Tom Jans
The Eyes of an Only Child

Here comes another beautiful loser.

“I wrote this song for a friend, it’s as if it was written by Tom Jans, because he's there, with all his spirit.” But who is Tom Jans? No less than Tom Waits clarifies this, who dedicated "Whistle Down the Wind" to Jans, a magnificent ballad that adorns that absolute masterpiece, "Bone Machine."

Even knowing that our guy dueted for a good two years with Mimi Farina, younger sister of Joan Baez, with a good reception from critics and audience towards the end of the '60s, is not enough to spark a light bulb for you. Nothing, right?

Well, let's try to put some order: Tom Jans was born in San Jose in 1948, heavily influenced by Hank Williams, flamenco, and the Beatles, with a grandmother who was none other than part of the Rocky Mountain Five jazz group.

After the duets with Mimi Farina, Tom Jans wrote "Loving Arms," a great success of Kris Kristofferson, covered by none other than King Elvis himself.

Such a pedigree would have brought success to anyone, but unfortunately not to him. After a self-titled record in 1974, recorded in Nashville, Tom was forced to return to Los Angeles due to poor sales reception.

Thus, "The Eyes of an Only Child" was released, just a year later, on the Columbia label and produced by none other than Lowell George, deus ex machina of the Little Feat.

His indeed is the thrilling "Gotta Move" that opens the album, a dreamy country folk, in the best Nashville tradition.

But it's not over yet: there's a "Once Before I Die" that John Denver would back down, followed by an incendiary Blues-cajun "Where Did All My Friends Go," try not to move your butt, that's impossible.

But the true beauty, the great beauty, lies in the poignant and absolutely imaginative "Inside of You": a piano from another dimension and aching words about a finished love, transparent, but that echoes within, as if Van Morrison had moved to the Death Valley with David Ackles to sing detached and resigned. Goosebumps.

"Struggle in Darkness" is another caress in a punch, a dizzying soul-gospel with a barrelhouse piano, a moog that pierces your soul, climbing into a solo that would make even an a**hole cry.

It was also an FM hit, rob de matt! These are the things worth living for, no doubt.

The rest of the album isn't to be thrown away, no no. For example, "Lonely Brother," which Elton John would have liked a lot, or "The Lonesome Way Back Then," worthy of a true Hobo. And the title track? A torch song to make Bob Dylan blush, I swear.

Needless to say that, despite the enticing premises, the album was an absolute flop.

It was followed by the splendid "Dark Blonde" and "Champion," the latter released only in Japan; after that, having endured yet more failures, Tom died in 1984 from a suspected overdose, not without having suffered like a dog from a motorcycle accident that impaired his kidneys.

The records are hard to find, but with a bit of luck, you can find the Japanese reissues and some vinyl on eBay.

Give poor Tom a chance, who surely will be whistling in the wind, imagining himself in any church in San Jose. Cheers.