Chuck Nessa

In the mid '60s I had contact with Rollins via a third party and suggested a project. I wanted to do a trio session with Wilbur Ware and Blakey (or Pete LaRoca). Sonny's response (related back to me) was discomfort in recording situations. I responded with "no time limits (within reason - meaning I'd ignore union 3 hour rules)" and offered the (new at the time) clip mike on the horn. He never responded (as far as I know).

S'pose you didn't get feedback 'cause nobody knows details. Since it is called "Master Takes" it seems unlikely there are unissued items. No reason to believe Mosaic is involved in this package. A bit of discographical research will reveal the records at their disposal. Why not look up the content of the "complete" Verve set and start subtracting?

One difference is Uptown made a financial agreement with Lorraine Gillespie for the Town Hall concert. She received an advance and (since she has now died) her heirs will stand to get royalties. The European companies will not be bound by this agreement.

So why would a French distributor have a business relationship with Uptown if budget versions of the same material will be available shortly?

I believe in music. I love GREAT music. I really like music with aspirations toward greatness. Always like a "near miss". All sorts of popular, nostalgic and "warm" crap intrudes and dilutes the stuff along the way. Some "popular music" is "good music" and some might be "great music" but most is just high quality pop music. Nothing wrong with that. I believe Stevie is high quality pop music for a decade. Nothing to sneeze at if you lived through that decade.

considering Stevie's age when he wrote, arranged, played every instrument on and produced those albums and it becomes even more staggering. I can't even begin to imagine such talent. Are you Jazz Kat?

We live in very different worlds.

Just based upon just those 4 albums it wouldn't be 'over the friggin' top'. But factor in Songs In the Key of Life, Hotter Than July, songs of utter originality and beauty for artists like Minnie Riperton, Ramsey Lewis, Smokey Robinson, Syreeta, Michael Jackson, Roberta Flack and despite all the cheesy abominations of late I still think Stevie is up there with the greatest musical talents of all time. Easy... B-) Guess i been in the wrong place.

So I guess "over the friggin' top" is the order of the day.

This is where I suggest a flaw in your thought processes.

Mr Rollins in "real drag" mode is better than Sonny Stitt.

ram along a ding dong.

I was speaking of the "fan perception".

I picked it up in the store, scanned it, put it back.

I think you (and your edit) missed the point.

It's a quiz. Nothing if you get it right - worse if you miss.

Mister Mooster be makin' fun of a recent classical listening thread. DD complained about "segregating music" or some such and I was kind enough not to mention the Rat thread, the Greeze thread or any other thread. Now my mammalian friend makes fun. He's still my friend but I'm not amused.

Since people seem to be ringing in with useless posts - never read it.

Claude Debussy's Images conducted by Ataulfo Argenta. Don't know if he recorded any of the "Wittgenstein" concerti, let alone one by an "Iberian".

FWIW, as a record retailer (at the time), Alfie sold many more copies than the other recent records 'cause Rollins fans loved his playing on the date. It seemed like the "Prestige Sonny" returned to form. Some complained about the "cheezy" Nelson arrangements, but everybody loved Sonny's "swagger". I'd guess Alfie sold somewhere around 3 times more than the other 2 Impusles dates - at the time.

My point is the RIAA gold record status is of no real value when comparing record sales. My Favorite Things may have sold twice as many copies as the others but we'll never know.

No reason to use the RIAA database as proof of anything. The only info they have is stuff sent by the record companies and that is spotty at best.

where did I (even) imply this?

If you are really interested in vinyl for "sound", why no questions about the source tapes - analog or digital? Digital tapes to vinyl only add surface noise.