"My Name Is Jack" is a song written by American record producer John Simon and released as a single by British group Manfred Mann in 1968. Their version reached number 8 on the UK Singles Chart. It became an international Top 10 hit, but only reached number 104 in the US.Joel Whitburn's Bubbling Under the Billboard Hot 100 1959-2004
Background The lyrics and music were written by John Simon, and his own version was included on the soundtrack of the 1968 film You Are What You Eat. The song tells the story of a resident of the "Greta Garbo Home for Wayward Boys and Girls", which was the nickname of a real hostel, the Kirkland Hotel, in San Francisco, where part of the movie was filmed.GarboForever.com. Retrieved 17 July 2014Mark Christensen, Acid Christ: Ken Kesey, LSD, and the Politics of Ecstasy, IPG, 2010, p.203, Retrieved 17 July 2014 Greta Garbo Home for Wayward Boys and Girls, discussion at HipForums.com. Retrieved 17 July 2014 Formerly Sakutaro Nakano'sThe Kashu Hotel by Jerry F. Schimmel Kashu Hotel, 1701 Laguna Street, the building became dilapidated and was demolished, and the Christ United Presbyterian Church was opened on the site in 1975.Christ United Presbyterian Church nichibei.org "Superspade", a real-life Haight Ashbury drug dealer, is also mentioned.
Early versions of the Manfred Mann cover also reference "Superspade", but as it is also a slur, the band later re-recorded the song with the more familiar "Superman" in its place, at the request of their US distributor, Mercury.
The song was recorded at one of the first high-profile sessions at the newly constructed Trident Studios in London, which would later become renowned for its use by such artists as the Beatles, David Bowie, Queen, and others.
Personnel Mike d'Abo – vocals, piano Manfred Mann – keyboards Tom McGuinness – guitar Klaus Voormann – bass guitar Mike Hugg – drums
Chart history Chart (1968)PeakpositionAustria 1Australia (Go-Set)10Australia (Kent Music Report)7Canada RPM Top Singles27Finland (Suomen Virallinen)33Germany7Netherlands16New Zealand (Listener)10UK Singles Chart8U.S. Billboard 104
Cover versions 1978 – Moonriders, Nouvelles Vagues 1994 – Pizzicato Five, Great White Wonder
References