Early last year I wrote a piece on 10 rare tracks by Apollo 440. It was a band I had followed since childhood so knew a fair bit about and garnered a bit of attention by fans as well as the group! After being reminded of it a few weeks ago it got me thinking about other acts I had followed for the majority of my life and if the same treatment could be implemented.

Enter Jamiroquai.

For those unfamiliar Jamiroquai are a British band that started life as an Acid Jazz/Funk group and went on to become pop superstars by the late 90’s. Now focusing mostly on touring the globe and led by singer & mainstay Jay Kay Jamiroquai have released so much stuff over the years – both in their home country and worldwide – it’s no surprise that in that time they have accumulated a sizeable amount of rarities via singles, imports and promos.

These ten tracks aren’t the easiest to come by, but even if you are a casual fan you’ll be glad to have come across them, and who knows you might discover a new favourite amongst this piece!

1 – Mr. Boogie

An incredible live favourite, ‘Mr. Boogie’ was a staple of the band’s set for a good number of years. First coming to the stage in 1995 the track held a swagger that would have found itself being a welcome part of the second album, but sadly no studio recordings were made (or if there were it is yet to see the light of day). By ’96 the song had evolved into ‘Slipin ‘n’ Slidin” and though starred a full set of lyrics was turned into an instrumental b-side for the single “Cosmic Girl” in November of the same year.

As said before no session version of ‘Mr. Boogie’ exists in the wild, but it can be found on many of the band’s live bootlegs, so if anything you can hear the track at it’s most organic and with the energy it truly deserved. Weirdly enough the lyrics to ‘Slipin ‘n’ Slidin” were featured in the liner notes of the “Travelling Without Moving” reissue and many fans believe that this was an error on someone’s part as only the b-side version is present on the release!

2 – Hollywood Swingin’

One thing Jamiroquai have always been known for is their fiery and passion driven covers in their live sets, so when the group started performing a version of the famous disco track ‘Hollywood Swingin” it seemed to be a match made in heaven!

So popular was this interpretation that in 1997 it became part of a Japan only minidisc EP of the same name. However the song itself was moved to the end of the release as a live recording and even though it would also make an appearance on a US store release promo the same year it wouldn’t be until 2004 that a studio version would be made with the help of the song’s original creators Kool & The Gang. Though included on their compilation “The Hits: Reloaded” and given a lot of radio airplay the song failed to chart and has since fallen into cult status. Both versions (as well as remixes by house DJ Ralphi Rosario) are possible to hunt down if you know where to look, but the most accessible are the aforementioned Kool & The Gang compilation as well as the 20th anniversary reissue of ‘Travelling Without Moving’, so no need to scour through bootlegs for this one. The oddest thing about this rarity is it’s tenancy to drop the ‘g’ at the end of the title depending on which version you listen to.

3 – Space Cowboy (Stoned Again)

Available only on the track’s 12″ single and Japanese import of ‘Return Of The Space Cowboy’, this version is something of an oddity. With ‘Space Cowboy’ being the band’s first stand-out hit it got to number 1 in the US dance charts thanks to the many different mixes that allowed it ample play in the clubs across the world. The ‘Stoned Again’ version however sounds is something a little different.

With 3 main studio versions offered to the public – that being the album, single & demo recordings – the ‘Stoned Again’ rendition is tighter and has a warmer tone to the other three. The synths linger longer and Jay’s vocals are like honey (especially on the second verse when a harmony comes out of nowhere for the line “so high in the sky”). Instead of packing the punch of the single version this take is more lounge material, offering Zender a front seat with his incredible bassline but not so much that it takes over the entire song. Standing longer than all the other versions gives fans of the track even more time to enjoy this amazing recording.

It’s a crying shame that this version of ‘Space Cowboy’ hasn’t been made more readily available as it’s clearly the best rendition out there (and the group tends to agree as it was the version they would play live). If you can hunt down a copy of the album’s Japanese version it’s surely a perfect outro to what is ultimately one of the band’s best releases. Some fans have even speculated that this is the original version of the song as the more well known mixes don’t in fact feature Stuart Zender on bass.

4 – Everybody’s Going To The Moon

It’s the year 2000, and Jamiroquai are riding high of the back of their 4th album ‘Synkronized’. With the loss of former integral members Stuart Zender & Wallis Buchanan the band wasted no time taking their style to the next level, swapping the Acid Jazz/Fusion vibe they had become known for and replacing it with a more electronic disco vibe. Spring of that year saw the band join forces with Jools Holland for a cover of ‘I’m In The Mood For Love’, a popular track that featured as one of three singles from the British Comedy flick ‘Kevin & Perry Go Large’, but it was in mid June that the fans would get a proper taste of what was to come with the arrival of the soundtrack to animated sci-fi movie ‘Titan A:E’.

Joining the ranks alongside Lit, Texas and Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Jamiroquai provided what is arguably the best track on the whole album with ‘Everybody’s Going To The Moon’ – a dark, sexy future trip that comes across as a spiritual successor to the likes of ‘Cosmic Girl’ and ‘Planet Home’. The space age sampling and whittling keys provide a perfect platform for Jay’s confident vocals, proving to the listener that he is indeed the captain of this ship. Only available from the movie’s OST and the Australian tour edition of their next record ‘A Funk Odyssey’, ‘Everybody’s Going To The Moon’ becomes a welcome addition to both releases, with the former becoming a grand addition to the band’s new era and the latter standing out as a shining moment in an otherwise underwhelming movie & soundtrack.

5 – Do You Know Where You’re Comin’ From? (Jumping Jacks Mix)

Another remix for the list, this time coming from a track that in itself could also be considered rare (if it weren’t for the fact that the single goes for pennies online). Erupting onto the charts in the spring of 1996 the cross-over giant that was ‘Do You Know Where You’re Comin’ From?’ put Jamiroquai in the crosshairs of UK Jungle act M-Beat. Considered by many to be a match made in heaven this track paved the way for what would be the band’s most popular album to date, but apart from making it onto the US release as a bonus track as well as a b-side to ‘Virtual Insanity’ the song became a serial oddity. It was however given pride of place at the start of M-Beat’s 3rd and final album ‘Knowledge’.

Considering the nature of this single’s creation the release came with a cavalcade of remixes, the majority of which were more akin to interpretations made by M-Beat himself. Each version gave a slight re-tweak of the different elements within the track, as well as different vocal takes by Jay. The most illusive of these mixes is one by Brixton Drum ‘n’ Bass act Jumping Jack Frost.

Released only on the 12″ UK single and the Japan CD promo this rendition is pure D&B bliss. Cutting up Jay’s vocals not unlike the Morales ‘Space Cowboy’ helps create a smooth vibe alongside a classic 90’s piano riff later giving way to a powering bassline that rises and falls across the procession. It’s by far one of the best excursions on the release and is a shame that it didn’t get more coverage internationally.

6 – Do It Like We Used To Do

A (very) deep cut from the band’s 2001 sessions, ‘Do It Like We Used To Do’ was given many opportunities but sadly got brushed aside. Clocking in at seven and a half minutes this track plays out like the Jam songs of old, be it with a 21st century twist. It originally found itself on the original running of ‘A Funk Odyssey’ within the test pressing, but somewhere in the decision making it was booted off.

The bad luck kept on coming when a decision was made to focus more on remixes than b-sides for the album’s singles (it was a dancier record after all, and if their stuff could end up on DJ’s Friday night sets it could only be a boon), so ‘Do It Like We Used To Do’ was relegated to the DVD & cassette formats of ‘You Give Me Something’. Weird thing is there was still a small push for the track as it was given it’s own 1 track promo alongside the other singles (as well as the Knee Deep mixes of ‘Main Vein’) but it garnered little more than confusion amongst the band’s followers as to why the track wasn’t given a more widespread release.

However this tale does have a happy ending. As it had become etched into this phase of the band’s career it was offered up many times as a bonus track on many of Funk Odyssey’s tour editions. As well as that it was included on the Japanese promo, so if anything this tune has become somewhat of a cult hit across the fandom (and lets be honest it got far more chances than that white label mix of ‘Main Vein’ titled ‘To Stop Me’).

7 – Snooze You Loose

Featured on a promo that in itself could be entered into this list, ‘Snooze You Loose’ is a session track that was used to promote the band’s brand new website. Paired up with a remix of ‘Black Capricorn Day’ and an enhanced section this sinister ditty could be the closest the band have ever gotten to a Bond theme.

With a strong and sturdy bassline and a catchy chorus it’s weird to think a song of this calibre was only used for this purpose. Only 10,000 copies of the promo were ever made, so if you spy one in the wild or online be sure to snap it up!

8 – Natural Energy

Without a doubt the earliest Jamiro-related track to date ‘Natural Energy’ was something of a myth within the fan community for quite some time. Not listed on Discogs, nor released on any compilation albums or bootlegs, ‘Natural Energy’ was the stuff of legend until October of 2011 when it was played on UK station Solar Radio as part of a show dedicated to the label the song originated from – Street Sounds.

In an interview on BBC Radio 1 back in 2006 Jay proclaimed that the song came about thanks to some friends in the local music industry. Finding he had some talent as a singer he recorded the track at Street Sounds back in 1986, coming away with a small handful of white labels adorned with the Buffalo Man art as a result. “I was all naive and excited about trying to get my voice on a record” Jay Said “I came back 3 weeks later and I see these guys with boxes packing up the place. Turns out Morgan [manager of the studio] had gone to Sweden and shut down the place!”

Though this seemed to be a step back for Jay it certainly didn’t stop his ambitions, but to this day (apart from that one play on the radio) ‘Natural Energy’ has become nothing more than a footnote in the band’s genesis. The reason might be clear the moment you hear it as apart from Jay’s voice it is certainly not a Jamiroquai tune (or at least not one we’re familiar with). Simple in it’s structure and played pretty loose in it’s composition ‘Natural Energy’ is a very early Acid Jazz track that is very electronic at it’s core. The closest it comes to sounding like anything else in the band’s back catalogue is probably ‘If I Like It I Do It’, but only through the chords and tempo.

Jay’s vocals meander back and forth throughout the song and there’s a vibe akin to an early summer banger that is years ahead of it’s time. In fact the track itself would have probably done pretty well on the pirate radio circuit if given half the chance! ‘Natural Energy’ is a great example of the talent Jay had even at such a young age and many fans in the community would give their right arm to have it be properly released to the public (even just as a novelty). Since it’s airplay the track has been unofficially cleaned up and popped on YouTube for the world to hear, so even though you probably won’t be able to own a copy you can at least play it to your heart’s content!

9 – Getinfunky

Released as an exclusive bonus track for the Japanese and Australian versions of ‘Synkronized’, ‘Getinfunky’ marks a change in the air. Considerably more electronic than it’s forebears this instrumental track seems to sound more like an unused session track for their next album ‘A Funk Odyssey’ and though somewhat simple it certainly lives up to it’s name. Replacing Jay’s signature vocals are a set of ultra thick synth grooves that weave in and out of each other in almost like a futuristic version of ‘Duelling Banjos’ and although catchy as hell it’s clear why this track wasn’t included in the finished cut of the album. Next to songs like ‘King For A Day’, ‘Falling’ and ‘Planet Home’ it would stick out like a sore thumb, but don’t let that put you off.

‘Getinfunky’ would have fit perfectly as a segue track for some of the band’s later releases, but as it stands it instead marks the changing of the guard (all be it in a rare form). Sandwiched between b-side ‘Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing’ and the non-album single ‘Deeper Underground’ on the Australian bonus disc this song would be a perfect inclusion to the roster of session tracks if ‘Synkronized’ was given the anniversary reissue treatment (a release many fans are certainly hoping for in the near future).

10 – Smile

The most recent rare track featured on the list, ‘Smile’ came at a time when no one seemed to know what the next step Jamiroquai were going to take (if any). Released in the summer of 2011 as a free download this slow jam was an out-take from ‘Rock Dust Light Star’ and used as a competition where fans were asked to create artwork to accompany it.

This wasn’t the only out-take from the album. Although over 30 tracks were recorded only half of them appeared on the release. Some were included on the deluxe edition but a few are only known by name and there’s little knowledge on if they were reformed into other titles or even made their way onto their later album ‘Automaton’. Not the most memorable song in the band’s back catalogue – but a thing of beauty none the less – ‘Smile’ was sadly even omitted from the deluxe edition of the album, however it hasn’t stopped the band from playing it live on many sets and has since become something of a cult favourite among fans. Sadly the site that offered the free download no longer does so, but I bet you can come across it if you “look” hard enough.

So there you have it, ten awesome tracks by Jamiroquai for you to hunt down and add to your collection. Did I miss one of your favourites? Let me know in the comments and I might make a follow up (lets face it, there’s enough in their back catalogue to warrent one)!

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