A loved-up hunk of joyous funk with a heartwarming dollop of fun pop.

HOT DAMN

Hit it
Hot Damn, hot damn, hot damn, hot damn

Lucky me
Lucky you
How did this happen
Out of the blue
Lucky me 
Lucky you
It just happened
So easily

Holler at me
C'mon c'mon, holler at me
Nothing can move fast enough
Till we’re together again 
All I need to know is 
Where and when

Holler at me
C'mon holler at me
Nothing can move fast enough
Till I see you again
All I need to know is
What then?

Hot damn, hot damn, hot damn, hot damn...

Arranged composed produced and performed by Man Jack except vocals by Teresa Tur. Mastered by Vincent Barriere and Man Jack.

© Jonathan Knowles 2021

2021

Hot Damn - Man Jack (2021)

One of These Days

Hey
Well here we are
So close
And yet so far

One of these days I’m gonna wake up smiling
One of these days the sun's gonna shine
A breeze gonna blow the grey skies away
Yeah, one of these days

There’s a dark cloud
Hanging over my heart
I got the make up break up blues
Down to an art

One of these days I’m gonna wake up smiling
One of these days the sun's gonna shine
A breeze gonna blow the grey skies away
Yeah, one of these days

I wanna be clear
I’m gonna find myself
A way outa' here

One of these days...

Arranged, composed produced and performed by Man Jack except lead guitar by Steve Bedford and Drums by Andy Wilmott. Mastered by Vincent Barrière & Man Jack.

© Jonathan Knowles 2021

One of These Days - Man Jack (2021)

150+ BPM Bubblegum Rock Punk!!

Love Ain’t the Word

There was a time, I knew a girl
She was straight out of another world
I lit a fire and she watched it burn
We had a thing, but love ain’t the word

Love ain’t the word...

It can break your heart, that’s what I heard
There’s no coming back from this, she purred
And I believed her, cause if there’s one thing I’ve learned
There’s something like love out there, but love ain’t the word

Love ain’t the word...

Was I the hunter, or was I being hunted?
Was I led to believe it’s all I ever wanted
Trying to figure it out now 'cause the lines are blurred
Can’t put my finger on it, but love ain’t the word

Love ain’t the word...

Arranged composed produced and performed by Man Jack in December 2021. Mastered by Vincent Barrière & Man Jack.

© Jonathan Knowles 2021

Love Ain't The Word - Man Jack (2021)

A contemplation on the fleeting existence of a flickering light.

CUT A SHINE (lyrics)

Cut a Shine
Kick up your heels
Have yourself a good time 

Cause when the rain comes down
You’re gonna wish you had
Yeah when it all goes south
It ain’t comin' back

Ask yourself
What are you here for
If not to cut a fine figure
As you shimmy across the floor

Cause when the rain comes down
You’re gonna wish you had
See when it’s gone for good
You’re gonna want it bad

I’m gonna Cut right in
Soon as I get a chance
I’m gonna sidle up and say
Might I have this dance?

Cause when the rain comes down...

Arranged composed produced and performed by Man Jack except Vocals by Teresa Tur & Dai Berenguer, Lead guitar and assorted guitars by John Flade, Drums by Andy Wilmott

© Jonathan Knowles 2022

2022

Cut a Shine - Man Jack (2022)

New to the Road
(Lyrics)

I wanna go home now
But I don't know which way to go anymore
Know what I mean
Look it’s night already
And me I’m new to the road

Outside
It’s getting cold

Know what I mean
Gotta know what I mean yeah
Me I’m new to the road

New to the road...

The bridges are down and the wind is blowing
It’s as black as night
I can’t see where I’m going
There are no street signs and the roads are overgrown
I'll never find my way back to all the places I’ve known

New to the road...

Arranged composed produced and performed by Man Jack, featuring Teresa Tur - vocals, Andy Wilmott - drums, John Flade - lead guitar, Vincent Barrière - synths, John Frame - bongos.

Mastered by Vincent Barrière and Man Jack.

© Jonathan Knowles 2022

New to the Road - Man Jack (2022)

A little song about the ebb and flow of illusion.

Lyrics:

Hey
What’s the hurry
Not so fast
Let’s make the most of this
While it lasts
Sometimes, I just can’t help but feeling happy
Some days, all you gotta' do is smile
And the whole world smiles with you
It’s true
Love 
Comin' through 
All you gotta' do
Is lose the blues
Let love come to the rescue
And I wouldn’t wanna be 
Anywhere but here
This is where the fun is
Before the cracks appear
Some days, I just can’t help this feeling
Sometimes, I burst into song
And everybody is singing along 
Eight billion strong
Singing bring it, bring it, bring it
Bring it on
All you got to do
Is lose the blues
Let love come to the rescue

Arranged composed produced and performed by Man Jack except vocal harmonies by E.K.A. Mastered by Vincent Barrière.

© Jonathan Knowles 2023

2023

Love to the Rescue - Man Jack (2023)

A laid back cocktail of Proust, Lacan and red wine at a street cafe in downtown Valencia.

WHAT SHE SAID

She poured her heart out over the table
Every last detail
Maybe she thought I wasn’t listening
Guess I’ve just got myself to blame

What she said
It stayed with me
On the long and lonely nights and all the spaces in between 

What she said
I’ll never forget
I saw stars
As the sun set

I poured my heart out over the table
Every little detail
I didn’t know if you were listening
But to me it’s all the same

What she said
It stayed with me
On the long and lonely nights and all the spaces in between

What she said
It cut like a knife
Just like that
I saw the light

Arranged composed produced and performed by Man Jack except: 
Strings by Vincent Barrière 
Vocals by Paulinha Cánovas 
Voice by Manon Guillet
Lead guitar by Bertrand Kientz
Drums by Andy Wilmott

Mastered by Vincent Barrière.
French translation by Vincent Barrière & Manon Guillet.

© Jonathan Knowles 2023

What She Said - Man Jack (2023)

This song has been rattling around in my head for years. Had a couple of stabs at recording it in the past, but never felt that i had got it quite right. This version is a whole lot different to previous attempts. Still not sure if I have nailed it, but it sure sounds like a lotta fun. Australian musician Lecia Louise was in town, and very kindly laid down vocal tracks on her last evening in Spain. Great to work with her.

Arranged Composed Produced and Performed by Man Jack

Vocals - Lecia Louise

© Jonathan Knowles 2015


Stray - Man Jack feat. Lecia Louise (2015)

5th song off Fire Breathing Dragon
Deep space ... Floating ... 
Arranged Composed Produced and Performed by Man Jack, September 2011.
© Jonathan Knowles 2011

Slow Acceleration - Man Jack (2012)

This song has been an interesting journey. Originally it was based on a weird beat that i dreamt up. Laid down the basic tracks on top of the beat, and then decided to delete the beat. Juanki came over and recorded his inimitable flamenco strum. Voro, as usual, blew some amazingly inspired trumpet throughout the arrangement. Dr Bob laid down his delicious fretless bass tracks in his Brisbane studio. Finally Paulinha came over and added her luxuriously elegant vocals to the mix. All that is left of my basic tracks is a buzzy electric guitar, piano and voice.

Loopin' The Loop - Man Jack feat. Paulinha Cánovas, Dr Bob, Voro Garcia & Juanki Zapata (2016)

Power, Politics and Sex all rolled into one crazy lil' pop song!!

Arranged Composed Produced and Performed by Man Jack except Vocals by Paulinha Cánovas                                                                                    © Jonathan Knowles 2016

2017

Slippery Slope - Man Jack feat. Paulinha Cánovas (2017)

3rd song off Fire Breathing Dragon, the latest collection of songs by Man Jack, lead singer and co-producer of Chop Suey Joint.

Arranged Composed Produced & Performed by Man Jack.

Violin - Josep Amirola
Backing Vocals - Tess

© Jonathan Knowles 2012

Blue Sky Day - Man Jack (2012)

WILD YOUNG AND FREE
Baby
u know that I’m crazy about you
And there ain’t nothing I wouldn’t do
We’re one
It’s like we were born this way
And I can’t believe
what I’m about to say
See, I’m leaving
I just can’t stay
There’s something
Pulling me away
I’m wild
Young and free
There’s a world out there 
I wanna see
Hey I loved every minute
Don’t get me wrong now
I'd stay if I could
But I’m already gone
It’s not your fault
I got no excuse
I could try and string words together 
But what’s the use.
I got to do this
Got to do this on my own 
That means I got to leave you 
All alone
(Don’t do it...don’t do it)
I’m wild
Young and free
There’s a world out there 
I wanna see
Hey I loved every minute
Don’t get me wrong now
I'd stay if I could
But I’m already gone

Arranged Composed Produced & Performed by Man Jack.

© Jonathan Knowles 2012
www.chopsueyjoint.com

Wild Young & Free - Man Jack (2012)

Viva La Evolution is an ode to the efforts of the people involved in Occupy Wall St & The Spanish Revolution working for a fairer, more eco-friendly world via PEACEFUL INTELLIGENT demonstrations. Power to the People. Evolution not revolution.
Composed, Arranged, Performed and Produced by Man Jack. Extra vocals courtesy of Alicia Merelo, opera singer with the Valencian Palau de Les Arts.
© Jonathan Knowles 2012 
For more Man Jack music visit: www.chopsueyjoint.com 
Befriend Man Jack at Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ManJackFireBreathingDragon

Viva La Evolution - Man Jack (2012)

70s soft rock. It sure is fun creating music, but it is even more fun collaborating with a great lineup of talented musicians - thanks Steve, Dai, John & Andy.

Arranged composed produced and performed by Man Jack except guitars by Steve Bedford, vocal harmonies by Dai Berenguer, bongos/congas by John Frame & drums by Andy Wilmott.

Mastered by Vincent Barrière & Man Jack

© Jonathan Knowles 2019

2019

Anybody's Fault - Man Jack (2019)

Sometimes you just know
When something ain’t right
Sometimes you let it slide
Blinded by the light
I was head over heels
And you were wild and free
You were my plan a
And I was your plan b


Sometimes you just know
But what can you do
Inertia got a hold on me
That, and your cute vampire tattoo
It was just like a whirlpool
Pulled me into the sea
I was floating in limbo
Now it’s hard to believe
You were my plan a 
And I was your plan b

It was never gonna work
Anyone could see

You were my plan a
But now you’ve gone from A to Z

Arranged composed produced and performed by Man Jack except trombone by Toni Belenguer and harmonies by Paulinha Cánovas
© Jonathan Knowles 2019

Plans - Man Jack (2019)

See that million dollar mansion
Well here’s the key
It’s got tennis courts and a swimming pool
But you don’t get me
Checkout the helicopter pad
The sauna and the jacuzzi 
It’s got every kinda mod con
But you don’t get me

I know where you’re coming from now
And I know where you wanna be
I get you
But you don’t get me

Can you see yourself walking down the aisle
Are you happy working nine to five
Summer at the beach
Winter in the snow
Ain’t it great to be alive
You want three kids a coupla cats and a dog
A cinema just to watch tv
You gotta have what you haven’t got
But you don’t get me...

Arranged composed produced and performed by Man Jack except trombone by Toni Belenguer, Vocals by Paulinha Cánovas and Dai Berenguer

© Jonathan Knowles 2019

You Don't Get Me - Man Jack (2019)

Let’s get entangled
Let’s have some fun
I wanna burn with you
Like on the surface of the sun
Under a full moon
Meteor shower
And the fire works
Super powers
I wanna get with you
You’re the chosen one
This here is sacred ground
Come Baby come
Under a full moon
Meteor shower
And there’s butterflies
In a field of flowers
Let’s get excited
Let’s cross the line
The sky's the limit
In dream time 
Under a full moon
Meteor shower
And the fire works
Its super powers

Arranged composed produced and performed by Man Jack except Trombone by Toni Belenguer and Vocals by Paulinha Cánovas and Dai Berenguer. Mastered by Man Jack and Vincent Barrière. Art consultancy by Nataliya Mytsykova.

© Jonathan Knowles 2019

Entangled - Man Jack (2019)

Innocence and wisdom all wrapped up in a two minute slice of prettiness.

LOVE'S SONG

If I said that I loved you
And you knew it was true
Tell me please
What would you do?
Would you run away
Or would you stay
And say you love me too

If you said that you loved me
And I could see it was true
I guess I'd have to think it through
And then maybe
Just maybe
One of these days
I'd say I love you too

Arranged composed produced and performed by Man Jack except Vocals by Paulinha Cánovas and Dai Berenguer, Trombone by Toni Berenguer, Guitar by Bertrand Kientz, Bass by Dr Bob and Orchestral arrangement by Vincent Barrière. Mastered by Vincent Barrière and Man Jack. Thanx 2 Nataliya for art angles.
© Jonathan Knowles 2020

Love's Song - Man Jack (2020)

Even Pretty Things

I’m sorry
I thought u were somebody else
I’m sorry
Yeah, I’m sorry you’re not who I thought
I guess I got caught in my own trap

Even pretty things cast a shadow

I’m sorry
I wish I was somewhere else right now
I’m sorry you’re not on the map
I guess I got caught in my own trap

Even pretty things...

Arranged composed produced and performed by Man Jack. 

Mastered by Vincent Barrière

© Jonathan Knowles 2020

2020

Even Pretty Things - Man Jack (2020)

Well, I’ve got half a mind to tell her everything that’s running thru my head
And I’ve got half a mind to forget that we ever met
There’s a part of me that wants to believe every word we said
It’s a mystery how far we can let ourselves be led

But when she walked in with her bag of tricks
A killer smile at her fingertips
I just knew
But what could I do

I was outa my mind but that’s all behind me now
I understood when she went and burnt every bridge in the book

If I knew then what I know now
If I knew then what I know now to be true
What would I do

She’s gone gone gone nowhere to be found
At least last last time I looked
I’ve got half a mind to thank her
For letting me off the hook

Arranged composed produced and performed by Man Jack except drums by Andy Wilmott, Lead guitar by Steve Bedford and Vocal Harmony by Dai Berenguer. Mastered by Vincent Barrière.

© Jonathan Knowles 2020

Killer Smile - Man Jack (2020)

In the midst of taking a break from composing new material while focusing on finishing some of the Chop Suey Joint pieces that have been more than a decade in the making, I had the urge to play some electric guitar. Chords appeared and modulated this way and that. So I clicked record and laid down a few layers of guitars. Lyrics came and went. And came and went. Finally I decided to leave it as an instrumental. In order to add a little magic, I called up some friends. And I am glad that I did. Drummer Andy captured the mood exquisitely with his rhythmic collaboration, and John came to the party with some bongo textures. During the final production process, one day while exploring some early 20th century library of Congress sound archives, I happened across Reenah Schwartz explaining how music affected her, and knew then and there that it was going to sit in the song perfectly.

Arranged composed produced and performed by Man Jack except drums by Andy Wilmott & bongos by John Frame.
Mastered by Vincent Barriere and Man Jack

© Jonathan Knowles 2020

Lost for Words - Man Jack (2020)

BILLIONAIRES CLUB

They only got money
Instead of a heart,
They got selfishness greed and fear down to an art

You sacrifice your life
Who reaps the rewards?
There ain't nothing we won't do for our overlords

The Billionaires Club
Any way you do the maths
We've given too much of our power to some pychopaths.

The Bilionaires Club
Wreaking mayhem
They need us more than we need them

The Billionaires Club

Arranged Composed Produced & Performed by Man Jack
Mastered by Vincent Barrière & Man Jack


© Jonathan Knowles 2021

Billionaires Club - Man Jack (2021)

Man Jack - vocals, elec/steel/nylon guitars, bass, keyboards, percussion, beats, miscellaneous instruments. Lyrics, composition, arrangements. Recording, engineering, production & mastering.  

And lotsa special guests :)

Other Project: Chop Suey Joint
See link below

Man Jack

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