paul secor

Chanel No. 5 Gertrude Ederle Ike Everly

Gorilla Monsoon The Hairy Ape Mandrill

I saw them several years ago at a concert show with Dick Gregory and Professor Irwin Corey. They (and the other two gentlemen) were hilarious. A thought while looking at the record jacket you posted - for a while (early 60s), Verve did a lot with comedy records.

The Shaggs The Scraggs The Big Unit

I read through the liner notes of The Complete BN Sessions and didn't see any mention of a name other than Don. You may be right that the Don Wilkerson in the article recorded the 45. I'd still like to hear it or at least have Jim give it another listening before I'd go that far. It does seem likely that John D. Wilkerson appropriated the name of Don Wilkerson (even though John D. was older) as a kind claim to fame. Still - more research to be done. Incidentally, I sent a correction of my e-mail to The Times. According to sources, the well known Don Wilkerson was born in Moreauville, La., not in Houston. He went to high school in Hoston.

These arrived In the mail a couple of days ago: Reverend Robert Wilkins: Prodigal Son (Piedment/Biograph/Bear Family) Michael Hurley: Land of Lofi (Mississippi Records) - LP

That's possible. More research may turn up the answer.

Or it's possible that the Don Wilkerson mentioned in the article appropriated the 45 as his own work. I have no idea what the answer is. I just e-mailed the following letter to The NY Times. Perhaps an answer to all of this will come. Or maybe not - the world is full of unsolved mysteries. To NY Times Magazine: Please Don’t Bury My Soul is a wonderful article – one not just of interest to blues fans, but to lovers of history and also to people who enjoy reading about interesting topics. The end of the article with its mention of a tenor saxophonist named Don Wilkerson, however, creates another mystery. There was a fairly well known tenor saxophonist named Don Wilkerson who was born in Houston, played with Charles Brown, recorded with both Amos Milburn and Ray Charles in the 1950s, lived in Los Angeles for a time, and recorded under his own name for Riverside and Blue Note in the 1960s. He is listed in biographies as having died in 1986. The Tomel 45 mentioned in the article is credited to this Don Wlkerson in the following discography: http://www.jazzdiscography.com/Leaders/WilkersonDon-ldr.php I can remember seeing a review of the 45 in (iirc) the early 1980s in Living Blues magazine and it was assumed there that the record was by the well known Don Wilkerson. So it seems that another piece of the puzzle remains to be solved. Is the Don Wilkerson mentioned in the article someone who took a stage name to capitalize on a more famous musician’s reputation? Did the well known Don Wilkerson not pass away in 1986 and is still living in Houston? Or is there some other answer? Perhaps this is another research subject for John Jeremiah Sullivan and Caitlin Rose Love. Paul Secor

I imagine if there's enough of a public outcry to overcome the lobbying of publishing, video, and music industries, it might happen. I guess I have more important things in my life to be concerned about, so changing that is not a big deal for me.

The Don Wilkerson who appears in The Times article seems to be a different man from the Don Wilkerson who recorded with Amos Milburn and with Ray Charles, and who recorded for Blue Note and Riverside. That Don Wilkerson is reported to have died in 1986. The Don Wilkerson in the article is still alive, or at least was until recently. Who knows what the story is there? Perhaps there are parts of the mystery that are still unsolved.

Many thanks for the recommendations. They all seem to be good ones.

Punch and Judy Cary Grant Gary U.S. Bonds

e.e. cummings P.P. Arnold Z.Z. Hill

Connie Stevens Kookie Mookie Wilson

There is a long, convoluted, and totally fascinating article in The New York Times about Geeshie Wiley and Elvie Thomas, two mysteries of the recorded blues. A must for anyone interested in the blues - and, for jazz fans, saxophonist Don Wilkerson makes an appearance at the end of the article. http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/04/13/magazine/blues.html?_r=0#

Can anyone recommend a Mildred Bailey disc with good songs, good backing musicians, and good sound? I'm pretty sure that she tended to record good tunes and usually had good musicians backing her, so the good sound is probably important. Thanks in advance for any recs.

The Shadow Pinocchio Fibber McGhee

Ah yes, I thought it looked familiar. I agree the original cover was a lot more dignified but perhaps this version will appeal more to those who are not "hard-core" blues fans. I hear you, but it annoys me that so much today seems to aimed to appeal a rock/pop audience.

I agree with you in theory, John, but sometimes reality gets in the way. For example, I believe that a number of Chuck's recordings were out of print for a time. As far as I know, this wasn't of Chuck's own choosing. I can't say that I'd have thought it right for the musicians he recorded to make their own deal with another label for the music Chuck had recorded. And when Pete Lowry was running Trix Records, a number of his recordings went out of print for (I believe) financial reasons. One of his artists made a deal with Document Records to release his Trix recording. Pete said that he wasn't happy about it, but didn't pursue it because he didn't want to sue an artist he had recorded and who needed the money. There are a lot of gray areas involved, at least for me.

Just received an e-mail that Jesse Winchester, one of my favorite songwriters and singers has passed away. http://m.commercialappeal.com/news/2014/apr/11/memphis-bred-songwriter-jesse-winchester-dies/?CID=happeningnow Thanks for the music you gave us, Mr. Winchester. I'll be listening to your music for as long as I'm around.

Walter "Foots" Thomas Joe "Fingers" Carr "Legs" Larry Smith

Eventually, Harvey got too "real" for Dave when he started ranking on General Electric. Dave banned him from the show.

Anthony Bourdain Clare Danes Hans Christian Andersen

The Who Alfred E. Neuman Wilbur Ware

My copy should arrive today. Looking forward to hearing it and comparing to the LP (even though I know that may make me crazy). I'm disappointed at seeing the cover they used - a take off on the Stones Beggar's Banquet reissue. They should have used the original cover. It had some dignity and style.