Jake Thackray and Songs was a six-part television series recorded in 1980 and broadcast on BBC2 in 1981, in which Jake Thackray and guests performed songs live in a variety of venues. A live album of the same name, recorded at the Stables Theatre, Wavendon, Milton Keynes, as part of the sessions for the TV series, was released on LP by Dingle’s Records in 1981. All six episodes of the TV series still exist in the BBC archives with Thackray's performances and some of those of his guests released as a DVD in October 2014. The album remained out of print and circulation for some time, until it was released on Spotify in 2022. The programme and subsequent album featured three new songs: "The Remembrance", "One of Them”, a sombre ballad that condemns racism and bigotry, and "The Bull", a comedic critique of those in power.

TV series

LP

Track listing

Personnel

DVD

In November 2013 it was announced that agreement had been secured from the BBC, Thackray's estate and other artists for a DVD to be professionally produced from the BBC's original recordings. The DVD went on sale in October 2014. Thackray's anecdotes, introductions and songs from each episode are presented in their original order however the episodes are presented in the order of 6, 4, 5, 3, 1 and 2.

Track listing

A Guest section of the DVD presents songs from other artists who appeared in the series.