Jump

THE BAND:

Paul Roberts - Vocals, guitars
Les Davidson - Guitar, vocals

ADDITIONAL MUSICIANS:

Caitlin Roberts - Accordion
Richard Moore - Violin
 

Produced - Paul Roberts

2020

The story

Sniff’n’the Tears Acoustic is me and Sniff guitarist Les Davidson performing the band’s songs as an acoustic duo. Pretty much unadorned other than a bit of violin and accordion from Lost Revellers Richard Moore and Caitlin Roberts. For my part I haven’t performed like this since the mid-nineteen-seventies in Paris.

In 1974 the first iteration of Sniff’n’the Tears ended when our guitarist Eddy had to return to Iran for military service and a relationship with a girl I was developing feelings for abruptly ended for me. I went to France with a musician friend. We ended up in the south of France broke. Headed for Saint Tropez to try a bit of busking but ended up with me doing quick portraits which proved a lot more profitable. Ended up staying for a month or two.

I soon ran in to a French singer called Robert Frank who was very enthusiastic for my singing and songs. He said, come to Paris, and said “I will get you a record company.” I went to Paris and he did. Not only that but found me a place to stay and a restaurant to sing in. The restaurant Chez Xavier on the Île Saint Louis fed me and I sang a couple of sets then went round with a plate. Xavier, who looked uncannily like his comic strip namesake, was very loyal to me, no customers were allowed to complain, if they did they were told to go elsewhere, which fortunately only happened twice in the nearly two years I was there.

I sang without a microphone which means you either have to seduce or deafen them. I sang a mixture of my own material plus stuff that I liked or that was popular at the time. I really enjoyed it, met people, found a gallery to show my work in and had a great time. During our recent acoustic gigs I was reminded of the freedom that just singing your songs can bring. People are listening, so everything counts. Somehow in the discipline and power of a band you are consumed by the whole rather than the freedom to interpret.

We just thought let’s get out and do something. So far it has been a really rewarding way to re-connect with our audience. So “Jump” is a sampler of what we do live. Some old, some new. Hope you like it.

Paul Roberts

Find out more about the acoustic project here.

Album posters available here.