This is a standout track from another fantastic 1970s album. Stephen Bishop, a talented singer, songwriter, and guitarist, grew up in my hometown of San Diego, California. He attended Crawford High School in the late ’60s, where I assume he was part of the music program led by Dennis Foster. During Mr. Foster’s eight years at Crawford, many incredible musicians passed through, and I can only imagine he played a significant role in shaping their musical journeys. Among them were Nathan East, who went on to play bass with legends such as Eric Clapton, Michael Jackson, Phil Collins, and many others. Another notable Crawford graduate was Sandi Patti, an exceptional Christian soprano who has recorded dozens of albums over her remarkable career.

Interestingly, Stephen Bishop began as a clarinetist before asking his brother for a guitar after seeing the Beatles perform on television. Inspired, he started a “British Invasion”-style band in high school before eventually moving to Los Angeles to chase his musical dreams. After more than five years of persistence—knocking on doors and writing songs—he got his big break when Art Garfunkel recorded two of his songs for Garfunkel’s second studio album, Breakaway. This opened the door for Bishop, leading to a recording contract with ABC Records and the creation of his debut album, Careless.

Fun Birthday Fact: Stephen recently celebrated his birthday (November 14th) by releasing a 1974 demo from the vault called In The Limelight. This track was intended for Careless but, for some reason, didn’t make the final cut. It sat in the vault for 50 years before its release.

Listening Tips: This song has a “slinky” feel—effortless at times, then heavy, before returning to effortless again, much like a slinky shifting its weight as it moves down stairs. One of my favorite moments is when Bishop sings:

Poor old Jimmy
Sits alone in the moonlight
Saw his woman kiss another man
So he takes a ladder
Steals the stars from the sky
Puts on Sinatra and starts to cry

What a vivid, cinematic picture he paints for the listener. Also, pay attention to the blend of pedal steel and electric piano—it creates a beautifully layered sound that perfectly captures the song’s relaxed vibe.

Hope you enjoy this great song

Down in Jamaica
They go lots of pretty women
Steal your money
Then they break your heart
Lonesome Sue, she’s in love with old Sam
Take him from the fire into the frying pan

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On and on
She just keeps on trying
And she smiles when she feels like crying
On and on, on and on, on and on

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Poor old Jimmy
Sits alone in the moonlight
Saw his woman kiss another man
So he takes a ladder
Steals the stars from the sky
Puts on Sinatra and starts to cry

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When the first time is the last time
Can make you feel so bad
But if you know it, show it
Hold on tight
Don’t let her say goodnight

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My name is Michael Sanchez and I’m an avid record collector and obscure song searcher. My goal is to post (hopefully) one song a day that’s been on my stereo/turntable frequently. If you don’t like the song… too bad 🙂 You can just wait for the next one. All the info I find is from wikipedia/youtube/interviews/news articles/personal stories I’ve heard/random googling. Sorry if there are any mistakes.

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