In response to Jay Bennett‘s untimely death, Jeff Tweedy released a statement acknowledging his former bandmate’s “significant contributions to the band’s songs and evolution.” He wasn’t exaggerating. According to the two major music publishing organizations, Bennett received a co-writing credit on the bulk of the material Wilco released from the Mermaid Avenue material in 1998 through Yankee Hotel Foxtrot in 2002.
Of the 15 songs on 1999’s Summerteeth, for example, Bennett co-wrote 13 of them; and 8 of the 11 songs on YHF. It would be tough to argue that the following list doesn’t represent some of Wilco’s best material.
ASCAP lists the following compositions by songwriter/composer BENNETT JAY W:
1. AIRLINE TO HEAVEN (Mermaid Avenue)
2. ASHES OF AMERICAN FLAGS (Yankee Hotel Foxtrot)
3. BLOOD OF THE LAMB (Mermaid Avenue)
4. CALIFORNIA STARS (Mermaid Avenue)
5. CAN’T STAND IT (Summerteeth)
6. CANDYFLOSS (Summerteeth)
7. CHRIST FOR PRESIDENT (Mermaid Avenue)
8. ELT (Summerteeth)
9. FEED OF MAN (Mermaid Avenue)
10. HOODOO VOODOO (Mermaid Avenue)
See the rest of the list after the jump…
11. HOW TO FIGHT LONELINESS (Summerteeth)
12. I’M ALWAYS IN LOVE (Summerteeth)
13. I’M THE MAN WHO LOVES YOU (Yankee Hotel Foxtrot)
14. IN A FUTURE AGE (Summerteeth)
15. JESUS ETC (Yankee Hotel Foxtrot)
16. KAMERA (Yankee Hotel Foxtrot)
17. LAST CALL WITH CARSON-BG CUES (ha!)
18. LET ME COME HOME (Yankee Hotel Foxtrot outtake)
19. LET ME COME HOME INSTRUMENTAL (Yankee Hotel Foxtrot outtake)
20. LITTLE WHITE COTTAGE (Mermaid Avenue outtake)
21. MAGAZINE CALLED SUNSET (Yankee Hotel Foxtrot outtake)
22. MY DARLING (Summerteeth)
23. NO CHURCH TONITE (Mermaid Avenue outtake)
24. NOTHINGSEVERGONNASTANDINMYWAY (Summerteeth)
25. PIEHOLDEN SUITE (Summerteeth)
26. POOR PLACES (Yankee Hotel Foxtrot)
27. POT KETTLE BLACK (Yankee Hotel Foxtrot)
28. RADIO CURE (Yankee Hotel Foxtrot)
29. REMEMBER THE MOUNTAIN BED (Mermaid Avenue)
30. REPLACE YOU (with John Stirratt)
31. SECRETS OF THE SEA (Mermaid Avenue)
32. SHAKIN SUGAR (Yankee Hotel Foxtrot outtake)
33. SHE CAME ALONG TO ME (Mermaid Avenue)
34. SHE’S A JAR (Summerteeth)
35. SHOT IN THE ARM (Summerteeth)
36. SOMEDAY SOME MORNING SOMETIME (Mermaid Avenue)
37. SUMMER TEETH (Summerteeth)
38. WAR ON WAR (Yankee Hotel Foxtrot)
39. WE’RE JUST FRIENDS (Summerteeth)
40. WHISPERY KISS (unreleased? with Tweedy)
41. WHO’S THAT GIRL (Sherry Rich with Ken Coomer and John Stirratt)
BMI lists 81 Bennett compositions, including most of his solo work, but also a couple of additional Wilco-related co-writes:
• CARS CAN’T ESCAPE (Yankee Hotel Foxtrot outtake)
• VENUS STOPPED THE TRAIN (Yankee Hotel Foxtrot outtake)
It would be equally tough to argue that Wilco even exists today without Bennett. Not too many Wilco fans out there would continue to be willing to struggle through album after album of Tweedy’s narcissism if they couldn’t throw on California Stars every once in a while for some balance.
I still like Wilco but they lost the sweet full sound when they lost Jay. I don’t disagree with sab.