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Thanks Dan, will look into it. As fate would have it, available free right now on Amazon Prime!

BFT 249 Reveal Thanks to all who participated! 1 - Roberta Flack – “Tryin’ Times” from ‘First Take’, 1969 Atlantic Lots of love for this track. Ron Carter on bass. This album did not chart when first released, but then when Clint Eastwood used “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” from it in his movie ‘Play Misty For Me’ (which I’ve never seen, is it any good?) three years later, that song and the album both went to #1 on the pop charts. 2 - Chick Corea – “Pledge for Peace” from ‘The Vigil’, 2013 Stretch Corea on piano and Stanley Clarke on bass shine on their solos. Ravi Coltrane leaves me (as always with him) and most of the rest of you who listened, cold. 3 - Wishbone Ash – “Handy” from ‘Wishbone Ash’, 1970 Decca British group who released two classic albums (this and ‘Argus’) in the early-70’s, and have soldiered on even to this day. “Handy”, good as it is, only sets the stage for the track that comes after it, the incendiary “Phoenix”. That cut, at the pinnacle of where Psych meets Prog, is one of my favorite cuts of all-time, and I still listen to it incessantly, 54 years on. ‘Argus’, recognized as their classic, is a very different animal, with superior songwriting in a more folk/prog vein, instruments more integrated into the songs, but continued instrumental excellence. Do give a listen if not familiar with it. 4 - McCoy Tyner – “Contemporary Focus” from ‘Today and Tomorrow’ 1964 Impulse John Gilmore, Frank Strozier, and Thad Jones on tenor, alto, and trumpet – A much different front line than Tyner ever used otherwise. Universal love for this track. 5 - Spirit – “Fresh Garbage” from ‘Spirit’ 1968 Epic One of my favorite groups. Teenage guitarist Randy California had gigged with Jimi Hendrix when he was still Jimmy James, and his stepfather, drummer Ed Cassidy, had played gigs with Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Cannonball Adderley, and other heavyweights. Their first four albums on Epic were great. 6 - Sam Jones – “Seven Minds” from ‘Seven Minds’ 1975 East Wind Jones stretches out with band mates Walton and Higgins on this masterpiece, which inspired my “Give The Bass Player Some” title for this BFT. 7 – Gerry Mulligan/Chet Baker – “It’s Sandy at the Beach” from ‘Carnegie Hall Concert’ 1975 CTI An overlooked gem in the CTI catalog. The sidemen (Bob James, Dave Samuels, John Scofield, Ron Carter, Harvey Mason) might lead you to expect something very different, but this one grooves start to finish. 8 - Flamin' Groovies – “There's a Place” from ‘Now’ 1978 Sire On here because I had two minutes of space left on the CD-R, and I love both the original (my favorite Beatles song, slight as it may seem and forgotten as it is) and this cover version, which somehow captures the absolute magic of the original recording. 9 - Lakecia Benjamin – “Liberia” from ‘Pursuance: The Coltranes’ 2020 Ropeadope Gary Bartz joins Benjamin on this semi-forgotten John Coltrane composition, and the sparks fly. 10 - Johnny Rivers – “Look to Your Soul” from ‘Realization’ 1968 Imperial, also available on ‘A Touch of Gold’ 1968 Imperial Brilliant L.A. pop from Rivers. ‘Realization’ was a landmark album of the era. ‘A Touch of Gold’ was a real-time summary of where he had come in the late 60’s. Both are brilliant works. The big hit single from ‘Realization’ was “Summer Rain”, but the album works as a united whole rather than just a collection of cuts. ‘A Touch of Gold’ includes that and 1966’s glorious “Poor Side of Town’. You won’t go wrong with either album, and I have always needed both. 11 - Genesis – “Aisle of Plenty” from ‘Selling England By The Pound’ 1973 Charisma This lovely snippet closes the best Genesis album ever made, completing the quartet of their greatest work that also included 1970’s ‘Trespass’, 1971’s ‘Nursery Cryme’, and especially 1972’s ‘Foxtrot’. They (Genesis, Gabriel, Collins) were never close to this again. Happy New Year to all - I'm thankful to be part of this wonderful community!

From the picture, that's the original McLaughlin/Goodman/Hammer/Laird/Cobham lineup. I'm not sure when that configuration broke up.

Dan, so sorry for your loss. We get very close with our pets. I've had to put down four cats and a dog during our marriage, and can't imagine what will happen when our current cat Aisha passes (she's 13 but doing great). She is the most attached I've ever been with an animal. Shown here laying with me while I have morning devotions.

I never met him but saw him performing at an outdoor lunchtime show on a weekday at Independence National Historic Park (home to the Liberty Bell, etc.) in Philadelphia in the summer of 1980. Part of a cultural festival the city was sponsoring. He was an unforgettable presence. I hated the job I had at the time with General Accident Insurance (and I didn't last long there), but the location and corporate culture offered a lot of lunchtime freedom. I could pop to the park or to South Street (this was pre-Tower Records there, but the Book Trader had some great used jazz albums) or to China Town during lunch, and could walk to Third Street Jazz (Jerry Gordon's store, he went on to run Evidence Records) after work before taking the train home.

Here are pictures of the item. A tip O' the glengarry to Rostasi for sharing his tech knowledge with me!

I have a homemade CD-R of Harley's 'Scotch And Soul' and 'Bagpipe Blues' albums, made by Harley himself and signed and dated 5/20/00. It has a hand-designed and Xeroxed cover with various Philadelphia- and Biblical- symbols and text which were meaningful to him, as well as his address and phone number (obsolete, he passed in 2006). I have no idea how, when, or where I came into possession of this. It's pretty cool, but I don't need it. I'd like to get it to someone who appreciates it, would like some sort of trade exchange for it. I have no idea how to value something like this, or what I paid for it. I can send files of the artwork if you want to see it, but don't know how to upload my own photos without exceeding the posting size limit. PM if interested. If no one is, I'll just stick it back on my shelves.

Mark, wonderful set, go for it. I'm on the sixth disc of eight total. The music remains strong as it evolves more into folk-rock compositions and ragas, but still with Graham's expertise front and center. As is normal for the Cherry Red family of labels, the sound quality is excellent, the packaging conception and execution is superb, and the price is fabulous. I'm sure you'll be pleased.

Davy Graham - He Moved Through the Fair: The Complete 1960's Recordings.

I thought it was great that you did it! People doing the BFT's generally listen before reading the commemtary anyways.

I know Tim is going to post soon. The others may be waiting for your safe test. Mine is too musically adventurous and dangerous!

By far the best version of this. The script and Stewart's nuanced performance are both superb. Also watched the George C. Scott version, which is very different. Scott is much more over the top.

Shot heard 'round the world, that one.

The new Jazz District CD which contains both albums.

Yeah, really. Lots of his songs, but the absolute nadir to me was "A Better Place To Be". I will admit to liking "Taxi" when it came out, but the sequel several years later was several bridges too far (and a commercial desperation attempt).

I have all four of them (and all four of the boxes of her remastered Warner/Reprise albums), but this is where I get off. The Asylum stuff leaves me cold (as does the Mingus album on WB/Reprise). My favorite Joni is the pre-Blue albums, and the first Archives set is stunning. Mark, I'm with you that the Don Juan album is much more interesting than generally given credit for.

This one doesn't. And it even went to #1 on the pop charts:

I received the Bley, Lyons, Murray, and have played the Bley - very happy with the SQ given the usual SQ of the original recordings on the BYG-Actuel label.

How much extra credit oo I get for completing the circle? All caught in the same Web(b).

I definitely have found it to be the most enlightening release in the series

I'm sorry (and surprised) to hear that. I also pre-paid, and have received all except the final three installments, and they have been good about answering my email inquiries (though it's been a year at lest since I contacted them). I hope they do right by you. I don't remember a September survey email.

Beware, parents, your kids could look like this if not guarded from the addictive evils of 7-Up and pressed ham sandwiches! BTW, fun album, though a little frothy even in terms of flower pop. Bunch of studio musicians IIRC.