one of those freebie CDs given away with a magazine (not this one, ahem..) and discovered "The Sexual Loneliness Of Jesus Christ", one of the best songs of all time. Wish him all the best and a speedy recovery.

I didn't know he was ill. I wish him all the best - he's a fine artist. I can't claim to be familiar with all his work, but what I know I like very much. The clip you link to is excellent. Consider the moon shouted at.

The sexual loneliness of Jesus Christ is a man I'd very much like to see get better.

Thank you for letting us know. Mr Leven cancelled what seemed like a too-good-to-be-true date here in Nova Scotia, but I put that down to travel expenses, etc. There was a small but loyal Doll By Doll contingent here, and I still rate The Mystery of Love is Greater than the Mystery of Death, even imploring my dad (who'd likely not been in a record store since Jim Reeves died) to seek out a corresponding EP on a visit to Ireland. Prompted - some might say even pushed - by Leven's recurring presence in Ian Rankin's books and associated press, I've been happy to reacquaint myself with the performer I regard as Van Morrison with his inspiration intact. I can only hope the great man is on the way to recovery - we need him.

Jackie Leven a man of substance, get well soon.

Snow In Central Park. A truly wonderful song. Get well soon, Big Fella.

Was drawn to him by 'Single Father' which was on a cd with another mag which I assume is the one referred to above. Tried to find out what is wrong with Jackie as I was hoping to see him in Birmingham 2 weeks ago. Gig has been re-arranged for early January so hope he is on the mend.
Saw him a few years ago in Birmingham at a small venue - in the break I was chatting to him and asked if he could play the song 'wrapped up in blue, in the second half. A couple of songs into the second set he prefaced my request with the words 'some cunt in the audience asked me to play this, let's see if I can remember it'.
Wonderful artist and a very funny man.

I'll just paste in this message from the Jackie Leven website. The Big Man from the Kingdom of Fife is travelling his last road. It's not unexpected, but very sad nonetheless:

"Please excuse this rather impersonal note. Sometimes, you have to tell people about the Bad, as well as the Good. It is with a heavy heart, therefore, that I have to relate the sad news that the great Scottish singer-songwriter JACKIE LEVEN is gravely ill, suffering from cancer, and, in all candour, has only a few days to live.

In a career stretching over forty years, Jackie Leven has carved an impressive reputation as a uniquely gifted singer-songwriter. From his emergence as leader of the underrated DOLL BY DOLL in the seventies, through well documented addiction problems which Leven overcame with remarkable strength of will, culminating in a solo resurgence through the 1980s to the here and now, Jackie has amassed an amazing body of work – the composer of over four hundred songs, including arguably his greatest song – ‘Call Mother’, from the album ‘Mystery of Love’ (ranked by Q magazine as one of ‘100 Best Albums of All Time’.

If sales didn’t always reflect the overwhelmingly positive critical reception his albums received, he nonetheless remained a perceptive writer and performer. Jackie was imbued with a restless creativity, and always searching for new settings for his ruminative lyrical forays, laced with humour and melodic grace. As a performer, Jackie could enthral and entrance the audience with picaresque tales taken from first-hand experience. Those that have worked with Jackie will know of his mordant wit and very idiosyncratic world view. His latest release, Wayside Shrines and The Code of the Travelling Man, recorded with multi-instrumentalist Michael Cosgrave was yet more proof of Leven’s enduring talent and inexhaustible creative energies."

..came across his work when he wrote some songs about our shared musical hero Kevin Coyne just after his passing. As a result went to see him play and chatted a few times - found him to be a very warm and funny man. When I asked if he's ever sang with Kevin he replied "could have but I was more interested in sitting in the audience and listen to him play."
When niece was learning to play guitar I asked him some advice on writing songs for her. He invited to a gig and put her on the guest list and chatted to her - as I said very warm man which also went hand in hand with a very tough side as well.

Always engaging, unique songs, guitar style and funny funny spoken introductions. He was willing to play anywhere for the fee. I almost promoted him myself but the venue went bust weeks before the gig.

Best wishes, Big Man.

The most under valued performer in Britain IMO. An absolute joy to see live, a wonderful singer,guitarist and storyteller.
My thoughts are with his family and friends at this horrible time.

Jackie Leven is one of a kind, a true original and an inspiration to do your own thing.

It's being reported that Jackie died last night.
Our sympathies and thoughts are with his family.
Jackie, it was a pleasure and a privilege.

from "Working alone/A blessing".