Big Al

Heck YEAH I'm still interested! I'll wait on buying those Beatles remasters to get this instead!

Damn straight I do. It will make me physically ill if he gets a World Series ring while with the Yankees. That and I think Dan pretty much nailed it.

Those three quotes, in a nutshell, describe the Rangers in general and Ron Washington to a T (especially the 2nd quote. That sounds like the kind of thing Wash would say). He brings in Grilli to start the ninth and expects him to keep the deficit at one run and then leaves him out there to get pummeled? WTF??? I really thought last night's loss would've been right up there with the infamous game last year against the Red Sox, but then they come back and sweep a twin-bill tonight, so that eases last night's pain in a big way. The common phrase around here right now is that the Rangers win in spite of Wash's best efforts to lose. It's gonna be a gut-wrenching September, that's for certain.

Very nicely said! :

Yes, formulaic in the sense that it has a sampling of a lot of the styles of music he's tried out in the past (it reminded me of Spike immediately). Not bad, just not nearly as interesting as Delivery Man, River in Reverse or Secret, etc. Well, we agree to disagree then. I think Spike is EC's most horrid album.

Wow! $8 for the Clark Terry VEE? That is a deal and a half! If I didn't already own it..... somebody should snap that up PRONTO!

It's the first series the Yanks have lost at home since the All-Star Break. Hey, I'm just trying to get my head around the idea that the Rangers actually won a series against the Yankees in New York!!! When the heck was the last time THAT happened? Much less just winning a series from them, period?

I really like "King of America." It was one of the first Costello albums I ever got. Me too, and I liked it a lot when I first got it. I don't listen to it as much as other EC records, though. It's a fine record, and yes, Ray Brown's on a couple tracks. Hey GregK, you thought MOMOFUKU was formulaic? Hadn't ever thought about that, but I can see where you're coming from even if I disagree wholeheartedly. I mean, there were a lot of times listening to that record that felt like I was listening to This Year's Model (especially "American Gangster Time"), but for me that's what makes it such a fantastic record. One can retread without rehashing, and IMO EC did that brilliantly on MOMOFUKU.

Happy 29th, fellow Texan (and Metroplexian)!

Yeah, just in case you don't know where Highway 61 or Desolation Row are. No.... no.... no.... LOL!!! You should hear "Dylan," which consists of... outtakes from Self Portrait!! YeeaaahhhhhI'll take your word for it on this one!

All 17 minutes of Lionel Hampton & crew roaring through "Flying Home" on the Lionel Hampton Quintet VME. I've GOT to get that box!

Slightly off-topic, but I just realized I have a Sonny Stitt LP at home with the same title as Chris' blog. Pretty sure Stitt won't mind, though...

PM sent on these!

I don't care for it. I found it sleepy and boring. But then, MOMOFUKU was such a blisteringly brilliant record, I didn't expect (and sure didn't hope) Elvis to revert to NPR/King Of America form. Maybe I should listen to it again. Bottom line, if you really like King of America, you'll likely enjoy this one.

How's that for irony? I'm reading Alex's post while listening to SELF PORTRAIT for the first time in my life. And probably last time. Clearly, this is a case where I should've just taken everyone's word for it. I mean, I generally can find something (anything) to like about even the worst records (siddown, Skid; I know where you're going with this!). Can't do it on this one. Yeesh! At least Costello's "Goodbye Cruel World" was listenable. BLEEAAHHH!!!!

Don't forget Dee Anthony. Too bad George Burns is no longer around, but maybe Zemeckis will digitally include him. It's like Sylvester the Cat once said, "Why didn't I think of this before? Anything is possible in a cartoon."

I know, just riffin' on a thread theme, that's all.

Me too, but I think I'm going to be more of an observer than a participant because I don't know nearly enough to be able to randomly guess Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Fletcher Henderson, Louis Armstrong, Artie Shaw..... But I *AM* confident in guessing that there is no Glenn Miller on here! This is gonna be like BFT 66 from mikeweil: all kindsa fun, no clue about anything, and gonna be fighting temptation not to break the bank once the answers are revealed! Much fun to be had on this BFT! Can't wait to start reading the guesses!

Mobley just might be more popular than we think, if activity within this thread is any indication.

Is there any jury in the world who would convict Kevin Millwood for a double-homicide if Grilli & Fransisco had blown that lead? I'd be the first to vote NOT GUILTY. I'm glad I didn't watch, I would've gone completely apeshit. Thank God for Elvis Andrus, though; I was completely wrong about this guy. Putting him at SS and moving Young to third is turning out to be a much better move than a lot of people (myself included) thought at the beginning of the season. Could be worse I suppose: at least Brad Lidge isn't on the Rangers. Yet.

Yeah, I know.... just dreaming out loud.... if nothing else, it'd be nice to see Concord do it. I mean, if they can make a Stitt's Bits box, anything's possible!

REVISITED is all kindsa sweet! Especially the tracks with Kenny Burrell. Does it seem like Red got a little more adventurous on the Jazzland label? In addition to two trio albums, he also recorded an album with Les Spann on guitar and flute (SOLAR), and a quintet album with Blue Mitchell & Pepper Adams in the front line, and the Jones men (Sam & Philly Joe) completing the rhythm. The latter album has a very definite Blue Note Byrd/Adams vibe to it. I wish Mosaic would do a Select of Red's Galaxy recordings, as there seems to have been a final burst of recording over four days in 1979 with lineups that varied between trios and a sextet, which were released on four or five LPs. Seems to be the perfect candidate for the 3-CD treatment.

"Minor Vamp" from Blue Mitchell's BLUE SOUL. Beautifully arranged by Benny Golson, and a fantastic way to kick off a fantastic album!

I would not be a bit surprised to see Tampa Bay take the WC this year. Reality has finally caught up with the Rangers, and while it was fun while it lasted, I don't hold out much hope for them: their next series is three in NY. Yikes!

My opinion is that I would like to see Concord do for the Red Garland sessions that produced half of this album and all of ALL MORNIN' LONG, HIGH PRESSURE, and SOUL JUNCTION what they're doing for the upcoming Miles/Sonny Prestige recordings. Those two sessions that produced those 3-1/2 records fit nicely on two CDs. Unless, of course, Concord is finally going to get around to releasing the third and final Trane box. I won't hold my breath for either, though.... As for the album itself, it certainly lives up to its title, even if it does skimp on the quantity of music (certainly not the quality!)