The Magnificent Goldberg

There's been quite and industry collecting these sort of things onto albums over the last couple of decades. This is the first of a series on Hyperion: Lots of things you half-recall (well, you might actually recall!) from radio and TV theme tunes. The one that always throws me back into a Kenneth More world is: http://youtu.be/XczVq3ZS5gs I think this set uses the original recordings: Oh I remember Coronation Scot - I heard it so much when I was a kid, I'm not sure if it was used as a theme for a radio programme. MG That tune is so familiar to me but DEFINITELY not in that context. What's it called? MG Quite right! We should all be listening to BFT105! MG

I THINK I see what you mean, though I'm a long way from familiar with much Blakey. I think there's stuff like 'Moanin'' and 'Dat dere', 'The chess players' and Grant Green's 'Ain't necessarily so' which might fall into a kind of pace thing. But there's also a load of much faster things where Blakey is driving things - like Jimmy SMith's 'The duel'. WHat would be the examples of what you mean? MG

In fifties Britain, this sort of stuff was always called 'light music'. I think it meant 'light classical music'. It was the main musical fare on the BBC, as I recollect. Leroy Anderson was a great favourite on the BBC. They always used to announce the tunes adding, 'by Leroy Anderson', as if it were impossible for an American to write such stuff. (I always thought he was black, until I got a computer and could look things up occasionally.) MG

People often speak of a 'Ben Webster pace' and I know what they mean I was thinking about this earlier and I got the idea that other musicians had their own distinctive pace. Bill Doggett was one, that sassy strolling, hip rolling strut best captured in 'Honky tonk'. Gene Ammons was another. A kind of relaxed medium up, often with a conga behind him. Good examples are 'Seed shack' and 'Moonglow'. Lou Donaldson is, it seems to me, very comfortable at this pace - 'Blues walk' for example. So is Houston Person. Who else has their own distinctive pace? MG

This arrived today, having done a fast swim across the Atlantic. Grant Green - Live at the Holy Barbarian, St Louis, 1959 - Uptown Good sleeve note about the background, and fascinating newspaper clips. But they still don't acknowlege Lazar's debt to Tommy Dean. GG seems to have been using the Gibson at the last gig at the bar. Sounds like he was for the recording, too, though I don't really know. MG

and who recorded Hootin and Tootin, which I have, I thought as I saw this. But then I thought: but is he? Is it the same man? And on reading the Wikipedia link I see he is. Yes, there are one or two tracks on this where his sound is unmistakeable. MG

I liked the Viking longboat MG

Right, here it is - The Knightsbridge march by Eric Coates. The actual bit used on the radio begins at 1:18. As I recollect, there was all sorts of traffic noises, which aren't in this recording. And at the end, someone yelled 'STOP!!!!' MG

There was a programme on the radio Sunday nights in the fifties - 'In town tonight' - interviews with various performers (or celebs of some kind) visiting London. I remember it was hosted by Vic Oliver, an elderly (in those days) comedian and had a wonderful theme; all sort of traffic-ish but anthemic, too. I'll see if I can pick it up. MG

Starting December with SANTAMANIA!!!!! Mongo Santamaria - Watermelon man/Mongo at Village Gate - Riverside (Milestone twofer) Mongo Santamaria - Hey! Let's party! - Columbia (CBS UK) Mongo Santamaria - Soul bag - Columbia (CBS UK) Sonny Fortune wails on these two Columbia jobs. I very much like this period of Mongo's career. MG

You should have done the liner notes to the new cd MG. They should have flown you to St Louis for a week of research and partying. Do you know if the VJ sessions survive? I think they don't. Michael Cuscuna was into the Vee-Jay files and achives a few years ago and I can't believe he wouldn't have done at least something. MG

I always liked this bit of Laurie Johnson - it was a big hit over here - the theme from some spy TV series in the early 60s. There's a trumpeter in thie who wants to blister but gets cut short. MG

I've been bugged by iTunes to download the new version but I always tell the programme to fuck off. Glad I do, having seen what you're saying. MG

So he didn't do this, then? MG No. The Eric Johnson your thinking of is I think on a fairly recent Gloria Coleman cd. And is a really good Soul Jazz player. The other guy is a Rock player of above average virtuoso skills. He is the type of player that pops up fairly regularly that is not quite Fusion, not quite Blues Rock and becomes beloved of guitar magazine geeks. These kinds of players often have a tune that pays homage to Wes Montgomery by utilising 'octaves' Joe Bonamassa and Derek Trucks (kinda) are the latest in this tradition. Yes, the same guy is on some cuts of Gloria's 'Sweet Missy', with Calvin Keys on the other ones. MG Yep. I was glad to find that cd somewhere I didn't expect too. Hell of a fine guitar player he is too. Have you got this one MG? Yes, I've got 'Makin' whoopee', 'Sweet Missy' and Nat Simpkins' 'Spare ribs', which Eric J is on as well. I can't remember offhand any other albums he's on. MG

Your posting this sent me off to Amazon UK to see if I could get one there. Yes! Many thanks - I din't know this had been reissued. That sent me off to the Kindreed Spirits site, to see if the firm had issued any more material from the Mali Kunkan label. They have. This is a compilation of 'Super Biton National de Segou' Mali Kunkan KO77.04.13 plus 3 of the 5 tracks from 'Super Biton National de Segou' Mali Kunkan KO77.04.14. BRILLIANT music. If anyone hasn't got this stuff, get on yer bike! Also, and even MORE BRILLIANT! Orchestre Kanaga de Mopti - Mali Kunkan KO77.04.15. This is effin' INCREDIBLE music!!!!! Buy immediately!!!! MG

Lost my effin' post somehow!

Well, with my New Month's Resolution to buy fewer records in December leading me to buy more expensive ones , I just found this on AMazon UK Tommy Dean - Deanie Boy plays hot Rhythm & Blues - Tommy Dean - Miracle, VJ & States cuts (Official, Denmark) I saw this in Tower in London when it came out but I'd spent all my money, so I decided that I could get it from Spillers when I got home. However, a week later Official had closed, and copies have been very scarce. I saw one on AMazon UK a couple of years ago for a hundred quid and didn't bite . But I just found one there now for only 17! Wow! Dean was an important St Louis organist - the man who influenced Sam Lazar and with whom Grant Green developed his style. This LP doesn't contain the tracks from Dean's VJ session with Green, which have never been released. MG

So he didn't do this, then? MG No. The Eric Johnson your thinking of is I think on a fairly recent Gloria Coleman cd. And is a really good Soul Jazz player. The other guy is a Rock player of above average virtuoso skills. He is the type of player that pops up fairly regularly that is not quite Fusion, not quite Blues Rock and becomes beloved of guitar magazine geeks. These kinds of players often have a tune that pays homage to Wes Montgomery by utilising 'octaves' Joe Bonamassa and Derek Trucks (kinda) are the latest in this tradition. Yes, the same guy is on some cuts of Gloria's 'Sweet Missy', with Calvin Keys on the other ones. MG

So he didn't do this, then? MG

Just found this on e-bay. The Kansas City Melodyaires - Softly the night is falling - Songbird Hugely expensive - $45 inc post - but I've been after this since 1969 !!!!!! MG

Yes - is he the same guy who worked with Nat Simkins? MG

I haven't heard much FLip Phillips - a mistake, I think - but I did like the tracks by him that Verve included to fill up a twofer called "The Parker jam session" featuring Parker, Hodges & Carter. But I flogged it decades ago. MG

'Ere, I don't wanna nitpick, but if that's the FLip Phillip/Buddy Rich trio, 'ow come there's 7 of 'em, and not even the Drummer is called Buddy? MG

Another listen to this Chuck Willis - Complete 1951-57 - JSP Terrific stuff by the Sheikh of Shake! Gets better every time I listen. MG

MG