New Jani Lane Album Out Next Week

Jani Lane died in 2011. Now Deadline Music is preparing to release an album of covers that Lane recorded between 2004 and his death. The new album is called Catch A Falling Star and features covers of some of our most favorite songs. I should note a lot of these recordings have been released in the past.

There are famous guests on Catch A Falling Star like Jake E. Lee, Chris Holmes, and former Warrant bandmates Erik Turner and Jerry Dixon. Here is the track listing:

I Want You To Want Me 
Panama
Photograph
The Ocean
Doctor, Doctor
Electric Eye
Free For All (feat. Jake E. Lee)
No Surprise (feat. Chris Holmes)
Lay Your Hands On Me (feat. Erik Turner, Jerry Dixon)

I haven't decided if this is cool, creepy, just a cash grab or a litle of all three. Regardless, I'll probably get this album. I assume this is the last Lane recording we'll ever get... unless another vault of songs is discovered a decade from now. 

Here's "Photograph." Have a listen:

Comments

[Kevon]

I thought Jani had an album called Jabawooky that was suppose to cone out right before his passing. I really like Back Down to One and the collaboration Saints of the Underground. I will pick this album up even though Im not a big fan of a covers album, but its Jani and Im a big fan of his.

[Him]

As I understand it, all of these songs are already out there for the fans to enjoy. This is just a package of them all in one place. Make of that what you will in this age of buy-by-the-song simplicity.

And, Devon, there are demos of some of those Jaberwocky songs circulating through the inter-webs and tubes. Songs like "Private Blue World."

I've grown to appreciate his lyrics over time. That said, I think the tragic arc (used the right term this time!) of his life and career has imbued his gifts with a bit more significance than they might otherwise deserve (see also: Morrison, Cobain, etc.).

Still a tragic loss for fans of metal. Taking nothing away from that or from fans pining for something new from him.

[JAT]

I have always felt that Jani was one if not the best songwriters of the "big" bands out of the Sunset Strip. Not saying Warrant was my fav band but I think Jani was a genius songwriter. Jani is what Bret Michaels wants (or believes himself) to be. Nikki Sixx had the same kind of ability early in his career as well.

[oper8n]

Already ordered it. Cannot wait to get it. I think his songs are great, and thought so before he died. Full disclosure, we got our dog about the time of his death. Her given name was Sweet Baby Jane, which we shortened to Jani. She's a great dog, but so far, no musical talent.

[Metalboy!]

I had beers with Jani Lane and Joey Allen after they played at Limelight in NYC. I'll never forget what Allen, under his breath said to me and his cousin, who I was dating at the time, as Lane walked away..

In the conversation with Jani, they asked me where I was from. I told them, "Maryland -- KIX Country!" They laughed and Jani walked over to someone he knew when Allen said out of earshot... "Yeah, KIX... I wish we had a singer with balls like Steve Whiteman."

I just thought that was really odd and it's always stuck with me. Listen to this version of "Photograph"... Sounds like Lane's got balls to me! RIP, Jani!

p.s. "Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich" is a classic and is unrefutable eveidence of Lane's huge talent both as a singer AND songwriter as so many of you have noted here. Just take "Downboys", for example... The song structure was completely fresh, as well as the those incredible lyrics.

[Rita]

Jani was a Genius. Pure and simple No other word comes close to describing him

[Bob]

"You've got a lot of nerve to call me cheap even though it's true." Now that is a brilliant lyric! Still puts a smile on my face every time I hear that line.

[Him]

Rita, you know I respect you. But I will go out on a ledge here.

Lane was a gifted musician. And a tortured one. He made (contributed to) classic songs. He also made (contributed to) cheesy ones. Like I said above, I have new found respect for him.

I remember a time when I thought Morrison was untouchable. Then I read his poetry. Pedantic, meandering, and turgid. So what had I really enjoyed (still enjoy, in fact)? The mixture he created with his band-mates.

I think that is the same thing for Lane. No doubt, he wrote some great stuff. No doubt, the band suffers without him. But this is another one of those "more than the sum" sorta' things.

I guess my point is this: Lane was gifted. But he wasn't a genius. I tend to put very few people in that category. "Uncle Tom's Cabin" is a great narrative, with a steady sound, that pulls you through a vivid story (enargia is the best term I can think of). But if you strip out the music, I wonder what you are left with? The best I can come up with is listening to those vocal-only versions of "Running with the Devil" and "Ace of Spades" on YouTube. They sound god-awful stripped of context.

And I should add something: these new (old) releases are just scraping a barrel. His versions add nothing new. Not a new twist or a novel take. They are solid repeats. No one hooted and hollered when they were originally released. So, why would Deadline release them? Because Cleopatra (the actual label) does what it does best: releases rehashes/remakes to further its product line. Nothing wrong with that.

And, even if I am wrong, nothing about a cover speaks to the talent of the singer or band who opts to cover another's song, save if it adds something. Bauhaus with "Ziggy Stardust"? Sure. Cash covering NIL? Same. Even Megadeth covering N. Sinatra.

Again, I was late to the Lane appreciation club. I am a happy member. But he was not a genius.

[Rita]

Hi Him,

I understand what you're saying. I didn't listen to any of these covers actually, as I've never been a huge fan of covers, from Jani or anyone else.

While I was always a fan of Jani as a singer and a performer, I called him a genius based on my view of his ability to write so many songs that spoke to me.

There were just so many songs of his that I thought were very well written, either because of clever lyrical twists, such as the gem Bob pointed out above, or just because the melodies were so catchy and addictive. In my mind, there are few artists who can keep churning out quality songs, album after album, and he did that. Granted, given his life was cut short by his addiction, his body of work is not what it could have been. Had he lived, I have no doubt that all , or most of his material, would be just as good as anything he'd ever written. It just seems to me, nothing he ever did song-wise would be classified as "filler". In my mind, he had a gift for writing great songs.

And maybe I think so highly of him because I was lucky enough to spend time with him on a couple of occasions after his Toronto shows many years ago and because I thought he was a great person too. I will always remember having drinks with my BFF, Jani and Jerry on the bus, with Jani playing us some songs he was currently working on for his solo CD. That to me was a magical night that I still fondly remember.

Maybe part of my admiration for him is due to the halo effect. Had he lived, perhaps he wouldn't have seemed as special as he does now that he is gone.

Just adding a bit more context to my previous comments Him. As you can tell, I'm a Jani Fangirl and not ashamed one bit. I really respected him as a song-writer, vocalist and performer, but mostly as a writer.

[Him]

That was an awesome post, Rita. I really appreciate you taking the time to contextualize your appreciation of Lane and his music. Can't take any of that away from you. And those are some wonderful memories.

And I think you are right: all of us fan-boys and -girls hold our idols close to our hearts. We forgive them a host of sins and overlook a mountain of transgressions simply because they made, and make, our lives better. So I know of what you speak.

Like I said, thanks Rita.

[Gary]

Wow. A disagreement of opinions that didn't dissolve into calling each other a f@cking dumbass moron or a shit for brains idiot. Lmao. That's why I love this site. You can have an actual debate,in the truest sense often the word,without it dissolving into the presidential primaries... 8-). I will probably buy this,if for no other fact than some of the royalties will hopefully make their way to Jani's daughter? (If Bobbi doesn't cut them off at the pass) Guy wrote some memorable tunes. And MB, you should've told Joey Allen that "I bet Jani wishes he had a guitarist with some writing ability like Tom Keifer"... Lmfao . The dude is still living off of Jani's songs when you get right down to it.

[Rita]

Him and Gary you both make excellent points.

And Gary, that's a big reason why I keep coming back here. I actually really like a lot of the regular contributors here. Not all of them (no names, you know who you are), but a lot of them.

And I would argue the ability to debate respectfully is a sign of maturity. And that's a good thing.

\m/

[Him]

Couldn't agree more, Rita. And posts like yours are the reason that this is the site I read first and the only one to which I contribute. Personally, I wish you posted more.

[Granted, some of those 'not to be named' posters are good fun, what with their tractor-beam focus on digging their own ditches or leaving us in stitches.]

I will say it again: Allyson created something special. I wish more people knew about this site. Then again, I appreciate the fact that it is a tended garden that has resisted the flames and trolls that pollute so many other sites.

[Metalboy!]

Haha!!, Gary! As usual, ever the cutting wit!

Okay, I'll avoid the name calling...

How's this:

Sometimes it takes a genius to spot a genius...

As Rita said, Lane was a genius!

How do we know... As I said, "Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich"... All killer, no filler, as Rita indicated... And again, citing "Downboys" as Exhibit A.

And while the a*sholes who helped drive him to his grave added to the music, HIM, keep in mind, according to Bobbi Brown and others, Lane worked out the majority of the stuff on his piano and/or guitar BEFORE presenting it to the band!

Great minds think alike, Rita!

[Rita]

You said it Metalboy!, my BBG husband ;)

[KOZ]

RIP Jani- I still love hearing him sing. I wish he knew how many people liked him before he passed. He seemed so lonely at the end. The rest of Warrant need to stop touring.