Night Walker: The Jack Nitzsche Story Volume 3

For the latest entry in Ace’s ‘Producer Series’ we return to the work of someone who was also the first entry in that series – Bernard Nitzsche, or “Jack” as he’s known to his legion of aficionados.

So prolific was Jack in his 30±year career that we have devoted two previous volumes to his work so far. This third one more than upholds the standards set by those two – and there is still plenty of untapped material for future volumes of comparable quality.

All students of American popular music will welcome “Night Walker”. It includes important tracks by artists with whom Jack was closely associated over a long period of time, such as Jackie DeShannon and (as a member of Buffalo Springfield) Neil Young, as well as a host of obscure and semi-obscure delights from lesser knowns that Jack worked with only once or twice – many of which have never appeared on CD before.

For the first time in this series we have been able to incorporate examples of Jack’s work with Phil Spector, including key songs from the Ronettes, Crystals and Darlene Love. Several other tracks that were not available for previous volumes, such as Buffalo Springfield’s “Expecting To Fly”, also debut here.

All facets of Jack’s talent are amply represented by a collection that literally spans his entire career, from his first session (Preston Epps) to his last (C.C. Adcock). He is himself featured as a vocalist, a conductor/arranger and a film score composer.

The copious sleeve notes include several reminiscences of Jack by his peers in a typically detailed booklet that, as always, is crammed with rare label shots and photographs that will delight even the most ardent Jack completist.