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I'm looking forward to this. Mats and Thurston are both massive record nerds whose enthusiasm I find infectious (I'm less familiar with the work of Byron Coley). Based on the sample pages both the record picks and writing style are accessible. I think it's going to be a fun book to flick through. I'm seeing Mats and Thurston play tomorrow and kind of hoping there might be copies on the merch table.

So "prevailing opinions" have progressed beyond what Jim Dawson and Steve Propes wrote in "What Was The First Rock'n'Roll Record"? Among the 50 candidates listed chronologically and discussed in that book, "Rocket 88" is placed 24th and "Sh-Boom" is 38th. So, chronologically speaking, I'd tend to vote for "Good Rockin' Tonight" (placed 8th) in its hit version by Wynonie Harris.

November 20 Geoffrey Keezer - 1970 He was Art Blakey's last pianist...

For many years writers used to call the Chords' Sh-Boom the first rock 'n' roll song. But now they credit Jackie Brenston's Rocket 88.

Of course they were. The Crew Cuts' well-known version was the white cover version along the trends of the day. So whatever came later was a cover version too. Even without listening to the clip, that Alton/Establishment version looks Jamaican, judging by the record label. So obviously much more recent. But amusing to listen to.

Ordered from Forced Exposure.

This particularly anthology (and some of the full albums, though NOT Storm Warning) is still available on Apple Music. There is not very much overlap with this 3 CD set of UK jazz rarities, aside from, you guessed it, Storm Warning. I was able to pick this up through Dusty Groove. https://www.cherryred.co.uk/blog/a-new-awakening--adventures-in-british-jazz-3cd-coming-soon

Were the Chords the original? I've always loved this version from Alton Ellis:

I guess the future of that series was uncertain, and its end was always near,

Didn't know Endea Owens was from Detroit. This looks fantastic. Congrats on the project!

I've never studied that cover art before but noticed it also doesn't appear to use that law of thirds that Miles used for his designs. The pic of Larry himself is great though.

Now: Earlier:

But the article has a publication date of 2021 ? Rare, Classic British Jazz To Rise Again In ‘British Jazz Explosion’ Series The series will begin with the deluxe 2LP & 2CD album ‘Journeys In Modern Jazz: Britain (1965-1972).’ Published on June 3, 2021 By Paul Sexton

Honestly a lot of them look fascinating. I picked up the Dorham and the In With The In Crowd books.

Funny, I just looked again — and despite those two filled-in ‘O’ letters bothering me for 20+ years now — I also only JUST noticed that the ‘P’ is filled in too!! (Uugh!!)

Re-listening to disc 5 of this fascinating set. Bob Dylan Bootleg Series Vol. 18, “Through the Open Window”

Wishing you and the project continued and increasing success!!!

This seems be a sampler of the artists featured in the British Jazz Explosion series. As usual, DM's "Storm Warning" is my fave.

Thanks, Paul. Sounds good.

Dick Morrissey's son just hipped me to this new bunch of re-issues. I can finally hear "Storm Warning"!. https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/decca-launches-british-jazz-explosion-series/

Can't wait, thanks for letting us know!

Billie Holliday (with Stomp Gordon) Photo by Michael Ochs