The Magnificent Goldberg

Ford export engines from just down the road here to the USA. Something about them being better, I understand. The world car business has been in the shit for a good few years. Ford and a few others, and their component suppliers here, have been sold the notion of continuous quality supply chain improvement, from design onwards. Suppliers are now doing Ford's, GM's, Toyota's etc R&D in teams. The supply chain is now crucial to reducing development time for new models and, thus, the improvement in the quality of cars and, in particular, their usefulness to the public. MG

Kate Bush Gunther Grass Jack Straw

:g MG Hey - and how come these geezers didn't RECOGNISE the record? Because, as Lou Donaldson would say, that music is not "for fusion or confusion musicians." I don't know much about Yellowjackets. Are they Rock/Fusion guys? Did they come into jazz from Rock? MG Studio musicians with product. Sigh - once upon a time, studio musicians were people like Plas Johnson, Ernie Freeman, Billy Butler and Curtis Amy. MG Oh, AND they had product!

Rev W L Jones - It might have been good not to touch (sermon) - Randy's Spiritual orig Dr W J Stafford & the Free For All Inspirational Choir - He did it all for me - Miracle orig The Mighty Gospel Giants of New York - Our way - Nashboro orig MG

You're assuming the original session tapes with compelte takes exist. Indeed. If someone comes along and says, "we've looked for them but can't find them," I'll keep on assuming that. MG

Wrapping up some presents for Grandsons, listening to Youssou N'dour - Special noel Youssou N'dour - Special fin d'annee Nice to have some seasonal Mbalax, from an Islamic country MG

:g MG Hey - and how come these geezers didn't RECOGNISE the record? Because, as Lou Donaldson would say, that music is not "for fusion or confusion musicians." I don't know much about Yellowjackets. Are they Rock/Fusion guys? Did they come into jazz from Rock? MG

Well, I've only got "My people" on LP, so I'll spring for the CD. MG

A lot are already out on OJC. But there's a substantial number that aren't out in any form. Half a dozen here I want: Freddie Roach – My people Shirley Scott – Soul searchin’ Shirley Scott – Mucho mucho John Wright – Nice n tasty King Curtis – Soul meeting Mongo Santamaria – Mongo explodes MG

Oh, I assume they will all be obtainable from Early records. MG

A good few I want off the February list, which has an excellent selection of Soul Jazz items, including many classics. Etherbored, can you confirm that is actually a mistype for "My people"? MG

It would be nice if Michael Cuscuna got into those Benson/Smith recordings for Columbia. A lot of them show signs of heavy editing, so that the tunes would be short enough for radio play. A nice little Mosaic Select of "It's Uptown", "Cookbook", "Benson burner" and "Finger lickin' good soul organ", with full length unedited tracks, would go down a treat in these parts. MG

:g MG Hey - and how come these geezers didn't RECOGNISE the record?

Stephane Grapelli Yehudi Menuhin Jean-Luc Ponty

And there's one other thing about Donald Byrd, which isn't said, or isn't said enough. When he found out that he wasn't getting royalties for his hit album, "A new perspective", because he'd signed a cash contract with BN, he didn't bitch; he moved to Verve, and started studying law. Then he started giving other musicians advice. Now THAT'S the work of a fucking hero! MG

Well, I have the previous Jap CD issue, so good for all you others. But its issue sparks one crucial question: JUST WHAT ELSE IS COMING OUT ON 21 FEBRUARY?????? MG How do you make this size thing work?

You're proud to have a record by the Guess Who? MG

Piano Red Dr Feelgood The Interns

Armee Guineenne Sekou Toure Sekou Bembeya Diabate

Pursuing a "Jazz trivia" question, I've just been listening to Sidney Bechet's "Summertime" from "Jazz classics" BN with ear. MG

I see you had the same problem as I did, but in reverse. I really think that Opal Nations has done a superb job (for a British pop singer) reissuing those Specialty Gospel CDs. I can't think of any, frankly, that someone interested in Gospel shouldn't want. The big downsides with boxes are: if they're a selection, then there's the taste of the selector and the potential for wasting your dough when you find you want to buy all of it afterwards; and if they're not a selection, there's the cost - a well done set of single (or perhaps double, when relevant) CDs can be bought on the instalment plan - as I'm doing with Rev Gates: 6 out of 9 bought so far. The only upsides are that: they can collect stuff together that you might not find; and overall, they're probably cheaper than the equivalent single CDs. MG

A Griffin/Jaws box covering PR and Jzld would be a very good thing. Fantasy didn't do very well issuing that stuff. Part of the Mintons gig hasn't come out on CD, I think, anyway. MG

I don't remember the Serrano as a Cannonball job, but I don't have it any more. I also don't have the Roosevelt Wardell any more - but I DO remember that as a Cannonball job. Am I going nuts in my old age? Oh, and what about the Joe Alexander? MG

yes yes yes! i've thought about that set a lot, too... What would that comprise? One Clay/Newman, one Don Wilkerson, one Roosevelt Wardell; and one by someone called Morgan, which I've never seen or heard - is that it? MG

A couple more twist LPs King Curtis - Soul twist - Trip reissue of Enjoy material Joe Houston - Doin' the twist - Crown - disgusting pressing as ever, but Joe honks like a good'un! MG