Usually everything we review is so brand new it’s barely available to purchase. It’s very rare that we take a look back at some lost or forgotten artist. It took the combination of a Chicago label and an artist that never gained the recognition he deserved to break our pattern. The artist in question is Jay Bolotin and the record in particular is his eponymous debut. While aspects of the song “It’s All In That” may sound dated the recording quality is rich (as would be expected of something put down on tape rather than disc). And it’s his heartfelt lyrics of love for his wife and newborn child that still resonate today.
I usually don’t cut and paste but here is Locust Music’s bio info on Jay Bolotin:
Jay Bolotin’s musical awakening hearkens back to his youth in Kentucky learning songs from old timers and songsmiths of the region – among them John Jacob Niles. 18 years on, he found himself on the east coast with a record deal and cut two albums. Only the first would find some form of release in the late 60s before Jay dropped out of the music scene – however temporarily – for an abandoned boys camp in New Hampshire before reemerging two years later in Nashville’s fertile music scene. Here, Jay cut his teeth as a songwriter, befriended and worked with a veritable who’s who of Nashville country and folk musicians before retreating yet again – this time into the depths of Kentucky through the rest of his 20s.
Jay has called Cincinnati home for the last three decades. He is recognized today as a prolific artist, writer, composer, musician, and filmmaker. He has composed and performed scores for dance productions, films, and television. His woodcuts are represented in many major collections, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Here’s the song “It’s All In That”, you can purchase a 180 gram vinyl or trifold digipack cd here through Locust Music.
