After two albums released on independent labels, The Jayhawks finally got major label backing when they signed with Rick Rubin’s Def American (now known simply as American Recordings, the label that oversaw Johnny Cash’s late-career renaissance), which was distributed by Warner Music Group. In one of the great music industry stories, the president of Twin/Tone Records (which released their sophomore album, Blue Earth) was on a phone call with Def American A&R man George Drakoulias in 1991. With Blue Earth playing in the background, Drakoulias inquired about the music he was hearing and was so enamored with their sound that he signed them later that year, also becoming their producer. The first fruit of this collaboration was Hollywood Town Hall (1992), which is where I initially discovered The Jayhawks. I loved it from the first time I heard it, and more than two decades later I get just as excited every time I play it. The core band of Olson, Louris and bassist Marc Perlman was joined by new drummer Ken Callahan, who was credited as a band member but apparently only played on two songs, while session pro Charlie Drayton handled drumming duties on the rest of the album. Other notable guests were keyboardists Benmont Tench (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers) and Nicky Hopkins (Rolling Stones), who helped fill in their sound without overpowering it. From: https://kamertunesblog.wordpress.com/2013/11/09/the-jayhawks-part-2-two-hearts-and-two-angels/
