Bill Nelson

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

So, there are those who act like they're corny -- and those who truly ARE corny. I'm sure it requires great restraint to suppress the urge to 'cross the line'.

In the successful wake of Brubeck's 'Take Five', RCA was quick to sign Paul Desmond and Joe Morello to separate contracts. 'Desmond Blue' (LSP-2438, 1961) was first out of the gate. Morello's enjoyable 'It's About Time' (LSP-2486, 1962) soon followed. Phil Woods and Manny Albam split the arranging on the 10 tracks, with Woods playing on all the tunes. 'It'a About Time' is quite findable @ $15-25, with the higher price for the RCA Living Stereo pressing. Don't know why Morello's was a one-shot while Desmond was green-lighted by RCA for five more.

Dept. of Corrections -- The 1970 issue date for 'Ready When You Are, J.B.' was listed in the 'Goldmine Record Album Price Guide', 2nd ed., by Tim Neely. (The Osborne Guide didn't have it.)

The issue date of 1970 came from Osborne's 'Price Guide to Film, TV Soundtracks, and Original Casts'. Better yet, I'm glad you have it. Please spin 'Who Will Buy My Yesterdays' and 'The More Things Change' and report back to us.

The best single LP collection of John Barry is the one he produced himself -- -- 'Ready When You Are, J.B.' (1970, Columbia) It's a most intelligent and personal selection containing: three tracks from 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' themes from 'The Appointment', 'Born Free', 'Midnight Cowboy' (and 'Fun City'), and the only Shakespearean-era Hammond B-3 groover, 'The Lion In Winter'. Best of all, there's four tracks which he withheld from films, perhaps because they're deeply personal: 'Who Will Buy My Yesterdays', 'The More Things Change', 'Try', and 'Afternoon'. The first two absolutely slay and will never leave your head. The 'Ready JB' on vinyl is still findable at $10-12, however the rogue CD rip fetches $165 on Amazon.

At the pre-show reception, VoTech's Homecoming Queen asked Desmond,"How many of you are in the quartet?"

Before tossing it, there's one thing I can do with my Glamour Stretcher -- wrap it around the neck of the next guy who says I've gained weight and throttle him.

See what all that excercise and clean living gets you? The guy didn't even make it to 97. Today I'm dumping my Glamour Stretcher!

"When the phone rang ... it wasn't Susannah herself..." smacks of the chummy, insider coterie which affected much of Gene Lees' writings. In Friedwald's 'Biographical Guide', this personal aside is superceded by a tone of bragging.

The 3rd grader can get over it. However, there's a remaining matter of settling an unpaid 'user fee'. Calculating your decades of library fines, plus interest compounded annually, allows the local Tax Commissioner to apply a lien on your property. If you don't own a home, then your car may suffice. If you don't own a car, then your record collection will do. Barry Ulanov would thank you, if he could.

Because it's an opera doesn't mean 'Porgy' gets classified as 'Classical'. (Neither does 'Tommy'.) At this point, a Dictionary of Music's definition of 'opera' might settle Sangrey's curiosity. Let me just say 'Porgy' has routinely been listed in record guides under 'Musicals'. The Osborne 'Guide to Movie/TV Soundtracks and Original Cast Albums' (1997) lists more than 65 separate recordings of 'Porgy' in 10-inch and LP formats.

If Paul Horn "did one on Cleopatra", she's not likely to press charges. Still, with all that messy DNA he left, I hope he doesn't expect her servants to clean it up.

That Sunday afternoon of Oct. 1, 1967 was really a pip -- three LPs from the Vanguard got released. On occasions like this, Sonny Lester knew how to keep his overhead low.

Your 24-point rave about 'Murder, Inc.' was enough to send me digging my stacks. Couldn't recall if it got filed under 'Murder', 'various', or Irving Joseph. The first two tracks, 'Prison Break' and 'State's Evidence' don't really find a swinging gear. However, they serve notice that you're about to hear some cool, original stuff. The remaining ten tracks are either cool, super-cool, or absolute killers. The music is top-shelf, as opposed to off-the-shelf Hollywood crime movie scores. Twelve NYC studio musicians played on all the tracks in two different ensembles -- so two recording dates. Notables: Phil Bodner, Lou Mucci, George Duvivier, Osie Johnson, Barry Galbraith, Milt Hinton, Bucky Pizzarelli, and Phil Kraus. No info appears about Irv Joseph besides "composed and conducted by".

Jazz versions of Broadway shows bloomed during the 'golden era' of the LP from 1957 to 1963. The two originators were Shelly Manne ('My Fair Lady') and Andre Previn ('Pal Joey'), both released in 1957 on Contemporary. As for other artists, it's hard to imagine such recording dates were happy affairs. Doing such an album was a likely punishment for lackluster sales of previous LPs. By 1962, you could also earn a reprieve by doing a bossa nova album. Besides the profuse versions of 'Porgy and Bess' and even more of 'My Fair Lady', here's some jazz notables: Aaron Bell - 'Music from 77 Sunset Strip', 'Peter Gunn', and 'Victory At Sea' -- all LPs released consecutively on MGM's bargain Lion label and probably recorded on the same day. Walt Dickerson - 'Jazz Impressions of Lawrence of Arabia' (1963) on Dauntless. Wes Montgomery - 'Kismet' (1958) on Pacific Jazz. Bill Potts - 'Bye Bye Birdie' (1963) on Colpix. Billy Taylor - 'Original Jazz Score for Kwamina' (1961) on Mercury. 'Teddy Wilson and His Trio Play 'Gypsy' in Jazz' (1959) on Columbia.

I'll try to tune in after my Stoli shot.

Not surprised you're working the Celtic/country niche on WRFG. The station is composed of various micro-factions based on their listener-supported level of giving. I've guest DJ'd with Stuart Meyers, mixing 1950's Chris Connors with The Three Suns. And also with David Chamberlain, working the Western Swing grooves of Speedy West and Jerry Byrd.

In 1978, Keith was asked why they titled their latest album, 'Some Girls'. Keith: "Cause we couldn't remember their FUCKING NAMES!"

RE: 'Get Happy With Freddie Redd' On the other hand, if Freddie isn't happy -- ain't NOBODY happy.

As in drum schticks...for pun kicks?

The 10,001 Most-Told Jokes About Drummers Q: What do you call a drummer in a suit? A: The defendant That leaves 10,000 more to enjoy. Let the fun begin.

There's one old-school announcer still breaking the wind on the microphone like Cosell -- the Emporer of Adenoids, Dick Vitale.

The scorecard for Conrad reads: 8 errors in the last 7 games -- he should ONLY pinch-hit. Another Braves' bust is Heyward. Besides tonight's hat trick with three whiffs, he has yet to get a post-season hit. Also, McCann has been swinging horribly at pitches way-y-y outside and has been marginalized on offense. Not counting Infante, the rest of the battery is mired below the Mendoza Line. Bobby Cox' postgame mea culpa: "You know, we aren't the best team in baseball but..."

Even with the Danish modern furniture and dinette with four chairs... ...I suddenly feel 100% better about MY HOUSE.