Random Archival Dig 11 (3-23-23)
More from The Jayhawks Archive HERE
Compilation Special Edition - part 2
Jayhawks music has appeared on a number of compilations over the years dating all the way back to 1986. These releases have included many radio station live session collections, promo samplers, some totally random concoctions and even a few film soundtracks.
By 1994, the soundtrack album boom was in full effect. Releases like the highly successful Singles soundtrack in 1992 showed that there was gold in these particular hills, so the rush was on for artists to get in on the action.
The Jayhawks first stab was with Blown Away, a mostly forgotten 1994 action thriller starring Jeff Bridges, Tommy Lee Jones and Forest Whitaker, where they shared a soundtrack CD with a haphazard mish mash of artists like U2, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, The Pogues and Aretha Franklin. The Jayhawks contribution was “Darling Today,” a catchy little number with an infectious Karen Grotberg piano lick that has never appeared on any Jayhawks studio album.
Blown Away soundtrack album
Aside from the Blown Away soundtrack, “Darling Today” showed up on two 1995 European releases: as a b-side of the “Blue” CD single and on the bonus disc of a deluxe 2CD version of Tomorrow the Green Grass.
1995 European 2CD deluxe version of Tomorrow the Green Grass
It was also released on a promo 7 inch single in 2009 and was collected on the rarities disc of the Music From the North Country Anthology from the same year.“
2009 Music From The North Country Anthology
Darling Today” has been performed live, but very rarely, making only a few appearances in Jayhawks setlists in 1993, 1995 and 2011.
The 2001 film Monsters Ball made quite a splash that year, winning many accolades and a Best Actress Oscar for Halle Berry (the film also starred Billy Bob Thornton and Heath Ledger). The soundtrack album that was released featured mostly original instrumental music done by Asche and Spencer, a Minneapolis-based team specializing in such things. Half of Asche and Spencer just happened to be Thad Spencer, who drummed for The Jayhawks in the late 80s, including on the Blue Earth album. After leaving The Jayhawks, Spencer opened a commercial recording studio in downtown Minneapolis, which soon led to his soundtrack work. This studio, by the way, was the location of the first Mystery Demos session in early 1992.
The Jayhawks contribution to the Monsters Ball soundtrack was “I’m Your Man,” an original Gary Louris composition that was demo-ed in 2001 in the early stages of the long pre-production period for Rainy Day Music. “I’m Your Man” is exclusive to this release and there are no known live performances.
Monster's Ball soundtrack album
Here’s a CDR liner from a May 2001 demo collection with an early version of “I’m Your Man.”
Other interesting tidbits from this collection:
-- Two future Rainy Day Music songs, “You Look So Young” and “Angel Eyes” (aka “Angelyne”).
-- Two RDM bonus tracks, "Fools on Parade" and “Say Your Prayers.” Full band versions of both songs were included on the 2CD deluxe version of RDM in 2003.
-- Two songs performed live by The Jayhawks in 2001/2, “In the Canyon” (a 2001 live version was included on the 2014 RDM reissue) and “This World is Crazy” (a co-write with Jessi Alexander, who released her own version on her 2005 Honeysuckle Sweet album).
-- Several songs that remain unreleased.
