Peter Johnson

I'm in a particularly contemplative mood today for a slightly silly reason--I just found out that my favorite restaurant in Seattle has closed, and the building has, in fact, been torn down. It's very sad to me because my (then fiancee, now wife) and I went to dinner there the night before our wedding; as a result, it had special meaning to us. Now it's gone. The earlier thread about "The Flip" being the last of the reissued Hank records to hit CD hit me in a very similar way. Hank--so much potential. It was the mid-eighties, he was finally getting himself back together (right here in Philly! Not far from my house, as a matter of fact!), and poof--he was gone. Mind you, I was 12 then, and had never even heard of the man. But in the intervening years, I have grown to love the man and his music, being alternately delighted at his music and frustrated about the lack of information about Hank, the man. I had always heard about this article, but never seen it. Now that I've read it (thanks a million for posting it, Rock), I'm sad and happy--sad that I was never able to hear Hank in the flesh; happy that we have as much of the music he created as we do; sad that we do seem to be at the end (for a lot of die-hard folks) of the "discovery" period of Hank's work; but happy knowing that there a still a lot of people out there who are, for the first time, picking up a copy of a record in his name, or something he was a sideman on, and thinking, "wow! I wonder what else he played on!" thereby opening themselves up to an entire world of discs and recordings. And then they, too, get to engage in a quest to unearth a copy of Far Away Lands or Slice of the Top or Another Workout. So many of these giants are no longer with us, and it's tempting to wallow in the "what if I had bought..." or the "why wasn't I born ten (twenty? Thirty?) years earlier types of thought. But like anyone close to us who has departed this world, we should feel implicitly charged with "spreading the gospel" and turning our friends, loved ones and enemies on to these marvelous, organic but historical documents. Rest in peace, Hank, John, Lee, all of you, wherever you are--with the knowledge that we're going to keep listening.

This is completely entertaning. I'm beginning to think I MAY have gotten one right. Damn! I thought I knew more than that! Keep the links and suspicions coming!

One word: Heineken!

You clownin' me there, Retep? Je suis densez!!! Noj, I have spent the last few months thinking, "Hmm, I wonder how you pronounce "Noj," and what does it mean, anyway? I didn't put that together until now!!!

nosnhoJ reteP

I've got every conn that was not issued as part of the 1500/4000 series; additionally, I've got every conn that was issued as above but includes never before released takes (or released only as LA/LT series), such as Blue Hour, Straight no Filter, etc. It's my favorite series!

Allllriiiiiight! This is a super-sweet compilation, Dan! I flipped through the tracks quickly, now I'm back for a detailed listen. 1. Reverse psychology made me NOT want to pick Gene Harris for the first track of the G.H. Fanatic's BF test, but I can't come up with anyone. The trick here is, which record? The REALLY audible crowd and the slightly out of tune piano make me think it's from the Live at the Lighthouse record, as opposed to It Club fare (in-tune and quiet); but I also feel like remember the Lighthouse record being "slicker," with a fair amount of organ. Don't know the name of the song. Love the blues. Love the end. 2. Big crowd. Another live performance. Johnny B Goode opening, with a little bit of "Ray's Rock House" thrown in. I have absolutely no idea who this is; could it be Ray Charles? Definitely not, upon hearing the vocals! Muddy Water...is it Joe Williams? 3. Stand by me chord changes. Damn, Dan--you're stumping my ass on this CD! If Jackie McLean played on the chitlin' circuit, this is what it would sound like. I can't even begin to guess who's playing on this cut. 4. Watermelon man. Well, it's not Herbie, so it's either Mongo or Quincy's version. It doesn't sound like enough percussion to be Mongo, and the sax (nice tone!) sounds like someone Quincy's had soloing on his big band records, so I'm going to have to go with Quincy. I completely dig the elastic time signature. But is it a big enough group for Quincy? Did Q ever record with a combo? The open fourths in the upper register of the piano sound almost like Oscar Peterson on quaaludes. 5. Artificial 'verb or recorded somewhere other than Rudy's, that's for sure! Sounds like Leroy Vinnegar playing bass...definitely west coasting...or maybe Ray Brown? Wait. Could this be Art Pepper meets the band (or the octet, or the rhythm section, or whatever that record is)? 6. Doc Sevrinson and the tonight show band! Seriously, trombone in the mix with electric bass narrows the field. Could it be so late as to be a Watrous record? Doubt J.J. recorded with a group like this. And as I get further into it, I'm not even sure it's built around the trombone--other than the (again) west coast sound, it sounds like Bob Cranshaw on bass. I'm sticking with Watrous! 7. Sounds like Paul Desmond on alto, but I don't think it really is. Someone who's emulating him, though! No clue. 8. Since I fell for you. Someone emulating Stanley T this time. Unless it's early Stanley and Shirley--maybe on Prestige? Don't think so...it's a little too "clean-sounding" for that. Sounds like Grant Green on guitar...would all three of them have recorded for Prestige? 9. Stan Getz for sure--on the late end of his career. This is the first one I'm completely confident of (watch, I'll be wrong!!!) I'd say this was a Telarc recording if I didn't think it was more likely on Verve. Bass player's GOOD with the arco. Makes me want to lay down and cry. Damn. Is it raining outside? 10. Damn, I KNOW the sax player. Patrick Williams and his New York Band? 11. Footprints. Cool version! Heavy on the bass. Survey says...acoustic weather report? Seriously, sparse piano playing makes me think Joe Sample. 12. My disc is skipping around here, but I'm thinking Johnny Hammond with a big band of some sort. Don't recall brother Jack recording with such a large ensemble, but I could be wrong. 13. Reverse psychology is getting the better of me...I'm thinking Gene again--although late-period. Post 'sounds days. Or possibly a Verve three sounds record? Dan, this was a hell of a lot of fun. Thanks again for the comp and putting it together. I can't wait to see how wrong I was!

Allmusic doesn't have a date of death for Baby Face. Does anyone know if he's still with us? Still playing?

Eh. Fan of Miles' albums and boots, not a fan of Miles' archival stuff--except the Gil Evans box. Won't be getting this. Vive la difference!

Jimmy wants the whole cupful!

Hmmmmmmm, no, no thread really takes a truly UNCOMFORTABLE turn until Rooster Ties posts a hello kitty picture or some other disturbing "weird shit from the internet." Although the CD above might qualify as the latter...

I think you mean "pRay pal"!

Yay! Dan, I'm still driving (or rather, my wife drives daily) the 1987 240 my parents bought new...I really like that series--it's a fairly bulletproof (helpful here in Philly, LOL ) model. In fact, in my family, since I was born, we have had a '71 142 '77 244 '87 240, 89 '240, and most recently a '92 960. I guess my parents finally had to get something with more than four cylinders! There's just something about the 240... I think it's a love it or hate it thing.

This is a very sad day. Rest in peace.

Oh yeah? Well,

Well, Chris, if you had been a lawyer...well, a litigator, you would spend many nights in the office, eating Chinese food at your desk, calling your colleagues to complain about your secretary, and fretting about deadlines! Well, I'm KIND OF kidding. That's part of it. But I count myself in with what seems to be about 10% of lawyers who really enjoy what they do. I actually do estate litigation--so while there's always a winner and a loser, I (and my firm) frequently have the opportunity to really help people when they're in a time of need; we see it all the time, when someone's loved one has passed, all they want to do is wrap up the estate, but they have a greedy relative/employee/friend who wants to hijack the proceedings. It ain't cool, but there are solutions. It's a hell of a lot better than arguing on the phone all day, like some of my commercial litigator friends tell me they do! That being said, I've always wondered (seriously!) what my life would have been like if I'd gone into broadcasting! Something I've been curious about forever...used to think maybe I could get a summer job as a DJ at my favorite radio station in Portland, OR--never panned out. Still wondering!!!

Spooky! I usually go straight for the "never before released" issues; since I missed out on Sonic Boom first time around, I pulled the trigger. I generally collect vinyl, which is why I held off on Bossa Nove Bacchanal....one day I'll find it, one day! (Yes, I've got the "rainbow series" issues of mothership and sonic boom, but I've never cared for the sound on them. Come on guys--time to issue Clubhouse!!!)

Yahoo! Just pulled the trigger on Mother Ship, Sonic Boom and Passing Ships for $12.59 each on preorder at cduniverse.com. Last time 'round I did this, and I got them the day after they were released. Thought y'all might like the heads-up! PJ

Hey Jim! I know you're busy having babies and all, but how about a mini version of this as a clickable smiley??

Wow! Waiting for the Boogaloo Sister, indeed!!! Felicitations, Jim!

My first car! Yes, a four-door Corvair! Two-speed automatic transmission, rear engine, no seatbelts; got it in 1989 with about 42,000 miles on it. Previous owner had been hit by a bus, got spooked, and garaged it until I came around. It was pretty exciting to hit 70 on the highway; with the rear engine, the nose began to lift like an airplane!!! After about a year, I traded it in for what has been one of the two best cars I've ever owned, a 1972 Volvo p1800:

Yeah, Lon--they may look like tractors, but if you have a 90/6 like the photo you posted, you know all too well that you can leave the squids on their hondayamasuki ninkjas in the dust with a mere flick 'o the wrist! Love the TT ragtop as well!

Oh man are you going to get suggestions from Rooster Ties! For my part, I heartily recommend Arvo Part's other works on ECM; dark and moody. You might also enjoy Britten's Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridges for string orchestra. Try out Bartok's Divertimento for string orchestra, and I think some clear winners for you will also be Stravinsky's Firebird and Saint-Saens' Piano Concerti (there are five of them) and Symphonies (three of them--you usually hear the "Organ Symphony" (number 2), which is phenomenal, but the others are undersung gems IMHO. That should do you for late 1800's to early 1900's; I'm going to let RT jump in with suggestions that will take us up to the present day. I hope this helps; let me know if you want more suggestions, and if you give these a listen, what you think of them!

Damn, Lon--this is freaky!!! Here's a picture of me and my (recreational) ride--a 1972 r75 (sorry for the size)!!! This is on a trip my wife and I took from Philly to Kentucky & back last May. Glad I'm not the only one here who loves horizontally-opposed cylinders!