Pop Archives

John Paul Young - Soldier Of Fortune (1983)

(John Capek - Marc Jordan)
Australia Australia
#14 Sydney #10 Melbourne #15 Brisbane #14 Perth

Single on I.C. Records October 1983.

Soldier Of Fortune was a track on One Foot in Front (reissued as Soldier of Fortune), recorded for the German label I.C. Records in Hanover, Munich, Los Angeles, Sydney and Melbourne with the participation of co-writer/producer John Capek.

Glasgow-born singer John Paul Young, known as Squeak or JPY, was a major Australian pop star of the seventies.

Initially with Sydney band Elm Tree, his career was helped along by the producer-writers Harry Vanda and George Young, by his appearances on the weekly pop show Countdown, and by his talented backing band The All-Stars. JPY’s chart success extended to Europe and South Africa with such hits as Standing In The Rain and Love Is In The Air, the song most identified with him through its use in the film Strictly Ballroom.


Co-writer John Capek had been in several Australian bands, including Leo De Castro & Friends, Carson (originally Carson County Band) and King Harvest. At his website, JohnCapek.com, he has described himself as a composer, songwriter, keyboard player (and) arranger (whose) unique musical stamp is strongly influenced by his Czech birth, Australian upbringing, North American residency and extensive travel throughout the world.

Marc Jordan is a Canadian singer and composer (see below).

Rod Stewart’s 1991 hit Rhythm Of My Heart (#5 USA) is another Capek and Jordan composition.


Manhattan Transfer - Soldier Of Fortune (1983)

(John Capek - Marc Jordan)
Original version

On the album Bodies And Souls September 1983 by inventive vocal group formed in 1969 by Tim Hauser (1941-2014). Their eclecticism makes them impossible to classify, as their most familiar songs illustrate: Chanson D’Amour (1977, #1 UK, #9 Australia, #14 NZ) and The Boy From New York City (#7 USA, #36 Australia, #8 Canada, #2 NZ)

Both John Paul Young’s Soldier Of Fortune album and Manhattan Transfer’s Bodies And Souls included multiple songs written by Capek & Jordan.

Further reading: Manhattan Transfer biography by Matt Collar at All Music.


Marc Jordan - Soldier Of Fortune (1986)

(John Capek - Marc Jordan)
USA USA
Later version

On the soundtrack of Youngblood (1986), and on co-writer Marc Jordan’s 1987 album Talking Through Pictures.

Frequent collaborators Jordan and Capek had met in the 70s, according to the 2006 interview with Marc Jordan from Blue Desert Front Seat [archived page]..