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:: Four Jacks And A Jill - Penny Paper ::

Who knew Apartheid rocked? Well, apparently it didn't very much. Four Jacks and a Jill were about the biggest thing to come out of South Africa in the 60s however. Their song "Master Jack" was an international hit, and they had many more hits and a long career in their native country before finally calling it quits in the late 70s.

The band started out as an all male beat group in the early 60s. By the mid-60s, they were calling themselves The Zombies and were the first group in South Africa to grow their hair long. This caused such a great fuss though, including accusations in the press of "sissiness", drug abuse and downright Devil worship, the band finally decided a change of image was necessary. They cut their hair, hired singer Glenys Lynne and changed their name to Four Jacks and a Jill.

The liner notes on their debut American album are classic: "In these days of 'The Fugs', 'Jefferson Airplane', 'The Loading Zone' and 'Mothers of Invention', for a group to be called 'Four Jacks and a Jill' is a throwback to the wonderful world of the 1940s and the Big Bands."

Thanks, but I think I prefer sissiness and devil worship.


Mike

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