Ventriloquist typewriter repairman Tim Jones’ elusive Preacherman tracks reissued by Luaka Bop

The casio funk of T.J. Hustler aka Midi Man aka Ironing Board Band.

Tim Jones’ rare Preacherman music is being released in a new compilation called Universal Philosophy: Preacherman Plays T.J. Hustler’s Greatest Hits, this October via David Byrne’s Luaka Bop imprint.

An IBM typewriter and computer repairman by day, Jones spent the ’70s and ’80s performing under a variety of guises across Las Vegas lounges by night.

For the shows, Jones brought a custom Hammond B3 organ – modified so he could play a Moog synth through it as well – alongside frequent stage companion T.J. Hustler, a homemade wooden puppet.

Perhaps best known for his Hustler LP Age of Individualism, which has since achieved cult status, Jones also recorded two albums as Preacherman during the 1980s, which he later self-released on CDr.

Luaka Bop has collected six of these tracks for their first ever vinyl release – Universal Philosophy: Preacherman Plays T.J. Hustler’s Greatest Hits – on the 12th of October.

Jones is the latest to receive the Luaka Bop treatment, following extensive reissue campaigns around previously unknown artists including William Onyeabor and Doug Hream Blunt.

Pre-order a copy of the album here, listen to ‘Feel It’ and check out the track list below.