Stereojack

Ronnie Free Boyd Atkins James Last

Beautiful! Thank you so much.

I bought the box last year, having owned the 1960's 3-LP set since it came out. Positives: The sound is terrific, expertly mastered by Mark Wilder. I'm not always happy with Mosaic's mastering, but this one is superb. I was already familiar with most of the music, and I can highly recommend this set for the many classics it contains, and the lineup of great players - Bill Harris, Sonny Berman, Flip Phillips, Red Norvo, Dave Tough, Stan Getz, Mary Ann McCall, et al. Negatives: I wanted everything by this band, especially the material that had been left off of the LP set. Unfortunately, most of the tracks that were new to me were forgettable vocals by Herman. The compilers of the LP set had made their selections wisely. The new set does contain a number of interesting alternates, however. I find Loren Schoenberg's micro-detailed liner notes really superfluous. I wonder if Loren was being paid by the word.

There is a new Mosaic Herman - the Columbia album "Woody's Winners". http://www.mosaicrecords.com/prodinfo.asp?number=1013

I too was impressed with how great she looked and sounded. Of course, she was very young when she started out, and is now 58. Not a spring chicken, by any means, but compared to a couple of the other acts on the show, a knockout.

Lincoln Chase Chase & Sanborn Dave Sanborn

The early Contemporary stereo's were on a black label. You've got an original.

I don't know that any new information has come to light since the publication of the Savoy discography. These sides were recorded for the Chicago-based Parrot label on May 27, 1954, and acquired by Savoy a couple of years later. The drummer is Buddy Smith, btw. Hawk is in fine fettle on this date, even if the setting is less than ideal.

Jack Nicklaus Nicholas Cage John Cage

Carla Bley Karen Mantler Mickey Mantle

Sarah Dash Nona Hendricks Cindy Birdsong

James Whale Dolph Sweet Sharky Bonano

There's a tremendous amount of great stuff on Tangerine. I guess once Ray formed his own label, he recorded many of his heroes like Percy Mayfield, Louis Jordan, Jimmy Scott, Jimmy Lewis, et al, and who knows what else that only came out on singles. Don't know if Rhino has a lock - years ago the story was that nobody was willing to pay Ray's price to license his stuff, which was why none of it was reissued. Ray entered into a deal with Rhino for a greatest hits package that apparently sold quite well, and that must have opened the door for these other projects. As to why these are limited editions - these are sold retail on line only, which eliminates wholesalers and distributors. Every piece sold generates 20 bucks for Rhino, making it possible to release things in relatively small quantites and still turn a profit. I guess the limited status works as an incentive for sales.

Thanks a lot, guys. This really helps.

A couple of years ago, Rhino Handmade released a CD of Percy Mayfield's rare Tangerine recordings. I didn't buy it, already owning both LP's (although I recently learned that the CD has 7 additional tracks from singles). It's now out of print. I can live without the 7 tracks for now, but I wonder if the CD may have given discographical info, and if anyone who bought the CD can shed some light on the personnel. The original LP's offer no information, and the blues discographies show dates, no names. The sessions are produced by Ray Charles, and it's unquestionably Ray at the keyboards, presumably with his band. Any info would be appreciated.

I had always had mixed feelings about Julius Watkins until I first heard these sessions some years ago. It's great stuff!

Impulse was created as a division of ABC Paramount, so even the earliest pressings are identified this way. The orange label with the black border was used until 1968, when it was replaced by the black label with the red border. I believe this may have been after mono was discontinued, so your mono LP is probably an original. The covers of the early originals are laminated, and on the very first releases, perhaps the first 15 or 20, the inside cover is printed in blue or green ink, later pressings use black ink. The laminated covers were discontinued around the same time that the label was changed. As already stated, not all releases have the Van Gelder stamp in the dead wax.

Rod McKuen Rod Serling Roddy McDowell

Jack Black Tony Joe White Linda Gray

W is mono. The stereo equivalent would be WS. Also, early stereo records usually have the word "Stereo" emblazoned in very large letters on the cover. I don't believe "Lonesome Echo" exists in stereo. It's too early. Classic cover!

Eartha Kitt Venus Williams Mercury Morris

I'll third "Little Rootie Tootie". I also love "Lulu's Back In Town" on It's Monk's Time, and "Black and Tan Fantasy" on Monk Plays Ellington.

Tony Rome Paris Hilton London Lee

Mother Hubbard Daddy Warbucks Uncle Remus

I've owned the original for many years - a lovely album, personnel includes the legendary Don Joseph on trumpet. The current Sundazed reissue contains five alternate takes, and is in stereo for the first time.