If nothing else, the controversial Rolling Stone list of greatest guitarists has generated much thought. I was sitting around thinking about the different guitar sounds I value, and it suddenly occurred to me how much I love James Calvin Wilsey's (ex of the punk band the Avengers) neo-classicist work with Chris Isaak. I don't think it coincidence that Isaak's sound has deteriorated since Wilsey left the band after San Francisco Days, though I find Isaak an exceptional talent still.
In 1981 producer Erik Jacobsen met a young rockabilly singer with great promise named Chris Isaak. Jacobsen nurtured Isaak through the '80s, resulting in '89's brilliant Heart Shaped World with the hit single "Wicked Game": a sonorous and gauzy update on Roy Orbison featuring James Calvin Wilsey's dreamy, neo-surf guitar. Jacobsen's production moves like a fog of longing down a desolate strip of quarter-moon-lit beach and reverberates across a vast and uncaring sea.
Follow-ups San Francisco Days (with "Can't Do a Thing," "Two Hearts" and Neil Diamond’s "Solitary Man") and Forever Blue (with "Somebody's Crying" and "Go Walking Down There") move in similarly excellent, timeless circles where Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison and Marty Robbins vie for dangerously beautiful women.
'96's Baja Sessions finds Isaak south of the border, still blue, but holding up with the help of his friends and some great cover tunes, including "Only the Lonely" (making the Orbison comparison concrete), "South of the Border (Down Mexico Way)" and "Yellow Bird."
But where has James Calvin Wilsey gone? I found this report on his band the Mysteries from 1998:
- James Calvin Wilsey is singing Chris Isaak's song "Wicked Game." But his mouth is closed; his lips aren't moving.
Wilsey's voice is being borne on the strings of his guitar. And as he stands there on the small stage of
Al's Bar on Tuesday night, striking a guitar-hero stance, he delivers the song's new voice via a snaky, lonesome lick.
These days, "Wicked Game" (RealAudio excerpt of Isaak's version) has been renamed "Wicked Thang," as it exists in the repertoire of Wilsey's new, western-rock outfit, the Mysteries.
Wilsey, who played with Isaak for 12 years, from 1979-91, has spent the eight years since he left the country-fied singer's band sailing the South Seas and trying to decide what direction to point in next.
That's when the Mysteries appeared on his horizon.
The all-instrumental foursome — which also includes Telecaster and pedal-steel guitarist Chris Lawrence, bassist Chuck Morris and drummer Bogie — is making its debut at an unannounced show at Al's Bar.... [VH1]
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - jimmywilseylives
A new JCW site. C'mon over and take a look.
2 - Eric Olsen
Excellent, thanks!
3 - John K
I've always thought the JCW was what really put Isaak's recorded material over the top. His work on Heart Shaped World is nothing short of sublime.
4 - tt
i don't know about the new jcw site, but the news i've heard about him in the past few years has been um, not encouraging, which is a real tragedy because it is and because isaak's band was never the same after he left. sailing the south pacific for 12 years or something? rough waters, liquid sky
5 - JWL
JCW is fine. I can't get out too many details yet but some e-mails have been exchanged and he DOES exist just very quietly. What did you think of You Owe Me Some KInd Of Love on the opening page? Be critical as it is my first full-fledged production using SONAR-or any other recording software. You really develop a deep understanding for how music is made (produced) by having to do it ALL yourself. Wheww! Thanks for inspecting the page nevertheless. JWL
6 - Aubrey Baca
Hello This is Jimmy's neice. This is my first time seeing anything about my uncle. its kinda cool.
7 - Eric Olsen
hi Aubrey, so what is he up to now? WE miss that sound
8 - JWL
That site has been down for quite some time. I think some prankster sent me some very convincing info via e-mail that made it appear I had contacted Wilsey (in preparation of the site) but apparently I had not because I have no longer received info from this contact after repeated e-mailings. If it WAS him, then I have officially been blackballed. JWL
9 - Eric Olsen
the mystery deepens
10 - JWL
Eric,
What did YOU think of the tune on the old website? Did you ever get to hear it? Thanks. JWL
11 - JWL
Eric,
Check your e-mail. JWL
12 - Eric Olsen
Thanks JWL! I love it, am listening to it right now, very Jimmy. Gentle but deep - that "where the desert meets the sea" kind of thing. So the question now is, where is he and what is he doing?
13 - JWL
Don't know but I kinda felt bamboozled in that as I was assembling the website I received some info from someone claiming they were Jimmy and then as I prompted this person for a phone or online interview for the website this contact disappeared. Very odd. If it was him I wonder what the heck spooked him? I kinda felt stupid about it all and shut the website down. I felt stupid for wanting to do this out of my pocket in time and money and that I kinda got hoodwinked/ignored in the process. Bummer. Life goes on. JWL
14 - Eric Olsen
no good deed goes unpunished - you have reaped good karma nonetheless!
15 - JWL
Yup, I don't get it? They even sent me a pic and I mentioned a specific time that I had met JCW at a gig and they responded as if they knew all about it. It made me really believe it was him but I don't understand if it was him, what was the point in him offering his help with the website and then not? Very confusing. JWL
16 - JWL
Eric,
Check your e-mail. I sent you another clip. JWL
17 - JWL
Eric,
There is another mp3 I sent you today inyour e-mail -which is Wicked Game (Instrumental) performed by Roly, Kenney, Chris, Jimmy and myself on lead guitar. Enjoy. JWL
18 - John K
Bummer about the website, I'd like to know more about what JCW is up to these days!
19 - JWL
John,
Send me an e-mail with Wilsey in the title and I'll send you a cool mp3 I made. JWL
20 - John K
Done, thanks JWL.
21 - JWL
John,
I never received the e-mail. JWL
22 - JWL
jimmywilseylives@yahoo.com
23 - Aubrey Baca
Jimmy is doing well. He came out for thanks giving with his beautiful family.
24 - JWL
Aubrey,
Any reason why he stopped corresponding? It appeared he was corresponding with me for a while and then he dropped off the face of the planet. If I ticked him him I sure don't know what for? Also, I had set up a website for his pics, music and other stuff out my own pocket so I hope he wasn't thinking I was working for him and was looking to get paid. I recall asking him for an interview that I could use to post on the website and he disappeared. Don't know why. I felt kinda like a stupid fan after that and just shut the site down. I only use my e-mail handle now because so much of my other e-related stuff is still linked. I basically removed my Jimmy Wilsey Lives sticker off my truck and gig box. I love his style its just artists are just too strange on a personal level I guess. That was a total bummer. JWL
25 - John K
JWL ... sent you an email.
Aubrey ... good to hear that JCW is doing well.