Counting Crows: Who Was Mr. Jones About?

Who was Mr. Jones by Counting Crows about?

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Before we start today’s video, did you guys ever think Counting Crows frontman Adam Duritz looks a lot like Adam Ritchman from Man vs Food? Let me know in the comments section. Anyways, The San Francisco band Counting Crows burst onto the scene in 1991. One year later the band recorded a demo tape that got the attention of 9 record labels who were in a frenzy to sign the group. The band soon signed wth Nirvana’s label Geffen Records, more specifically their subsidiary DGC. By the later part of 1993 the band would release their debut record August and Everything After which would go on to sell a whopping 7 million copies stateside. The album was helped due to the success off several big singles, but none bigger than the lead one, Mr. Jones. But you guys maybe surprised to know that Mr. Jones was never supposed to be released as a single and it’s success took the band, their label and management by surprise... Either way Mr. Jones would become one of the most inescapable songs from the 90’s. But who was Mr. Jones and what’s the story behind the song. That’s what were going to discuss in today’s video.

Prior to forming Counting Crows, frontman Adam duritz played in a variety of bands including the group named the Himilayans. It was by 1991 Duritz joined forces with guitarist and producer David Bryson forming Counting Crows, originally playing as an acoustic duo. They would eventually expand their lineup to a full rock band and it was shortly after signing to DGC, the band landed a high profile appearance at the rock n’ roll hall of fame in january of 1993. It was during this time they were working on their debut August & Everything After and they were filling in for no show inductee Van Morrison.

The band landed the gig thanks to Gary Gersch who worked at Geffen Records and signed the band. Gersch introduced them to the rock hall’s musical director. Fast forward to September of 1993 and they would releasee their debut record August and Everything After. The group’s label and management took an old school approach when it came to marketing the band on radio..In fact it was so old fashioned, some claimed it was revolutionary. During the month the album was released, the label would issue the record to college, alternative and modern rock radio formats with program directors getting to choose the first single The band’s manager would tell Rolling Stone in 1994 “The marketing plan for this band–such as it was–really was to have no marketing plan. We just wanted to let the record get out there and give people a chance to see the band and have the pleasure of discovering them on their own.” Counting Crows would hit the road prior to the album coming out pening for the likes of the the cranberries, midnight oil, Suede and Cracker. Side note guys i’ve done whole band histories on cranberries and cracker.

The state of Georgia would be instrumental in giving the band some early momentum. Radio stations WKLS or 96 Rock and WNNX in Atlanta as well as Georgia State radio station WRAS were one of the first stations to play the track Mr. Jones in November of 93. The success of the song in the Georgia Radio markest signalled to DGC that Mr. Jones was the logical first single to release with the label issuing it as a promo single December of 93. What’s funny is that frontman Adam Duritz would reveal to Huffington Post that the label initially thought that Murder of One would be the big hit off the album, while the band thought Rain King would be the big single. In December of 93 the music video for Mr. Jones would be added to MTV’s buzz bin which further propelled the song’s popularity.

In January of 94 Counting Crows would appear on Saturday Night Live as the musical guest performing Mr. Jones and Round Here. Duritz would reveal in multiple interviews that by the time Mr. Jones became a hit, their debut album wasn’t even in the top 200, it was their appearance on SNL that propelled the album moving 40 spots up the charts for 6 consecutive weeks all the way to number 2. The New York Times would report and I have to admit this surprised me, that August and Everything After hit platinum before Nirvana’s Nevermind did. Mr. Jones would peak at number 2 on the US Top 40 charts by the spring of 94. The

[anonymousadult]

Not a fan of the band…
But a fan of this channel…
Always interesting stories 🤩

[CupofCloud]

August And Everything After is a gorgeous album, 5 stars, and i’m not even huge into counting crows like that

[NottyGurlStyle]

Every time I listen to Mr. Jones..I always remember when I first heard it when I was in San Francisco..up late with my sister watching music videos… I turn 18 out there and I was just getting into listening to rock music… I instantly fell in love with the song. Still love it to this I day. I LOVE August and Everything After…I love EVERY single track on that album. Ages later I still enjoy it.❤❤❤❤

[brucestellar]

Man I’ve been dying for a video about Counting Crows such an amazing band that is really under appreciated for the quality of songs and albums they have.

[mphillips]

Great band, great song! Their follow up album, Recovering The Satellites, is one of the best albums of all time.

[mmmtsp]

August And Everything After is a flawless album.

[derekcox]

I really enjoyed counting crows back in the 90s and I still have a few of their songs on rotation in my play list. I think they have made good music over the years.👍

[BrutusMayhem]

That album is so awesome. I just moved to the Bay area right after that album dropped. That was a very special and exciting time in my life and that album and third eye blinds first album was the soundtrack to it. Awesome times.

[chicharito]

Absolutely love Counting Crows, Adam Duritz is such a great I noticed a few years back his twin is Adam Richman.

[theriffwriter]

Although I'm mostly into old heavy stuff August is one of my favorite chill, mellow albums and it still gets plenty of rotations in my house.

[jules-yirn]

Loved the Crows back in the day - August and Everything After was my goto for road trips. Mr Jones was so catchy, but Murder of One is still my favorite.

[thefuturist]

They had a run of three great albums, though Recovering the Satellites was the standout. This Desert Life had big shoes to fill and did a decent enough job, but Satellites was their masterpiece, pushing radio-friendly rock as far as it could go and showing that Duritz is one of the finest lyrical storytellers of his generation.

[bonbonvegabon]

Love this song and I learned how to play it on guitar as soon as it first came out when I was in grade 8 lol

[spencergadoury]

My second favourite album of all time next to the Joshua Tree! This video is coming out at a perfect time for me since im seeing them for the first time live in less than a week from now! I’m so excited and this adds to the hype!

[mayer]

Well now I see the similarities between them, and will never be able to unsee it! THANKS A LOT! 😅

[necroniic]

my parents loved counting crows so i heard their stuffall the time as a little kid. i remember back then i thought 'Mr Jones' was noticeably goofy and weird, i also thought the narrator was just kind of in love with mr jones.

[TarotLadyLissa]

August and everything after is a beautiful album!

[doug_howe]

Absolutely every song on this album is a hit. Normally there are always a few songs that are considered skip-able on any given album... not this one.

[evannakamura]

Now that you made that Adam Richman comparison, I can't unsee it...

[martinjohnson]

Thanks for the video. I met Marty Jones in St John, Virgin Islands years ago and always wondered if he was the real Mr Jones. You told the story word for word. He was working in the solar business last I heard.