Big Al

DL for me, and get ready for the usual whinings, rantings, & shouting against free music!

Trying it right now. This is actually a really cool idea and well-executed. The opportunity to browse through the catalog chronologically, while showing all those old album covers, is something I really like. It's not perfect - much of the more obscure OOP material still hasn't been uploaded by EMI itself, so there are gaps and missing tracks (the John Hardee/Ike Quebec sides include only two cuts that were issued by some PD label). But huge props to whoever came up with a way to map all the albums to what's in the Spotify database. I don't know how much money this is going to make them but this is the kind of thing that makes me at least want to spend money on the CDs. Thanks Big Wheel. This was a project I lead. As longtime Blue Note addict and a digital nerd I took the opportunity to try to build the most engaging experience possible. Definitely a lot of gaps and I'm working w/ the EMI team that handles the feed into Spotify w/ regard to clearances and updates to the discography. I'm going to keep working to make this better and better. Comments are always welcome so please send them my way. Not sure if you saw the Rolling Stone and LA Times articles but so far, the reviews have been positive. Thanks for giving it a spin. http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/blogs/gear-up/blue-note-records-spotify-app-streamlines-jazz-discovery-20120912 http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-blue-note-jazz-spotify-app-20120912,0,689551.story BfB, this is a profoundly excellent thing you've got going here!!! This is worth it just to be able to hear those 10" titles that came out as BN Conns years ago (or, heck, ANY of the Conns for that matter!) If I would add anything, I agree with Pete C about original liner notes. All of them are available as jpg's at the Vintage Vanguard site (here's a link to the Sidney Bechet liners to Blue Note 1207); perhaps you or someone here could assist in getting those on the app? Just a thought. I truly hope this comes back to BN/EMI in a good way! Keep up the good work!

I'd just uninstalled Spotify and then I read this! Gonna have to re-install it again!

I truly have nothing constructive to add (I know, I know, big surprise there). I feel like I've stumbled upon the best jazz radio station ever!!! There's a lot of sameness to these ears, and that is by no means a knock against this collection: I'm enjoying it tremendously!!! I just can't tell one track from the other, and I halfway expect a DJ to break in at some point and say "That was "(song title)" performed by "(whoever)" featuring "(a whole lotta cats I can't identify)" So, apologies to my legions of fans who were gearing up for the usual incoherent ramblings and shoutings and illegible/illogical shenanigans, lies, excuses, and morbid fascinations. Now, on to read the intelligent commentary contained within this thread!

And I even had this album at one time....

I wondered about that, too. The melody seemed pretty obvious to me.

Sounds like you're well on your way, but anything with "Shotgun/Blind Man, Blind Man" is worthy of purchase. That tune is sooo BAAAAAD! Honestly, I can play that song on a nonstop loop and never tire of it!

Not to derail the thread with a reply to a five-year-old comment, but A-FREAKIN-MEN!!!!

Yes, VERY good news to hear, Jeff. I hope you're able to get the dining room situation resolved quickly.

DL for me please!

Happy to see that Duran album finding a good home. I don't own the album, but I couldn't bring myself to ask Pete to sell me just one LP from that whole list. Hope you dig it, Lon!

Correct! My copy has the out-of-place text on it.

I knew it!!! Yes, but this comment was about Track 9, which you said that you liked too! {{{GASP!!!!}}} The delayed response was due to me fainting the first time I read this, coming to, then slipping into a coma upon reading it again, coming to, three days of crying a lot, and now the utter realization that there's no hope left for me.... I would say Dudu is a contemporary, though obviously in a bit different genre. Hey man, I can't fault you for your tastes. I cringe when something non-Ellington, pre-1940 makes a BFT. Sadly Al, this is just the way my mind/ear works. No intent. I don't believe you. No seriously, my mind works that way too, which is precisely why I thought it was intentional. It worked, FWIW! Nope, I love it all! Have I mentioned how glad I am that you're participating? I hope you'll stick around for more BFT's!

I knew it!!!

Commence kicking and screaming now as I’m once again dragged into the Wide World of Skronk! Track 1: “Don’t Stop the Dixieland Carnival.” Clarinet sounds like he wandered into the wrong studio, but hey, when in Rome. A cello solo! Whatta concept! Dig the groove, too! Track 2: I appreciate it for the concept if not the execution. I like it that there are a lotta stringed instruments, but that didn’t make it any more listenable. I know, big surprise there... Track 3: Was going to insert the usual snarky comments about squawky sax players when it occurred to me how amazed I was, while listening to the theme, that one of two things had to have happened: either this was written out, which completely blows my mind given how many different notes & the rapidity with which they were played; OR, this was all spontaneous and it just happened to work out! I find that endlessly fascinating even if I can’t usually listen to it. Track 4: Started out liking this a lot, can’t help but wonder if this was a private recording made by the drummer or someone sitting very close by. Then the saxes came in. You know the rest... Track 5: Now you’re talking! VERY nice! And yes, I’ll be the first to admit that my tastes are generally staid, boring, and predictable, but the reason I like this is because the theme is just so lovely, and the piano goes back to it frequently which I dig a lot. Wow, that was 9-1/2 minutes? Sure didn’t feel like it! Track 6: No clue, the vocalese-te takes some getting used to, which I’ll do because the guitar sounds so nice. Josh Redman on tenor? Track 7: Sounds like Sonny from his RCA days, so that’s what I’ll go with. Or maybe a Joe Henderson trio, maybe something from “State of the Tenor?” Okay, since there’s a trumpet, it can’t be Henderson. So maybe it’s Sonny & Don Cherry. Okay, since there’s an alto, I HAFC™ what I’m talking about. I know, big surprise there... But groovy nonetheless! Nobody’s screaming their brains out, which I dig! Track 8: I *want* this to be Dudu Phukwana with Hugh Masekela returning the guesting favors that Dudu did on Hugh’s masterpiece “Home Is Where the Music Is.” On second thought, no I don’t. And I REALLY don’t want everyone trying to play louder than everyone else. Loud squawking, goes on forever, blah blah blah... bore bore bore, you sound like a broken record, dude. Put yr teeth back in Grampa and go put on yr Bill Evans records and leave us the hell alone with your ranting and raving about what is and isn’t jazz... Track 9: Nice! Short! A little dab o’ squawking ain’t too bad when it’s contained like this. Track 10: That bass is so fat, it’s freakin’ OBESE!!! And I love it! Track 11: Another nice one. No clue, and I bet the noise-heads among us find this one boring in the context of the rest of this BFT, but I dig it. A lot! I gotta say, despite my usual visceral reactions to the noisier cuts on this BFT, I’m enjoying this more as it goes along because I’m noticing a recurring theme here: there are squawky tracks on here to annoy us boring old traditionalists, and there are the straight-ahead cuts to irritate the fans of the avant-garde. Even better, they’re programmed in such a way that no one can get comfortable with any one groove for any extended period of time! Mingus would be proud: this BFT was made to irritate the living hell outta people and I LOVE THAT!!!! I wish I had the cajones to pull off a feat like this!!! Or the collection! Track 12: Sounds like it wouldn’t be outta place on the “Silver ‘n’ Voices” album. Dig the tenor sax solo. I hope that whoever did the primal scream at the very end got it all out of his system and is a happier man for it. But it’s all good, cuz that groovy chorus is stuck in my head! I can’t say this was entirely enjoyable, but I CAN say it was a challenge, and if I can’t enjoy it, I love it when it challenges me! I can’t wait to see what Ptah has to say about this BFT!

Me too!!!!

Pedroia shoulda asked Bobby V if he still has that fake moustache & sunglasses handy...

Like others on the other thread, I also use Google Chrome, and can access the MLB thread again. Agg, for your punishment.... no, never mind. Football season in the SEC oughta be punishment enough this year. \m/

On two separate occasions on two different computers, whenever I try to open the MLB 2012 thread, I get redirected to a site that says the following: Any idea how/why this is happening? Thanks!

Happy to help if needed PM coming!

Funny how things turn around in baseball: where once we dreaded Scott Feldman taking the mound but cheered when Yu Darvish took the mound (well, actually, I've never bought into the Yu hype), now the tables have turned: Feldman's won his last four decisions, Darvish is 1-4 in his last six starts. Darvish hasn't reached Chan Ho lousiness (yet), but if he doesn't right himself and SOON, it could open the door for the A's and the Angels to drop Texas out of the playoffs altogether.

Ahhhh, so much to get!!! I think I may take you up on your previous offers for the sources of tracks 2, 3, and 9! Can't believe there wasn't more love for track 2! I thought that was played brilliantly, and now that I know the story behind it, I appreciate it that much more! I woulda NEVER guessed George Cables, and now that I listen to it again, I realize how shameful that little admission truly is! Didn't realize how close I came with the "Italian restaurant" comment with regards to Gene DiNovi! Perhaps I oughta check this out, too! And the albums from which tracks 4, 7, and 11 have shot to the top of my want list! Maybe even track 8 if I'm in a good mood! Still listenin' to this BFT, DrJ, and still enjoyin' the heck outta it!

Love this album. I think I got it during the Oldies OJC sale awhile back, and very glad I did. There are moments on this album that sound like a mid-60's Blue Note album.

Uh...guess it's back? KNOW it's back! Refuse-to-lose comeback last night, 15-8 stomping still going on right now. It's ALL back, baby!

Me two!!!