Big Al

Only on "Surrey with the Fringe on Top." Is he on more than one track on the VME?

No kidding! It's now being prominently featured on "classic rock" radio, ESPECIALLY Def Leppard (who I've hated with a vengeance since day one). Who made this decision? the right? Nah. If it was up to them, the only thing popular today would be prefabricated hip-pop, lip-synchers, alt-pop,..... And the only group we'd find in the jazz section would be Mannheim Steamroller.

True dat! If you dig the string overdubs, by all means hang onto Willow!

No kidding! It's now being prominently featured on "classic rock" radio, ESPECIALLY Def Leppard (who I've hated with a vengeance since day one). Who made this decision?

Only in Texas: "I tell you what....." (that's all; with apologies to Bill Engvall)

What follows is a mere assessment based on the track listing I saw on the Verve website as well as the sessionography from the Impressions: The Verve Jazz Sides compilation. I am by no means an expert on any of these things. The first three tracks from the original Smokin’ LP were actually recorded at the RVG studios sometime after the original Half Note dates. The last two are from the Half Note dates. The bonus tracks on the VME, while also recorded at the Half Note, had some string overdubs, and were originally posthumously released on Willow Weep for Me. However, not every one of the tracks from that album are on the current VME. The missing track, ironically, is the version of “Four on Six” that was actually recorded at the Half Note (unlike its studio counterpart, which was actually included on the original Smokin’ LP). And has also been previously discussed, the string overdubs have been removed for this issue. In other words, if you bought the Willow LPR and think that this VME replaces it, hang onto it, cuz the version of “Four on Six” on Willow is the grittier version of the two. And in the end, the Impressions comp is still the way to go, unless the VME is that much of an improvement in sound (and also if sound improvement is one of the determining factors for you).

Just bear this in mind: it’s your BFT, your moment in the sun; just have FUN with it! That’s what I did with mine, and I messed with volume levels (there was a Benny Goodman track which was barely existent among the other tracks until I brought the volume level up; unfortunately, it also highlighted the peak distortion of the track (technology of the late 80’s, whattya gonna do?), but it was worth it to have the volume level at the level of everything else) as well as editing tracks together (something that Dan also did; in fact, it was his little stunt that inspired me to try it on mine; fooled a few people, heheheheheh!!!). I think my disc was just a few second shy of the 80-minute mark. Heck, I almost put a song on mine backwards, just to test the theory that some standards are so familiar that some people may recognize ‘em if you played ‘em backwards! So yeah, just have a blast with it and wait for people to start publicly scratching their heads. Not many more things as enjoyable as that, as I and other BFT-ers can attest! Oh yeah, and count me in as one of your distributors as well. I’d love to help out and have access to a burner that can make copies lightning quick!

Mich drei!

I normally love anything Claus Ogerman does, and the arrangements in and of themselves aren’t bad; still, to these ears, they sound so intrusive. I’ll be interested to see if there’s any improvement on this issue over the same tracks on the collection Impressions: The Verve Jazz Sides.

Styx fans........ sheesh!!!! This will likely be the first Select I've pre-ordered as well!

Dude, now THAT'S one of their better songs. B-)

A-frickin-men. I'll bet the two sisters would agree as well.

Well, I promised myself I wouldn’t post the usual HAFC’s and NMCOT’s, but I’ve been exceptionally swamped the last few weeks. So, I apologize in advance for any brevity that follows, along with the usual cluelessness: 1. That’s so fast, it’s downright inhuman. Too fast for me. I’ll bet this is fun to watch, not much fun to listen to. Having said that, I think it’s Terry Gibbs. He’s the only one hyper enough to play that fast! 2. That sounds like something from one of the Columbia Monk solo albums. 3. Uhhhhhh, okay. Not really sure how to react to this one. Sounds like a bass clarinet and a muted trumpet playing Monk while double-dutching. 4. I’m sorry; five minute drum solos generally last ten minutes longer than I want them to. 5. Sounds like some Booker Ervin to me. No wait, I take that back. Some kinda FINE tenor battle goin’ there! With the Monk theme going throughout this disc so far, I’m gonna guess it’s Griffin & Jaws from that Monk disc they did together! 6. Very nice. This sounds like something off of the Blow-Up soundtrack, but it isn’t. I love the feel from this kind of song: cool air, late-night walks thru the neighborhood. Yeah, music like this was made for just such an activity! 7. Maybe if I wasn’t feeling so rushed right now, this would feel a lot better. This is one of those tracks I have to be in just the right mood for. Otherwise, it just sounds like endless droning. But on a good day, this would be wonderfully evocative! 8. That sounds like one of those old six-string bass guitars for the intro. No clue afterwards. Muted trumpets all sound the same after a while to me, so no clue as to that either. Has a nice sprightly swing to it, though! Sounds like Jimmy Cobb on the skins, that’s his kinda groove right there! Wait, on second thought maybe that’s Dizzy. Ahhh, I don’t know. 9. Wow, piano-less guitar and vibes! One of my favorite types of group! Can’t wait to find out who this is! Hmmm, sounds like Wes, but who could that be on vibes? Y’know, the further I get into this disc, the more I dig the, er, vibe of this BFT! 10. Should know this, too tired to look it up. Very nice, though; love the electric guitar explosion there. Love the vibes-guitar front line again. 11. Love the beat; love that snaky, sultry, deep-pocket sliiiiiide. No clue, but eager to find out! 12. No clue, no interest. Sorry. 13. Sounds like solo Duke? 14. ?????? 15. Ah, a big band! Now yer talkin’! Can’t wait to find out, too tired to even venture a guess. Sounds like a Quincy Jones or a Johnny Pate arrangement. 16. God rest ya, J.O.S. Keep ‘em greeeeazin’ up there for us, willya? Alright, I'm gonna glance at y'alls guesses and hit the hay. And then probably kick myself in the morning after I read my own half-conscious guesses.......

Well, could be, as I already know that you were (?) a HUGE Aldo Nova fan. B-) So, how do you feel about April Wine?? Dokken ("rhymes with ROCKIN'!!!)??? Triumph??? Dude, I still have my "Never Surrender" concert t-shirt. Oh yeah? I'll see your Dokken & Triumph and rasie you an Asia and a Ratt!!! :rsmile: :rsmile:

I like what the lady who played Lafawnduh (sp?) said, during the documentary about the filming of the "Wedding of the Century:" that this really is a family movie. There's no gratuitous sex, violence, maybe one or two swear words. Medjuck's right on the money about the kids liking this movie. I had lunch with my third-grade son awhile back, right after he and I had seen the movie, and he and I started quoting lines from the movie. Pretty soon, other kids who'd seen the movie were gathering around to join the fun. Another time, our sixth-grade neighbor and I were shooting some hoops, and I think we managed to quote the entire movie! Not verbatim, but just favorite scene after favorite scene. And just to give you an idea of what kind of phenomenon we're dealing with here, my wife works retail and one day, found on the computer in one of the sections of the store, a yellow sticky-note with the words "Do the chickens have large talons" on it. Sure enough, it was two of the kids (late teens/early twenties) who'd been posting the notes!

Aw come on Jeff: give us a Cat Shatner cover!!!

Honestly, I had no interest in this album until I saw Jeff's cover!!! YOW!!!

Heckyeah it was; whattya think? GOSH!!!

For just that, you might enjoy this. Sweet!

FWIW, during one of the film commentaries on the DVD, one of the guys (the director, I think) referred to his "LDS missionary work." So I would guess that part of his experiences as a Mormon may have creeped into the film. But that hardly makes it a film about Mormons.

That seems to be the general consensus! This is one of those great "line" movies: you don't really remember what the movie was about, but there are a lot of great quotes in it. Anyone for Rex Kwon Do?

Heck yeah, that is a FINE album. I never thought I'd enjoy Blakey playing so understated, but it is soooooo sweet!

I'd still like to know how they got away with THAT one back then! This cover is on the Los Ritmos Calientes CD. I guess no one ever really looked that close. (Well, except for me! )

Ahhhhh.... so THAT'S why there was a poster with that record! B-) I never saw the BTM episode, but my sister relates the story that Tommy Shaw & James Young just wanted to rock out, and yet they were in a band that was famous for..... "Babe"!!!!!!