Jon English - Its All A Game

sku11man

Review by sku11man sku11man

Album Review: Jon English’s It’s All A Game – A 1969 Aussie Rock Gem That Still Kicks Alright, let’s talk about Jon English’s It’s All A Game. This album dropped in 1969, smack dab in the middle of Australia’s rock and pop scene, on the Warm & Genuine label. If you’re into raw, unpolished vibes with a dash of Mellotron weirdness (thanks, Michael Carlos!), this one’s worth your time. The genres here are all over the place—Rock, Pop/Rock, straight-up Pop—but somehow it gels together like Vegemite on toast. Jon English wasn’t just phoning it in; he played acoustic guitar, autoharp, harmonica, tambourine, AND did lead vocals. Dude was basically a one-man band who occasionally let his mates join in for fun. And speaking of mates, shoutout to bassist Peter Plavsic, drummer Alex Plavsic, and everyone else credited because without them, this record might’ve sounded like someone banging pots and pans in a garage. Spoiler: It still kinda does, but in the best way possible. Now, onto the tracks. I’ll zoom in on two that stuck with me after giving this LP a spin—or several spins, if we’re being honest. First up is “Turn The Page.” Wait, no, wait—there are TWO versions of “Turn The Page” listed? Did Jon run out of ideas or just really love that song? Either way, the second version slaps harder than cold flat white on a Monday morning. You can hear Mick Liber shredding away on guitar while Ray Vanderby lays down some serious organ magic. It’s got an almost prog-rock feel at times, which makes sense since Bill Motzing handled arrangements on some tracks. Honestly, listening to this feels like watching a live jam session where nobody knows what they’re doing, but somehow everything works. Pure chaotic brilliance. Then there’s “Hail All Hail To The Revolution (12 Bore).” What even IS this title? Sounds like something scribbled on a protest sign during a very confused rally. But man, does it deliver. There’s a swagger to this track that screams ‘70s before the ‘70s even started. Jon’s vocals have this raspy charm, like he smoked three packs before hitting the studio (maybe he did?). The strings swell dramatically thanks to Bill Motzing, and the whole thing builds into this epic crescendo that leaves you wondering, “Wait…was that four minutes or forty?” It’s the kind of song that makes you want to grab a flag, march around your living room, and declare war on boring music. Oh, and props to Nicholas van der Ley for the photography—it’s moody as heck and matches the vibe perfectly. Also, whoever decided to put Michael Carlos on EVERYTHING (Mellotron, synthesizer, effects) deserves a medal. Or maybe therapy. Hard to tell. So yeah, It’s All A Game isn’t perfect. Some songs drag a bit, and the production has that lo-fi grit that’ll make audiophiles cringe. But isn’t that part of its charm? It’s messy, ambitious, and dripping with personality. Like a drunken karaoke night where everyone suddenly becomes a rock star. Final thought: Listening to this album feels like finding a dusty old vinyl in your grandpa’s attic and realizing it’s secretly amazing. Jon English poured his heart into this project, and it shows—even if he forgot to pick unique titles for every track. Cheers to him, though. If nothing else, It’s All A Game proves that sometimes, breaking the rules leads to pure musical gold. Or at least something quirky enough to keep us entertained. Rating: 8/10 – because who doesn’t love a good shanty about space?

Download Jon English - Its All A Game
Artist: Jon English
Album: Its All A Game
Rating: 3.6

Table of Contents

Download

Filename: jon-english-its-all-a-game.zip
  • MP3 size: 57 mb
  • FLAC size: 729 mb

Tracks

TrackDurationPreview
Hail All Hail to the Revolution (12 Bore)
Chained to the Middle
Love Goes On
Space Shanty
He Could've Been a Dancer
Turn The Page
Snakeyes
He Could Have Been A Dancer
Chained To The Middle
Hail All Hail To The Revolution (12 Bore)
Turn the Page
Superstar (You Promised Me)
Just the Way I Am
Just The Way I Am
By Firelight

Video

Jon English - Turn The Page - Live
Jon English - Turn the Page

Images

lataa albumi Jon English - Its All A Game
ladda ner album Jon English - Its All A Game
baixar álbum Jon English - Its All A Game
télécharger l'album Jon English - Its All A Game
descargar álbum Jon English - Its All A Game
Album herunterladen Jon English - Its All A Game

Catalog Numbers

  • 3204 902
  • 2907 902

Labels

Warm & Genuine

Listen online

  • ouvir online
  • online anhören
  • online luisteren
  • lyssna på nätet
  • escuchar en línea
  • ascolta in linea
  • lytte på nettet
  • kuunnella verkossa
  • écouter en ligne

Formats

  • Cassette
  • Album
  • Stereo
  • Vinyl
  • LP

Companies

RoleCompany
Recorded AtEMI Studios 301

Credits

RoleCredit
Acoustic GuitarJon English (tracks: A2, A3, B4)
Arranged ByBill Motzing (tracks: B4)
ProducerJon English
AutoharpJon English (tracks: A1)
BassPeter Plavsic (tracks: A2 to A5, B2), Rod Coe (tracks: A1, B1, B3, B4)
DesignIan Brown
DrumsAlex Plavsic (tracks: A2 to A5, B2, B4), Bruno Lawrence (tracks: A1, B1, B3, B4)
EffectsMichael Carlos (tracks: B4)
Engineer [RecordingRichard Lush
Mixing]Richard Lush
GuitarMario Milo (tracks: A2 to A5, B2), Mick Liber (tracks: A1, B1, B3, B4)
HarmonicaJon English (tracks: A3, B3)
Lead GuitarJon English (tracks: A6, B3)
MellotronMichael Carlos (tracks: A3, B1)
OrganMichael Carlos (tracks: A3, A4), Steve Dunne (tracks: B3)
Photography ByNicholas van der Ley
PianoJamie McKinley (tracks: A1), Ray Vanderby (tracks: B1, B3, B4), Steve Dunne (tracks: A2 to A5, B2)
StringsBill Motzing (tracks: A1)
SynthesizerMichael Carlos (tracks: B1), Ray Vanderby (tracks: A1, B3, B4), Steve Dunne (tracks: A3)
TambourineG. Wayne Thomas (tracks: A1), Jon English (tracks: A1, A4)
VocalsJon English
Written-ByBob Seger (tracks: A1), Jon English (tracks: A2 to B4)

Notes

  • Different label layout.
  • The writing credit for track A1 as per the label is "Unknown", however, Jon English - It's All A Game shows the writing credit as "Bob Seger", indicating perhaps that Jon English - It's All A Game was a later release. For this submission, although not on the label, the writing credit is shown as "Bob Seger".
  • Comes with an inner fold out lyric sheet with images.
  • Writting credit for Turn The Page (Unknown) Control - Publishing on this issue.
  • MX numbers on labels.

Barcodes

  • Matrix / Runout (Machine Stamped Runout Side 1): MX167809 2907902-1
  • Matrix / Runout (Machine Stamped Runout Side 2): MX167810 2907902-2

About Jon English

Australian songwriter, actor, and vocalist. Born 26 March 1949 in London; died 9 March 2016 after complications following surgery. He emigrated with his parents to Australia in 1961. In 1972 he took on the role as Judas in the Australian version of Jesus Christ Superstar. In 1978 he starred in the Australian TV series Against The Wind for which he co-wrote the musical score. The soundtrack as well as its two singles "Six Ribbons" and "Against the Wind" became hit records in Scandinavia. In parallel with his acting career he has released a number of solo albums.

Real Name

    • Jonathan James English

Name Vars

  • English
  • J. English
  • J.English

Interesting fact about Album

Here’s something cool: Jon English's 1969 album *It’s All A Game* is a hidden gem from Australia’s rock scene. What makes it stand out? Jon didn’t just sing—he played multiple instruments, including acoustic guitar, harmonica, and even autoharp. The album also features contributions from other talented musicians, like Michael Carlos on mellotron and synthesizer, adding layers of sound that feel experimental for its time. Fun fact: the track "Turn the Page" appears twice on the record, almost like a playful nod to listeners. It’s a raw, creative piece of music history that deserves more attention.

Comments

nicsssss
2025-03-16
Excellent
emiguzono
2025-03-16
Thanks handsomest ♡
1026470ef9affcfa0
2025-03-15
An incredible version by Jon who I first saw in 1980 then again in 08, got to meet him and had a few minutes chat to him, a unbelievable performer
mibelpe
2025-03-15
Best version ever.
kristlynn
2025-03-15
Awesome
kitapyorum
2025-03-15
Imagine John and the queen Olivia Newton John doing grease would of been a hit
Best version .
dsingletary
2025-03-14
One and only...brilliant!!
wemustpray
2025-03-14
First I heard metallica
Then Bob segar
And now this
All great
dineshmavi
2025-03-14
I miss you
silverstar1925
2025-03-13
Im just now learning of this version. Listening for the first time I really enjoythis. The Saxaphone intro and Bobs version is still the best
mubdea
2025-03-13
A GREAT SONG BY BOB SEGAR? WHAT A GREAT COVER JON!!!
mgdesbrasil
2025-03-12
That and hollywood seven https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRtnvFUus1U
acalmdiscusser
2025-03-12
R I P John. Thanks for your art. ✌️??
neurohackingem
2025-03-12
،❤️?
wulffbenjamin
2025-03-11
Best Version
centroreloader
2025-03-11
What an amazing man with a unique voice.
avianwatcher
2025-03-10
This was his best just thinking YEP
ajidbtc
2025-03-09
So many forget the song was written by Bob Seger. This is a good cover
kryeptonian
2025-03-09
It’s a singers song , We are just the audience,,
ladolabdulha15
2025-03-09
Best version of this and hollywood 7, RIP Jon
swetajoshi10
2025-03-09
sounds as cool as metallica's version
joytapar
2025-03-09
I'm proud to say that I've been a Jon English admirer for well over 40 yrs NOW. Brilliant ???Singer ?? Percent Thanks for the memories. You were a great bloody legend JON ⚰️ RIP
Played this song in many pubs many years ago and brought memories of youth...?
Saw him perform umpteen times. As good as this is it does not even come close to how good he was on stage!
ufljtjcq
2025-03-08
I loved Jon’s music and still listen to him every day R I P Jon
Love his music Aussie ledgened so missed rip john