Four Jacks and a Jill - Master Jack - 1968.wmv 

I had this album and wore it out. Lots of deep songs on it, but LOVE the second rendition here!

First heard this song in 1968. I did not know they were a Sth. African band until a few years back. Thought they were a British band. I also didn't know that two different versions had been recorded. Found the background story interesting. A very good song indeed. Thanks JClement100.

I'd never heard this song until about 5 minutes ago when I heard it on a radio station and Googled the title - what a nice tune.

I loved it growing up and I love it now.

I remember it quite well in the states. All these years later and I still am in touch with the girl I was dating at the time. This was her favorite song.

On my all time favorite list--song is a masterpiece.

Thanks for posting both versions. The version I heard exclusively on a weekly oldies show 1985-1994 was the 1st version here (the album version). The production and vocals sound more "correct" on the album version.

@JClement100 - I remember it in the U.S. very well. Lots of air play on AM Radio. Love this song. I don't know how big a hit it was in terms of record sales in the U.S., but I liked it. Thanks for your comment.

The 45 version was the South African-Recorded version..RCA couldn't get the masters beyond the single master,so,they'd had to Re-Record both "Master Jack" and "I Looked Back" in the LA Studio two months later for the Lp..the Ultra-Rare 45 version's masters were lost later... On Dick Bartlett's "Hey! Look what I Found",a Vinyl copy of the 45 was used because of this reason.

The Lp version was used because of the original African master being lost,so the group re-recorded it in RCA's LA Studios.

Empathise with your comments about the lyrics - very philosopical for the time.

this is the Re-Recording of "Master Jack" not the original 45 which was recorded in South Africa,...this one was recorded in America.

Remember 'The Bells'? The wee girl was Afrikaan, too. I loved them, and "Moody Manitoba Morning".

Could it have been that the original version was mixed to straight mono or recorded on mono equipment? Maybe RCA wanted a stereo version available in the US and did a remake-just a thought.

thank you friend!

I wish I could find it. Not available on the download sites I've been to. Any suggestions?

just so u guys know the ribbon is a whip and tie problems to make them look neat is tieing blacks

Odd but interesting song.

flvto.com lets you pull stuff off youtube, just download the plugin from their website.

So did Master Jack wear a white hat or a black one?

Huh, thot it DID well in US, LOL, living near enough to the Canadadian border, guess we heard it so much on AM radio we thot so.....