JSngry

OK! Glad you asked!

If they include the other set from Antibes that's been out as a boot for so long, that would be nifty! Yeah, the FOUR AND MORE/MY FUNNY VALENTINE albums are the "classics", but for my money, this one is even better:

"One of these days, and it won't be long, you're gonna look for me and I'll be gone." I thought that that day would never come, but of course it did, and I am pretty damn upset about it, even though I've got no real reason to be - the man led an incredible life, a long one, and a fuller-than-full one. And I got to see him twice, once in the 70s, with Don Wilkerson & Johnny Coles in the band! More than an entertainer, he changed the world. Literally. Forget the plaid jackets and often cheesy albums of his later years - Ray Charles took soul out of America's closet and rubbed it it the world's face. The modern concept of "soul" might have been bubbling under the surface of American culture for a few years, and somebody else might have emerged to deliver it anyway, but they didn't - Ray Charles did, and his unique combination of talents and backgrounds probably made him the perfect guy for the job (and, knowing how these things inevitably work, is no doubt why he got called for the gig). If he "outlived his usefulness" as a revolutionary musical synthesist/catalyst, he didn't outlive his usefulness as an interpreter who could still surprise the hell out of you and cut you to the quick emotionally. Ray Charles was the kind of guy who could do whatever he wanted whenever he wanted however he wanted, and he did. If that made him an arrogant, irascible asshole sometimes (and it did), so be it. Life is beautiful, but it ain't perfect. Ray Charles WAS life. His likes were rare in his time, and they're all but extinct today. The time will come when another talent like this HAS To happen. If it doesn't we're all up screwed. R.I.P. Brother Ray.

Is SOMEDAY MY PRINCE WILL COME (the album) going to escape being boxed?

Well, that's my tribute to Betsy Palmer. Hoped you liked it! Oh GOSH yes! I DID!!!!!!

Listen fellas - don't monkey around with Betsy!

But into every life a little rain must fall. In Betsy's case, as so many otehrs, it was the fashions of the late 70s/early 80s. But that's ok - America forgives you Betsy!

And speaking of a "palmer", get a load of the booty on Betsy!

Like all true beauties, Betsy is interested in world peace!

Happy to be a Hoosier, that's our Betsy!

Proof that beauty knows no age limit!

You don't have to be blindfolded to know that even a blind man would find Betsy to be beautiful!

Ipana never met a smile that didn't need improving until it met Betsy!

Unlike Bess Myerson, our Betsy never got into trouble with the law!

A secret? I don't think so!

Who, ME? Yes, YOU!

Dude, the theories pale next to the reality!

I too saw the GNP/Crescendo albums quite a bit. But the VeeJay stuff also got out on some of the Everest labels (including a Lee Morgan album on Tradition, which was an otherwise all "folk blues" label). As far as original VeeJay sides go, I don't know what the distribution was like for most of the jazz sides. I too have seen lots of Eddie Harris sides over the years, but not much else. I found a copy of Benny Green's THE SWINGINEST" used locally, and friends have similarly picked up KELLY AT MIDNIGHT and the Frank Strozier album. The later "VJ International" albums were all available locally, but I'm talking "original" VeeJay jazz sides - not too many other than the Harris seem to have made it down this way, or if they did, they've not yet made it into anyplace I've had access to.

Well, I guess that's that!

A former music critic for The Dallas Morning News, Michael Cochran, once wrote a column about the "most overrated musicans" of all time, and included Bird (as well as Otis Redding!) on the list. His blurb was something along the lines of: "Sounded like he was making it all up as he went along. Guess what? He was." Yeah, THAT'S astute criticism!

Take the time to read this. It is a not unreasonable scenario. Do I believe it? Can't say. Do I think it bears following through on? Definitely.

Here's a most interesting theory: http://www.dallasobserver.com/issues/2001-...ml/1/index.html

Just received similar confirmation.

YES!

I want those drugs!