A Caravans Mosaic?

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

The Caravans recorded for States from 1952 to 1956; for Gospel (a subsidiary of Savoy) from 1958 to 1962; for Vee-Jay from 1962 to 1965; and for Gospel again from 1966 to 1967/8. In that time, they recorded 229 tracks. Very little of the material has been reissued on CD, and it’s all out of print now anyway. Looks like it would make an 8 or 9 CD box.

Mosaic has issued some blues & R &B boxes in the past – T-Bone Walker and Amos Milburn – so why not a box of one of the most important of the female gospel groups; one that featured:

Albertina Walker

Inez Andrews

Dorothy Norwood

Shirley Caesar

Delores Washington

Cassietta George

Bessie Griffin (to whom I’m listening now) and

Rev James Cleveland (who played piano and occasionally took a vocal with the group)

The States material appears to have been acquired by Savoy, when United closed. The Vee-Jay material has been reissued variously by Peacock, Nashboro, Savoy, Trip, Exodus, Oldies, Buddah and Mistletoe.

I wonder what MC’s reaction would be…

MG

[alankin]

Or Bear Family?

[JSngry]

I'd buy this in a second, just for the Inez material.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Or Bear Family?

Have any gospel collections appeared on Bear Family?

I wouldn't say no to a Bear Family box But I like the idea of Mosaic expanding its horizons a bit.

MG

[JETman]

Or Bear Family?

Have any gospel collections appeared on Bear Family?

I wouldn't say no to a Bear Family box But I like the idea of Mosaic expanding its horizons a bit.

MG

I believe Mosaic HAS already expanded its horizons! See Four Freshmen, Braxton, Threadgill and Carter/Bradford for starters.

[tranemonk]

Personally..

I'm still holding out for my Betty Carter Select, Cal Tjader box and some unreleased live Michel Petrucciani .... :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Or Bear Family?

Have any gospel collections appeared on Bear Family?

I wouldn't say no to a Bear Family box But I like the idea of Mosaic expanding its horizons a bit.

MG

I believe Mosaic HAS already expanded its horizons! See Four Freshmen, Braxton, Threadgill and Carter/Bradford for starters.

All jazz, though. I thought they were expanding their horizons when they issued some blues/R&B material, but they funked it.

MG

[paul secor]

I'd go for a Caravans Select - don't know that I'd ever get around to listening to a box of 8 or 9 CDs of their recordings. That said, I doubt that it will ever happen either way.

Edited June 6, 2010 by paul secor

[ejp626]

I guess I don't see this set of interest to their core market. If they were a European PD outfit, maybe they could take such a chance, but I just can't see it.

[John L]

A great dream, but I doubt that it could ever be a reality in this day and age.

Some of those Caravans sides are as good as it gets - it fact a lot of them are!

Edited June 6, 2010 by John L