Happy 30th Anniversary to Jamiroquai’s second studio album The Return Of The Space Cowboy, originally released in the US May 9, 1995 (and in the UK October 17, 1994).
Back in late 1992, a band by the name of Jamiroquai burst onto the scene with their debut single “When You Gonna Learn.” Although the birth of Acid Jazz happened well before the ’90s, things really took off when artists like The Brand New Heavies, Incognito and Jamiroquai broke into the mainstream with their modern take on the genre.
Jamiroquai stood out somewhat from the rest with their unique lineup of musicians, funky lead singer and a message in the music that at times was heavy on social and environmental idealism. They had found themselves firmly placed in the Acid Jazz genre, when in fact they were kind of genre-less.
The band, whose lineup has changed greatly over the years, has had one constant in lead singer and frontman Jay Kay. The baggy clothed, head piece wearing Kay has maintained the band’s sound which has deep roots in ‘70s era soul, funk and jazz music. Fresh from the success of their debut album Emergency On Planet Earth (1993), Kay wanted to get back into the studio and record. Sadly, with some changes to the lineup, Kay succumbed to the “sophomore jinx,” a feeling of inability to live up to the success of the band’s inaugural offering. Coupled with excessive drug use at the time and an unhappiness with anything lyrically that was being presented, it was at this moment that the band needed to regroup, refocus and rewrite. So they did and The Return Of The Space Cowboy was finally born.
Continuing on with Kay’s Stevie Wonder inspired vibe, Return Of The Space Cowboy brings it down a notch or two. The “acid” part seems more absent on this album, whereas the “Jazz” and “Funk” components take center stage. The edge is still prevalent and the album’s lead single which was only released in Japan, “The Kids,” opens up with some slick guitar work, delicious horns and serious synths. The album’s international lead single, the “cannabis analogy,” was the hyper chilled “Space Cowboy.” The song became the band’s first number one on the US Billboard Dance charts.
Watch the Official Videos:
“Half The Man” opens with Kay vocalizing like a young Al Green coupled with some fine jazzy instrumental work. The song was the third single released from the LP and entered the top 20 in the UK. Whilst the album’s next single, the funky “Light Years” failed to chart, the fifth and final single “Stillness In Time” cracked the UK top ten peaking at number nine. The song almost evokes a Brazilian groove that is reminiscent of not only Bossa Nova, but something that could have easily been created by the legendary Antonio Carlos Jobim.
Although the album’s overall tone is more in line with the chill factor, it doesn’t mean that Kay and the band lose any swagger, because they don’t. The glow is as vibrant as ever, as are the political messages that sometimes lie hidden in the band’s music like the protest song “Manifest Destiny.” The song takes its name from the 19th century doctrine or belief that the expansion of the US throughout the American continents was both justified and inevitable. Sadly it was achieved through slavery and the killing of first nations people. As many artists have said in the past, “Music can be one of the greatest educators, happening right under your nose and when you least expect it.”
Whilst this album has all the incredible musicianship, funk and deliciousness of its predecessor, there is an obvious maturity and growth not only within the band, but also Kay’s writing. Return Of The Space Cowboy cemented the band’s star status in places like Europe and Japan, but also managed to open the door to the ever-elusive American market. Their ability to not be seen as just a party loving funk band came to the forefront even more on this album as they tackled themes like homelessness and the aforementioned racial issues that plague the world still.
Retrospectives like this one usually come with the question: “What was this album’s legacy?” Easy. Other than the fact that hip-hop legends Missy Elliott and Tupac Shakur both sampled songs from this album (“Morning Glory” for Elliott and “Manifest Destiny” for Shakur), this album really hasn’t dated. This can be attributed to what was written at the beginning of the article: “they were kind of genre-less.” But even if a dispute was to be made about where this album fits genre wise, one thing is clear here: Jamiroquai and Jay Kay paid little attention (if any at all) to the trends of the time and it’s this kind of care-free attitude that made and continues to make The Return Of The Space Cowboy a true classic.
LISTEN:
Editor's note: this anniversary tribute was originally published in 2019 and has since been edited for accuracy and timeliness.