Big Al

Favorite Blue Note version of a Beatles chestnut

Everything I learned about Windows I learned on a Mac when I was working at my first job out of college (1994). That said, I still prefer my Dell PC over the Mac I used to have. My main complaint when I had my Mac was that nothing new ever fit on the OS I had, and nothing seemed to be backwards compatible. I'm sure times have changed in the ten years since I sold that Mac, and I really can't see spending the money to get one of the new ones, but I have to admit being skeptical: these new Macs look nice and shiny, the way computers are supposed to look; but damn if I can't figure out what the hell's going on with it. I realize that a good chunk of that may be due to not having worked on a Mac in over ten years and therefore missing out on the changes that Apple has trailblazed. I'll give them that: they've always been ahead of the time technologically. It's just a damn shame that Jobs has this elitist cult mentality that says only certain cool people should own Macs; the rest of y'all can go to hell (or Microsoft). Can you imagine how much more successful Apple could be if it were run by someone who didn't hold the human race in such high contempt? (I'll always remember that scene from "Pirates of the Silicon Valley," where Noah Wyle's Steve Jobs says to Anthony Michael Hall's Bill Gates, "We're better than you," to which Hall's Gates says, "Don't you get it? It doesn't matter!") Besides, as long as Apple's around, Gates has a nice little R&D facility that costs him next to nothing. My personal belief: if you're an artist and you need top-of-the-line graphics, multimedia, etc. Mac is the best way to go. If you're a corporate type, Windows is the best way to go. Just my two cents. Change made, as always.

Oh, I know; but I can't help but think of this as Jones' way of inviting the Master into his shiny brand new domain and worshipping at his feet. It would be sorta like Brian Wilson inviting Phil Spector to the studio.

The "I'm a Republican posting from the restroom...." thread

Anyone else see the hilarious irony in the fact that the Cowboys and the Raiders--the two teams with extremely similar owners (and teams)--will play on Turkey Day this year? If that weren't enough, this will be the first Turkey Day game in the new Jerry Jones Death Star/Arlington Funeral Home/Dallas (not Arlington) Cowboys Stadium. I guess this is Jerry's way of saying to the Master, "Show me your ways, O Wise One."

Cometothinkofit, Steve did mention how disappointed he was when I saw him in church yesterday.....

Is that the one just north of downtown, down the street from where Tower used to be? Man, that's sad. That store hasn't even been open for five years, has it?

Is that all? Here and I thought you'd spent money on both a Wynton Marsalis cd AND a Stanley Crouch book.

80's hair-metal and synth-pop appreciation thread

Cool, looking forward to it!

Of course I'm in, just giving the thread a bump!

Aw man, this is a serious bummer. Hopefully you'll still be able to check in from time to time.

You got THAT right!!! In fact, I think I'll go put it on right now!

Y'know Chris, I was laughing until I got to your last line....

I agree, and yet it seems with this series you take the good with the bad: for every vintage (Terry Gibbs) there's another re-issue of another Coltrane album. I'll never understand it either, and since I can't really do anything about it, just keep buying the ones that interest me in hopes that the record company gets the message (put out more stuff that hasn't been issued previously, quit bombarding us with endless Coltrane repackages!) Well, I certainly agree with you, but almost all record companies, even jazz oriented ones, still pitch to the middle. Despite all the many reissues, Coltrane, Monk and Miles Davis must continue to outsell all the obscure artists that are on their first go around. If they really aimed at the Mosaic niche for instance, most would go under. Frustrating I know. I also agree. I think the last major undertaking of getting lesser known items out in the catalogue died with the Verve Elite Editions. Even the LPR series (which also seems dead) yielded quite a few items that hadn't been issued on cd too, but the Originals series clearly seems to be a re-packaging of items that have already been reissued with an unissed item tossed in here and there; a real disappointment By and large, there have been some real gems issued in this series. Yes, there has also been dreck (who wanted the Will Downing and Walter Beasley albums? I mean, come on!), but the real gold of the bunch (I'm thinking about Hugh Masekela's HOME IS WHERE THE MUSIC IS, which justifies the entire series alone, IMHO) has made this an enjoyable series. Plus, even a cynic like me has to admit that the sound upgrade really has been as good as advertised. The Getz bossa nova albums, for instance, are a good example of nice packaging, good sound, and a reasonable price. Yes it would've been nice to have the extra tracks, but I've stopped hoping for perfect re-issues, and it's made my enjoyment of the music that much more rewarding.

Damn.... secret's out....

I agree, and yet it seems with this series you take the good with the bad: for every vintage (Terry Gibbs) there's another re-issue of another Coltrane album. I'll never understand it either, and since I can't really do anything about it, just keep buying the ones that interest me in hopes that the record company gets the message (put out more stuff that hasn't been issued previously, quit bombarding us with endless Coltrane repackages!)

Man, that's quite a list! I can see getting these: Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - Soul Finger Dizzy Gillespie - Dizzy On The French Riviera Freddie Hubbard - The Artistry Of Freddie Hubbard Stan Getz - At the Shrine (never heard of this one) Terry Gibbs - Swing is Here (or this one) Johnny Hodges - Used to be Duke

4/14 list added, thanks to this thread!

DISC ONE 1. No clue, but LOVE that groove! At first I thought it was some kinda Gene Harris thing, maybe the alto is Poppa Lou? 2. Oh crap, I have this somewhere! Wait, no I don’t. Sounds like the Adderley group with an extra bassist! Another great groove. 3. Sounds like a Joe Henderson live Milestone date. 4. Nice groove destroyed by annoying vocals and an even more annoying sax. Is this from “Attica Blues?” 5. Sounds of recent vintage. Really enjoying it, that’s for sure, even though I can’t readily identify anyone. 6. Another nice one! I’m afraid this BFT is gonna bankrupt me. 7. Wild, man. Simply wild! No clue, but it’s all kindsa freaky wild! 8. Bleah. Sounds like some kinda Grover Washington Jr. Kudu thing, without the beat. 9. Like the beat. Had to go back and listen again because it sounded like this and track 10 were all one song. Sounds like a McCoy Tyner trio. Kinda nondescript, but certainly not bad. 10. Well, this was even more nondescript than the last one. That and the fact that I generally don’t care for violin jazz. 11. Ouch!!! 12. I’m sorry man, but this one left me completely cold. DISC TWO 1. Groove is nice enough, I guess. Nothing that really jumps out at me. 2. This went by completely unnoticed. Sorry. 3. Sounds like some kind of Gabor Szabo thing or maybe a mid-70’s Pat Martino live date. Ha! Very cool how they launch into Afro-Cuban. Hey, waitasecond, I’ll bet this is Kenny Burrell at the Vanguard, that live trio date he did that ended up on 32Jazz. THIS one was worth sitting through to get to the groove! 4. Whoops! Another one that sounded like it was a continuation of the previous track. You can tell I’m not paying too close attention here, and I apologize. Maybe Freddie Hubbard from an Atlantic album? 5. Could that be Billy Higgins on drums? I always guess Smilin’ Billy on at least one track per BFT! 6. What a NICE “Wonderful World.” 7. Cool version of “Norwegian Wood.” Is this from that Herbie Hancock “New Standards” album from a few years back? 8. This reminds me of that McCoy Tyner big band track that was on a BFT a few years back. Or it could be “New Standards.” What the heck do I know? All’s I do know is that I lost interest about halfway through when the groove went out the window for some naval-gazing guitar solo. ZzZzzzzz...... 9. Oh, I’ve heard this. I think. Very familiar. Sorry my comments aren’t more verbose. This was kindofa hit-n-miss affair. Needless to say, I’ll be very interested to see what others have to say!

Yes. You won't ever see 'em that low again and you'll kick yourself later if you don't. I know: my ass is red from all the times I've kicked myself!

I absolutely love the Monk Prestige box, simply because it gathers everything in a neat and orderly fashion, saving the best for last. Oh yeah, and those EE pictures are all kindsa groovy!

I don't care what anyone says: MARDI GRAS is a vastly underrated gem. Doesn't work as a CCR album, but it stands mighty fine as a good rock & roll album. IMHO, it's best moments are the NON-Fogerty tunes: "Take it Like a Friend" and "Need Someone to Love."

Did I sell it to any of you guys? I can't find my copy, and I'm pretty sure I didn't take it to CD Source. (I'm also missing my RADIO DAYS soundtrack and I know for a fact I didn't unload that one ANYWHERE).