Christiern

In some ways, acetate discs are yesteryear's tapes. They are discs (usually aluminum or—in WWII—glass-based) on which sound is literally cut. In the late 30s or early 40s, companies like Columbia used 16" acetates instead of the old wax-like discs. This is why we have extended recordings—at Columbia, I found, for example, a Billie/Lester selection that had never been issued, simply because it was too long to fit on a disc of either of the standard 78 rpm formats. That is also why we have some sessions that go beyond the musical performance to include studio chatter. The original use for acetate discs was in broadcasting. Radio stations cut programs on discs for delayed airing—for example to accommodate the different time zones. In the late '50s, when I worked at WCAU, in Philly, we had tape, of course, but we were still cutting acetates for certain use in production where cueing up a tape to play a snippet of sound was more cumbersome than simply dropping a stylus on the desired track. Acetates were also what people used privately, before tape recorders became common—Benedetti, for example, recorded those Bird fragments on acetates, using a portable disc cutter. My late friend, Timme Rosenkrantz had such a machine in the early '40s, when he—among other things—made the first recordings of Errol Garner, and Jerry Newman took his portable cutter around to capture Monk, Christian, et al at places like Minton's and the Gee Haw. And, as you mention, acetates were commonly used for demos. Acetates containing rare or otherwise valuable performances will, of course, usually find their way onto vinyl or CD. Some will not, because those who possess them see heightened value in having unissued material. The Gryce on e-bay may be such a case, I don't know. I have a strong feeling of déjà vu, so I'm sure we discussed this before, but perhaps on another board.

may I suggest great as in greatly exaggerated praise. But, Jim, you really don't mean it, do you?

I haven't had enough coffee yet, I saw that line and thought it said "sold his wife and chicken into slavery". If so, the yolk would be on us. Mea culpa

He was the host, as I found out click on Bingo!!!! I wish someone would dig up the show with Ida.

Sounds very familiar. Could Merv have been a producer? The reason I know Merv was involved is that he called me (at Riverside) several days later and told me that I owed him one, meaning that he pulled strings to get Ida accepted (the Goodson/Toddman people panicked when I told them Ida had an appointment with an eye doctor). Merv asked me to come over to the NBC studio after the show, took me and one of the show's ushers (Vince Mauro) into another studio where he seated himself at a piano and accompanied Vince. He sounded okay, nothing special, but good enough for me to agree to do a single, which I did. The single was issued but went nowhere. Anyway, I will now look up "Play Your Hunch" and see if Merv was involved. Thanks for the tip. Bingo!!!!

There was a very similar show on NBC in 1961, produced by Goodson/Toddman and with Merv Griffin as host--anyone remember that one? I don't particularly care for this type of show, but I remember the one on NBC because they called me and wanted Ida Cox as a contestant. I brought her there and she did well, but I wish I knew the name of the show and wonder how there could be more than one based on the same ID game. Jim, I don't share your enthusiasm for TTT, but thanks for pointing me to that site--it is addictive. I watched Ginger Rogers on the Jack Benny show and Tom Snyder interview Albert Goldman re his Elvis bio (Albert had Snyder get rid of the studio audience—he was better at attracting attention than he was at writing biographies, imo). Apropos Goldman (and pardon the aside), here's how he inscribed his Lennon and Elvis books to me—"dark arts", the "N" word?

Loved Earl Hines (however, not too fond of Riverside session I produced w. him—Martin Williams had high praise for 1 track, "A Monday Date"). As for "When I Dream of You," well, we all make mistakes and—for Earl and Johnny—that nightmare is one.

Who hasn't?

Here it is!

This already being Wednesday, August 6, 2008 in parts of the world from which some Organissimo members post, I offer the following in celebration of a BB (Big Birthday)-- Up, Over, and Out!

...and may you have even happier ones ahead!

I just sent him an e-mail. Hope he responds.

Yannow's goal in life is to have listened to every jazz recording ever made. This, I suspect, is one reason why his reviews so often seem based on a cursory listen. He is, basically, a list compiler and obviously a rather pushy one--Leslie Gourse, where are you now that we still don't need you?

Back in the'70s, I saw him regularly at Jim and Andy's, a NYC hangout for jazz musicians--he is obviously into the music. Here is an item from the NYT.

Send your positive thoughts his way. some details here.

Wow!!!

I am not fond of cats (allergic, too), so my advice is to suspend it over the designated spot. It's a guaranteed method. BTW, people who are named after a rat ought not to own a cat.

I am tempted to buy it, just so that we might get back to important things, like Paris Hilton gossip, but I was luke warm on Riley in C, so ...

He found this to be irresistible... ...and is currently yodeling in the Alps. Let's wait a week before sending out an APB.

...and may your new life be a long and happy one!

I bet MG can't stay away from his record collection for long.

Let's hope he wasn't on the pier ... speaking of which, haven't seen Bev around lately either. What's going on over there?? ... Bev asked MG for a light ... and the next thing they knew....this!

The more I think of it, the more I become convinced that he is visiting Rube's grave for inspiration--what with the fuel crisis--and bearing in mind something MG once posted on another BBS--there just might be a Rubish way to turn used Kleenex™ tissues or Marmite™ into non-toxic propellants. I may remember this wrong, it might have been a combination of the two. As I recall, MG had begun experimenting with Lyle's treacle (golden, not black), but all he got out of that was soggy sponge pudding. We shall see.

I know that there are many Apple detractors in the PC world, but I think even the staunchest of them will be impressed by Apple's latest iTunes expansion: iTunes U They just launched it--check it out here.

Has the album been resoled?