JSngry Posted July 10, 2005 Report Posted July 10, 2005 Holy shit! Just found this on http://home.att.net/~lankina/jazz/upcomingcds.html Personnel includes Melvin Sparks & Jymie Merritt! AMG says: Jimmy Witherspoon recorded a series of excellent albums for Verve in the late '60s. Unfortunately, these have not received the attention they deserve, and are frequently relegated in Witherspoon's huge catalog. The Blues Is Now is arguably the finest of these recordings, and Witherspoon's voice is in top form and hugely expressive. Like all of the artist's albums of the decade, it's not the most consistent of listening experiences, but that's of little interest when songs and performances are as good as "My Baby's Quit Me" and Witherspoon's own "Late One Evening." A light-night blues classic, this is Witherspoon at his most relaxed and assured and is a joy to listen to. I'm a big Spoon fan, but not a big enough of one to have known about this side. Preorder price @ CDU is $8.39!!!! I'm there! Quote
Harold_Z Posted July 10, 2005 Report Posted July 10, 2005 Yeah...this looks like one I could go for too. I'm surprised I missed this one when it came out - I have absolutely NO recolection of it! Quote
Soul Stream Posted July 10, 2005 Report Posted July 10, 2005 Yeah...this looks like one I could go for too. I'm surprised I missed this one when it came out - I have absolutely NO recolection of it! ← It's a good record. Nice to see it on CD. Quote
Hank Posted July 10, 2005 Report Posted July 10, 2005 Yes, good to see this one coming out. Now if someone could get around to reissuing the one he did for Reprise with Ben Webster called Roots... Quote
Dan Gould Posted July 10, 2005 Report Posted July 10, 2005 I picked this one up on vinyl a couple of years ago when I got heavily into Spoon. Its nice ... but I didn't think it was earth shattering. But worth hearing, certainly. Quote
JSngry Posted August 2, 2005 Author Report Posted August 2, 2005 Well, the true "intent" of this album is made evident that it was a blue-label Verve, if the CD is any indicator. But intent aside, this is one of those sides that I find myself digging in spite of its flaws. Tunes are short-ish (playing time for the entire CD is in the low 30 minute range), McDuff is not utilized to anywhere near full potential (nor are the horns), and there's two(?) pretty lame attempts at "rock" grooves. BUT.... Melvin Sparks is freakin' sublime throughout (this is the "purest" blues playing I've ever heard from him - his Houston upbringing virtually oozes out of every note), and the good tunes are damn near great. Plus, it's Spoon. "Nuff said in that regard. All in all, the price was right, and so is most of the music. Recommended in spite of the caveats. What other sides did Jimmy Witherspoon record for Verve? Seems like I've got that info on some inner-sleeve somewhere, but maybe not. Maybe an intellegently packaged collection of all of them is in order? Quote
Soul Stream Posted August 2, 2005 Report Posted August 2, 2005 Well, the true "intent" of this album is made evident that it was a blue-label Verve, if the CD is any indicator. But intent aside, this is one of those sides that I find myself digging in spite of its flaws. Tunes are short-ish (playing time for the entire CD is in the low 30 minute range), McDuff is not utilized to anywhere near full potential (nor are the horns), and there's two(?) pretty lame attempts at "rock" grooves. BUT.... Melvin Sparks is freakin' sublime throughout (this is the "purest" blues playing I've ever heard from him - his Houston upbringing virtually oozes out of every note), and the good tunes are damn near great. Plus, it's Spoon. "Nuff said in that regard. All in all, the price was right, and so is most of the music. Recommended in spite of the caveats. What other sides did Jimmy Witherspoon record for Verve? Seems like I've got that info on some inner-sleeve somewhere, but maybe not. Maybe an intellegently packaged collection of all of them is in order? ← I pretty much agree with Jim on this one. Although, don't put McDuff's contibution aside TOO much. The art of playing organ in this context is exactly that, an ART!!!! Quote
JSngry Posted August 2, 2005 Author Report Posted August 2, 2005 Well, yeah. I was just expecting a more, uh... blatant contribution from him based on the co-billing. But sure, yeah, his accompaniments are as every bit sublime as Sparks' fills, and that's saying a lot, although neither come as a surprise. Quote
Soul Stream Posted August 2, 2005 Report Posted August 2, 2005 Yeah...McDuff's contribution was more in name recognition/sell some albums than actually being featured. He's sideman all the way here, and all for business. Quote
Hank Posted August 3, 2005 Report Posted August 3, 2005 What other sides did Jimmy Witherspoon record for Verve? ← I think there are four or five titles he did for them in the mid 60s. Also, there's a nice Witherspoon date with Ben Webster that was released on vinyl years back in Verve's "Previously Unreleased" series of records. A good Hodges title in this series too. Quote
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