The Magnificent Goldberg

They were friends. When they were playing together, Grant knew he had to control the tempo. If he didn't, George would pick fast stuff and rip Grant to shreds. At a more relaxed tempo, Grant's sound and feeling couldn't be matched by George; nearly, but not quite. MG

where in Birmingham, I get to Solihull fairly frequently. Please post map. I went there in 1990, when I was on a training course in Birmingham, and bought some good stuff. Then I changed my job and didn't have a reason to return until 2002. I'd forgotten where it was, by then... MG

I didn't know there was a blue label issue of this; mine's a purple label and purchased only a few weeks after issue. I bought "Soul liberation" the same day, and that's purple, too. Perhaps mine were made for the export trade, then they changed the colour for everything. MG

The Jazz Crusaders box MG

And 4:45 AM the next day in Britain... MG

Billy Larkin & the Delegates with Clifford Scott - Blue Lights - Aura MG

It's wonderful how extremely uncool the other two look. If Monk had been born a generation later, he'd've been Dr Lonnie Smith. MG

Jackson Southernaires - Lord we need your blessings - Malaco MG

There's another thing: I didn't know Monk sold Cootie the rights. Because Cootie got his name on the label as part composer, I suspect he must have bought a share of the copyright for a time. "Round Midnight" was issued as the B side of "Somebody's got to go", featuring a great Cleanhead vocal, which spent three months in the R&B top ten, reaching the top. Monk must have felt a bit green around the gills at only getting half the royalties on the song, plus the $200. I also forgot that Jaws was in that band, as well. Jaws may not have been a Bebop hero, but there's no doubting his ability to get around. MG

I HAD forgotten; thanks for mentioning this. I reckon Cootie's band is well underrated. MG

And Cleanhead, who wrote some classic bop numbers. And Charlie Parker a bit later in 1944. MG

Gawd - the wonders of modern technology. I use a one speed insurance policy. MG

People crack on about the Eckstine band being the cradle of Bebop but Cootie & co were well ahead of the game. That band recorded "Fly right" in 1942. Does that make them pre-natal? MG

I got this problem on my laptop about three months ago, laptop being about two years old at that stage. It started slowly; every so often, it would quietly turn itself off. It seemed to be warmer and warmer every week. Eventually, it got so it wouldn't let me restart; "Oh no, I'm fed up!" Zonk. I sent it for repair under the insurance and the response came back that there was two years' worth of general dust, bits and shit in the cooling fan. Yours might be OK for a bit longer, but I should make sure you stay well backed up. MG

Recorded July 20/21, 1967 BLCD-760118 Body and Soul Like Someone In Love Come Rain or Come Shine There Will Never Be Another You Body and Soul Blues Walk BLCD-760103 Both Sides of Midnight Devilette For All We Know Doxy Sonnymoon for Two Misty BLCD-760133 Take the A Train But Not For Me Take the A Train For All We Know (2nd version) Blues Walk (2nd version) I Guess I'll Have To Hang My Tears Out To Dry Love For Sale Jazz Colours 874727 Live! at Jazzhus Montmartre I Should Care Darn That Dream Now's The Time Satin Doll What's New Thanks Chuck, that's very helpful MG

Some birthday plays: Buddy Johnson Orchestra - Fine brown frame - MCA Buddy Johnson Orchestra - Go ahead and rock - Roulette Waymon Reed - 46th & 8th - Artists House MG

62.263 MG

I've got a couple of Black Lions, but I don't recognise those titles. The ones I've got are Blues Walk - that's an LP, subtitled The Montmartre collection vol 2 For all we know - that's a CD; it has one track from Blues walk in it - There will never be another you. Am I right in thinking I've got, between these two, the whole of the Jazzhus Montmartre CD? Were the other Black Lions done at about the same time? MG

Gene Ludwig - Organ out loud MG

Joe Henderson - Multiple Gene Ammons - Boss tenor Freddie McCoy - Beans & greens MG

Well, I had to go and have a look, didn't I? Yes, mine have MUSeum 1810 on them too. Just think how much simpler things were in the early 60s! Gigi Gryce, of course, wouldn't have been taken to a party, or no one would have asked him to play. The stuff I had, only two of which I've still got, was Jimmy Forrest, Gene Ammons, Scott/Turrentine, Singer/Shavers, King Curtis - I forget what else. All of them party fit and, within only a few years, looking and sounding like it. Sometimes Esquire put different sleeves on their issues from the Prestige originals. I really love the sleeve they did for Jug's "Bad Bossa Nova"; red with white splurges on it and the huge word BAD! stamped right accross it as if it hadn't passed inspection! It was so much more truculent than the Prestige sleeve. I've kept that, even though I have the album on CD. MG

Thanks - looks like I ought to consider replacing my Danish copy with a US one. I can't find it though. (Ever tried looking on Amazon for Chartbusters? Oh God.) Is it still available? Where? MG

Yer spoilt man! 13 quid is what I normally pay for US import CDs. That's something in the region of $21. And, for the UK, that is very cheap indeed. And when it comes to Freddie Roach, I'd pay double. MG

Cootie Williams Sextet & Orchestra - The original Hit recordings 1944 - Phoenix Jazz MG

Harry Strutters Hot Rhythm Orchestra - Bouncing around - Flyright MG