Discographical Accounts Part 3 (1973-1974)

Jobriath in England, recording with the London Symphony Orchestra (?)

All That Glitters Is Gay!

After his album had been turned down by numerous proprietors in the record industry, managerial impresario, Jerry Brandt came into possession of the demo tapes, and was able to locate Jobriath, signing him to Elektra for a lucrative, $500,000 recording contract. Jerry and Jobriath embarked on preliminary recording sessions for a lavish glam rock spectacle, whose length would span for around two hours. A total of twenty four songs were recorded, in conjunction with five symphonic tracks that would serve as interludes. Studio sessions lasted regularly for four to five months, based mainly in Electric Lady, with some additional time in England to orchestrate the symphonic interludes. Eventually, the conclusive studio time was divided across two separate albums, released in swift succession, during 1973 and 1974.

 Several versions of "Take Me I'm Yours" were also recorded, and "As The River Flows" was also revisited, but is yet to be released. As of 2004, the unused symphonic interludes dating from October 1973, were in possession of Sanctuary (the label that compiled the 'Lonely Planet Boy' anthology disc.) These tracks have been identified and listed below:

The symphonic tracks were conducted with a series of London-based musicians, and have circulated among collectors in lo-fi dub quality. Some of the instrumental cuts that have surfaced, rework two songs featured on Jobriath's 1974 album, 'Creatures of the Street' (a vastly different undertaking than the shelved demo reel from 1972.) Running for a total of roughly seven minutes, they are characterized by flourishes of Prokofiev's 'Romeo and Juliet.'

While on tour, Jobriath and his newly christened backing quartet, the Creatures, began work on a third album. Tentative recording was taken up in New York City's Media Sound (Creature, Gregg Diamond would later record as Bionic Boogie, along with fellow band mates, Steve Love and Jim Gregory.) One of the songs demoed in Media, "Weightless (aka: Weightless Love)" would be pitched by Jobriath as a single for the third album. The third album would have blended new material with re-recordings of earlier songs. Material was rehearsed and recorded during the run of Jobriath's summer 1974 tour of the United States, and was said to have been supervised by Godfrey Diamond, noted record producer and brother to Creatures drummer, Gregg. The track listing is theorized to have functioned in the following arrangement:

 1. Amazing Dope Tales
 2. City Freak
 3. Miss Arkanas
 4. Wildfire in Memphis
 5. Beyond Blonde
 6. Weightless Love
 7. The Actor
 8. Girl of the Night
 9. Good Fight
 10. New York, New York
 11. Ducky Lullabye

 "Good Fight" appeared on 'Lonely Planet Boy,' under the title, "I Love A Good Fight." Master tapes for five other tracks exist, and have circulated among the hands of devoted collectors with the best of bootleg crudity. On occasion, half-baked attempts at a proper release have been pursued, but there is some considerable doubt as to whether the material is "releasable."