Buddy Rich, The Driver

[baryshnikov]

Can anyone tell me why Buddy's album The driver was never reissued on cd format? I have a mint promo copy and would never sell it, as it is such a great lp. Many have offered, but its the main reason why i was turned onto jazz, does anyone else rate this small combo piece?

[JSngry]

Just a guess-

According to this site http://microgroove.jp/mercury/MGE26006.shtml the album was recorded for Mercury in 1960, but not released until about 1965, which would've been right about the time that Buddy's then-new big band was creating a stir. So it's possible that the album might have been "lost in the shuffle" and never recieved the the public attention that it might have otherwise.

Fast forward a few decades, and now Mercury is part of the vast Universal/Vivendi holdings. They're a group whose reissue choices have been questioned by many people over the years. It's possible that they don't even know about this album, or that if they do, they don't think there's a market for it.

The above-mentioned site makes it sound none too shabby.

Irving “Markie” Markowitz (tp), Willie Dennis (tb), Seldon Powell (ts),

Mike Mainieri (vib), Dave McKenna (p), Earl May (b), Buddy Rich (ds).

Recorded at Fine Recording Studios, New York City on April 7 & 8, 1960.

Produced by Jack Tracy.

Supervised by Hal Mooney.

Arranged by Ernie Wilkins.

SIDE-A

Brainwashed (E. Wilkins - B. Rich) 5:00

A Swinging Serenade (E. Wilkins) 4:05

Big Leg Mary (E. Wilkins - B. Rich) 5:45

Straight, No Chaser (J. Adderley T. Monk) 4:20

SIDE-B

Bloddy Mary (E. Wilkins) 6:30

A Night In Tunisia (J. “Dizzy” Gillespie - F. Paparelli) 6:05

Miss Bessie's Cookin' (E. Wilkins - B. Rich) 5:15

In my humble opinion, this LP surely is Buddy Rich's best album among his Mercury releases (which includes drum battles against Max Roach, moody bigband featuring his own voice, ordinary bigband session with studio musicians). This is probably because the LP was based on his own road band at the time. Hard-driving, swingy and unique. Another highlight of this LP is the inclusion of young Mike Mainiere on vibraphone, who plays very nice.

As to how to raise Verve's consciousness about the existence/worth of this album, good luck. They used to have a bulletin board, but no more. Send e-mails and keep preaching to the grass roots is the only advice I can offer.

[JSngry]

Oh, btw, that site also has a bulletin board. Might try there too.

Then again, maybe you already know about all this, in which case, never mind. l)