Billy Mitchell Presents Thad Jones

[Mark Stryker]

Does anyone know of a current (of most recent) reissue of the four-tunes that the Billy Mitchell Quintet recorded for Dee Gee Records in Detroit in the early '50s? The tunes are "Zec," "Alone Together," "Compulsory" and "Blue Room." This was the famous house band at the Blue Bird Inn with Mitchell, Thad Jones, Terry Pollard, James (Beans) Richardson and Elvin Jones. Discographies often say this material was taped in 1948 but that's wrong. The band didn't come together until fall 1952, lasting in this particular configuration until August 1953 when Pollard left to join Terry Gibbs and was replaced at the Blue Bird by Tommy Flanagan. (In Bjorn and Gallert's "Before Motown" they note that an article in the local black press in October '53 announced the upcoming release.) It was likely recorded in late summer 53.

Dee Gee issued a 4-tune EP. Savoy later reissued the material on a compilation LP titled "Swing Not Spring." Were there any subsequent reissues on LP? "Before Motown" says the session was available on a Japanese CD but doesn't give a title.

Thanks in advance.

Edited December 29, 2012 by Mark Stryker

[John L]

The Lord discography claims that Savoy issued the Swing...Not Spring! compilation on CD as Savoy SV0188 (CD). Maybe it was a Japanese only release, although that is not specified in the discography :

There is another session listed for this band on Dee Gee, but with Jimmy Richardson on bass instead of Alvin Jackson. No CD release is listed for it, however. The songs are Rockaway Rock, Rainy Day Blues, Danny Boy, and the Bulldozer. Apparently two of these tracks were originally released (on 78?) as Dee Gee 4000 and the two others released as Dee Gee 4001.

Edited December 29, 2012 by John L

[Mark Stryker]

Hmm. I think the identifcation of the bassist as Alvin Jackson on the "Zec" session is a mistake. It's Beans Richardson. The other four sides you reference (Rockaway, Rainy Day, etc. ) appear to be vocals by Jackie Wilson (the label says Sonny Wilson Sings/Billy Mitchell Plays). I found one on youtube. Don't know these records and haven't seen personnel listed in a discography. Are there are any horn solos that allow identification?

Will run this by Jim Gallert ...

Edited December 29, 2012 by Mark Stryker

[Kevin Bresnahan]

The Lord discography claims that Savoy issued the Swing...Not Spring! compilation on CD as Savoy SV0188 (CD). Maybe it was a Japanese only release, although that is not specified in the discography :

I have this CD and is in a mini LP sleeve from Japan. The catalog number is COCB-50307 and it appears to have been issued in August of 2000.

[jazzbo]

I have the cd as an Amercan Savoy/Denon cd.

[Peter Friedman]

I too have the American Savoy/ Denon CD.

[Al in NYC]

The other four sides you reference (Rockaway, Rainy Day, etc. ) appear to be vocals by Jackie Wilson (the label says Sonny Wilson Sings/Billy Mitchell Plays).

Those are, I believe, Jackie's first recordings. He was 17.

Rockaway Rock is mainly an R&B/early rock style sax feature for Billy Mitchell

http://youtu.be/a-X9idK-4Ck

Edited January 12, 2013 by Al in NYC