Top 10 Terry Jacks Songs

Feature Photo: Bell Records, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

When thinking about the top ten Terry Jacks songs, odds are fans are going to recognize “Seasons in the Sun” most. However, there is more to this Canadian-born singer-songwriter than the biggest hit single of his career. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on March 29, 1944, he spent part of his childhood in the city before the family moved to Vancouver, British Columbia. It would be in this Canadian West Coast city that Jacks would form a band known as The Chessmen.

In Due Season

Between 1964 and 1966, Jacks and his bandmates were regional fan favorites after successfully recording and releasing a string of local hits. After his run with The Chessmen was done, he paired up with his future wife, Susan Pesklevits, to form The Poppy Family. Together, they scored several hits, nationally and internationally. While The Poppy Family was at its peak, Terry Jacks received an award in 1970 for his music production efforts. This sparked an interest in the Beach Boys, who helped them produce their 1972 album, Surf’s Up. It was a working relationship that could have featured “Seasons in the Sun” on that album but it wasn’t meant to be. Realizing their musical styles weren’t as compatible as initially thought, the recording artists went their own separate ways. “Seasons in the Sun” would wait a couple of years before Terry Jacks would record and release it as a solo artist. By this time, his marriage to Susan Pesklevits was over, and The Poppy Family’s run as a musical group was done.

While “Seasons in the Sun” became the signature hit that would put Terry Jacks on the map as a solo artist, this wouldn’t be the last time he’d make his mark as a chart-hitting singer-songwriter. The span of his career featured an impressive collection of written and recorded material, as well as the production of hit songs for other artists. Chilliwack’s success with “Crazy Talk” and “There’s Something I Like About That” came from the creative penmanship of Terry Jacks. He was also the man behind the successful production of several recording artists, including George Jones, Buddy Knox, Nina Mouskouri, and Valdy.

Seasons Change

In addition to his accomplishments as a singer-songwriter, Terry Jacks is also known for his documentary works. He has produced a series of environmentally themed features, including the award-winning The Faceless Ones, as well as The Tragedy of Clearcutting, The Southern Chilcotin Mountains, and The Warmth of Love (The Four Seasons of Sophie Thomas). These films were produced after Jack’s withdrawal from the music industry as a performer. There is also 1986’s Seasons in the Sun, a movie adaptation that shares similar characteristics with one of the music industry’s most endearing hit songs. All of these films were produced by Terry Jacks in the 1980s as he became involved with environmental issues that plagued the Canadian nation.

As for Terry Jacks’ discography, he released four studio albums, three compilation albums, and an EP. Of the sixteen singles he has recorded and released as a solo artist, all but two made an appearance on various music charts throughout the world. However, Jacks was not a fan of making media appearances or touring. He preferred a reclusive lifestyle. At one point, he owned his own publishing companies, first Gone Fishin’ Music Ltd., then Sunfish Publishing. As successful as he was as a recording artist, Terry Jacks preferred to work as a producer.

Top 10 Terry Jacks Songs

#10 – I’m Gonna Capture You

The debut single from Terry Jacks as a solo artist was “I’m Gonna Capture You.” It peaked at number sixteen on the Canadian RPM Top Singles Chart in 1970. The song was about a man’s physical attraction to a woman he hoped he could win over. In the song, the idea was to captivate the love interest’s heart with charm and wit. Among the fans, it captured their hearts as a Terry Jacks favorite.

#9 – Christina

On the Canadian RPM Top Singles Chart, “Christina” became a number nine hit for Terry Jacks in 1975. This track came from his second studio album, Y’ Don’t Fight the Sea. The song was about a woman always on the move, uninterested in finding a special someone in her life. As for Terry Jacks, he sang as the narrator who fell in love with her but realized that love would never be returned.

#8 – Endless Sleep

“Endless Sleep” was an original 1958 hit by Jody Reynolds that was covered in 1969 by Terry Jacks. At the time, he was part of The Poppy Family lineup. This was a rockabilly teenage tragedy song that Reynolds was inspired to write after listening to Elvis Presley’s big 1956 hit, “Heartbreak Hotel.” At the time, The Poppy Family performed as a psychedelic group from 1968 until 1972. Together, they recorded and released two studio albums and a compilation album before going their separate ways.

#7 – Don’t Fight The Sea

In 1976, “Don’t Fight the Sea” was a single by Terry Jacks that peaked at number 31 on the Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Songs chart. His friend, Al Jardine, released his own version of this song in 2011. The influence of the Beach Boys is evident here, as Bruce Johnson, Mike Love, Brian Wilson, and Carl Wilson each contributed to the song’s recording. It was sold as a limited-edition vinyl record, and the proceeds went to victims of the Japanese tsunami on March 11, 2011. “Don’t Fight the Sea” was another song that was supposed to be released by the Beach Boys in 1976, after it was recorded for the album 15 Big Ones. It wouldn’t be the first time a song Terry Jacks wrote with the Beach Boys didn’t quite make the cut as one of their recordings.

#6 – Crazy Talk

“Crazy Talk” was a big hit for the Canadian rock group, Chilliwack, after it was released as a single in 1974. It was written by Terry Jacks while he was working on the production of their album, Riding High. The song was about a woman’s constant jibber-jabber and lying. It was one of many songs Terry Jacks wrote for other recording artists that would become big hits on the music charts. On the Canadian Singles chart, it peaked at number 10. On the US Billboard Hot 100, “Crazy Talk” squeaked in at number ninety-eight as a minor hit.

#5 – Rock ‘N’ Roll (I Gave You the Best Years of My Life)

In 1975, Terry Jacks covered Kevin Johnson’s 1973 hit, “Rock ‘N’ Roll (I Gave You the Best Years of My Life).” In 1974, Mac Davis and Terry Jacks each covered their own version of this hit song. For Jacks, “Rock ‘N’ Roll” peaked as high as number five on the Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Songs chart, and at number twenty-two on the RPM Top Singles Chart. However, Davis’s version was the more popular in America, peaking at number four on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart and number fifteen on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Jonson’s Australian-born version was the only one to chart in his home nation and the UK. When Johnson wrote it, it was his autobiography, told as a song that lasted over three minutes. While many will argue that the version performed by Terry Jacks isn’t as good as Johnson’s, bear in mind that the two men had very different musical styles. It boils down to a fan’s personal preference.

#4 – Concrete Sea

“Concrete Sea” peaked at number sixteen on the Canadian RPM Top Singles Chart and on the RPM Adult Contemporary Songs chart after it was released as a single in 1972. This was the first single released from his debut album, Seasons in the Sun. At the time, it was his most popular solo hit. When he began recording as a solo artist, he was careful not to adopt some of the more heartfelt songs that were sung in Susan’s voice. At the time, the two were a couple. However, the marriage ended in divorce in 1973.

As a song, “Concrete Sea” described the urban landscape, which didn’t sit well with Terry Jacks. The environmentalist in him was already showing signs that it was about to transform the man and his career in a new direction. Instead of embracing the internet, Jacks moved to a remote area in northern British Columbia so he could spend more time in the great outdoors rather than contend with urban life.

#3 – If You Go Away

“If You Go Away” was the second recording Terry Jacks made, which was an adaptation of a Jacques Brel song. While it didn’t quite make the global impression “Seasons in the Sun” did, Jacks still experienced a decent hit from it. On the UK Singles Chart, it peaked at number eight. It was a number twenty-four hit in Germany. The Belgian title of “If You Go Away” was “Ne Me Quitte Pas.” Its 1959 original had its lyrics written in English by Rod McKuen. Since McKuen’s rewrite, several recording artists have covered this song.

Partly derived from Franz Liszt’s musical score for “Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6,” “If You Go Away” was a ballad performed with sadness by a narrator who dreaded their loved one leaving. It was the vulnerability in Terry Jacks’s vocal performance that made “If You Go Away” such a tear-jerking favorite. This song was covered by many different artists, but few captured the emotional essence it was designed to convey. Terry Jacks sang “If You Go Away” as if it were his own personal experience.

#2 – Which Way You Goin’ Billy?

At the time of its 1969 release, “Which Way You Goin’ Billy?” was a big hit for The Poppy Family. This Canadian rock group had Terry Jacks and his future wife, Susan, in the lineup. It became a number-one hit in Canada and Ireland, and a number-two hit on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song also peaked at number seven on the UK Singles Chart. “Which Way You Goin’ Billy?” was written by Terry Jacks while Susan performed the lead vocals. At the time, it was addressed to her then-husband, whom she knew was about to end their marriage. “Which Way You Goin’ Billy?” became certified gold with the Recording Industry Association of America after selling over one million copies.

Adding to the appeal of “Which Way You Goin’ Billy?” was the Vietnam War. Among baby boomer fans, the lyrics Jacks wrote seemed to take on a whole new meaning as families had loved ones sent overseas to fight a war many Americans didn’t believe in. Although this song is widely regarded as a signature tune for Susan Jacks, it was Terry Jacks’s songwriting that made it so special.

#1 – Seasons in the Sun

Originally, “Seasons in the Sun” was a 1961 Belgian song titled “Le Moribond.” In English, it was “The Dying Man.” In 1963, the lyrics were rewritten by an American singer-poet named Rod McKuen. This beautiful soft ballad was sung as a dying man bidding everyone he loved farewell. It was recorded and released for the first time in 1964 by the Kingston Trio. When an inspired Terry Jacks wrote, recorded, and released his own version of “Seasons in the Sun” as a single in 1974, his performance turned this tear-jerker into legend. His version didn’t have a broken-hearted man dying, but someone who made peace with himself.

At one point, “Seasons in the Sun” was intended for Surf’s Up, a Beach Boys album the boys from California asked Terry Jacks to help them produce. However, things didn’t go as planned, and the song was never completed as it was explained that it simply wasn’t suitable Beach Boys material. In 1973, Jacks took it upon himself to record the song his own way from his Vancouver studio. The legendary piano parts and double bass parts performed in the second verse came from a young David Foster.

On a global scale, “Seasons in the Sun” became a number-one hit in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK. On the US Billboard Hot 100 and US Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs charts, it peaked at the very top of those two charts. It also sold over three million copies in the United States and was certified gold. “Seasons in the Sun” also earned gold certification with the British Phonographic Industry after selling over five hundred thousand copies.

Despite the opinions of some modern-day critics, Terry Jacks’ version of “Seasons in the Sun” earned the distinction of becoming one of the biggest-selling Canadian-made singles of all time after surpassing fourteen million copies sold so far. Speaking as a fan, this is a great song that makes a thoughtful and sensitive approach to our own mortality. Among individuals who’ve experienced terminal illnesses, “Seasons in the Sun” held special meaning for them as they could relate. As for the people left behind, this is a touching song that often gives them the motivation to honor their dearly departed by becoming better versions of themselves.