Jaye Jayle Reappears with “Help!”
The visionary artist shares their take on the classic single by The Beatles.
Photo credit: Chris Jenner.
“Emotive, cold, utterly fantastic.” – Ghost Cult
Louisville, KY’s multi-instrumentalist mainstay Jaye Jayle have reappeared with an unconventional and ultimately “Jaye Jayle-esque” cover of the song “Help!” by The Beatles. Bandleader Evan Patterson discloses the cover’s origin:
“A few months ago, I was riding in the car with my seventy-one year old father while he was listening to The Beatles’ song ‘Help!’ This is not out of the ordinary. My dad is a “Beatles Mania” guy with a ‘LENNON’ personalized license plate and stickers all about his car. Their posters and albums hang on his basement walls and he even has stuffed dolls of the Fab Four. What I’m saying is: The Beatles have been subconsciously a massive influence on my musical mind.”
Patterson continues, “For no particular reason I zoned in on the lyrics to the song ‘Help!’ and laughed about how much of a bummer they are in juxtaposition to the cheerful, childlike melody of the music. A few nights later I had a dream about making a cover of the song with music that is loosely based on the original, yet marries more to the sad cry for companionship and loneliness of the lyrics. My longtime bass collaborator, Todd Cook, and I made a demo with an 808 drum machine and sent it over to our favorite drummer in the entire world, Britt Walford. Two weeks later we recorded the song with such ease and enjoyment. There was a lot of laughter in the making of this song. It’s not meant to be taken as dark. It’s meant to make you smile. Though, I still haven’t let my father hear the cover song. I imagine that he will not dig it.”
“Help!” credits:
Written by John Lennon/Paul McCartney
Evan Patterson – Vocal/guitars/synth
Todd Cook – Bass
Britt Walford – Drums
Recorded by Jim Marlowe on May 1st 2022
Mastered by Shelley Anderson
Jaye Jayle’s standalone cover single surfaces with the group’s reemergence, playing midwestern shows and shaking off the dust over the course of the last few months. The band is currently preparing a new full-length album with details to be revealed in the near future.
For now, revisit Jaye Jayle’s House Cricks and Other Excuses to Get Out, No Trail & Other Unholy Paths, and Prisyn.
Keep up with Jaye Jayle on Instagram, Facebook, and Bandcamp.
“Help!” cover art:
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