Sonny Stitt Organ Dates: 1961-1971

[Late]

I put together a simplified mini-discography of Stitt's recordings with organ—both leader and sideman dates, studio and live. Here's what I came up with. Please post corrections/additions. (1961-1971 is a guidepost. There might be sessions outside this decade.) Thanks!

 

Sonny Stitt Organ Dates 1961-1971

• 1.                  At The DJ Lounge                  6/--/61         Argo
• 2.                 ‘Nuther Fu’ther                      2/16/62         Prestige
• 3.                 Boss Tenors In Orbit!            2/18/62         Verve
• 4.                 Soul Summit                          2/19/62         Prestige
• 5.                 Low Flame                              4/4/62         Jazzland
• 6.                 Feelin’s                                   4/--/62         Roost
• 7.                  My Mother’s Eyes                  5/--/63         Pacific Jazz
• 8.                 Move On Over                        6/17/63         Argo
• 9.                 Soul Shack                             9/17/63         Prestige
• 10.               My Main Man                         3/10/64         Argo
• 11.                Shangri-La                             3/19/64         Prestige
• 12.               Soul People                            8/25/64        Prestige
• 13.               Night Crawler                         9/21/65         Prestige
• 14.               Made For Each Other            7/13/68          Delmark
• 15.               The Boss Men                      12/28/65         Prestige
• 16.               Soul In The Night                  4/15/66          Cadet
• 17.                Deuces Wild                           9/11/66         Atlantic
• 18.               What’s New!!!                             1966          Roulette
• 19.               Parallel-A-Stitt                            1967          Roulette
• 20.              Soul Electricity!                      9/23/68         Prestige
• 21.               Funk You!                               9/24/68         Prestige
• 22.              Donny Brook                          9/15/69          Prestige
• 23.              Brothers-4                              9/15/69         Prestige
• 24.              Night Letter                          10/27/69         Prestige
• 25.              It’s Magic                                1969              Delmark
• 26.              Turn It On!                             1/4/71              Prestige
• 27.               You Talk That Talk!               2/8/71             Prestige
• 28.              Just The Way It Was              3/21/71           Label M
• 29.              Black Vibrations                    7/9/71             Prestige

 

'Nuther Fu'ther was originally titled Stitt Meets Brother Jack. I left out Patterson's People because (if I'm not mistaken) the two tracks with Stitt are actually part of the Shangri-La session.

Lastly, what are your favorites from this bunch? 

[Niko]

I know 26 from the list, some better than others, my favorites are Low Flame and You talk that talk.... Regarding Patterson's People, the tracks are not used on Shangri-la, are they? (Patterson's People got ***** in Downbeat Back in the day, I have a Dutch Jazz magazine from back then which starts out with the question how that could happen)

[mikeweil]

I think 14 of these are with Don Patterson. They were a great, inspiring combination.

[Late]

1 hour ago, mikeweil said:

I think 14 of these are with Don Patterson. They were a great, inspiring combination.

The working trio of Don Patterson, Billy James, and Sonny Stitt was a great combination indeed!

[JSngry]

Maybe some day there will be a similar listing for his Varitone dates. There will only be some overlap.

12 hours ago, Late said:

The working trio of Don Patterson, Billy James, and Sonny Stitt was a great combination indeed!

Looking sharp there!

[clifford_thornton]

I had Deuces Wild at one point, due to Robin Kenyatta and Rufus Harley's presence. Did I send that LP to you, Jim? I know I gave it to someone...

[danasgoodstuff]

I have a CD that combines everything from 9/15/69 - 2 LPs plus one stray track IIRC.  I bought it mostly because Grant Green's on it, but I enjoy everyone's playing.

[Rooster_Ties]

4 hours ago, danasgoodstuff said:

I have a CD that combines everything from 9/15/69 - 2 LPs plus one stray track IIRC.  I bought it mostly because Grant Green's on it, but I enjoy everyone's playing.

This seems to be that two-fer comp…

https://www.discogs.com/release/14722696-Sonny-Stitt-Don-Patterson-Brothers-4

Have to confess that I’ve never explored any of Stitt with organ before — and was only vaguely aware Grant Green had done any sideman work as late as 1969.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

25 minutes ago, Rooster_Ties said:

This seems to be that two-fer comp…

https://www.discogs.com/release/14722696-Sonny-Stitt-Don-Patterson-Brothers-4

Have to confess that I’ve never explored any of Stitt with organ before — and was only vaguely aware Grant Green had done any sideman work as late as 1969.

I've avoided "Brothers 4" because Stitt uses the Varitone throughout. I'm not much of a fan of that sound but I'm starting to try again. I just picked up his other two--fer, "Legends of Acid Jazz" with one half being Varitone. Maybe I'll get more out of it this time around?

[JSngry]

11 hours ago, clifford_thornton said:

I had Deuces Wild at one point, due to Robin Kenyatta and Rufus Harley's presence. Did I send that LP to you, Jim? I know I gave it to someone...

Not me, but I do have it 

[Late]

I recently discovered that Stitt didn't always use the Selmer Varitone attachment when recording. For his Turn It On! session, for example, he used a Gibson Maestro effects unit for the saxophone. (I think it sounds worse than the Varitone.) While I much prefer Sonny's sound without effects, for some reason the Varitone has never bothered me. A few other companies made effects units in the mid-60's. Hammond made the "Condor," and Conn made the "Multi-vider." I've never done a deep dive on the history of effects units specifically for the saxophone. Coltrane used one at home evidently, but not in the studio.

3 hours ago, Kevin Bresnahan said:

I've avoided "Brothers 4" because Stitt uses the Varitone throughout. I'm not much of a fan of that sound but I'm starting to try again.

Musically, it's a very good album. You can tell that Patterson had been listening to Larry Young at this point in time. The first couple of tracks sound like Sonny forgot to turn on the Varitone.

 

[Late]

Aha! I found an addition:

• 26. When Sonny Blows Blue       1970       Jamal

This record has Herbie Hancock playing organ on a few tracks.