Sarah Vaughan, Duke Ellington: Song Book One, 1980 on Pablo Today

First of two records of Sarah Vaughan doing Duke Ellington songs recorded in 1979 and released in 1980 (there is a Song Book Two, also released in 1980). Produced by Norman Granz, and engineered by Val Valentin and Bob Simpson.

Supporting artists include Waymon Reed (trumpet), J. J. Johnson (trombone), Frank Foster (tenor sax), Frank Wess (flute, tenor sax), Zoot Sims (tenor sax), Jimmy Rowles & Mike Wofford (piano), Joe Pass & Bucky Pizzarelli (guitar), Andy Simpkins (bass), and Grady Tate (drums), with Billy Byers arranging and conducting.

Pablo Today was a sub-label that started in 1979 and focused on “non-mainstream jazz” – not sure what that means but I’ve had great luck picking up Pablo records in general.

My copy, via Beatnick Records in Montréal Québec, is an original 1980 US pressing. with “Manufactured by Pablo Records” rim text.

Lou Rawls, The Best From Lou Rawls, 1976 on Capitol

2xLP collection of previously released Lou Rawls tracks I picked up during a trip to Montreal last year. What a fantastic set of songs – I think Lou Rawls is underestimated as a singer and vocal stylist across the 60s and 70s.

My copy, via Beatnick Records (Disques Beatnick) in Montréal Québec, is a Canadian pressing (manufactured by Capitol Records-EMI of Canada Limited).

Weird Al Yankovic, Dare To Be Stupid, 1985 on Scotti Bros.

This was the third studio LP from Weird Al, produced by Rick Derringer. Mixture of paradoes and “style parodies” which don’t copy specific songs but a generalized look and feel – like “Dare to be Stupid” which is in the style of Devo.

Apparently he approached Prince about doing a parody of “When Doves Cry” but Prince refused. (Yankovic could do these without permission but prefers to only do them with the participation of the originating artist). I do wish Prince had consented.

My copy, via Beatnick Records in Montréal Québec, is a Canadian pressing (Don Mills Ontario plant) manufactured and distributed by CBS Records Canada Ltd / CBS Disques Canada Ltée.

Chet Baker, Chet Baker in New York, 1958 on Riverside

In something of the same vein as the West Coast / East Coast rap rivalry of 90s hip hop, the jazz scene in the 50s had a bit of a California vs New York thing happening. As the sleeve notes by Orrin Keepnews puts it:

. . . during much of the 1950s considerable conversation and many magazine pages have been devoted to discussion of the relative merits of, differences between, and what-have-you of the so called “East Coast” and “West Coast” schools of modern jazz. . . . on this LP, CHET BAKER, the most notable of “cool” West Coast trumpet stars, joins forces with some highly talented representatives of the “hard” Eastern style.

Those players included Johnny Griffin (Tenor Sax), Al Haig (Piano), Paul Chambers (Bass), and Philly Joe Jones (Drums). Recorded in New York in September of 1958. (I had a Jazzland reissue retitled as Polka Dots and Moonbeams but this pressing is much improved).

My copy is a Craft Recordings reissue from 2021 which replicates the Riverside labels but adds Craft/Concord rim text and catalog number. Via Beatnick Records in Montreal QC

#1950s #1958 #2021 #AlHaig #BeatnickRecords #ChetBaker #craftRecordings #JohnnyGriffin #MontrealQC #OrrinKeepnews #PaulChambers #PhillyJoeJones #Reissue #Riverside #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

Chet Baker, Chet, 1959 on Riverside

The labels carry a subtitle of “Ballads by Chet Baker,” and the rear cover suggests “The lyrical trumpet of Chet Baker” but most people just call it Chet. Riverside RLP 12-299 (mono) and RLP 1135 (stereo).

He’s joined here by Pepper Adams, Paul Chambers, Herbie Mann, Bill Evans, and Philly Joe Jones / Connie Kay splitting drums duty, plus Kenny Burrell on two tracks. The liner notes (by Orrin Keepnews) say “Pianist Bill Evans . . . is just beginning to attract real public attention, but has for some time been the object of extreme praise from fellow musicians.”

My copy is a 2021 reissue by Craft Recordings (CR 00359) pressed at RTI with lacquers cut by Kevin Grey – via Beatnick Records in Montreal QC – which sounds fantastic.

#1950s #1959 #BeatnickRecords #BillEvans #ChetBaker #ConnieKay #craftRecordings #HerbieMann #jazz #KennyBurrell #MontrealQC #PaulChambers #PepperAdams #PhillyJoeJones #Riverside #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

Nat King Cole, You’re My Everything, 1967 on Pickwick/33

Somehow this week has turned into posthumous collection week – this compilation was put out by Pickwick/33 in 1967 (Cole died in 1965), drawn from various Capitol Records releases.

My copy is a Canadian pressing (see the “Made in Canada” on rim text on the label) via Beatnick Records in Montréal QC

#1960s #1967 #BeatnickRecords #Capitol #MontrealQC #NatKingCole #Pickwick33 #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds

Big Joe Turner, Rhythm & Blues Years, 1986 on Atlantic

Although this compilation was put out by Atlantic in 1986 (Turner died in late 1985), the recordings come from the 1950s. Turner met the Erteguns at the Apollo Theater in 1951 and made five albums plus many singles and EPs on Atlantic during those years.

Great 2xLP with a gatefold and liner notes including contributions by Ahmet and Nesuhi Ertegun, Bob Porter, Jerry Wexler, Doc Pomus, and Herb Abramson. As the liner notes point out “these are not Joe’s biggest recordings, but they are some of his best performances” – they reissued the biggest hits on another compilation.

My copy via Beatnick Records in Montréal QC

#1950s #1986 #AhmetErtegun #Atlantic #BeatnickRecords #BigJoeTurner #Blues #BobPorter #DocPomus #HerbAbramson #JerryWexler #MontrealQC #NesuhiErtegun #RhythmAndBlues #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds