BruceH

You needn't have worried, Moose; there are plenty of copies at Amoeba!

Fuck, I sure as hell remember it!

Quite.

Get it Moose...you know you want it!

My first thought on reading your post, Joe, was "Shit, what if the bullet hit the house...or went in a WINDOW for Christsake?!!" This guy is not only a callous shitbag, but a dangerous one. Damn.

Yes indeed. I always had the impression that some corporate shmoe was in charge of the production and packaging of the Beatles catalog. How else to explain the lack of care and thought put into it. The attitude at the record company seems to be: "These guys have always sold well. Let's just toss the stuff onto the shelves and let it sell itself." The catch-22 is that for less popular figures they claim that putting work into the packaging is not worth it from an economic perspective, because the future sales can't justify the investment. It all comes back to this old realization---most big record companies suck.

I'll have to look that up. I'm certain that if I ever tried any Tony Soprano stuff with ANYBODY I would regret it bigtime. It's funny you should mention this though. There have been times (maybe when I was half asleep) when I've wondered what Tony would think of Mosaic. He'd probably find some way to make a dishonest dollar off those sets, and it would be both revolting and funny.

"Transitioning"----(transition as a verb) is an example much like "impact" as a verb. You know what I mean; broadcasters, reporters, politicians, etc. all started using "impact" where 10 or 12 years earlier they would have used "affect." "The new bill will impact small businesses in blah, blah..." I know I should have gotten used to it by now, but it still bugs me sometimes. What's so wrong, I wonder, with using "affect"? Apart from the grammatical problem (which I fully realize becomes moot when enough people use it anyway) there's another consideration----using "impact" makes the process sound sudden and violent, even when it clearly isn't. "There was some concern about how it would impact soybean prices..." Sounds to me like those soybean prices are going to get smashed to smithereens. I fully realize that the language evolves and changes all the time, and it's going to keep on whether we like it or not, and mostly it's fascinating as well as inevitable, but some things will always set my teeth on edge. "Nu-cue-ler" is one such. Another is "Worsh-ington" DC. It's Washinton, god damn it!!!

You and me both! Ouch!

I would like to get the Mulligan Concert Jazz Band set. However, in the past I asked for Mosaic sets for Christmas and was told in no uncertain terms that it ain't gonna happen. Oh well, I can alway's rob a bank!

We go to my in-law's house for the feast, since my folks live in New England, 3,000 miles away. Then we usually drive somewhere for a weekend gettaway. Haven't decided yet if we'll go north or south this year. For some reason my kids think it's a real adventure to stay in a hotel. They love it!

I will have to get this. "Another piece in the puzzle," as AB said. Besides, I always wanted to get the film version of "The Long and Winding Road" which is infinitely better than than the Spector single. It is interesting that the Beatles are causing some of us to dig yet again into our pockets at this late date, in the 21st century! Will people be paying digital cash for the new virtual hyperversion of Revolver in 2150?

I was thinking of the Kenny Drew/Leroy Vinnegar/Lawrence Marable Bethlehem with Dex as leader. The Stan Levey-led "This Time the Drum's On Me" is great too, though. (I sometimes think that it seems the Bethlehem label never put out a bad album.) What do y'all think of Daddy Plays the Horn? "Confirmation," "Number Four," and "You Can Depend On Me" are particular favorites of mine from that album; the whole thing is good, though. (Dexhead talking.)

Oswald.

Agreed. The Bethlehem album (Daddy Plays the Horn) is great. I guess I'm a Dexhead, because I love the Blows Hot and Cool album as well. I got a vinyl copy around 1987 or so, and it sounds fine to me; no unusual amount of surface noise.

What JSngry said. I've seen a lot of used copies of the Smithsonian set at independent record stores for ages. I've tried to make tapes like the one you are attempting for various friends/acquaintances over the years, and my recommendation is to pick one or two (or three at most) tracks that capture the essential qualities of figures such as: Ellington, Basie, Hawkins, Webster, Parker, Davis, Lester Young, Mingus, Pepper, Bill Evans, Clifford Brown, Horace Silver, Rollins, and so on. Maybe, just maybe, some more accessable composition by Sun Ra and Ornette Coleman. This can be fun for you as well by causing you to focus your thinking. (If you want to include more pre-bop figures, you may have to go to two tapes.) Good luck!

Carl Perkins as in one of the finest bebop pianists in the history of jazz. Personally, I think this is one of Dexter's best pre-Blue Note albums. My advice: GET IT!! Dexter's in fine form here. You won't be dissappointed.

I bet he'll love that one!

Got Close Your Eyes today---great album!

Come to think of it, Griffin did another duet album with Martial Solal three years ago, called In & Out. It was superb.

I also heard this review today. I have got to get this one!

The Atlantic New Orleans Jazz box is great! OK, I'll admit, I don't listen to it as often as often as the Mobley box, but it's great to pull out once in while. I also remember being glad the whole set wasn't like disc #1. That comes under the heading: Nice to have, but least-played part of the box.

Seeing the film Master and Commander has inspired me to reread C. S. Forester's novel Beat To Quarters. Why not read one of Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin novels rather than a Hornblower? I don't know...just feeling contrary, I guess.

"Blitzkrieg Bop"

I enjoyed it. Sure, it leaves out a lot, but of course it has to. As a movie, it was entertaining on it's own terms, and faithful enough to the books to leave it an unguilty pleasure for fans. Once I got used to Maturin being tall and good looking I found myself enjoying Bettany's performance, particulary the moment when he sees the Acheron all by himself on the other side of the island. Damn! You can just feel his ruefulness, and the momentary temptation not to tell anyone. Also, the first instance I can recall of Bach's first Suite for Cello being used in a movie.