The Magnificent Goldberg

Earl Van Dyke Rembrandt Heironymous Bosch

MG

I don't really like compilations, particularly various artist compilations. Of course, recordings made before the LP era HAVE to be compilations. In those cases, I prefer to get a single artist compilation. Whether I go for a best or try to get the lot depends on what's on the "best" and how much I like the artist. I did buy a Dinah Washington "best", and also a blues compilation of hers. But then I decided to get the Proper box, which made most of the compilations redundant (as well as the Delmark edition of her Apollo sides). This sort of thing is SO bloody annoying, that I really want only to buy full compilations of artists I'm serious about and forget about the rest. But there are some R&B artists for whom a compilation is ideal: Al Green; Brass Construction; Earth Wind & Fire; The Whispers; and so on. And various artists compilations that explore areas in which it's difficult to get albums are OK, too: "Honkers and screamers"; "Honkers & barwalkers"; "Saxophony: Jubilee honkers"; "Singing preachers and their congregations"; "Atlantic R&B"; "Atlantic honkers" for example. But, for me, the way music is intended to be presented to the audience is an important part of what I'm looking for in music, so I would invariably prefer to get music as an original album (in whatever medium). MG

I'm in, too. PM sent. MG

Well, I think I did well on this - I've only got 6 albums with Harris on and they're all with other people. I see I can get a load of his BN stuff from Early Records at reasonable pries. Any recommendations? MG My first Sounds recommendation is always Moods, followed by, in no particular order, Here We Come Hey There Feelin' Good. Everything from their first tour with BN can be recommended; and since you dig the funky side of things, Live at the Lighthouse is real good, too. I see I can get "Moods", "Hey there" and "Feelin' good" from Early at the moment. So that looks like a large chunk of my first order with them. Thanks Dan. MG

Jo Jo Gunne The Signifyin' Monkey Delmer "Mighty Mouth" Evans

But, in their search for the terribly obscure, they've missed the Violinaires' "Groovin' with Jesus" and Rance Allen and many others who recorded for non-obscure labels. Be interesting to see what you think, Jim. MG

I must say, he doesn't sound ANYTHING like he does with Sonny Phillips, or on his own disco LP! Thanks once again for including this. Never heard King Fleming before. Someone to put on my list to seek out. I very much like this type of recording. Thanks very much, Dan. Rusty, like most of the honkers, was out of fashion after Ray Charles changed the world in 1954. Very few artists, and no honkers, got singles on the R&B charts before and after 1955. In 1957, when the two Dot LPs were recorded, I feel that he was actually trying to make a name for himself as a straight jazz player. Since Dot had moved from Gallatin Tennessee to Hollywood in August 1956, the west coast backing band was obviously handy for them. He'd have done better heading for Prestige, (as he did later, of course) and joined people like Cobb, Jackson, Hawk and Jaws. Dot is a much maligned label (yes, I know you were talking about Lonehill). Randy Wood, who founded the label in 1950, was probably THE most important mail order retailer of Blues, R&B and Gospel in the US, mainly as a result of buying time, and sponsoring one of the great DJs of the R&B era, Gene Nobles, on WLAC Nashville. Randy focused Dot on R&B, Blues, Gospel and C&W material and produced many great artists, until he discovered Pat Boone (Red Foley's son-in-law) in 1955. The label was bought by Paramount Pictures in 1956 and from then on was focused on easy listening. Rusty's records were very much of a piece with that direction - West Coast jazz was popular because it really could be used as easy listening music (as was the case with Ahmad Jamal). But Rusty was kind of too hard a swinger to be really what the doctor ordered for stress management. Randy, though he continued to manage Dot until 1967, eventually returned to Gallatin and started another Gospel label - Randy's Spiritual Record Co. I think that's where his heart was, though I dare say he appreciated the money. MG

I knew about this single, and the Hank/Sonny. Had no idea it was as nice as that. I suppose they aren't available on any album format? It IS obscure Dan. Time and again I've regretted flogging this and I've never seen another copy. Well, I think I did well on this - I've only got 6 albums with Harris on and they're all with other people. I see I can get a load of his BN stuff from Early Records at reasonable pries. Any recommendations? MG

John Latouche Jerome Moross Jerome K Jerome

True to form, Terry had my latest order this morning Beautiful stuff! I can see why he claimed to have invented jazz; no one was making arrangements like his before. I think this is the reason Mingus loved his music so. MG

Mr Magic Grover Washington Jr Animal

Mick Jagger Dean Jagger Tommy Dean

MG, why don't you do it? You would be great at it! A friend has already suggested that. Too much like hard work, which I've managed to avoid since 1970. And I'm a fan; I reckon you need different skills to own a shop. Oh, and you need some money and, as a fan, I don't have any. MG

John Wilkes Booth Pat Boone The Boo Radleighs

Okay, okay.....so I saw the latest Miles release list and ordered some of those new KoB & Milestones mini-lps from japan.....no need to throw elbows! So what? I'm sure other people here have 8 versions of each too! Ah, but if you haven't bought this you don't entirely qualify. MG

In case anyone's been trying to access Pete Fallico's Doodlin' Lounge lately, the site's down temporarily. Pete tells me that he's having the site rebuilt by a hot-shot lady in NYC. He hopes he'll be back up and running within a week or so. MG

Chief Jolly Jolly Roger Small Sad Sam

Quite right. I'm on the Spammers' side. Parting fools from their money is a most public spirited economic activity. MG

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/5264464.stm Spillers is up for sale. I am terribly worried; I've bought 551 albums from them since I moved to Cardiff. They do great business on Blue Notes. Anyone want to buy a great independent record shop? MG

Lovely Rita, meter maid Aaron Neville Leo Nocentelli

Pee Wee Ellis Maceo Parker Fred Wesleeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Lorraine Delmar Bob Koester The Coasters

Smiffy Plugg Lord Snooty What a Dandy selection! I like that one! MG

Ray used to call him "Brains". I remember reading that he's proud of "Fathead". Certainly titles a good few of his tunes relating to it. In my view, "Davey Blue" and "Keep the spirits singing" are the two best of a well nigh perfect bunch. I'm beginning to think of the HighNotes as a future Mosaic box that I don't have to wait for. MG