Jon Lucien's "Search For The Inner Self" sessions from 1969 released by Kent/Ace

Championed by Paul Weller and Snowboy, Jon Lucien's 1969 recording session is being released as "Search For The Inner Self."   

Here's the scoop from Mark "Snowboy" Cotgrove...

"This work of beauty is finally out after nearly 60 years.

"I was fortunate to have played a series of concerts at the Jazz Café with the incredible Jon Lucien in 1995. I could hardly believe my luck. There’s no bigger fan of Jon than me. Along with his manager and the famous drummer, Kim Plainfield, was Jon’s wonderful wife, Delesa. We bonded immediately.  And with Jon, Kim and Nik Cohen on bass we had 3 or 4 incredible days playing music. I still have a fantastic recording of one of those shows.

"That week Jon gave me an unreleased album on cassette from 1969 and asked if I could try and get it released somehow. It was a beautiful folky kind of album, quite unlike his later albums, but typical of his early singles. However there was a potentially huge Soul bomb on there called ‘We Got Love’ of which I immediately cut on to acetate and played out everywhere these past 31 years (an anthem at my beloved ‘Good Foot’ residency). As promised, I tried all the Soul labels in the UK but to no interest.

"The next time I saw Jon a year or two later out of frustration he’d manufactured 100 himself on CD to sell at gigs.

"Anyway, I remained friends with Jon and Delesa until we lost them both. They were both wonderful, kind, warm and genuine people and I’m so proud to have known them.

"Funnily enough Jon told me once that he used to always take my current cd then to any house parties they went to, to get the party going! What a sweet thing to do.

"Here we are 31 years later and this beautiful album is finally out. I had considered releasing it myself in the past, but at last it’s found it’s perfect home now on the right label, ACE.

"Well done to Ady Croasdell and team on such an incredible job."

Jon Lucien – Search For The Inner Self

Jon Lucien’s ‘Search For The Inner Self’ was one of the highlights of Paul Weller’s recently complied Ace CD “That Sweet, Sweet Music”. When also issuing it as a single, we included ‘We Got Love’, a track from his self-financed CD “Precious Is Love”, which proved to be as feted a choice as the top side. 

Due to this and further encouragement from soul fans, DJs and the Lucien family, we licensed the rest of the Beau Ray Fleming produced 1969 recordings for LP and CD reissue. Here is the very start of Lucien’s songwriting creativity − ‘Precious Is My Love’, ‘A Heart In Love’, ‘Flower Garden’ and ‘The Season Of Spring’ are accomplished and captivating creations, equal to his later much-admired work.

The choice of cover songs was inspired. ‘Strawberries Don't Know Cherries’ was an unknown song that had yet to be covered, the reading of Barry and Robin Gibb’s ‘To Love Somebody’ is exemplary and the out-of-left-field ‘Only An Illusion’ is a number perfect for Lucien’s mystical approach to soul. Producer Fleming contributed ‘It’s Bigger Than I’ the previously undigitized flip to the ‘Search For The Inner Self’ 45, as well as the catchy dancer ‘We Got Love’, that DJ Snowboy has championed for years.

When Jon Lucien released the original CD in 1999, he only made about 100 copies; demand has rocketed for it ever since. It was never on vinyl originally. We have commissioned sleeve notes from acclaimed US scribe Kevin Goins to enhance the packaging of both formats. 

Get a copy of Jon Lucien's "Search For The Inner Self" album via Ace Records UK right here. Listen to the title track "Search For The Inner Self" and "We Got Love" below.