AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Four Jacks and a Jill

Artist:Four Jacks and a Jill

Song:Master Jack

Album:Jukebox Hits of 1968 Vol. 2

Master Jack was a top 20 hit in 1968. It was the only big hit by Four Jacks and a Jill. One of their other songs charted so they are not a one hit wonder. The record certainly fits in with the folk rock of the era. But my guess is most folks who have heard this song don't know anything about the group or may think it's someone else. Four Jacks and a Jill are from South Africa. Back in the 60s, there were South African acts that copied doo wop. So I'm not surprised there were groups who copied folk music. As far as I can tell, Four Jacks and a Jill was the only South African pop group that had a hit single here. When they started out in 1964, they were called The Nevadas. They started wearing their hair long and changed their name to The Zombies. It was after they added singer Glenis Lynne that the name was changed to Four Jacks and a Jill. Other members were Bruce Bark on guitar, Till Hannemann on organ, Clive Harding on bass and Tony Hughes on drums. They signed with Gallo Records. Gallo is a huge South African record company. The story goes that someone in RCA's Los Angeles office heard Master Jack and thought it had potential. So RCA licensed it from Gallo and had Four Jacks and a Jill come to Los Angeles to record the album Master Jack in stereo. Master Jack reached #18 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was written by David Marks who worked in a South African mine. So it's kind of a South African protest song. I can understand why RCA liked it as it sounds like 60s folk music. You can get it on this various artists CD. One other song charted. And then Four Jacks and a Jill returned to recording for Gallo. They had a long career in South Africa. Here's the video for Master Jack by Four Jacks and a Jill.