The Mercury Records Jazz Story

[DrJ]

I've been trying to round up the last few of those great Verve "Take 2" collections from the mid-90's that I missed when they were issued. Many/most now OOP although not too hard to find used.

THE MERCURY RECORDS JAZZ STORY may be the last on the list I truly am interested in. Can anyone post their impressions? How much of the material remains otherwise unissued in the U.S.?

[kenny weir]

I played the hell out of this when I first got it, though it's gathering dust now I've picked up much of it. It's a good selection, and programmed really entertainingly. It works as a release in its own right, kinda like the 4CD Riverside box or the Horace Silver Retrospective set.

Here's the lineup from AMG:

1. Idaho performed by Gene Ammons - 2:51

2. Feather Brain performed by Muggsy Spanier - 2:52

3. I Cried for You performed by Dinah Washington - 2:27

4. I'll Always Be in Love With You performed by Paul Quinichette - 3:01

5. The Iron Hat [alternate take] performed by Ben Webster - 2:57

6. Don't Blame Me performed by Paul Gonsalves - 3:18

7. Eleanor performed by Art Blakey - 2:54

8. Moroccan Blues performed by Art Mardigan - 3:05

9. 'S Wonderful performed by Helen Merrill - 3:12

10. I've Got to Be a Rug Cutter performed by Erroll Garner - 2:20

11. Demanton performed by Gerry Mulligan - 5:36

12. Flossie Lou [alternate take] performed by Clifford Brown / Max Roach - 4:02

13. Love Letters performed by Max Roach - 8:55

14. Hoppin' John performed by Cannonball Adderley - 4:38

15. My Old Flame performed by Max Roach - 3:36

16. Three Little Words performed by Sarah Vaughan - 3:43

17. I Hadn't Anyone Till You performed by Eddie South - 3:32

18. Weaver of Dreams performed by John Coltrane - 5:35

19. Willow Weep for Me performed by Ann Ronell - 4:30

20. (Back Home Again In) Indiana performed by Buddy Rich - 3:18

21. Take the "A" Train/Exactly Like You performed by Charles Mingus - 3:36

22. The Midnight Sun Will Never Set performed by Quincy Jones - 4:34

23. Improvisation for Unaccompanied Saxophones performed by Al Cohn / Zoot Sims - 2:26

24. I Can't Get Started performed by Coleman Hawkins / Sol Yaged - 4:30

25. Struttin' With Some Barbecue performed by Pete Rugolo - 2:25

26. Sugar (That Sugar Baby of Mine) performed by George Wein - 4:37

27. Scrapple from the Apple performed by Buddy DeFranco / Tommy Gumina - 4:47

28. Mood Indigo performed by Julius Watkins - 3:03

29. The Big Cat performed by Terry Gibbs - 4:28

30. 3-In-1 Without the Oil performed by Kirk, Rahsaan Roland - 2:33

31. Rain Check performed by Art Farmer - 3:40

32. Washboard Blues performed by Art Hodes / Truck Parham - 2:38

33. El Toro Grande performed by Woody Herman - 4:59

34. Squeaky's Blues performed by Oscar Peterson - 3:28

35. Waltz for Ruth performed by Art Blakey - 5:45

36. Blues for Bird performed by Lee Konitz - 5:41

37. Groovin' High performed by Dizzy Gillespie - 6:04

38. Kid Dynamite performed by Paul Bley - 3:13

39. Sometimes I'm Happy performed by Jimmy Smith - 4:47

Looking at this list, I suspect a lot of it remains unissued. The Scrapple From The Apple by Buddy DeFranco / Tommy Gumina is wild and with accordian!

[DrJ]

Thanks Kenny. I perused that list too and it looked pretty promising. Will probably take the plunge!

[Dr. Rat]

Thanks Kenny. I perused that list too and it looked pretty promising. Will probably take the plunge!

I use it one the air a lot: a good variety of material in a small package.

--eric