After 36 years the music for D.O.A. the movie is finally available! - I've also written a new piano sonata that echoes the themes of the original score. Also FLOW the album, is available online and on CD with Printed Booklet - with a vinyl 10” coming shortly.
In 1988 a neo-noir remake of the film D.O.A. (Dead on Arrival) was made. It was directed by my sister Annabel Jankel and Rocky Morton and it starred Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan.
I wrote the original orchestral score that was briefly available on CD. For the last 25 years you couldnt find it anywhere. Elaine, my wife came home one day and said "Wouldnt it be great if your D.O.A score could be heard" and that started the two of us compiling and reimagining the original cues.In addition the last track on the album is a new piano interpretation of the music weaving together the different themes in the score.
Here is Chaz Jankel's new album Flow with thirteen soulful, funky jazz tinged tunes in the style of which many associate with Ian Dury and the Blockheads. Chaz also has had a musical journey running alongside The Blockheads. This was kickstarted in 1981 when he wrote and recorded the original Ai No Corrida (which Quincy Jones covered)that featured on his first of 4 albums, all tracks now available online. Chaz also had a couple of huge club hits with Glad to know you(co-written with Ian Dury)and the original genre shaping electrofunk banger 3,000000 synths.
On this new album his own musical skills are augmented at times by fellow Blockhead saxophonist Dave Lewis and on trumpet Bryan Corbett. Also on this album he features 2 other lead singers, Melody Palmer and Andy Caine - both extremely soulful. Chaz is also accompanied by Cherry Cameron on 3 songs, the first of which is Bodies Without A Soul, the last song he wrote for this album. Only after completing this song could Chaz imagine performing this material live. He rides again, in a very funky pair of New Boots (no panties).
In a music career spanning more than 40 years, Chaz Jankel came to prominence in the late 1970s as the guitarist and keyboardist of the rock band Ian Dury and the Blockheads. With Dury, Jankel co-wrote some of the band's best-known songs including "Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll", "Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick" and "Reasons to Be Cheerful, Part 3".
In addition to his work with the Blockheads, Jankel has had a solo career which has resulted in nine studio albums. He has a long list of credits as both a performer and as songwriter.
Co writer with Ian Dury of many of the tracks on New Boots and Panties, Chaz convinced a generation of young punks to buy funk, through landmark tracks like Sex and Drugs and Rock n Roll and Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick.
Catch The Blockheads on their live UK Tour...