Bill Nelson

Dept. of Uncertainty and Scowling on this German E-Z Miracle Thang track from 'Snowflakes': http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DLRcwUQBLM track by Martin Bottcher, 'Fiesta in Belo Horizonte':

Yes, I'm still waiting on TTK's 'go ahead' and mailing address. It was around '97 that the first E-Z 'German economic miracle' CDs appeared at the Dusty Bards. 'Snowflakes' was the best-of MPS and there were several others on Germany's Motor Music label. The sound and production values are lush and uniformally excellent. Now they're all OOP and getting pricey.

Mine plays normally -- no pressing hiss or lite crackles. Spaces between tracks are silent. There's a 2-inch high 'D.J.' stamped in blue on the back cover. The vinyl was pressed at Sterling. If I'd sent away for my Steve Hoffman decoder ring, I'd know what the initials on the trail-out grooves signify. Given the brief run of Ampex Records from 1970-71 and its takeover by Albert Grossman and Bearsville*, the control of Ampex master tapes and warehouse product became shakey. *esp. Todd Rundgren's 'Runt' which got widely counterfeited

Gotta ask what led you at 2 am. to a curbside barrel which you stuck your arm in and pulled out soiled nappys in the expectation of finding vinyl underneath. Were you tipped off or led by an invisible hand? Your story ranks in the pantheon of record hunting.

I'll be able to assist you, as I understand the need for your MPS vocal fix. First, let me Tease the Korean by asking: was the 'Snowflakes' disc somehow lost during the bacchanalia of your previous 'fondue fling'?

Miff Mole -- garden pest or skin disease?

As for 'disrespect' at the Jazz Workshop, there was none -- hence my conclusion that Rahsaan's gig at the Sugar Shack was solo and a one-shot. I can only speculate why Kirk was hanging there -- maybe there was an open mike and he gave it a shot. Otherwise, Leno's tale leaves me in suspended disbelief. However, if Leno had gone up against Richard Pryor at the Shack ... BOMBSVILLE!

I have a problem with the premise of Leno's story: for Rahsaan's Boston gigs in the 70's, Kirk was always booked at the Jazz Workshop on Boylston St. It was always a solid, positive vibe -- sometimes Jaki Byard and Alan Dawson would sit in for the third set. There was never a whiff of disrespect on the part of the owner or management (that I could notice). I lived in Boston from 1971-79 and noted Rahsaan's every week-long gig at the Workshop. If Kirk ever hung out at the Sugar Shack, it was possibly a one-time stand-up without his band.

Butter's agent at that time must've been Danny Rose. Danny also handled a Puerto Rican ventriloquist act. (see: 'Broadway Danny Rose', NYC theatrical manager)

From the cumulative hour I sampled Ken Burns' 'Jazz', I found KB's decisions were driven by what could be rendered neat, tidy, and easily digestible. Burns' impulses weren't necessarily revisionist -- he just didn't want to GO THERE if the territory was complex and 'difficult'. Still, the 20 or so CDs which were spun from 'Ken Burns JAZZ' are harmless enough. Otherwise, the audience would still be clutching their pablum of 'I Heard It on NPR'.

Then there's the all-thumbs store clerk who proceeds to remove the price sticker AFTER you've bought the item. This often happens at consignment shops where the removed label serves as proof of sale to the absentee owner. (I've been known to lunge forward, grabbing the jacket from the stunned clerk while shouting,"Let ME do that!")

The original 1969 'Thesaurus' on Atlantic was leased from Albert Marx and screams,"one-shot deal". Maybe Nesuhi convinced Ahmet, given all the West Coast big band action generated by Buddy Rich on World Pacific. Then there's that cover pic of Clare Fischer stuffed into a blue blazer and looking weird with the beard. "Don't point that thing at me pal, it might GO OFF!"

And Dick Bock is well-known for slicing and dicing, subbing and dubbing -- -- much to the ire and immense frustration of collectors and discographers everywhere.

First pressings of 'Devotion' were mfgd. and distributed by Pickwick, with 'Douglas' in large script on the record label. The vinyl quality wasn't very good but hey, we were playing it at max volume and smokin' up the joint.

Jurek decoded: "'Betcha By Golly' has favorable aspects which reflect its origins. "At the end of the day, it is what it is." (The AMG review proves Jurek has graduated to a level where he's fully qualified to write reviews for 'DownBeat'.)

Ah yes, who could overlook Battle Records. Otherwise known as The House of Mongo. I recall my frequent visits and pleasurable hours there as a young man.

The Decca Johnny Zamot 'Tell It Like It Is' can now be gotten for $11.99 as a vinyl knock-off. Sure beats $200-300 for an original or $25 for the Japanese CD. 10 solid boogaloo workouts -- topped by the last track 'You Dig?' Guaranteed to make any party GO, unless you're the DJ at a Republican fund-raiser.

There are some staid, dreary labels which accidentally released a vein of killer latin soul. The Decca label did this briefly in 1969 (probably when Pop took the wife on a European holiday). Instead of their tame LPs of Cugat playing 'teen hits' and the theme from 'Batman', we could groove to: DL-74829 Manny Corchado & Orch - Swing While You Can DL-74830 Ozzie Torrens - Boogaloo in Apartment 41 DL-74838 Johnny Zamot - The Latin Soul of DL-74945 Johnny Zamot - Tell It Like It Is The two by Zamot are grail-worthy in the extreme.

Around 1969-71, the MGM Latino label released 15 titles, most were re-issues of Verve titles, etc. http://www.bsnpubs.com/mgm/mgmmisclabels.html

The next offender goes to the Penalty Box for 30 days.

A friend had an album from the 60's where sideman J. J. Johnson was credited as "C. C. Cecil". (As I was in 10th grade at the time, I can't provide further details.)

Somehow I'm reminded of the 'Green Acres' episode where Mr. Haney sells recorded music.

Now that he's just been paroled, he wrote your Facebook page to say: "I'm livin' at my mom's house now and got nuttin' but time on my hands. "They say you the guy who snitched on me and I've had YEARS to think about it. "Until I find you, SWEET DREAMS, BABY!" Ain't social media just grand?

Let me be the first to say how thrilled I am for you. Perhaps you'll share with us how this met your expectations -- and comment on the recording quality if the source is a private tape.

There was a framed copy on the wall at my proctologist's office.