The Magnificent Goldberg

Mother's Day here was 2 March. Never mind. MG

Werner von Siemens Werner von Braun Werner von Wallenrod

Quick look in Cook and Morton dates Happy Time at 1962. So it WAS Victor who brought "For Dancers Only" into the modern piano repertoire. I'm not too surprised, as there are other signs that he knew his pre-war jazz - Ellington and Fats Waller tunes in his repertoire, plus extensive big band experience, stretching right back to his days as a child prodigy drummer! That's correct. According to Lord, the only modern jazz versions of the tune from before 1961, when Vic Feldman recorded it, were by Johnny Griffin in 1953, Babs Gonzales also in 1953, Bill Perkins in 1956 and Art Van Damme in 1958 (does an accordion count? ). There's also an undated French session, which appears before the Feldman, by Pierre Gossez, featuring Georges Arvanitas on piano. But not very many pianists have recorded it subsequently. Lord lists only Mance and the Three Sounds. Most recordings, including recent ones such as J J Johnson's, have been by big bands. I think that's a pity, because it's a damn good number. Oh, and I found that I also have a version by Clark Terry MG

P J Harvey P J Proby C J

"For Dancers Only" is a great tune. I was surprised when I found it on Victor Feldman's 1960 album, Merry Olde Soul, having only heard up till then the late-thirties' Jimmy Lunceford version of this Cy Oliver tune. So Junior recorded it as well? It's obviously a good vehicle for modern pianists! Junior recorded it for Sackville in 1983, with Martin Rivera on bass, on the album "For dancers only". He does like that tune. And John, thanks for alerting me to the issue of a new Junior Mance. Also it was recorded by Moses Davis - the writer of "Jan Jan" and organist with funk band the Counts - in about 1963/64 for a 45 on Tollie (a Vee-Jay subsidiary). Very nice version that. I think I have another version or two (including Lunceford's) knocking about. MG PS Junior ALSO recorded "For dancers only" on his Jazzland album "Happy time"!!!

C P Cavafy E M Forster Lawrence Durrell

Hank Garland Hank Snow Frank Frost

Red Buttons Blue Mitchell Black Arthur

The super-rich don't seem to be worried, though. http://uk.news.yahoo.com/pressass/20080510...ar-6323e80.html MG

PLUS $13 SHIPPING!!!!!!!!! MG

And I thought "out of your skull" meant out of your OWN skull. MG

Very sad news Jim. My condolences to you, your family and friends who knew him. MG

Been wondering where you were Clem. See you've been on an English course. MG

Snigger. We REALLY need a snigger smiley. MG

Chubby Checker Fats Domino Leonard Chess

Buddy Guy Jimi Hendrix James Brown

Milo O'Shea Jane Fonda Barbarella

Actually, no. I tend to focus on West Africa and a bit on southern Africa. Africa's so big and varied you know... MG

Make that song go away. Please. A very talented and driven guy, undoubtedly, but reading his obits I guess we have him to thank for the dreaded "Nashville sound," what was later dubbed "Countrypolitan." Wow. This is definitely NOT my taste, but there's little doubt that the "Nashville Sound" was as audience-driven as the "Memphis Sound" and, as a result, pleased that audience mightily. Though I rather suspect that Syd Nathan had a bit more to do with it, initially, than Arnold. Nathan set up King Records in 1944, explicitly to make records "for the little people" whom he thought were being inadequately catered for by the majors. Initial recordings were C&W, the following year, he'd expanded into R&B, but with the same approach. MG

Gene Kelly Gene Ammons Gene Pitney

Interesting African stuff on this week. MG

now, where's that fart smiley gone HRH The Duke of Edinburgh HRH The Prince of Wales HRH The Princess Royal

I was thinking that a few days ago, listening to Milt Jackson's "Plenty, plenty soul" (Japanese AMCY). I don't have too much from the fifties - a few Ray Charles, is most of what else, I think. "Soul brothers" isn't too hot, either. Well, the music is... But this is in marked contrast to their fifties R&B recordings, which sound great to me. I think Atlantic's recordings did improve in the sixties. MG

Yes. Easier in small organisations than large ones. But still not impossible, I'm glad to say. MG

I think you missed the boat, Jim. MG