The Magnificent Goldberg

What is VJD series? Can't answer unless I know MG

Tomas de Torquenada John Cleese Cleo Laine

Bullwhip Griffin Jimmy McGriff Edna McGriff

Big Bopper Max Bygraves Max Headroom

Pooh gosh! Andy Kirk Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis Pha Terrell

Cameron Brown Jay Cameron Kwasi Jayourba

Ratty Mole Toad

Yes. But we talk about it as if there's a line that can be drawn between the two poles on the scale, mainly because everybody CAN identify a line over which they won't or don't want their favourite musicians to step. But everybody's line is in a different place so the reality is, there ain't no real place for the line; it's all a matter of a pinion. MG

I always kept away from Esther's Mercury material. They were making such rotten records at the time I didn't reckon these would be any good. But this is much more straightforward than her Kudu albums, which are trying a little too deliberately to be eccentric and terribly hip. Though you can't ever deny the power of her voice. Glad to have heard this, now. Will have to look for the Mercury material. MG

Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey Oba Eweka I (first Oba of Benin) Ovonramwen Nogbaisi (last Oba of the Empire of Benin - deposed in 1897 by the British because he was about to start up his own shipping business, exporting Benin's goodies direct to Britain - died 1914.)

Oh fine - I ripped my LP to my hard drive. MG

Oh, I didn't know 'Feelings' by Teddy Edwards had come out on CD. Did it have any bonus tracks? MG

No, not art. Just a lousy salesman. Couldn't even sell records! Only thing I could ever sell was economic policies I knew wouldn't work to not too bright politicians I did enjoy that MG

Oh, you DEFINITELY wouldn't want me selling you. I'm the world's worst salesman. MG

Fats Theus / Grant Green - Black Out A pretty nice album, from the early days of CTI. Not sensational, but pretty nice. Probably the only example ever of a musical saw being used in a jazz record. MG

Tony Newley Hy Weiss Joe Coughi

No, I wouldn't. I'm never happy with the idea of getting something for nothing. Fortunately, it never happens so I've never been in a position of turning down something for nothing. I suppose my personal verdict on that has to be 'untested'. MG

And actually, sorry to say I wouldn't LIKE to be within earshot of your rehearsals, Jim. But that's just me, not you. MG

Thanks for this link, Lon. The Ray Charles of 22 October 1961 has been out before and one of my PRIZED albums, with the greatest Don Wilkerson solo of all time. It was called 'Genius + Soul = Jazz Live' on the Italian label that brought it out. No one should hesitate about getting this album. MG

Sorry, 'folk art', even back in the stone age, was a commercial transaction. The work of the musician/singer/historian was so important to the clan they'd be enabled to get out of this or that in order to learn and get good at what they were doing. And notice, I did say 'if their work is presented to someone'. Sure, if you write poems for your own satisfaction, you can, but if no one knows about it, well, they don't exist in the wider world. MG

On the contrary, while commerce certainly isn't necessarily art, art IS necessarily commerce. ALL artists want paying; they want a return on their investment. And if their work is presented to someone (OK, the right someone), they DO get paid, even if it's just living in the stately home of their aristocratic patron. That's commerce. MG

Thanks Mike. The Nat 'King' Cole with Q Jones big band in 1960 looks intriguing. One definite for me is Ray Charles at Newport 1960. Probable is the Horace SIlver Paris 1961. Otherwise, the first 3 pages reveal all the usual people. MG

Just arrived this morning. Just listened to it. It's fine vintage Les McCann with Herbie Lewis and Ron Jefferson. In fact it seems more revealing than any of his Pacific Jazz live albums. It's as if in Paris he didn't feel he had to behave in any certain way on the stage. (Pity they had to use a photo from 1962 for the cover, though. That's definitely not clothing for July in Paris.) And it ain't a 3 disc set. I spent ages looking for the third disc but, if I'd looked at the back, I'd have seen it was a porky. There are only 2 discs; two hours seven minutes altogether. It's a mite expensive but I really don't mind about that; I AM, after all, a bit of a fanatic for Les. MG

The Walker The Olympic Runners The Olympics

I agree, but it's not invariably a matter of a decision to pursue more fruitful endeavours. As they used to say in the cowboy films, a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do. Take the case of George Benson; a guy who always wanted to be a singer. But he couldn't make it at fourteen or fifteen, whenever it was, so he became a great jazz musician. But when he could, he became one of the most popular singers. Now I don't think Benson ever SUFFERED for his art in any way, psychologically or financially. But what was inside him was a singer, not a great jazzman. People tend to be happiest doing what they think they do best. And so they should do that. Not necessarily exclusively; they've gotta feed the baby, powder the dog pay the rent etc. And the same truism's true of whatever other stuff they do to enable that; a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do and better make the best of it or have a miserable life, and I don't agree with anyone, who doesn't have to, having a miserable life. That's just plain dull. MG