Rabshakeh

Orquesta Ritmo De Sabanas – El Pechugon

Tony Scott!

Listening to this now. Impressive to sound this fresh.

Chips or cooked potatoes in a sandwich is very common worldwide! It is definitely not a Pittsburgh thing. Any sort of soft chip or fried or boiled potato is a natural with bread because it adds a fluffiness and texture that is different to what the bread itself is bringing. Putting chips (i.e. soft fries) is very common in Greece or in Spain or in the North of England (in the last of these sometimes just on their own, as a nursery snack, with ketchup, which is less exciting). Whilst it won't work with American style fries, try it next time you have roast or boiled potatoes and don't mind the extra carbs. You'll see that they really enliven an otherwise good sandwich. This conversation slightly reminds me of American friends' mystification at the idea of eating fries with mayonnaise, despite that being the condiment that fried were invented for, or with malt vinegar, despite it being so normal that it was the first crisp/chip flavour invented.

There are more things in heaven and earth, fellow members, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

Gyros classic but chips or cooked potato in any form of sandwich just works.

That's a good record.

Ron Proby – Evian

John Coltrane - Infinity

Some unique branding there.

Probably one for the Brits more than the rest of the forum, but sad news that Rob Grant, the "Grant" of "Grant Naylor" the writing team behind the original series of Red Dwarf, died suddenly and apparently unexpectedly yesterday. For people of my age group, those first four or so episodes of Red Dwarf were pretty much formative. So this is sad news indeed. RIP.

I've listened to a few more of them this evening. I think after the second record most of them left so it wasn't really the same mix. There's a really sharp decline. Reeeaaally sharp. Now listening to this one: Obviously not the world's greatest record either. But not terrible. I find it hard to put myself in the mindset of Bob Thiele as he set about persuading a dying Louis Armstrong that he needed to record a version of "The Creator Has A Master Plan".

The Last Poets - Chastisement I hadn't really listened to the Last Poets before other than their first two records and Hustlers Convention. This is surprisingly terrible.

Gene "Mighty Flea" Conners – Coming Home I do love Black and Blue. Look at that line up! Phoooaar

The Reform Art Unit With Alaeddin Adlernest

So many of these records are sold in credible shops too. It is quite disheartening.

I believe you advised me to hire a car, which was clearly the right advice, although I didn't because the timing of the trip meant that any exploration was going to be limited. I'm actually quite glad I didn't as I found the experience of being driven around Phoenix fairly hairy in itself. Overall I liked what I saw of the city, which was unique, and people whom I met obviously loved living there. But I found the distances head-spinning. I tried to nip out for a quick trip to a nearby record shop on my first day, and it was hours of driving there and back, and that was without traffic. I've always wanted to see Philadelphia. Americans who I have met online and in person seem to regard it as American's most European city. In the online era, that comment is often followed by photographs of very un-European but pleasant-looking streets. No doubt it is the layout or something imperceptible that is being referred to. I've always wondered what it is actually like, but sadly it seems to be the major American city that I have had the fewest chances to visit.

Everything Is Everything – Just Flash In The Cosmic Pan Does anyone know the connection between this record and Terumasa Hino's Hino's Air? I read somewhere that they're the same band, but this one is obviously missing Hino, and I believe it came out on a different label so doesn't seem to just be alternative takes or something.

Grover Washington Jr - Winelight I think I could write a notional chapter of a notional book just about the growling noise that Washington makes in the chorus of the first track. Grrrnnnnrrrrur

That's good. The last two times I was in the states was Chicago, which, exploration wise, is more or less like a European city, and Phoenix, which... wasn't. I'd assumed that San Diego would have been more like the latter, so that's good to know.

Thanks. It will be work and the usual dread conference centre that follows these things in some US cities, but I'm hoping to get out and about.

Does anyone have any San Diego recommendations? Not a US city that I know...

Peetie Wheatstraw – Complete Recorded Works In Chronological Order Volume 7 (4 April 1940 To 25 November 1941)

Rudy Ray Moore – The Turning Point

My first listen to this. Really superior stuff.