An Ocean in Motion - Live in Boston 1984 [Live]

an ocean in motion - live in boston 1984 [live]

Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
Jon Butcher Still Has A Passion For Making Music By: Scott Kinnison

Originally based in Boston, 80's rocker Jon Butcher is alive and doing well in the Los Angeles area. With a new Jon Butcher Axis CD just released, A Stiff Little Breeze, we caught up with Jon to talk about his past, present and plans for the future……

According to Jon, the Jon Butcher Axis, which consisted of Jon on guitar and vocals, Chris Martin on bass and Derek Blevins on drums, paid it's dues in the early 1980's by playing all over the greater Boston/East coast area. "We got our big break in two ways. One by being played on Boston's WBCN, who was great at the time for promoting local music. Secondly, the J Geils Band, specifically Peter Wolf, became a fan and got us signed to open for the J Geils Band on a national tour."

"This was all before we even had our first record out. So we went from playing anywhere that would pay us, to 10 to 12,000 people at the Boston Garden. It was quite an experience at the time."

Due to the exposure created by the Geils opening slot, the Jon Butcher Axis signed with Polygram Records and released two critically acclaimed albums, Jon Butcher Axis in 1983 and Staring At The Sun in 1984. Several songs, such as Life Takes A Life, Don't Say Goodnight, Ocean In Motion and Victims, received successful FM radio play and/or rotation as videos on MTV.

In fact, Jon's video for Life Takes A Life, from the self-titled album, was one of the first, by a black artist, to receive airtime on MTV. This was over five years before black rock artists, such as Living Colour, were commonly played on the music channel.

In 1985 the band moved to EMI/Capital Records and released Along the Axis. A song on that album, The Ritual, earned Jon a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. Singles and videos were released for The Sounds of Your Voice and Stop. It also marked the last time the Jon Butcher Axis moniker was used (prior to the just released album).

The following releases, Wishes (1986) and Pictures From The Front (1988) were simply under the Jon Butcher name. Jon reflected on the reason for the change. "After Chris (Martin) and Derek (Blevins) were no longer parts of the band, it didn't seem right to keep the Axis name. Because the three of us were the Jon Butcher Axis."

Wishes would turn out to be Jon's most successful album, eventually reaching Gold sales status. "There are a lot of strong songs on that record. It is also an album where I had a lot of control and I think the album turned out better for that fact. Wishes, Holy War and Goodbye Saving Grace still get a lot of radio play to this day," Jon commented.

Pictures From The Front contained the popular songs Send Me Somebody and Waiting For A Miracle, but according to Jon "with that album there were a lot of forces telling us what we should be and what we should sound like."

In 1991, while touring with INXS, the Jon Butcher Axis ceased to exist. "The band had run it's creative course, just like any band does, including the Beatles. In addition, there was the strain of me living in California, versus the East coast. Along the Axis was recorded in the Los Angles area and after it was completed, I decided to stay in California." Jon stated.

Looking at the years from 1983 to 1991, Jon was asked why the Jon Butcher Axis never obtained multi-platinum sales success. "Of course I think we deserved to sell millions of records (chuckle), however I believe the problem stemmed in the diversity of the music we made. Diversity can be a blessing and a curse.

Diversity helps with your critical success, but it is probably not a good thing for a young band trying to make a name for itself to the masses. But I love all types of music and it is hard for me to not reflect that into the music I produce."

Jon spent the 1990's on several projects. In 1994, he led a group called Barefoot Servants, which released a self-titled album on Epic Records.

Product Description
Recorded live in 1984 at Boston's The Channel Club. All the original Axis members are here, Butcher, Derek Blevins, Chris Martin and help from future member Thom Gimbel. Contains 7 songs from JBA's self titled release, 3 tracks from Stare At The Sun and one unreleased tune (Not Fade Away). Many of these songs are making their CD debut. Also contains song by song notes from Butcher.

An Ocean in Motion - Live in Boston 1984,Jon Butcher Axis,The Orchard,Blues-Rock,Hard Rock,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

An Ocean in Motion - Live in Boston 1984 [Live]
An Ocean in Motion - Live in Boston 1984
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		An Ocean in Motion - Live in Boston 1984
    Jon Butcher Axis
    Manufacturer: The Orchard
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    Similar Items:
    1. A Stiff Little Breeze
    2. Jon Butcher Axis: Live At The Casbah
    3. 2 (Barefoot Servants)
    4. Positively the Blues
    5. King Biscuit Flower Hour

    ASIN: B0001NBMNA
    Release Date: 2004-03-02

    Tracks:

    1. Ocean in Motion
    2. Victims
    3. Life Takes A Life
    4. Fairlight
    5. Sentinel
    6. Walk Like This
    7. Walk On The Moon
    8. New Man
    9. It's Only Words
    10. Not Fade Away
    11. Don't Say Goodnight

    Album Description

    Recorded live in 1984 at Boston's The Channel Club. All the original Axis members are here, Butcher, Derek Blevins, Chris Martin and help from future member Thom Gimbel. Contains 7 songs from JBA's self titled release, 3 tracks from Stare At The Sun and one unreleased tune (Not Fade Away). Many of these songs are making their CD debut. Also contains song by song notes from Butcher.
    An Ocean In Motion - Live in Boston 1984
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • Live and Loud and You Are There
    • just one more hot night at the channel for the j.b.a
    • The Axis at their very best!
    • AMAZING!!
    • Ocean In Motion Maximum Axis
    		 An Ocean In Motion - Live in Boston 1984

    Manufacturer: ATOM Records, LLC
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
    Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
    RockRock | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
    Similar Items:
    1. A Stiff Little Breeze
    2. Snakes & Arrows

    ASIN: B00006IVEW
    Release Date: 2002-08-13

    Tracks:

    1. Ocean In Motion
    2. Victims
    3. Life Takes A Life
    4. Fairlight
    5. Sentinel
    6. Walk Like This
    7. Walk On The Moon
    8. New Man
    9. It's Only Words
    10. Not Fade Away
    11. Don't Say Goodnight

    Album Description

    Recorded live in 1984, at Boston's The Channel Club, this CD features original JBA members, Jon Butcher, Chris Martin, Derek Blevins and concert support from Thom Gimbel. The CD includes seven songs from the first JBA release, three from Stare At The Sun and one new cover tune (Not Fade Away). JBA's energy was never truly captured on their first two studio albums, but it is hear for your listening pleasure. The CD also contains song by song notes from Jon Butcher.

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Live and Loud and You Are There.......2003-10-11

    A Real Must For Any Rock n' Roll Fan. This CD Rocks From The Lead Off Track "Ocean In Motion" To The Last Song "Don't Say Goodnight". This Is Real Music. Real Fun Music, Just Put On This CD And Enter The Channel Club In Boston 1984 And Be Blown Away. This Is A Live Show CD. Not Just Songs With Crowd Noise Recorded Over Them. Keep Up The Great Work Jon. Thank You From Your Fans.

    5 out of 5 stars just one more hot night at the channel for the j.b.a.......2003-08-02

    i was blown away when i heard jon was going to release this cd.
    im from the boston area,and i'm a big fan of the band.
    and if your from ma you will know what i'm talking about.
    when i say that the jon butcher axis, was the hottest band.
    around at the time. and when jon, chris, and derek played.
    the channel you where in for a hot show. i know because.
    i was there. and when i listen to the cd i can remember.
    the energy was high and the music was great. jon took,
    the stage and blow everybody away with songs like life takes a life, new man, walk like this, and my fav!! walk on the moon. so if your an old fan or a new one buy the cd and sit back and enjoy. and also check out the other cd from jon, there great.

    5 out of 5 stars The Axis at their very best!.......2003-07-20

    This 1984 release recorded at the Channel Club in Boston catches the Jon Butcher Axis at the top of their game.
    With Butcher on guitar and lead vocals, Chris Martin on bass and Derek Blevins on drums captures the pure energy of the band at the time. Their rock careers were really starting to take off when this show was recorded.
    The set list consist of most of the tracks from their first release including; "Life Takes A Life", "Ocean in Motion" and "Words" to name a few. The remaining set consist of songs from their second and newest release at the the time; "Stare at the Sun", including: "Don't Say Goodnight", "Victims", and "Walk on the Moon".
    This disc shows how good the band really was and what a great guitarist and vocalist Butcher was along with talented Martin and Blevins rythmn section. Thom Gimbel, a future Axis alum, does great saxophone and keyboard work on the CD. They put out a very tight, powerful sound.
    If you missed them in the past, pick up this disc to see what we missed.

    5 out of 5 stars AMAZING!!.......2002-11-06

    I remember first seeing JBA at a small club... in 1983.I was hooked on that sound from that night on. I don't believe I missed many JBA shows in the Boston area which puts me in the crowd when this show was recorded. Over the years as my musical taste had changed I forgot all the great memories that I had meeting people at the shows over the years (even Jon Butcher). When I heard about this CD I ordered it immediatly and have been listening to it ever since it arrived and I can't believe all the great memories it has brought back. I'm sure many of you fellow JBA fans can relate to this. YOU MUST HAVE THIS CD!!! Much better than the studio versions. It brought me right back...[local club]... since I've been listening to it. Let it take you there to!!

    5 out of 5 stars Ocean In Motion Maximum Axis.......2002-11-05

    Listening to this awesome live disc by the best Boston band of the 70's and 80's makes it all the more unbelieveable that they never exploded worldwide. Some of their best tunes from the first two axis discs are represented here, although I would of loved to of had a live version of "Dreams Fade Away" I'll take this excellent live disc while I wait for Universal Records to get The Axis discs released. This disc rips through some of their better known tunes, and is a much better representation of them live than the King Biscuit release if your an old fan or a new fan you will not be disappointed by this classic live release. I just wish we could get a Universal Masters Release of the first two discs so that I could give my cassette copies a rest.

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