Leeway

Imagine coming into possession of a collection like that I don't think I could part with it, even with the temptation of realizing big bucks for it on EBAY. There's a whole lot of great music there. That would be a hard decision- MUSIC or MONEY? Which would you pick?

Odd that this thread popped up, as I was just recently looking at the inner sleeve for my old vintage Led Zeppelin II LP on Atlantic, and my attention was caught by a promo picture for Pearson's "Prairie Dog" LP. Didn't realize it was on CD. Apparently Koch picked up the rights, but it was originally an Atlantic title. Same cover illustration. I think I will go for this one. I love looking at those old illustrated LP inner sleeves.

Finished up the afternoon rocking out: MGM Mono LP. Eric Burdon has one of those rock voices that compels attention. Then the Godfathers of Heavy Rock (on Atlantic LP); if this doesn't move you, check your pulse, you might be dead: Then another Chet Baker connection (to use a word B-) see post above): There's a picture of Chet on the inner sleeve, looking for all the world like a dead cowboy; he plays a couple of brief trumpet solos on "Shipbuilding."

Latest up on the turntable: More Miles. I hadn't heard this one before: Initial impressions: Intense, chugging funk, but despite its surface reference to funk, still an introspective, controlled soundscape, like the soundtrack to a bad dream. I also had the feeling that this is a soundscape rooted in the drug experience. The electric guitar, not the trumpet, has primacy here. There is a fine portrait of Miles inside the gatefold cover, looking like a particularly hip bantam weight boxer. Then [the earth below, the sky above]: Alice's piano playing is capable of intense power. Her playing on the harp is fascinating but, I think the instrument has certain sound limitations that can't be overcome. Sanders appears on one cut, "Ohnedaruth," playing the bass clarinet. Jimmy Garrison, bass, and Rashied Ali, drums, provide intense collaboration. This is on a black label Impulse, with "Impulse!" in a red and green border. I can't keep the Impulse labelography straight. Is this an original issue or a later one?

Thanks Brownie. I've never spotted that album either. I can't believe it would rate as low as the Mariachi stuff, if for no other reason than Pass's playing. There must have been a strange atmosphere at that session- what with Pass recovering from a long period of drug addiction, and Baker still a notorious addict.

No - just the earlier sessions on the Mosaic. 'Michelle' is also absent. There's mention in the 'Deep In A Dream' book that at the time these LPs were put together Richard Bock was involved in putting out stuff for the Muzak Corporation. Baker's presence on the sessions was also a favour to Baker, who was pretty well destitute apparently and could hardly play. Baker went begging in there for work to get drug money. Now spinning: Pat Martino 'East' - Prestige blue label with suspect piano.. Interesting information-- I didn't know that Bock worked for Muzak, but that news doesn't come as a surprise, considering some of the "product" he put out. I checked De Valk's bio of Chet and here's what he has to say: Regarding "Magical Mystery," De Valk says: I should have noted that there are two fluegel hornists on the LP, Baker and a Gary Barone, perhaps to cover for Baker. I wouldn't put this LP in the same category as Mariachi Brass or Carmel Strings-it's not nearly that bad. Shank preserves it from becoming mere commercial fodder-- but just. De Valk doesn't say any more about the Baker/Pass session (which was that??). From what I've read, Pass was just emerging from his own addiction problems, coming out of Synanon a few years earlier; Baker, of course, probably never kicked his habit.

Bill, that's a good story. I have experienced something of the sort. I have many thousands of LPs. Every once in a while, I go down to the basement and conduct my own "estate sale" forage through the shelves. I've often had that experience of, "I didn't know I had that!" The Bud Shank "Magical Mystery" LP I mentioned above is one of those. It's fun. It's also a lesson to myself to pay more attention to what I already have, than to what I want

World Pacific ST 1873. Six Beatles songs, and 5 other songs. I got this one on the cheap. Wasn't expecting much really. Turned out to be a pretty decent session, although at time it veers dangerously close to mere "easy listening." Vocal backing on several tracks doesn't help matters. However, the arrangements are good, if not particularly innovative, and there's some good playing from Shank, and from Chet Baker, who also makes an appearance here. Was this one on the Shank Mosaic? BTW, is n't that a terrible cover? I suppose it was meant to be "psychedelic" B-)

" Leave It To Beaver" The first, last and maybe only sitcom where the father actually had some dignity, had a room full of books, and was often shown reading! Imagine that! When I'm channel surfing, I'll often stop at "Beaver," it's a wonderful world to get lost in for 30 minutes.

So how does this mismatch actually happen? I don't know how labels are applied at the pressing plants. Do they do a run of Side 1s, then Side 2s? And somehow in between they find out they need to use a different label? Or do they have a batch of labels sitting there and just decide to use both? Can anyone enlighten me on this?

She looks awfully pleased with her, er, "french horn"

Thanks Wolff, that makes them sound a lot more appetizing

Why does that title have a somewhat salacious feel to it?

Some Miles to end the work week and start the weekend: "Water Babies"- highly underrated Miles?

I have to agree with you. At least it's true from my experience. Alas, the sweet bird of youth has indeed flown. Nevertheless, I'm on my 3rd adolescence

Interesting. I wonder when and where it is from. Disc 2 of the "Live Trane" CD box has a 1961 performance with Dolphy that clocks in at 11:17, but it has Workman on bass, not Garrison. I also have a 1962 version with Dolphy on disc 4 of a 5 CD box set issued by something called Rare Arts Reference Edition from Switzerland. Its an 11:03 minute version with Dolphy (on alto and flute) which has Garrison on bass and it says it is from a 1962 performance at Birdland. The boxed set is called "The Legendary Masters Unissued or Rare 1951-65. I've never seen it since I found it in a used CD store about 10 years ago. The stuff from the early 50s is total bootleg sound, but the live material from 61-65 has pretty good bootleg-type sound. I don't know how much reliance you can place on the performer credits and discgraphical information provided on the Europa LPs, especially since they leave the big stuff out, like where and when! I didn't get a chance to time it, but will try to do so. Might match up with yours. The sound on the Coltrane/Dolphy starts off pretty well, then drops off as if the mike was moved away. I would call it only adequate. But the performance is ferocious. It sounds to me like an outdoor venue. Ditto the Mingus- also a really fine performance.

I hate that kind of attitude also. It doesn't matter whether shipped media, priority, express, what have you: if it's packed well, it will arrive intact. The P.O. treats them all the same- what differs is how they are packed.

Maybe he has those things like Jordy has on Star Trek- Next Generation B-)

Last night, gave a listen to: A Jazz Version of KEAN- Selections from the Broadway musical hit Riverside- Bill Grauer- RLP 397- mono. Performed by the Riverside Jazz Stars, featuring Blue Mitchell, Jimmy Heath, Bobby Timmons Trio, with Clark Terry and Julius Watkins, with arrangements by Jimmy Heath, Ernie Wilkins, and Melba Liston. I'm always on the lookout for Melba Liston- here she arranges and conducts 2 pieces- both excellent. Today, listened to Grant Green- Nigeria- Blue Note LT 1032. Pretty good sound. The musical selections can now be found on "Complete Quartets". "Airegin" and "It Ain't Necessarily So" particularly groove- you can hear Blakey talking it up in the background. Also an album from the Europa Jazz series- really, glorified LP bootlegs of European performance. This one has a live performance of Mr. P.C., with (as credited) John Coltrane and Eric Dolphy Quintet- Coltrane, Dolphy, Tyner, Garrison, Jones- 11:40" of smokin' music- alas, bootleg type sound- but the performance burns through. Also has a performance by Charles Mingus Quintet, "Better Git It In Your Soul" 11:50", with (credited) Ted Curson, Dolphy, Vooker Ervin, Mingus, Richmond. Great stuff. Both live performances- location and date not given. Powerful playing.

I have the vinyl edition and it's my only rock box set, therefore my favorite. I think all the stuff his estate has put out has been of the highest quality. Wolff, do you know if the LPs are from analogue masters? All I can find on them is that the LPs are on 180 gram vinyl, but nothing said about the mastering. Do they address that aspect in the box set?

When you clink on the link, you might open your computer to a virus or trojan (NOT that kind) horse. Usually these sites will try to plant some kind of virus through the link. Ever get those spam mails that say, "to remove yourself from the mailing list, click on the link," well, when you do that, you will often pick up a virus from the spammer. One should have good anti-virus, personal firewall protection on PC.

It’s all part of Townshend’s plan to remix, repackage, and reissue the same damn music for eternities to come. I’m sure there will, eventually, be four-disc repackages of all of the Who’s albums. I can just see it now: the Ultimate Deluxe Edition of Who’s Next, with two full discs of unreleased demos, studio chatter/brawls, tracks containing nothing but the lone synthesizer tracks, tracks containing nothing but Moon’s drums, Entwistle’s bass, Townshend’s guitar, Daltrey’s vocals, etc etc ad nauseaum. Plus an unlisted track containing the sound of the band pissing on that concrete block! Oh yeah, and the actual album will be remixed, so that it’s different from the previous issue and different from the original LP. AGAIN!!! Just as long as Pete doesn't include any of those photos he was downloading from the Internet B-) I'l have to put the Hendrix, Zombies and Velvet Underground on my wish list. I've even started-- way late in life- something of an interest in Black Sabbath, so that one is a definite maybe. Howlin Wolf and Muddy Waters sets from Chess- already have- powerful good stuff.

This sure is GREEZY! Lou on alto, Melvin Lastin Sr. on cornet, George Benson on guitar, Lonnie Smith on organ, and Leo Morris on drums. Liberty pressing. The pic is from the CD cover.

What are your favorite rock box sets and why (besides the music of course)?

Are the K2 and SACD processes compatible? i.e, can they be combined on a hybrid disc? I've read enough about hybrid SACDs, but it's not clear to me yet what are the qualities of the "regular" layer (20 bit? 24 bit? something else?).