BeBop

A bit of background on the motivation for this thread. I was Vegas a few days ago. I don't buy recorded music any more, and, even if I did, there are better places to buy in Vegas. I was driving up Sahara and there was a Tower. I couldn't help but pull in 'for old times' sake'. And by golly, it was still Tower. A somewhat deep catalog (and somewhat high prices). Some books... Heck, I ended up hanging around 20 minutes without really looking at anything. Typically, when I go into a record store these days, I start to feel a little ill. The thought of buying another recording sickens me. Tower didn't have that effect, FWIW.

Tony, I'm going to stay out of this one. I can't decide if I'm an insider looking out or an outsider looking in.

Hypothesis: The median age for people who don’t like Tower Records (particularly in their bricks and mortar manifestation) is below that of people who like Tower. Theory: Old geezers like me recall the day when Tower was the ONLY place to buy anything other than Top 40/Pop. (Think of Target as a music source today.) Want a nice Blue Note Connoisseur or a slab of 180gr. vinyl? Looking for some Fats Navarro or Ganelin Trio? Just hoping to expand your horizons? The Tower ‘deep catalog’ was the answer. Oh, there were a few alternatives in Berkeley, New York and Chicago. But for Fresno, Stockton or Davis, CA or the burgeoning jazz mecca of Nashville… Sure, Tower’s gone downhill since then. But, like Starbucks, look what they’ve brought us – Alternatives! And their woes, I believe without any specific knowledge, were caused by less-than-perfect management decision-making in the midst of a shifting market (Internet shopping; downloading; games, videos and other music alternatives; et cetera). And while the (capitalist) part of me that would dance on their grave and point her finger at management must temper her enthusiasm in light of worse situations facing Wherehouse, Musicland/Goody and others. And, the (artist) part of me feels some compassion for management who kept that catalog as deep as possible for as long as possible. Okay, Tower sucks. But I thank them for what they did to suck.

Read an interesting article not long ago about the Tower closings. Apparently all taking place in college towns where music downloading is popular. As much as I would like to fault Tower's business plan or some aspect of its management, I find it a bit difficult to do.

Whatever it takes... Hey, could be worse. You could BE a female and have to undergo some sort of procedures...

Mine used to ring "In Walked Bud". Then I switched service/hardware and...

I like this recording.

I don't pay a lot of attention to McDonalds advertising, so I won't comment on that. But I'll bet they don't claim that everthing they sell can be eaten without limitation. Did he eat everthing they offer, including dressing-free salads? Doubtful. It wouldn't have supported his agenda. Moreover, the filmaker was apparently fit, athletic and either a vegetarian himself or married/dating one - he was NOT a clueless buffoon.

This sort of thing makes me ashamed to have been an American. No, not McDonalds. The guy who made the film. Anything for a buck, eh? (You think the results weren't all expected? You think they were based in some sort of reality?) And we criticize Bush for pursuing a war with Iraq as a foregone conclusion. The lowest common denominator drops again. And thanks to American ingenuity, there's now a sucker born every 28 seconds...

Any American athlete of approximately my age will probably feel the same pang I do when seeing Moscow on the list. Remember 1980? I sure do.

Better late than never, eh? Hope you had a great one!

I used to be sentimental. Now I'm just mental.

A hearty 'second' for the GrooveYard. If I was only within shoppoing distance...

Is that the Sonny Clark Trio record originally on Bainbridge/Time (highly recommended!) or the Blue Note (less-heartily recommended)?

Mr. Tracy, Thanks for producing it. Sometimes it takes a while for the value of such things to be recognized. Oddly, I've had the album for many years, but hadn't recognized its 'greatness' in time to mention it to Sonny before he passed. ...and so she spins.

The lineup: Sonny Stitt (the Ringer), John Board, Edward Buster, Joe Shelton (yawn) The tunes: McKie's, It All Depends on You, Blue Moon, Jay Tee, I'm in the Mood For Love, Free Chicken. (Three relatively unexciting warhorses and three dazzlingly okay Stitt originals. Another yawn.) The liner notes, reproduced here in their entirety: " " You want a definition of the term "sleeper"?

Someone must fix this problem right away. Sonny's really in his element on this one - out in front of an organ, and alongside another tenor player (John Board - assume this is the same cat who blew with Hamp, McGriff and BB; can anyone confirm?). Actually, I suppose Sonny was - or perceived himself to be a step ahead of his tenor 'rival' - but I always figured that was what inspired him to be at his competitive best. I can recall seeing him with Griff and Eddie Harris (two separate dates)...but that's a story for another thread. Can't really says the tenors are playing 'foes' here, but they do keep the heat up.

Twenny per cent. http://borders1.m0.net/m/s.asp?HB13534951349X3454967X363189X

Man, I wish my whole paycheck was that big! As for robbing banks, as long as Mosaic Records remains in business, have I any choice?

I got such useful feedback on my Iowa thread (including from someone in Madison), I thought I'd try my luck. Will just be in Madison five days, but could use some recommendations. Main interest is music/jazz, but also need to eat and have a little entertainment.

Support your local bricks and mortar. You'll be glad you did when you decide, at 9:00PM on Saturday night, you just GOTTA pick up a copy of Blue Train. On the other hand, we don't all have local record shops that stock Blue Train...

Thanks. Will try to make Iowa City at some point. The link had some good info. After Iowa, I'm headed for WD45's neck of the woods: Minneapolis. Fortunately, I more-or-less know my way around that place. And I'm looking forward to visiting NOT in January, when I usually come to town.

Suppose I was looking mainly for jazz/music things to do. I'll be working in Iowa for a couple of weeks (that may turn out to be a year). I typically work 16 hours a day, seven days a week, so I've limited time for anything else, and my free time comes in the evening/late evening hours, making museums, public building and the like impractical. Music is the best 'release' I've found for the time available. That said, I appreciate the information already provided.

I've got the Steeplechase LPs (In the Tradition I and II). I enjoy them, though probably as much for the novelty as for the music. Not that they are bad, but they don't appear to my 'usual' desire for swing. And not that they don't swing; they do, in their own, distinctive manner. Not your father's swing.

I post this question with low expectations and hope for the best. And yes, I know it's a fairly short drive for Chicago.