Jobriath (album)

Jobriath
Studio album by
Jobriath
ReleasedOctober 1973
StudioElectric Lady (New York City)
Genre
Length38:14
LabelElektra
Producers
Jobriath chronology
Pidgeon
(1969)		 Jobriath
(1973)		 Creatures of the Street
(1974)

Jobriath is the debut studio album by the American rock musician Jobriath. Released in October 1973 by Elektra Records, Jobriath was preceded by a significant promotional campaign, attempting to create an American counterpart to David Bowie. The album received mostly positive reviews from critics, but sold poorly upon release. The album was recorded and co-produced by Eddie Kramer (credited as Edwin H. Kramer).

Background

Jobriath had been a musician who was part of the group Pidgeon, and acted as a male lead in the New York and Los Angeles production of the musical Hair.[2][3][4][5]

Discovered and later managed by Jerry Brandt, who heard Jobriath's demo tapes, Jobriath was the last act signed by Jac Holzman before leaving his position in the newly merged Elektra/Asylum Records.[6] The advance in the signing reportedly cost from $50,000 to $500,000.[7][5] Holzman later described it as one of his misjudgments and reportedly had no "emotional investment" in the music.[7]

Jobriath was recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York City, with Eddie Kramer co-producing the album.[7] The album cover was photographed by Shig Ikeda.[8]

Release

The album was released on October 1973 by Elektra Records.[7] Reportedly, the record company spent $30,000 on the advertisement.[7] Most notably, the label set up a large poster of Jobriath in the Times Square area to promote the album.[9][10] Elektra also bought a full page advertisement for Vogue, Rolling Stone, and Penthouse.[11][12] In anticipation of Jobriath's scheduled live performance at the Paris Opera House, the album was also licensed to Barclay for release in France.[9] Despite this, the album did not chart and was regarded as a commercial failure.[12][11]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStar[13]
New York TimesStarStarStar[14]

According to author Jon Savage, the reception of Jobriath varied from mixed to positive during its initial release.[15]

Rolling Stone was receptive to Jobriath, remarking that he had "talent to burn", as well as Record World which declared Jobriath a "renaissance man", predicting that he would "gain a tremendous following with the artful singing and songwriting".[11][15][16] Record Mirror notes that despite the perceived David Bowie influences among others, Jobriath demonstrated versatility as a singer.[17] Cashbox described Jobriath as an "interesting debut" that defies categorization "from hard rock to dramatic theatricality", naming "Morning Starship", "Take Me I'm Yours" and "I'maman" as highlights that display the tight musical arrangement and perceived "strangeness" of Jobriath's vocals that encourages replayability.[18]

The New York Times and Esquire were less receptive, describing the album as "dismal" and "hype of the year", respectively.[15][11] Ian MacDonald of NME acknowledged Jobriath as "reasonably gifted", but added that it "doesn't mean he's necessarily any good", and described him as an "interesting hype", while noting that Jobriath's musicianship were informed from his experiences in the productions of the musical Hair.[19][20]

Track listing

All tracks composed by Jobriath.[8]

Side One
No.TitleLength
1."Take Me I'm Yours"4:14
2."Be Still"3:40
3."World Without End"3:43
4."Space Clown"2:37
5."Earthling"3:53
6."Movie Queen"1:50
Total length:19:57
Side Two
No.TitleLength
7."I'maman"3:35
8."Inside"3:52
9."Morning Starship"3:30
10."Rock of Ages"2:21
11."Blow Away (a Paean for P.I.T.)"4:59
Total length:18:17

Personnel

Personnel per Elektra Records.[8]

"as performed by:"

  • Jobriath
  • Billy Schwartz
  • Steve Love
  • John Syomis
  • Andy Munson

"Co-starring:"

"Introducing:"

  • Peggy Nestor

"and announcing"

  • Gerhard

Produced by:

"MERCI"

  • Nigel - Electric Lady
  • Steven Knee

Cover Photography: Shig Ikeda

Art Direction & Design: Robert L. Heimall

References

  1. ↑ Thompson, Dave (July 5, 2024). "Jobriath Review by Dave Thompson". AllMusic. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  2. ↑ Record World Magazine (May 17, 1969). "Salisbury 'Hair' L.A. Captain" (PDF). Record World. Record World. p. 22. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  3. ↑ Cochrane, Robert (2004). Lonely Planet Boy (liner notes; CD). United Kingdom: Attack Records. ATKCD010.
  4. ↑ Billboard Magazine (December 8, 1973). Billboard: Elektra Jobriath Pitch. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 58. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  5. 1 2 Padnani, Amisha; Times, New York (November 14, 2023). Overlooked: A Celebration of Remarkable, Underappreciated People Who Broke the Rules and Changed the World. Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed. p. 209-210. ISBN 978-1-9848-6043-9. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  6. ↑ Billboard Magazine (October 13, 1973). Talent: Creative Trends: New Elektra Act Bows with $200G Stage Spectacle. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 16. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Houghton, Mick (2010). Becoming Elektra: the true story of Jac Holzman's visionary record label. London: Jawbone. p. 261. ISBN 978-1-906002-29-9.
  8. 1 2 3 Pierrot Music Corp. (1973). Jobriath (liner notes; LP). New York City: Elektra Records. EKS-75070.
  9. 1 2 Billboard Magazine (December 1, 1973). Late News: Inside Track: Jobriath. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 62. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  10. ↑ Cashbox Magazine. "Launch Drive On Jobriath Debut On Elektra LP" (PDF). Cashbox. Cashbox. p. 26. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Gdula, Steve (November 10, 1998). "Ahead of His Time". The Advocate. Here Publishing. p. 73-75. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  12. 1 2 Blush, Steven (April 1, 2023). When Rock Met Disco. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. p. 89-90. ISBN 979-8-216-26819-2. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  13. ↑ Thompson, Dave. "Jobriath – Jobriath". AllMusic.
  14. ↑ Edwards, Henry. "Jobriath – Jobriath". New York Times.
  15. 1 2 3 Savage, Jon (February 4, 2025). "Chapters 26-27". The Secret Public: How Music Moved Queer Culture From the Margins to the Mainstream. Liveright Publishing. ISBN 978-1-324-09611-5. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  16. ↑ Record World Magazine. "Record World: Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. Record World. p. 1. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Record Mirror Review Section: Discorama - Albums: American" (PDF). Record Mirror. December 15, 1973. p. 31. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  18. ↑ Cashbox Magazine. "Cashbox / Album Reviews: Newcomer Picks" (PDF). Cashbox Magazine. p. 35. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  19. ↑ MacDonald, Ian (January 26, 1974). "Jobriath: Jobriath (Elektra)". NME. Rock's Backpages. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  20. ↑ MacDonald, Ian (June 2016). "Jobriath: Jobriath (Elektra); NME 26 January 1974" (PDF). The History of Rock. Uncut Magazine. p. 31. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
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