Search - Jaugernaut :: Contra-Mantra

We had independently released two albums, and at that time there was no one beating down our doors to sign us. In 1986 Jeff Woodhouse and Jim Valentine moved from our hometown of Olympia, Washington to L.A. In hopes that they would find musical success there. Drummer Jeff Wade went Metal, and I went to work as a Computer programmer, making a lame attempt with continuing the band with a few local musicians. By 1988 I had totally removed myself from playing music in public. For the next 10 years I dabbled in recording songs and melodies that would just pop into my head. As time progressed, I heard that Jim Valentine and Geoff Woodhouse had also retired from the active music scene as well, and were happily pursuing other interests.

In 1999 I moved to Dallas Texas, I had not thought of, nor had I heard Jaugernaut music in over 10 years. One day I received an unexpected Email from someone in Belgium, asking me if I was the Jim Johnston from the 1980s Band Jaugernaut. Suprised and amused, I responded that I was. What followed was a long series of events which led to the re-release in 2003 of our second Jaugernaut Album on CD. As it had turned out, over the years both Jaugernaut records had somehow found their way to Europe, and had quietly gained a reputation among European collectors of progressive AOR/POMP music as excellent independently released records. On EBay, both Jaugernaut albums, which had become very rare, were being sold used for as much as $150.00!

I had no legal rights to the first Jaugernaut album, as it was recorded and released before I joined the band. So I could not re-release it on CD (though that has recently been rectified!). I was however, able to release the second album with little fanfare. That CD has been well received, mostly in Europe interestingly enough, where the band has never played. As sales of the CD rose steadily, I began to talk to Jeff Wade and Jim Valentine about the possibility of doing a third album. There was some passive interest, but in the end, no amount of coaxing could convince my fellow ex-members to join me for a reunion album. Consequently, the album before you is a reunion album of sorts... There is Me, Myself and I. What I had hoped would be released as a Jaugernaut CD has now been appropriately re-titled "Jaugernaut (a.d)", and has been written and produced on my own, with help from a few highly skilled friends. Over the last three years I have spent many waking hours slowly recording and assembling an album that I believe is worthy of the band that once was. Originally, this "Contra Mantra" album was going to be over 90 minutes long, but it has recently been edited back into a more reasonable 55 minutes.

I have been careful in attempting to capture the progressive element of Jaugernaut music, while holding fast to the melodic sense that made Jaugernaut such a unique band. You will find on this album, very strong influences of the pre-disco era of progressive rock bands that dominated the FM airwaves of the 70's, along with a few suprises that will occasionally "bend the mold". I should advise you that there are no radio friendly "three minute little ditties" on this album (something to sandwich in between beer and car commercials), for music of this kind was meant to take its time, to bear its listeners to far away places, and occasionally, to surprise.

Here stands Jaugernauts third album; I offer no apologies for its existence.

This music is not for everyone. But if you enjoy the Progressive Rock sound of the 70's FM radio movement, I am confident that as you listen you will find yourself on very familiar ground.