Jayhawks deluxe reissues expected this year

I interviewed Gary Louris from the Jayhawks for a story to preview his show with Mark Olson Thursday in Cedar Rapids. It was great to talk with someone who has made so much of my favorite music and learn more about the duo’s creative process, but the real treat was this bit of news: The Jayhawks’ major-label catalog will see the deluxe reissue treatment this year.

“It’s a good time to be a Jayhawks fan,” Louris said, mentioning that the reissues will include DVDs, bonus tracks and more, all through Sony Legacy. The project also will include a best-of, and extended DVD collection and a boxed set.

“I think the Jayhawks’ day is finally kind of arriving in terms of getting the attention it deserved,” he said.

As for the bonus tracks, he said “There’s a lot of stuff. The problem is being on the road and not being able to sort through it all.”

Asked if the band’s eponymous debut album might finally see release, he said “I’m going to say yes.” The album, called Bunkhouse by fans, has been rumored for release for years (as have, come to think of it, these reissues). It is owned by Lost Highway records, which issued the Jayhawks’ swan song, Rainy Day Music. Louris said the label seems to be “freaked out” about putting it out because its not sure it has the rights.

“It will come out, whether it’s next year or the year after that or…”

The prospect of live support for the reissue campaign is good. The Jayhawks lineup from 1994 (Tomorrow the Green Grass era: Louris, Olson, Tim O’Reagan, Marc Perleman and Karen Grotberg) reunited for a show in Spain last fall, and Louris hinted that another show and perhaps more are in the offing.

“We may do those occasionally, as basically a way to make money,” he said. “I don’t see anything else beyond that. Making records? I don’t see that happening. It’s too hard to make a living that way. I love music but I need to make a living. I don’t know if it’s financially viable to support five or six adults that way.”

That said, he fully expects to continue making music with Olson as a duo.

“This is just kind of our start,” he said. When asked if the duo would make future records, he replied, “Oh yeah.”