Thursday Afternoon Vinyl Finds

A few vinyl finds from a sudden Thursday afternoon trip to the record store. The result of a doctor visit where bad news was feared and where the opposite outcome happened. I was driving by the record store on my way home and thought: "Why not?" 

I spotted this Ella Fitzgerald - Duke Ellington record, the previous time I was in and had been regretting not taking it home. Thankfully, it was still there. I've been bitten by that bug more than once when I put off the purchase for another day.

Female jazz vocals and a great cover photo on near mint condition vinyl. Released in 1966, (I think), but recorded in the 1950's. 

In the past five years, I've come to appreciate and enjoy, big band jazz sounds. Flipping through the bins of used vinyl, I came across this Woody Herman Big Band offering. A moment later, I uncovered a J.J. Johnson - Kai Winding album .... as if it needed more trombone, (I'm not going to argue against it). there's three or four additional trombonists listed in the credits. 

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Unexpected Playlist

Just a drive-by and unexpected playlist .....

• Tommy Malone - We Both Lose .... If you don't know the name, Tommy Malone, then you probably don't know The Subdudes, the group he was part of, but it would be well worth getting to know both.
• North Mississippi Allstars - Set Sail Part I / Didn't We Have a Time
• Perpetual Groove - Three Weeks
• Widespread Panic - Ain't Life Grand
• North Mississippi Allstars - Kids These Daze

Switching up direction and genres a little .....

• Tom Rush - Rockport Sunday / Child's Song ..... "It was long ago you must remember, you were once as young and scared as me."
• Dave Van Ronk - Green, Green Rocky Road
• Phil Ochs - Celia
• Gene Clark - On Her Own / On Tenth Street

I saw a Phil Ochs record the other day but refrained from purchasing it, unsure if I didn't already have it at home. Now that I've verified that it's not part of my collection, I can't remember where I saw it. But I only remember two or three places I've visited recently. It must be one of those right? Aging and memo0ry .... hmpff!!

• Dry Branch Fire Squad - Midnight on the Stormy Deep
• Railroad Earth - Long Walk Home

12-Tone Compositions

'12-Tone Compositions & Arrangements' by composer and band conductor, Lyle Murphy. From 1955 on Contemporary Records. 

I came across a vinyl copy just a few days ago. The cover caught my attention and nullified any initial hesitation upon discovering the participation of multiple saxophonists .... I've been attempting to get into other jazz sounds lately rather than saxophone dominated recordings. I enjoyed the listen though. 

My knowledge of jazz styles is basic and limited. I comprehend and interpret this as a cross between swing and bop. A short review found on the Dusty Groove website calls it: "A rare bit of mid 50's modernism."

Art Blakey

Live recording from 1958. On compact disc. 

I really don't know much about jazz, its history and various styles. Oh sure, I know many of the names of the players and have a few where I search for their recordings, but I mostly sit and listen without attempting to analyze or describe what I'm hearing. I think I know swing when I hear it but the difference between bop and post-bop, I have no clue. 

I do know that Art Blakey is a drummer. And Lee Morgan, who is also on this recording, plays trumpet. 

I'm fascinated with the album cover photographs on jazz recordings from the 1950's and 60's. It's an art form that I wish were employed more often these days. If only producers, musicians and record labels felt the same about the everlasting power and beauty behind photographic images as I do.

King Creosote

'Diamond Mine' by King Creosote & Jon Hopkins. From 2011 on compact disc.

I heard two or three songs a few years ago and was intrigued. Then somehow failed to follow up. Until now that is. Beautiful melodies that melt into the next. Jon Hopkins adds splashes of sounds and atmospherics.

Upon first reading the name, 'King Creosote,' I assumed it was primarily a Cajun or Zydeco recording. But King Creosote, aka Kenny Anderson, is an indie-folk based effort.

Listening to Jason Molina

Songs: Ohia - 'Didn't It Rain' From 2002.

Just have to listen to Jason Molina from time to time. He was incredibly prolific in such a short time. I can't help but wonder what else he might have created and shared. 

And if you ever hear anything by The Magnolia Electric Co, that's Jason Molina too.

Playlist for Venus

Just mumbling, fumbling, stumbling and bumbling around my iTunes library, playing this and that. Looking for massively overlooked (not intentionally) and forgotten gems. Because we all have some.

• The Silos - The First Time
• The Rolling Stones - Crazy Mama
• Doug MacLeod - (If You Going to The) Dog House
• The Head and The Heart - Down In the Valley
• Richmond Fontaine - Dayton, OH
• Griffin House - All I've Ever Known / So Wrong, So Right .... Griffin House is the name of a person. A singer/songwriter type. I say that only because for a year or two, I thought it was the name of a band. 
• Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys - Dancing Without Understanding .... We all need a little Cajun or Zydeco music in our world now and then. 
• King Creosote & Jon Hopkins - John Taylor's Month Away / Your Own Spell
• The Raincoats - Fairytale in the Supermarket .... Just another case of when I begin to think there's nothing from decades past left to discover, a new sound(s) presents itself.
• Soccer Mommy - 3am at a Party 

Saturday Vinyl Finds

The working day over, I ran to the local record store / drum shop, this afternoon to see what I might find ....

I've had a thing for jazz acoustic bass players lately. Stumbled across three that qualify.

I went through a saxophone phase (but not soprano) and then a trumpet/trombone phase and it's since evolved into an acoustic bass phase. There was a piano period in there at some point also. I can't visualize a drum or flute phase but who knows?

The shop owner informed me that these records just came in to the shop. Like I've said more than once before: "Timing is everything."

And I was excited to find another on the ECM label.

1) Oscar Pettiford - 'Blue Brothers' .... from 1973 on the Black Lion Records label. I love these little known but often fascinating record labels.

2) Dave Holland - 'Emerald Tears' .... from 1978 on ECM Records.

3) Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen - 'The Eternal Traveller' .... from 1985 on Pablo Records.

None of these were there the last time I was in. This is one memory issue that I don't have struggles with.

This is my idea of an exciting Saturday these days. Time spent quelling addictive urges, flipping through hundreds of previously owned records resulting in two or three vinyl discoveries. (Even had I found only one, it would have been exciting.) There are few places I'd rather be. And few modes I'd rather be in than full-on vinyl nerd mode.

Victoria Williams

Victoria Williams & The Loose Band - 'This Moment in Toronto.' As the title implies, a live performance from 1995 in Toronto. On compact disc.

My introduction to Victoria Williams was through the 1993 compilation album, 'Sweet Relief - A Benefit for Victoria Williams.' Various musicians and bands covering her songs to raise money to help with her multiple sclerosis diagnosis. Among the many treasures discovered, there is a recording of her song, 'Crazy Mary' by Pearl Jam that has long since become a favorite. It's nice to hear the songwriters take on this album. Her voice, seemingly tiny and fragile is quite the contrast from Eddie Vedder, but every bit as powerful. 

A very enjoyable listen.

Bert Jansch

So, I'm wandering through the downtown antique shop, not expecting to find anything, for I've long lost hope of that, and I'm flipping through a crate of records and while it's not the usual often seen and unexciting titles, it's still nothing special to my tastes and preferences ..... when suddenly, I flip to this. 'Birthday Blues' by Bert Jansch. From 1969 on Reprise Records. At a great price and appearing to be in very good condition. 

Persistence pays off after all. I'm sure that timing (luck) is part of it as well.

Playlist For a Friend

Friday night playlist for a friend .... imagining what I would play for her if she were here this evening. No hidden messages lurking in the titles, just songs that I enjoy and want to share. One that I'm even hearing tonight for the first time.

• Dexys Midnight Runners - Tell Me When My Light Turns Green
• Paul Weller - You Do Something to Me
• The Style Council - You're the Best Thing .... Ok, I'm on a Paul Weller kick/mood tonight. 
• The National - Rylan
• David Lindley - Brother's Under the Bridge ..... I came home from work to discover that he passed away today. His contributions to Jackson Browne's records were a unique sound that helped define the importance and beauty that I found. His cover of this Bruce Springsteen song, heard in a Portland concert a few years back, was a powerful experience.
• The Shins - New Slang
• Toad the Wet Sprocket / Glen Phillips - Something's Always Wrong
• The Church - Under the Milky Way ..... As I recall, the LP this tune is on was one of the last of my first vinyl collecting period. Switched to compact discs for a couple decades before finding my way back to vinyl.