sidewinder

Yosser Hughes Gazza Barry Cryer

How is it? - not that I need/can justify yet another copy on vinyl or CD. Great photo !

‘Toad The Wet Sprocket’. ’Whistling’ Bob Harris - mainstay of that show after Richard Williams and up to the advent of punk. Funnily enough, that sketch was shown on TV here last night. I’d always assumed it came from Python.

Well, he was probably heavily concentrating on his teaching work at Hartford and to be honest, McLean’s sharp tone isn’t easy listening. It was only in the late 80s when his releases started to get a bit more prominence. McLean was always a bit of an ‘underground’ player.

Very sad news, sorry that he has left us. I was lucky enough to see him perform with Hank Jones, they made a very compatible pairing.

He was certainly touring here with a hard bop quartet in the late 70s, early 80s. He appeared at the Shaw Theatre as part of the old Camden Jazz Fest.

An unlikely jazz venue..

I’ve an original print of that photo framed on my wall (actually, the print was taken within moments of this one but the composition is the same). Signed by Ray Avery. Ray got the date wrong though - he put 1961.

UK Argo was part of the UK Decca empire. It was founded by a wonderful chap named Harley Usill who set it up mainly to cover spoken word recordings, train recordings (!) and some folk music. Jazz came into the fold thanks to the link with Michael Garrick, who did much of his best work for the label, in a very sympathetic environment. The whole thing folded in the late 70s when Polygram (I think) bought them out and I understand that the clear out of subsidiaries such as Argo was done ruthlessly and poor Harley was treated very badly. A sorry affair. The last Garrick Argo LP, ‘Troppo’, is one of his very best but sold in low numbers.

UK United Artists

More byeways of Herbie. From the Big Box.

These guys (different ‘East’ though). And this one..

Also one by Mel Torme at this obscure venue I think.

Just spinning that one. ‘Daffodils’ Rare example of a US Blue Note on UK Vogue. 10” LP from 1955.

You are missing out on that Nathan Davis - it is very good ! Of course, it is a shame that it has not been put out on CD - or download. Personally I am more than happy that they are giving us the vinyl option, for those of us who have a strong preference for it given the setup that we have. Long may it last !

Cheesy and sleazy !

That one needs its own lifting and handling jig !

Mono NY label, ear.

I have that one on a blue label. Obviously a fan of Harold Wilson. Nimbus 3LP. Just in from Barcelona. A bit wild but good stuff !

I remember reading Philip Larkin’s book of Daily Telegraph jazz reviews back in the 70s and really enjoying it. It gave some good pointers, was a highly entertaining read and the stuff he slagged off (e.g. Miles and Coltrane) was an indication to check it out. Many of the issues were even then already deleted though. The Max Harrison et al ‘Essential Jazz Records Vol 2’ was the go-to bible as well. Again, frustrating as much of it was deleted at the time.