Library
by Tom Brennan
created 03/14/2004
last updated: 04/24/2022

special thanks to: Michael Lanning, Jack Reed, and Michael Reed (Reedo)


JIVA
(pronounced "Gee-Vah")
Jiva comes from the Sanskrit root "jiv" which means "to breathe."
Jiva is "that which breathes" and is commonly used to signify the soul.

Order 2022 remasters of the Dark Horse Records album from HD tracks

All of Jiva's other music is available as digital downloads: https://original-jiva.bandcamp.com/music

Introduction:
Jiva was the first American act signed to Dark Horse Records. According to Geoffrey Giuliano's George Harrison biography, Harrison signed Jiva because they were followers of the young Indian Guru Maharaji, to whom he had been introduced by his future 2nd wife Olivia.

Jiva played soulful white funk rock music. They only released one LP and one single on Dark Horse Records which both failed to chart.

History:
Jack Reed (manager): I managed the core of the Jiva crew (Lanning, Hilton & Reed) from the time they were a high school group called Tolbekin. I moved them to Los Angeles as Tolbekin, but the bass player soon left to take a full scholarship at Stanford and after that the band began a series of metamorphoses and playing lots of Los Angeles clubs before becoming Jiva. At one point it was an eight piece band with keyboards, two trumpets and a sax player and was called Titan. Of the eight players, five were named Michael, so only Michael Lanning as the lead singer got to keep his own name... all the others had to adopt nicknames. I personally nurtured them through several 'salad years' before we met George (Harrison) and also served as a recording engineer and mixer on the road. Jiva failed to attain 'star' status. We did, however, have a fantastic journey through the world of Rock & Roll. We got to hang out with half of The Beatles, George & Ringo, both of whom were very open of spirit and generous with their time and hospitality. Of course, it didn't hurt that one of our close friends, Olivia, married George and that her sister, Linda, handled most of the Harrison affairs when George and Livvy (Olivia) were in England. On top of that, we got to tour with Fleetwood Mac and Donovan and we got to meet & party with all sorts of musical greats.

Jiva's contract with Dark Horse Records called for seven albums in three years: three for the first two years and then two for each year after that.

Michael Lanning (guitarist and vocalist): "George (Harrison) was deeply involved in not only signing us, but the making of our record as well. He served as executive producer and was there quite a lot of the recording time. He even helped in the demo sessions, picking out what tunes would be on the record and even playing piano on one of the demo tracks."

Jiva split from Dark Horse Records in Late 1976. They returned in 1978 with an album on Polydor Records titled "Still Life" which was of about the same musical quality as their Dark Horse LP.

Jack Reed (manager): "We had lots of feedback that our whole future may have turned as much on the fact that Dark Horse was never really run as a serious label in that they never did any of the kinds of promotion (for any of their artists) that would get radio stations to stick with our releases. We got some great airplay in some key regions, but when the programming managers don't see good follow-up from the label, they tend to drop the songs. When we were touring with Fleetwood Mac, we got fantastic audience response. On more than one occasion, I can recall John McVie telling us that he thought we had a better rapport with the audience on a given night than the Mac did. (McVie was always an incredibly gracious person and never treated us as "just the opening act" - nor did any of the rest of the Mac - we remained friends with them for years after our tour). George (Harrison) admitted that some poor choices were made in the management team of Dark Horse Records, which was proven out by the fact that he let the whole thing drop as soon as he left A&M Records."

DARK HORSE RECORDS
Jiva is:
Michael Scott Lanning: guitar, vocals
James Gartland Strauss: bass, vocals
Thomas Walter Hilton: guitar, vocals
Michael Randolph Reed (Reedo): drums, percussion

Jim Strauss interview - May 1975 from Divine Times (30 May 1975)

Highlights on the Dark Horse album are: "The Closer I Get", which features some excellent guitar playing, "Don't Be Sad," "Love Is A Treasure" and "Take My Love."

Jiva
Catalog #: Dark Horse SP 22003 (promo), released October 6, 1975 (U.S.) [ Side 1 label | Side 2 label ] [ Test pressing side 1 ]
Catalog #: Dark Horse SP 22003, released October 6, 1975 (U.S.) [ Side 1 label | Side 2 label | inner sleeve 1 with lyrics | inner sleeve 2 with lyrics ]
Catalog #: Dark Horse SP 22003 (promo), released 1975 (Canada) [ Side 1 label | Side 2 label ]
Catalog #: Dark Horse SP 22003, released 1975 (Canada) [ Side 1 label | Side 2 label ]
Catalog #: Dark Horse AMLH 22003, released October 31, 1975 (U.K.) [ Back cover | Side 1 label | Side 2 label ]
Catalog #: Dark Horse L-35,714, released 1975 (Australia) [ Side 1 label | Side 2 label ]
Catalog #: Dark Horse L35714, released 1975 (New Zealand) [ Side 1 label | Side 2 label ]

Press Release
Photo of Publicity package

Jiva LP ad from Student Life, Logan, Utah: November 10, 1975



SIDE 1:
1. Something's Goin' On Inside, L.A. [Lanning/Hilton/Strauss] (4:07)
lead vocal: Michael Lanning
keyboards: Gary Wright (courtesy of Warner Brothers Records)

2. The Closer I Get [Lanning/Hilton/Strauss] (3:30)
lead vocal: Michael Lanning
keyboards: Gary Wright (courtesy of Warner Brothers Records)

3. Love Is A Treasure [Lanning/Hilton/Strauss] (4:06)
lead vocal: Michael Lanning
keyboards: Gary Wright (courtesy of Warner Brothers Records)

4. Take My Love (version 1) [Lanning/Hilton/Strauss] (2:45)
Note: timing on album (4:06) is incorrect, was copied from previous song by mistake
lead vocal: Michael Lanning
keyboards: Gary Wright (courtesy of Warner Brothers Records)

5. Hey Brother [Lanning/Hilton/Strauss] (3:00)
lead vocal: Michael Lanning
keyboards: Gary Wright (courtesy of Warner Brothers Records)


SIDE 2:
1. World Of Love [Lanning/Hilton/Strauss] (3:27)
lead vocal: Michael Lanning
keyboards: Gary Wright (courtesy of Warner Brothers Records)

2. What You're Waiting For [Lanning/Hilton/Strauss] (3:39)
lead vocal: Michael Lanning
keyboards: Gary Wright (courtesy of Warner Brothers Records)

3. It's Time You Know [Lanning/Hilton/Strauss] (3:23)
lead vocal: Tommy Hilton
keyboards: Gary Wright (courtesy of Warner Brothers Records)

4. Don't Be Sad [Lanning/Hilton/Strauss] (3:16)
lead vocal: Michael Lanning
keyboards: Gary Wright (courtesy of Warner Brothers Records)

5. All Is Well [Lanning/Hilton/Strauss] (3:39)
lead vocal: Jim Strauss
keyboards: Gary Wright (courtesy of Warner Brothers Records)
string arrangement: Dick Parke


Jiva 8-Track tape
Catalog #: Dark Horse 8T-22003, released October 6, 1975 (U.S.) [ front in box | back in box | front end ]

PROGRAM 1 - 8:48
1. Something's Goin' On Inside, L.A.
2. The Closer I Get
3. Hey Brother (Part 1)

PROGRAM 2 - 8:48
1. Hey Brother (Part 2)
2. Love Is A Treasure
3. Take My Love

PROGRAM 3 - 8:48
1. World Of Love
2. Don't Be Sad
3. What You're Waiting For (Part 1)

PROGRAM 4 - 8:48
1. What You're Waiting For (Part 2)
2. It's Time You Know
3. All Is Well


Copyright ©1975 See Zet Music and Sinsonte Music (BMI)

All administrative rights controlled by Screen Gems--Columbia Music Inc. (BMI)

An Outside Production
Produced by Stewart Levine

Recorded at the Record Plant, Los Angeles, 1975 May
Associate producer & engineer: Rik Pekkonen
Recordist: Bob Edwards
Direction: Alan Pariser

Special thanks to Lady Trisha
Thanks to Jack Reed

Cover design and photography: Tom Wilkes

Big Pink CD release (South Korea) - BIG PINK 692, released 2020 May?
front cover | Korean remastering credits


JIVA ALBUM REVIEWS
Jiva album review from Cash Box, October 11, 1975



JIVA TOURING INFORMATION & CONCERT REVIEWS (SUPPORTING FLEETWOOD MAC)
1975 November 12: Birmingham, AL
1975 November 13: Knoxville, TN
1975 November 14: Atlanta, GA
1975 November 15: Charleston, WV - Concert review with Fleetwood Mac from Sunday Gazette-Mail, Charleston, WV: November 16, 1975
1975 November 16: Greensboro, NC
1975 November 18: Chapel Hill, NC
1975 November 19: Wilson, NC
1975 November 20: Winston-Salem, NC
1975 November 21: Morgantown, WV
1975 November 22: Harrisburg, VA
1975 November 23: Charlottesville, VA
1975 November 26: Sacramento, CA
1975 November 27: Santa Monica, CA
1975 November 28: San Francisco, CA
1975 November 29: San Francisco, CA
1975 December 02: San Antonio, TX
1975 December 03: Houston, TX
1975 December 03: Dallas, TX
1975 December 05: Austin, TX
1975 December 06: New Orleans, LA
1975 December 07: Edinburg, TX
1975 December 09: Las Cruces, NM - Concert announcement from Las Cruces Sun-News: Dec 07, 1975 | Concert announcement from El Paso Times: Dec 07, 1975
1975 December 11: Tucson, AZ
1975 December 12: Phoenix, AZ
1975 December 13: Santa Barbara, CA
1975 December 14: Fullerton, CA
1975 December 18: Bakersfield, CA
1975 December 19: San Diego, CA

Jiva on Tour! full page ad from Record World: December 06, 1975



SINGLES

Catalog #: Dark Horse DH 10006 (promo), released February 11, 1976 (U.S.) [ Side A label | Side B label ]

SIDE A:
Something's Goin' On Inside, L.A. [mono edit] (3:08)
SIDE B:
Something's Goin' On Inside, L.A. [stereo edit] (3:08)


Catalog #: Dark Horse DH 10006, released February 11, 1976 (U.S.) [ Side A label | Side B label ]
Catalog #: Dark Horse K-6297, released March 1976 (Australia) [ Side A label | Side B label ]

SIDE A:
Something's Goin' On Inside, L.A. [single edit] (3:08)
SIDE B:
Take My Love (2:45)

The A-side here, although it contained Beatles references and mentions Ringo Starr's "Only You", lacks any melody or hook and predictably flopped. Ringo's song peaked at #6 on the Billboard charts the week of January 11, 1975.
The B-side should have been the hit here; it's the most commercial sounding and catchy track on the LP, enough so that it was re-recorded for Jiva's next LP, then issued as an A-side. The timing is again incorrectly listed as 4:06 on the U.S. label, but is correct on the Australian single.

This album is now available as a digital download under the title "Still Alive"

PRANAM SHRI SANT JI MAHARAJ

Tom Brennan's Badfinger Library
Tom Brennan's Splinter Library
Attitudes Library
  Stairsteps Library
Keni Burke on Dark Horse Records
Henry McCullough on Dark Horse Records
Ravi Shankar on Dark Horse Records

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