After he and Mimi split Jans came down to LA
where he became a sort of an innercircle celebrity. This must have been the time when he
met Mr. Waits. He lived in Malibu untill his death. Valerie Carter did a cover of the song
on the album 'Way It Is' in 1996. Valerie Carter was Tom Jans' girlfriend from 1976
onwards. She supported The Eagles on the European leg of their Hotel California-tour in
1977. During the only Dutch show in Rotterdam she called Jans on stage to do his
"Back on my Feet Again" together. From then on Jans was a cult-star .... in the
Netherlands only, I'm afraid. Back on my Feet Again is one of those songs which resemble
Whistle down the Wind. It's from the great album Dark Blonde. Around the world to be found
between so much other used vinyl. Recommended particularly to those interested in early
Little Feat and Tom Waits.
Jans' last album "Champion" has
finally been found. It seems that no American company was willing to release it although
the recordings (with Carter, the Porcaro's, most Little Feat members etc.) were finished.
The tapes were bought by the Japanese label Canyon International and the record was
released in Japan only. The whole thing left Jans very disappointed. He lost faith in
everyone around him with only few exceptions: at the end of the liner notes on the
Champion sleeve it says: "thanks to Tom and Kathleen". In a way these were his
last words in public.
This page updated October 2003
by Geoff ,
GMGough@clara.net
