GA Russell

I had a hunch that might be it.

Many of you treat the Conns as if they are special. What makes them any better than a regular Blue Note reissue? Inquiring minds want to know!

I'm confused! Does Sony now own the BMG and Columbia labels, while Bertelsmann owns the BMG and Columbia Record Clubs? I didn't know that the BMG Record Club does so much business that it made the company a major player in the industry. I wonder what the sales volume of a typical Blue Note reissue is for the record clubs.

Lon, I'm glad that you reminded me of the availability of Equinox. A buddy of mine did me a favor, so I ordered a copy of it for him yesterday. I'm sure it will be right up his alley. How do you like it? Is it too lounge-y for you?

For a Sunday afternoon, the Kenton/Russo/Holman charts, Disc 1.

The only Kessels I have are Plays For Lovers and Julie London's Julie Is Her Name. I love the London record, so I expected a lot from Plays For Lovers, and was disappointed. It's a good compilation, but not as good as I expected.

I still think of Rivers first when it comes to "Phoenix". After a series of up tempo singles and albums, his Changes album consisted of slow songs and a new haircut (combed forward, not back), and "Phoenix" was the first single from it. I've often thought about how Rivers' "Phoenix" is one of those forgotten oldies which were popular at the time (at least where I lived in New Orleans), but which have been AWOL on the oldies stations.

Freddie Hubbard - Hub-Tones I've had this one a while, but I've just opened it up tonight. The alternate takes are as good or better than the master cuts!

Now listening to The Best of, a 1969 Verve LP.

Now listening to Plugs In, a Skye album. (available from dccblowout.com)

Now listening to The Best of the Concord Years, a 2-CD set which I believe has nearly half of his entire Concord output.

Now listening to Cuban Fantasy. This was a Fantasy release of about a year and a half ago, of previously unreleased live recordings of a two night engagement in San Francisco in June of '77. Good stuff! (available at yourmusic.com)

Now listening to Jazz 'Round Midnight, a Verve compilation.

Today's the day! Now listening to Soul Burst, with Chick Corea.

Thanks guys! I knew I could count on this group! I had George Russell's version when I was in college, and I feel like I grew up with the song.

I was listening to Phil Woods' recording of Nardis today, and it occurred to me that I know nothing about the original recording, which I assume was a Miles Davis side because he wrote it. A quick Google search didn't show me anything. Does anyone know what album, what label, when, with whom, etc?

Thanks for the heads up, Aggie. I read good things about Same Mother at AAJ, and I've added it to my queue.

Groove has a special place in my heart. His Soul Message was the first hard core jazz album I bought, and I still listen to it frequently nearly 39 years later. In his novel The Switch, Elmore Leonard has the bad guys listening to Groove Holmes tapes throughout the story! I had the honor of informing Cadence Magazine of Groove's passing. Somehow it had escaped their notice. Happy birthday Groove!

The Hi-Lo's - Now Hear This I saw them in Atlanta about ten years ago, and they still sounded fantastic! Sad to say, one of them died about 2002. I don't know what Gene Puerling is doing to keep himself busy now. Maybe they are all just retired.

Al, did you see the list that Aggie composed of Blue Note titles available from Your Music.com? It's here: http://www.organissimo.org/forum/index.php...4&hl=1960s&st=0

When I was in high school (the 60s), one of our parish priests was the man who wrote Hello Mary Lou along with Gene Pitney. His name was Father Chuck Mangiaracina. I thought that was pretty neat!

Maybe they kept the warehouse air conditioned to the max!!! Anyway, nice ad!

Sounds like a great idea, Ghost!

Chuck, were these manufactured in the US, or were they made in the UK to their standards?

My experience was the same as Brownian Motion's.