This is an instrumental workout based on Bach's Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring. It's a bit relentless at times but it's clever.
Apollo 100 was a collection of British session musicians led by multi-instrumentalist Tom Parker. "Joy" was their first single release; it reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100, #3 in Australia, and #24 nationally in Canada.
"Joy" was originally recorded under the title of "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" by the British pop-rock band Jigsaw. Their version runs over five minutes long, tends to meander a bit, and provides opportunities for individual band members to have a solo turn. It didn't chart.
Apollo 100's followup single was "Mendelssohn's 4th (Second Movement)"; it reached #94 on the Hot 100. The group produced two albums before splitting up in 1973. Parker went on to be the founder of the New London Chorale, which has produced 18 albums of music between 1979 and 2012, including The Young Messiah, The Young Verdi, The Young Puccini, The Young Tchaikovsky, and Young Forever. Ah, youth!
Created October 2, 2026.