Alan Betrock on The Jook

The Jook "Alright With Me/Do What You Can" RCA 2279 (UK)
The Jook "Shame/City & Suburban Blues" RCA 2344 (UK)
The John's Children saga never dies!!! Here we find The Jook, a new London quintet, being managed and produced by John Hewlett---late of John's Children---. And who is the drummer in this very same Jook? None other than Chris Townsend, the notorious skin-beater for John's Children!!!!!! While John's Children went thru various phases of image-making: the mod look; the short-hair look; the nude look; etc., The Jook seem to be experiencing the same kind of molding. They started out as a "long-hair" band, but now have embraced the short-hair look. Coupled with that is the return to 1967 Mod clothes, combined with the futuristic garb sported by David Bowie. Picture if you will a combination of the mod and rocker aesthetic and enter The Jook. Their first record, "Alright With Me" is a commercial sing-along rocker with some early Slade production bits thrown in---the highlight, tho, is the killer 1967 psychedelic guitar solo ala Pete Townshend!! It probably goes over quite well in concert….

The second Jook release "Shame" doesn't live up to the promise indicated by their premier effort. An updating of the Willie Dixon song doesn't really get anywhere, and lacks power & punch---however, there is another "My Generation" guitar break which almost make the whole thing worth having…
By Alan Betrock The Rock Marketplace no.2 July 1973

The Jook "Oo Oo Rudi/The Jook's On You" RCA 2368 (UK)
Undeterred by their lack of record-selling success The Jook return with "Oo Oo Rudi" which is clearly their most commercial release to date. An anthem-like guitar riff weaves its way throughout, conjuring up visions of the Jook marching thru the streets followed by their legions of space-mod fans. The melody line is too simplistic and a bit overbearing, but the lyrics continue in the 1967 Mod-rebellion style: "All we hear and all we see/And everything we learn from/Is planned by the older Generation"….."If they knew/If only they knew/What we're all about/Maybe then they'd understand that their way won't last…." And yes, they do treat us to some more killer guitar breaks.
By Alan Betrock The Rock Marketplace no.3 October 1973

Also coming next issue: …our friends the Jook keep on coming with two newies! Speaking of the Jook, they've just been signed to backup the British Sweet tour, so perhaps they will finally burst onto the charts. Their next single is rumored to be a 1974 mod classic---the working title of which is: "Bish, Bash, Bosh". Not exactly as original as Creation's "Biff, Bang, Pow", but a great move nonetheless…
By Alan Betrock The Rock Marketplace no.5 April 1974

The Jook "King Capp/Rumble" RCA 2431 (UK)
The Jook "Bish Bash Bosh/Crazy Kids" RCA 5024 (UK)
The Jook have issued two new singles since we last checked in with them. The first "King Capp" was a rather plain rocker which saw little action. Perhaps that's why they switched producers to John Burgess for "Bish Bash Bosh". This is one of the groups most commercial singles to date, a driving rocker with an upfront vocal and backing vocal chorus. The drums are especially well recorded, and if it wasn't so repetitive, it might have been a big hit. The flip is one "B" side that the group took seriously, and I really like it more than the "A" side. It shows that the group finally are developing a sound of their own, as well as a confidence and lack of imitative pretense which marred much of their earlier work. The lyrics are fine, the beat is strong, and the hook chorus is their most commercial and memorable one to date. It's too bad that the group broke up after this single was released because they showed signs of finally breaking thru. But there are rumors that they may reform with some new members. Let's just hope they pick up from where they left off.
By Alan Betrock The Rock Marketplace no.6 July 1974

Then came The Jook, whose story has been recounted in these pages over the last few issues. Basically Chris Townsen formed the group, and John Hewlett managed and produced them. Whether consciously or not, the group image-wise and music-wise was a 1970's version of John's Children---short hair; matching mod clothes; driving guitar-drums music; and teenage rebellion lyrics. But the Jook, like John's Children, never caught on in a big way (although they did release 5 singles within a year, just like John's Children) and in May of this year, after recording their acclaimed new single "Bish Bash Bosh", the Jook split up. Two Jook-ers joined Sparks, but now after a few weeks in limbo, the Jook have reformed anew and the personnel seems to have been finalized. It is: Chris Townsen (ex-John's Children-drums); Martin Gordon (ex-Sparks-bass); David O'List (ex-Nice-guitar); and yes, folks, Andy Ellison (ex-John's Children) on lead vocals!!! If this band can stay together and get some money behind them, the musical results are endlessly fascinating. With a slew of new bands, (Cockney Rebel, Sparks, Arrows, etc) making serious and important inroads in the British music scene, the new Jook stands and excellent chance of making it. The talent, creativity, and experience are all there, that's for sure…

By Alan Betrock from John's Children Article in The Rock Marketplace no.6 July 1974