BillF

Yes, I refer to that one a lot, together with Robert Gordon's Jazz West Coast, used copies of which are still available. Gordon's annotated discography confirms many of the recommendations made in this thread.

Now available in paperback! Paperback Reader Little Red Book Booker Little

All that wonderful stuff! The October 28 1947 session. Yes, I'm very happy to have the Spotlight box set of the Complete Dial studio recordings. Is this the best reissue on LP of this material? Or were there other earlier issues of this material with better sound? Wouldn't know about that. Just bought the albums when they came out in the 70s. Anyone know how does the sound quality of the 1970s Spotlite LPs compare with their 4CD reissue? I'm tempted to get the CDs.. Haven't heard the Spotlites on CD, but I can say this. I first bought some Parker Dial tracks in 1959 on a French Guilde du Jazz 10" LP and, as I recall, the sound was so dire that when the Spotlites emerged, they sounded like a revelation.

I remember being a bit disappointed with that one but I haven't listened to it in ages, I'll have to re-investigate it. Pleased to have my feeling confirmed, Cliff. I am far happier with Perkins and Kamuca's Tenors Head On.

Now available as half of John Lewis, West Coast/East Coast Encounter on Gambit.

Hanoi Jane The Mekon Tete Montoliu

Isaiah Berlin Paris Hilton Jack London

Best wishes!

Your report came just in time! Day trip to London tomorrow - now just over 2 hours by Virgin Pendolino. Had planned to look in at Ray's, so pleased to hear there's still something there!

I've got that one somewhere on a UK London LP. That would be the original British issue? I bought it on Affinity in 1989 with a sleeve note by Brian Priestley. Yes Bill - It's the 50s issue. Flimsy type sleeve and red deep-groove London label. I remember it, but never owned it. (In those days you often got to know albums by borrowing them from friends - there were many jazz listeners, but with little disposable income at a time when records were comparatively very expensive.)

I've got that one somewhere on a UK London LP. That would be the original British issue? I bought it on Affinity in 1989 with a sleeve note by Brian Priestley.

Very sound list, Peter, if I may say so.

Dennis Stock Stockard Channing Charlie Chan

The Horatians The Horace Silver Quintet Horace Tapscott

The Bonking Bishop of Brentwood The Dirty Vicar John McVicar

Leon Pettis Pet Clark Farty McSimmons

All that wonderful stuff! The October 28 1947 session. Yes, I'm very happy to have the Spotlight box set of the Complete Dial studio recordings. Is this the best reissue on LP of this material? Or were there other earlier issues of this material with better sound? Wouldn't know about that. Just bought the albums when they came out in the 70s.

All that wonderful stuff! The October 28 1947 session.

Wow! He's 79!

Yes, Condon's nice to listen to once in a while. My favorite track is "Jam Session Blues/Ole Miss" from Jam Session Coast to Coast. Eddie's studio comments are priceless!

George Orwell Benjamin Britten Peter Pears

Indian Queens Calcutta Cutie Tokyo Rose

Mrs Worthington Billy Bass Peter Ind

I've been listening too. I've only heard these poetry and jazz discs in recent years - I'm always struck by how posh the poets sound. There's a Michael Garrick disc I have with similar plummy versifying. Poetry and jazz was quite a cult in my youth. At Leeds University I remember that poet-in-residence Peter Redgrove was persuaded by bassist Danny Padmore to read to jazz accompaniment in a club. I agree that the plummy English voices of the era didn't sound right - a problem which hadn't arisen in San Francisco when Beat poets Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Kenneth Rexroth read to West Coast sounds.