The Magnificent Goldberg

You want NO EU copyright law? MG Lonehill did hardly any Verve Jacquet. But I don't think there'd be enough there for a Mosaic big box. MG

Yeah, Joe Louis even got into one of Rev J M Gates' sermons. MG

With their HQ in Glasgow MG er.... you mean Edinburgh I thought it was Glasgow where you score all your 78s. MG

HEY PORCY!!!!! How have you been? Welcome back!!! MG

Arnett Cobb is back - Progressive now Johnny 'Hammond' Smith - Higher ground - Kudu MG

So... not Shakespeare's missus, then? Listening to this over breakfast and thought... MG

Hey - every other place is correctly marked on the map, but Alamo is up by Seattle!!!! MG

With their HQ in Glasgow MG

Charles Davis - Super 80 - Nilva MG

Yes, it's nice. The albums he made for Jazzland with GG & BM are very nice, too. But nothing I've heard of his own comes up to the way he played with Donald Byrd. MG

But 'Higher ground' gets you Joe Henderson for real. 'Gambler's life' is just fast noise. Or so it seemed to me back in the day. MG PS 'Catch my soul' on 'Higher ground' has what I feel is the greatest Joe Henderson solo in an R&B bag. Oh crap, you're right. Funny thing is, I always confused those two back in the day as well. I'd be in the used bins, see Gambler's Life and snatchitup thinking, "OK! HERE it is, the Johhny Hammond side with Joe Henderson, FINALLY". Then I'd look on the back and..no Joe. DAMMIT. I must've made that same mistake at least five times over the space of about 10 years. And probably more than once never bothered to pick up and look at a copy of Higher Ground in the same bin. Everybody has their quirks for life. Apparently this is one of mine. Oh good; thought you'd gone wonky then, Jim 'Gambler's life' is pretty atrocious. I even played it 3 times back in the day to make sure it was as bad as I thought it was. MG

Never seen this thread before. It's surreal reading all the 2004 posts talking about avatars that no longer exist. MG

Driving is what's driving him. Seriously. Yes, I know. I didn't think I'd need to put a smiley in there... MG

Sunny Stiff MG

This may not be helpful but... One thing I always noticed about American music of all kinds (well, not Gospel) is that there are SO many songs about American places. In Britain there are a few songs about British places. There are probably more British songs about foreign places than about British places. Why do Americans write so many songs about American towns, states, rivers, bridges etc? What's driving a guy to write 'Route 66'? I don't think these songs are written from a patriotic view (well, 'Grand Coulee dam' might have been) but perhaps a romantic view. I dunno, but I'd be interested. MG

I pronounce it 'Little' in my head. But I know it's supposed to be 'Lyte-ul'. Great album, 'People & love'. Not bad 'Soulful rebel'. I ripped these to a twofer CD years ago. Make a nice package. MG

Okay, thanks for the hint. It's Buster Bailey, from his 1958 Felsted album All About Memphis, with Red Richards, Gene Ramey, and Jimmy Crawford. I jumped to some foolish conclusions because the clarinet playing sounds kind of schizophrenic to me - there are flashes of sophistication among passages where Bailey sounds like he's deliberately simplifying his style. That gave me the impression that it was a younger guy trying to play "old." Boy, was I wrong. After listening to the track again, I'm still not sure what I think about it. It just doesn't sound/feel "right" to me. (I'm talking about the clarinet playing - I love the rhythm section's slow groove.) I really like early Buster Bailey, but the later recordings I've heard by him haven't impressed me much. Maybe I should explore more. Yes, you're right, Jeff, it's Buster Bailey, from the Felsted album. I don't hear a schizophrenic style in this - or the rest of the album - I hear a guy who was never really a leader, now given a chance to be out front, and, on this, pulling it all out and maybe not as disciplined as he always had to be. MG

JImmy Smith's 'Organ grinder swing' was used in several Renault ads around 2000. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aF8wsUL6is There was another using the record, with a Clio smashing through a huge pane of glass as Grady Tate crashed his cymbal to push JOS into an even higher chorus, but I can't find it. MG

But 'Higher ground' gets you Joe Henderson for real. 'Gambler's life' is just fast noise. Or so it seemed to me back in the day. MG PS 'Catch my soul' on 'Higher ground' has what I feel is the greatest Joe Henderson solo in an R&B bag.

OK, let’s start from the start. Johnny bought his first organ in 1956 and first recorded on organ in January 1957, as part of Chris Columbo’s band, for King. Oh yeah pts 1 & 2 – King 5012. The band was Gil Askey (tp), Jimmy Tyler (ts), JHS (org), Floyd Smith (g), Columbo (d) Possibly at the same time he appeared on Chris Columbo – Summertime – Strand SL1044 (not on CD) Lord dates this as 1963, but it’s the same band as the January 1957 session only Gil Askey had been replaced by Johnny Grimes. I’ve never come across this album or the 45. On piano, he was working for Nancy Wilson around this time, though he wasn’t recorded with Nancy. Backing a vocalist such as Nancy Wilson had an obvious effect on the way he interpreted ballads. It’s convenient to look at his subsequent recording career in sections, first up to June 1962, mainly with Prestige. As a leader, he made 9 albums: Imagination – Warwick W2003 (prob 1959, but maybe ’58) (probably same band as next 2 albums + Willis Jackson) All soul – NJ8221 (Sep 1959) (PRCD24164) That good feelin’ – NJ8229 (Nov 1959) (PRCD24164) These two are with Thornel Schwartz, George Tucker & Leo Stevens. Very fine stuff! Talk that talk – NJ8241 (Apr 1960) (PRCD24151) (with O Nelson) Getting’ the message – PR7217 (Oct 1960) (PRCD24151) (with Lem Winchester) Stimulation – PR7203 (Feb & May 1961) (PRCD24291) Opus de funk – PR7420 (Feb & May 1961) (PRCD24291) Both sessions introduce Freddie McCoy. Very interesting stuff. Look out – NJ8288 (Jan 1962) (not on CD) (with Seldon Powell) JHS cooks with Gator Tail – PR7239 (Jun 1962) (with Willis Jackson) (PRCD24282) As a sideman, in this period, he appeared on: Oliver Nelson – Takin’ care of business – NJ8233 (Mar 1960) OJCCD 1784) Gene Ammons – session in June 1960 covering parts of ‘Angel eyes’ (PR7369) and ‘Velvet soul’ (PR7320) released complete on ‘The Gene Ammons story: Organ combos’ (PRLP(CD)24071) (Frank Wess also on this session) Wild Bill Moore – Bottom groove – Jazzland 54 (July 1961) (MCD47098) JHS then signed up with Riverside and made 4 albums just when the firm were going down the drain. Black coffee – RLP442 (Nov 1962) (MCD47072) (live with Seldon Powell, Eddie McFadden) Mr Wonderful – RLP466 (1963) (MCD47072) Open house – RLP482 (1963) (MCD47089) (with Thad Jones, Powell & McFadden) A little taste – RLP496 (1963) (MCD47089) (introducing Virgil Jones and Houston Person) Despite Riverside’s problems at the time, these are all damn good sessions. After making a 45 for Jell, for whom Jimmy McGriff also recorded – I believe/The good Miss Brown – Jell 198 (1963 or ’64) JHS returned to Prestige. The stinger – PR7408 (May 1965) (PRCD24282) (with Person Earl Edwards (ts) & Floyd Smith) The Stinger meets the Golden Thrush – PR7464 (Jan 1966) with Byrdie Green (voc) Love Potion no 9 – PR7482 (Sep 1966) Ebb tide – PR7494 (Mar 1967) (PRCD24244) Soul flowers – PR7549 (Sep 1967) (PRCD24235) Dirty grape – PR7564 (Jan 1968) (PRCD24235) Nasty – PR7588 (Jun 1968) (PRCD24244) All these Prestige sessions were produced by Cal Lampley, who wasn’t really a terribly good producer, though he did do the odd great session, one of which is ‘The stinger’. Bob Porter replaced Cal in 1969 and produced four excellent sessions for JHS. Soul talk – PR7681 (May 1969) (PR24177) Black feeling! – PR7736 (Dec 1969) (PR24177) Here it is – PR10002 (Sep 1970) What’s going on – PR10015 (Apr 1971) All four are right on the nail for where soul jazz was coming from and going to at the time. Grover Washington Jr, a recent discovery of Charles Earland, is on the final album. In a foretaste of what was to come, ‘What’s going on’ features overdubbed horns and strings. As a sideman in this period, he made several albums with Byrdie Green: The Golden Thrush strikes at midnight – PR7503 (Jul 1966) I got it bad – PR7509 (Apr 1967) Sister Byrdie – PR7574 (Mar & Apr 1968) And also Sylvia Syms – Sylvia Syms – PR7489 (Apr 1967) (OJCCD897) Billy Butler – Night life – PR7854 (Dec 1970) (PRCD24197) (with Jesse Powell & Houston Person – a great session!) JHS then signed up for CTI/Kudu and made several albums. Breakout – Kudu 01 (June 1971) (CDEPC6407) – a classic! Wild horses rock steady – Kudu 04 (Oct & Nov 1971) (King KICJ8368) The prophet – Kudu 10 (Nov 1972) (has been issued on CD in Japan) Higher ground – Kudu 16 (Oct & Nov 1973) (has been issued on CD in Japan) These four albums are all good, the first and last particularly good. His last for Creed Taylor was not. Gambler’s life – Salvation 702 (1974) A Larry Mizell job. While with Taylor, JHS appeared on some of the CTI live shows. California concert – CTI CTX2 (July 1971) CTI summer jazz at the Hollywood Bowl live, one, two and three – CTI 7076, 7077 & 7078 (July 1972) He also appeared (uncredited) on some of the bonus tracks of Stanley Turrentine – Don’t mess with Mr T – CTI 6030 (Jun 1973) (bonus tracks on CTI5127922 (Mar 1973) One thing that’s interesting about this period (and starting with the late Prestige albums) is that JHS seems to have been quite influenced by Charles Earland. In fact, I thought that the Turrentine bonus tracks actually featured Earland, but was eventually persuaded that they were JHS. So then JHS signed up with Milestone and made some more albums like ‘Gambler’s life’. Gears – M9062 (Jul 1975) (This is the only one of his Milestone albums I’ve heard. Still don’t know why I’ve kept it ) Forever Taurus – M9068 (Jun 1976) Storm warning – M9076 (1977) Don’t let the system get you – M9083 (1978) At that point, Johnny, having made some good money through his career, and invested it wisely, retired, continuing to play at property investments – he bought a motel at one point. In retirement, he took the occasional gig and taught privately. He didn’t record again until 1990. His last records were all as sideman. Diane Witherspoon - Diane Witherspoon – Tonal Gravity SS1003 (July 1990) (never seen this) Hank Crawford – Portrait – Milestone MCD9192 (Mar 1991) Dan Papaila – Positively – Timeless CDSJP403 (Feb 1992) His final recording was The Charles Earland organ summit – Cannonball CBD27102 (May 1977) (with Earland, Lonnie Smith & Jimmy McGriff). Ten days later he died of cancer. MG

I'll return to this later. I thought there was a Johnny 'Hammond' Smith thread but looks like there are only a few recommendation/release threads. JHS was certainly the greatest ballad player of all organists. Best ballad stuff is on his early albums for Warwick, New Jazz and Prestige. The Warwick LP, 'Imagination' , never on CD, is very good and very rare. Uncredited tenor player is almost certainly Willis Jackson. 'That good feeling'' (PR24164) covers his first 2 NJ releases. Highly recommended. 'Talk that talk' (PR24151) covers his next 2; one with O Nelson on a few cuts, the other with Lem WInchester. Another great one. (JHS is also on O Nelson's 'Taking care of business.) More later MG

No Django stamp from France? Or Stephane Grappelli? MG

#8 - the leader is not playing his usual instrument. #3 - no clue yet, in case Mike Weil joins in the fun and he's a bit of a specialist in this area #12 - no clue that wouldn't lead you to the singer immediately. #6 - the leader occupied a similar position to Bartholomew, but in a different geographical region and a different time frame. #5 & #7 - very obscure, perhaps even very, VERY obscure. #2 - I don't want to give a clue to this one MG

OK, hint #1 - JeffCrom was wrong about how old the leader in #13 was. He was born in 1902 and was working in a well known band at the age of 15. MG

Hints, yet? Well... Better see what hasn't been identified yet. MG