Saturday is lost classics day. Forty-two years ago this summer, Daniel Johnston recorded his magnum opus Yip Jump Music in his brother’s garage. I’ve written a few posts about Outsider Music, so I won’t go into detail on how I feel about the music created by these amazing artists. Let’s just say that whenever I need to feel good about the world, I can always listen to music by Lucia Pamela, Wesley Willis, Daniel Johnston, Wildman Fischer, or any of the other hundreds of artists who did not let anyone or anything stop them from producing their art.
Johnston recorded at least 20 albums during his career, starting with a dozen or so homemade cassette releases before he started to receive support by several indie labels. Whether recording in his living room or brother’s garage or in a studio, all of his recordings are littered with catchy hooks, wonderful melodies, and more personal introspection than most performers are willing to share. Johnston fans all have their favorite release but I am among the majority who think that Yip Jump Music is his best, followed closely by Hi How Are You. Both of them were recorded in 1983 and are arguably the greatest Outsider Musician releases ever produced.
Johnston died 6 years ago at the age of 58. As with most musicians, his music will most likely fade away as time passes. However, his legacy as one of the most important Outsider Musicians of the 20th century will hopefully continue to influence future Outsider Artists for years to come. As music becomes more commercialized and standardized, there is an even greater need for artists outside of the mainstream to produce their art for those few willing to search it out and find inspiration in its beauty.
If you want to dive into the music and history of Daniel Johnston, start with his Wikipedia article and then search for his music on your favorite streaming platform. I can’t promise you will like it but if you do then I promise that there is a world of music out there beyond the mainstream that can bring you joy for years to come.
The Radio Faux Show 