The Smiley Smile Message Board

My favorite story:

I taped a song off the AM radio on a car trip with my folks, when I was 10. Thought it was a Beatles track circa Rubber Soul, but it wasn't. Not Badfinger or The Raspberries either. The DJ on my tape didn't say the song title or the band name. And I couldn't tell the title from the lyrics--because they were the first two words, which I'd cut off.

Played my tape for everybody--"sounds familiar, but I don't know" was always the answer.

After 12 years, a local radio DJ told me it was a single by a local (Iowa) band called Westminist'r, somewhere near Fort Dodge. Went to the downtown library and looked in the Fort Dodge city directory, under "Recording"--there was Westminist'r Sound.

Called 'em up--asked if they had any copies of "Sister Jane" by Westminist'r: "Uh, yeah--who is this?"

I drove all the way out to Otho Iowa, to the chicken coop recording studio where Sister Jane was recorded--the place was still operational. (And still is!)

The owner--and band member--Kirk Kaufman was so kind, and gave me 2 vinyl copies of everything he ever did. My mind was blown. Told me all kinds of stories--like when Brian Wilson and the Rovell sisters recorded some tracks or demos for American Spring there. Brian ran lights for a Westminist'r gig! And someone associated with him arranged the nice string section on Sister Jane.

It's still one of my very favorite records. Hopefully it will become one of yours!

https://youtu.be/ceLqZ-IUbnY (https://youtu.be/ceLqZ-IUbnY)

Thanks for sharing. I agree, it's really good!

Very cool story! Nice song, I agree with your 10-year old self's assessment that it sounds like Rubber Soul era Beatles, melodically.

Kind of puts Big Star's relative success in perspective - so many bands never even made it as far as they did.

Thanks for sharing this nice story and great song! Obviously big fans of British music: "Lady Jane" just like the Fab Four would have done it. Great nostalgic vibe. :)