BruceH

This album was a surprise to me, as I kind of expected to not like it a hell of a lot. But I love it! Great playing all around, and a wonderful chemistry going on.

Well, at least she answered the question. Not really.

The DVD that I have goes further. In addition to including both versions of the film, there's a great mini-documentary that goes into fascinating detail about the differences between the two, and the reasons why the film was changed in the first place. Very informative! I saw this years ago on the big screen, shown in conjunction with the earlier, unreleased version. I remember thinking that if they ever came out with a tape/DVD package with the documentary and both versions of the movie, I'd love to buy it. And they did!

Good one! As I recall, they constantly belittle director Mary DiBergi (Rob Reiner) for only focussing on the things that went wrong. Then, whenever one of the songs is being performed, one bandmember (Bassist Derek Smalls/AKA Harry Shearer?), with an almost reverent tone, recommends that we just listen to the performance... An inspired idea. Reminds me of one of the commentaries in the Freaks & Geeks DVD package: Three actors do "in character" commentary for one episode. The characters were the gym teacher, the counseler, and the math teacher. Not nearly as successful as the Spinal Tap commentary, but still a nice little extra, and for all I know, may have been an homage to it.

Bork is almost as big a jerk as Allan Bloom.

I've heard that this happens quite a lot, actually.

RIP, Mr. Kristal. I remember hearing about the dispute between the club and its landlord last year and was surprised that CBGB's was still around in 2006. Kind of assumed that the place had quietly closed sometime in the 80's or 90's.

Katanga!

That's an excellent album! I've sometimes wondered why it's his only Blue Note.

She should be careful...those things will shorten her life.

The bassist also made some good movies.

Prequel to The Ultimate Truth.

I feel exactly the same way about Moby Grape and Love. I do like Moby Grape's first album--they caught a compelling mood in the studio while recording it, for me. Other than that, I just don't love their music, although I have tried. All of Love's output is the same way for me. Another group that I want to like from that time, but just really don't, is the group with Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder, the Rising Sons. I can see where you're coming from, but I think the Forever Changes album by Love is pretty damn amazing in it's way, kind of a slightly underappreciated classic, though admittedly with a notoriously long "kick-in" time.

I should get this.

In this context, I'll refrain from saying you took the words right out of my mouth.

Mangione actually did some of his best work with Blakey.. Ever listen to "Buttercorn Lady"? Yes,, and that's not my point. Put another way, how many of us would list Chuck Mangione and Wynton Marsalis in the top ten of Art Blakey sidemen? I think the first ones to spring to my mind would be Benny Golson, Wayne Shorter, Lee Morgan, Hank Mobley and Curtis Fuller. But so many played with the Jazz Messengers...even Jackie McLean was with Blakey for a little while. Have to admit, though, that Mangione and Marsalis are probably the names most well known by the general public.

Sorry to hear about this. Fifty is way too young. RIP

Actually, his early work is great too. I particularly dig the stuff he recorded for the Commodore label.

Natural Selection---Gary Giddins

Now THAT sounds like it could be really interesting!

Is this a normal moose population or a jazzmoose population?

The Pee Wee Russell Time/Life box. Nice.

Sorry to hear about that, Mark. I had no idea that the name switch was for such a painful reason. My sympathies.

They sure come out with DVD's of new movies fast now; I feel like I just saw Breach on the big screen. Just bought the DVD of The Lives of Others and it has a very good commentary by the director.

The only one I don't already have is Gravy Train...and I don't particularly want it.