places. According to Keith Richards, Mick Jagger had come over to his house and the two had been up all night trying to write a song. Very early the next morning, Mick was awakened by the noise of someone stomping around in big rubber boots under Keith’s window.

When Mick asked Keith who it was, Keith reportedly said, “Man, that’s Jack, that’s my gardener. That’s Jumpin’ Jack.” Keith started playing around on his guitar, singing “Jumpin’ Jack, Jumpin’ Jack, yea ...,” and Mick added “flash,” and they had the beginnings of one of their most popular songs. The gardener’s real name was Jack Dyer.

In his autobiography, “Stone Alone,” bassist Bill Wyman asserts that he wrote most of the tune, including the main riff, on an electric piano during a jam session with Charlie Watts and Brian Jones.

Although Richards has acknowledged this during interviews, the song is still credited only to Mick and Keith, something Wyman has never been happy about. The song marked a return to the Stones’ blues roots and peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Singles Chart in 1968.

Q: What is the name of the first recording by Janis Joplin? I know she sang with a band before going solo, but I can’t remember the name of the group or the album. Thanks.

A: The band that launched Janis Joplin on the road to stardom was a San Francisco band named Big Brother & the Holding Company. Janis, who had been singing in Austin, Texas, joined the band in mid-1966.

Although there were some personality clashes, the band gained immediate national attention with its performance at the 1967 Monterrey Pop Festival, especially with its version of “Ball and Chain.”

Although a bad business deal forced the band to release its self-titled debut album on a small label, its next album, “Cheap Thrills,” released on Columbia, went to No. 1. It contained the hit song, “Piece of My Heart,” which peaked at No. 12 on the charts.

At the end of 1968, Joplin left the band to pursue a solo career. While "Big Brother & the Holding Company" has become a forgotten album, “Cheap Thrills” is regarded by many as one of rock’s greatest albums of the late '60s.

Q: As a fan of Paul Simon’s music, I find it hard to believe the rumor that his song “Mother and Child Reunion” was named after an entrée on a menu. Has he ever confirmed or denied this rumor?

A: Although it may be hard to believe, this rumor is true. In 1972, Simon stated in an interview that he was eating in a Chinese restaurant when he saw a chicken and eggs entree called “Mother and Child Reunion” on the menu. He loved the title and vowed to use the phrase in a song.

“Mother and Child Reunion” was one of Simon’s first singles after the breakup of Simon and Garfunkel. Included on the 1972 album “Paul Simon,” the song reached No. 4 on the charts.


What’s the name of that song? Where are they now? What does that lyric mean? Send your questions about songs, albums and the musicians who make them to [email protected]. Bradford Brady and John Maron are freelance music writers based in Raleigh, N.C.

From memory, I'm pretty sure Tony Sanchez recounts this gardener story in his 'Up And Down With The Rolling Stones' book.  Tony's attempts to shoot water rats in the moat at Redlands also inspired a couple of lines in 'Live With Me'

Gazza wrote on Feb 14^th, 2013 at 4:56pm:



One of the few truths in the book from his personal accounting!!!!

stonedinaustralia wrote on Feb 14^th, 2013 at 6:57pm:


Interesting aside:  they tried to revive that intro for the 89 tour as recordings of the warm-up shows indicate, but it's clear from these boots that Keith couldn't get it right, so they dropped it again.

The story of Jumpin' Jack has been retold many times, with Jagger the one who cried out "Flash!" in a, er, flash of random inspiration.  Ironically, heroin was available at the time in pill form, known as "jacks," so people thought the reference was to smack, again according to Spanish Tony, whose book I really enjoyed in high school.