John Jones Music

From ESP Studios Buttonville, circa 1981.

It was a very special experience creating music with the Fairlight CMI.

A 1983 ESP Studios, Buttonville recording, featuring Karen Hendrix, Mark Baker and John Jones.

Mark liked my song, “Words”, but said it didn’t have a chorus. So we rocked one together with Karen!

Band – Fairlight CMI, JJ, Mark. All vocals Karen. Mark on lead acoustic guitar. Performed, programmed, recorded by John Jones.

In 1985, “Say You’ll Stay” was a top 10 single in Canada for Priscilla Wright. Produced by Jack Richardson.

@1983-2025 johnjonesmusic-jibjones

Every year the Music Award shows forget to have a category for *hit we missed!

One of my many nominations would be Canadian singer Joey Niceforo’s solo album “Priceless.”
Recorded and filmed in Studio One, Abbey Road, London, and at Slip One, Newmarket, Ontario.

The album was produced by Sam Reid (Glass Tiger, Alan Frew), John Jones (Bond, Gary O, Klaatu, Roy Wood, Duran Duran, Alan Frew, Dan Hill, Celine Dion, Fleetwood Mac), and Steve Sidwell (George Michael, Sam Brown, Black, Roger Waters, Kate Bush, Joe Crocker, Robbie Williams, Tina Turner, Sheena Easton, Mick Jagger, Seal (arranger), Lisa Stansfield, Amy Winehouse, Mark Knopfler, Paul McCartney). Pre-production piano by Richard Evans.
Pre-production and inspiration, Roy Tan.
Engineered by Steve Price, Sam Reid and John Jones.
Score written, arranged and conducted by Steve Sidwell.
Mixed by Steve Price.

The video of “Winner Takes It All.” Filmed in Studio One. Directed and produced by Don Allan for Revolver Films.

The youtube link to “Priceless” by Joey Niceforo (2018)

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kjD-https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kjD-KZvrZIRSIja2ofskIvFHhL2OTwyDEKZvrZIRSIja2ofskIvFHhL2OTwyDE&si=DTSqbwG9UD2A0wjr

©2025 johnjonesmusic

Recently. ESP Studios, Buttonville, Ontario, Canada, alumni, Frank Watt, sent me a folder of tracks that were recorded in the studio in the 1980s.

One track was called “Blue Jays.” I had never forgotten the track, but I had forgotten working on it with Mike Bouyea and Dee Long!

Michael was a founding member of the Connecticut band “The Squires.” He wrote and sang their 1966 single “Going All the Way.”

Mike wrote, performed and produced, “We’ve Got the Blues Jays,” with Dee and the Fairlight CMI for the CHUM foundation.” Awesome!

©2025 johnjonesmusic

An album of song demos written and recorded by John Jones at ESP Studios, Hollywood Dell, Hammerwood, AIR Studios and Toronto Sound Studios between 1976 and 1988.

Rocket World

Vocals & Instruments: John Jones
Guest Guitar: Dee Long
Band: Fairlight CMI II
Written by John Idris Jones ©1982
Produced and Recorded by John Jones at ESP Studios

Beyond This Race

Vocals & Instruments: John Jones
Band: Fairlight CMI II
Written by John Idris Jones ©1983
Produced and Recorded by John Jones at ESP Studios

Getting Out

Vocals & Instruments: John Jones
Band: Fairlight CMI IIX
Written by John Idris Jones ©1985
Produced and Recorded by John Jones at ESP Studios

It’s In And Out

Vocals & Piano: John Jones
Written by John Idris Jones ©1982
Produced and Recorded Live to 2-track at ESP Studios by John Jones

Conchetta

Piano: John Jones
Band: Fairlight CMI II
Written by John Idris Jones ©1981
Produced and Recorded Live to 2-track at ESP Studios by John Jones

Oh No

Vocals & Piano: John Jones
Written by John Idris Jones ©1980
Produced and Recorded Live to 2-track at ESP Studios by John Jones
Assistant Engineer: Sabaka

In and Out

Vocals & Instruments: John Jones
Band: Logic
Written by John Idris Jones @1982
Produced and Recorded in 2009 by John Jones

No More War

Vocals & Instruments: John Jones
Band: Notator
Written by John Idris Jones ©1983
Produced and Recorded in 1992 by John Jones

Words

Vocals & Instruments: John Jones
Band: Logic
Written by John Idris Jones ©1981
Produced and recorded in 2010 by John Jones

She Said

Vocals & Instruments: John Jones
Bass and Guest Guitar: Dee Long
Band: Linn Drum
Written by John Idris Jones ©1981
Produced and Recorded by John Jones and Dee Long at ESP Studios

Don’t Wait For A Motion

Vocals & Instruments: John Jones
Written by John Idris Jones ©1980
Produced and Recorded by John Jones at ESP Studios

Second Stand

Vocals, piano, keyboards, guitar: John Jones
Vocals, drums, guitar: Steve Vaughan
Vocals, flute, cello, bass: Cameron “Cam” Hawkins
Written by John Idris Jones ©1976
Produced and Recorded by Steve Vaughan and John Jones at Toronto Sound Studios.
Executive Producer: Terry Brown

Clog Nose Wart Dog

Vocals and Instruments: John Jones
Written by John Idris Jones ©1980
Produced and Recorded by John Jones

Are You Well

Vocals & Piano: John Jones
Band: Fairlight CMI II
Written by John Idris Jones ©1980
Produced and Recorded Live to 2-track at ESP Studios by John Jones

Wee Suite

Band: Fairlight CMI
Written by John Idris Jones ©1981
Produced and Recorded at ESP Studios by John Jones

Under Milk Wood Song

Band: Fairlight CMI III and Performer
Written by John Idris Jones ©1987
Produced and Recorded at AIR Studios by John Jones

©1976-1988 johnjonesmusic-jibjones

A few weeks back I decided to put together a 15 minute “podcast” of various demo recordings that I have produced over the years. I have had the luxury of recording everyday since my parents bought me a Sony Sound-On-Sound real-to-reel tape recorder in the 1970’s, so I have recorded hundreds of songs in my life. Quantity over quality!

This week’s A Pint With jjfrazz II is a flock of covers, special to me, but not ready for prime time. Here are they in all their one take demo goodness.

The first episode of A Pint With jjfrazz – featuring original song demos.

A really great interview with Lisa from the mid 1980s.

JJ and Joey during pre-production in Newmarket

The long awaited solo album Priceless from Joey Niceforo is in the shops today!

Priceless was produced by John Jones, Sam Reid, and Steve Sidwell, who also arranged and conducted the orchestra, which was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London by the late Steve Price. The music could not have been made without the contributions of Richard Evans, Roy Tan, Jill Marie Cooper, the Orchestra, Kyle Kemp, and Sonja Ucci.

Joey Niceforo on johnjonesmusic.com

Note to God, written by Diane Warren, is the latest single and video from Joey Niceforo’s new album Priceless, which was produced by me, Sam Reid, and Steve Sidwell, who also arranged and conducted the orchestra, which was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London by the late Steve Price.

We recorded Jill Marie Cooper using Source Connect between London and Newmarket.

Priceless goes on sale April 13

Enjoy this first song and video from Joey’s new album that I co-produced in Canada and in London at Abbey Road Studios. Steve Sidwell wrote the brilliant arrangements and conducts the orchestra. I was standing fifteen feet away, in awe!

“Winner Takes it All” – Joey Niceforo