Jimmy Scott, Falling In Love Is Wonderful, 1963 on Tangerine Records

American jazz vocalist sometimes referred to as “Little” Jimmy Scott, who had a very high contralto voice due to Kallmann’s syndrome, a genetic condition.Scott performed in the final episode of Twin Peaks which led to a bit of a career resurgence in the 1990s.

This album was out of print between the 1963 release and a 2002 reissue (on CD) by Rhino / Warner Bros. It’s a wonderful album and the reissue is very well done.

My copy is a 2024 Vinyl Me, Please reissue in the Classics series (VMP C091), with lacquers cut by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound – which replicates (other than the RIM text) the original label.

#1963 #2024 #jazz #JimmyScott #Reissue #TangerineRecords #vinyl #vinylMePlease #VinylMePleaseClassics #vinylcollection

Bill Frisell, Have a Little Faith, 1993 on Elektra Nonesuch

Frisell on guitar, joined by Don Byron (clarinet, bass clarinet), Guy Klucevskek (accordion), Kermit Driscoll (bass), and Joey Baron (drums). Covers a wide variety of sounds here including some Aaron Copeland from his ballet Billy the Kid, two excepts from Charles Ive’s orchestral Three Places in New England, plus Dylan, Muddy Waters, Sonny Rollins, and John Hiatt.

I love the B and C sides – for me the orchestral side is my least favorite but the title track (a John Hiatt song) and the Sonny Rollins track are great.

My copy is the Vinyl Me Please Classics vinyl issue (the first on vinyl) from 2024, which is a 3-sided vinyl (one side is an etching) and includes lacquer cut by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound.

#1990s #1993 #AaronCopeland #BillFrisell #BobDylan #DonByron #Elektra #GuyKlucevskek #JohnHiatt #KermitDriscoll #Nonesuch #vinyl #vinylMePlease #VinylMePleaseClassics #vinylcollection

Junior Wells, It’s My Life, Baby, 1966 on Vanguard

Junior Wells’ sophomore album, released on Vanguard in 1966 after Hoodoo Man Blues came out on Delmark.

From the liner notes:

Some of this album, Junior Wells’ first solo record for Vanguard, was recorded in Pepper’s Lounge on Chicago’s south side, to get the feeling of a blues band working with its blues audience. The rest was done at Universal Studios in Chicago. The band at Pepper’s was Junior, harmonica and vocals; Buddy Guy, guitar; Freddy Below, drums; and Leroy Stewart, bass. For the studio sessions Walter Beasley was added on rhythm guitar and Little Al replaced Freddy Below on drums.

The combo of Junior and Buddy Guy makes for a classic 60s Chicago electric blues set.

My copy is the Vinyl Me, Please Classics reissue from 2024, with listening notes booklet by Francesca T. Royster. It’s a Craft Recordings released pressed at GZ Media.

#1960s #1966 #2024 #Blues #BuddyGuy #Chicago #ChicagoBlues #FrancescaTRoyster #JuniorWells #LeroyStewart #LittleAl #PepperSLounge #Reissue #vinyl #vinylMePlease #VinylMePleaseClassics #vinylcollection

David Porter, . . . Into A Real Thing, 1971 on Enterprise

Porter was the staff songwriter for Stax – this was his second full length LP issued under his name, following up Gritty, Groovy, & Gettin’ It. Enterprise was a sub-label of Stax, which also released the early Isaac Hayes solo albums. (Apparently label president Al Bell was a Star Trek fan).

Wonderful early 70s Stax/Volt style funk/soul. Love that the green hat from the gatefold is also on the bed post in the rear cover. Isaac Hayes gets arranger and producer credit on “I Don’t Want To Cry.”

My copy is a 2023 Vinyl Me, Please Classics reissue, made by Craft Recordings, with lacquers cut by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound and a listening notes booklet by Andrew Winistorfer.

#1970s #1971 #2023 #AlBell #AndrewWinistorfer #craftRecordings #DavidPorter #enterprise #isaacHayes #Reissue #RyanSmith #Soul #Stax #SterlingSound #vinyl #vinylMePlease #VinylMePleaseClassics #vinylcollection

Teo Macero with the Prestige Jazz Quartet, Teo, 1957 on Prestige

Macero is likely best known as the producer of both Bitches Brew and Time Out but he was also a great saxophone player and composer. He made multiple albums with Mingus and cofounded the Jazz Composers Workshop. Here he is joined by Addison Farmer (bass), Jerry Segal (drums), Mal Waldron (piano), and Teddy Charles (vibes). Recorded by Rudy Van Gelder.

My copy is a Vinyl Me, Please reissue from 2024 produced by Craft Recordings, with lacquers cut by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound, and a listening notes book by Jason Diamond supplementing the original sleeve notes by Bob Altshuler. (Craft reproduces the Prestige labels but adds a catalog number CR00770; VMP adds the VMP Classics gold logo on the rear jacket).

#1950s #1957 #AddisonFarmer #BobAltshuler #craftRecordings #JasonDiamond #jazz #JerrySegal #MalWaldron #Prestige #PrestigeJazzQuartet #RudyVanGelder #TeddyCharles #TeoMacero #vinyl #vinylMePlease #VinylMePleaseClassics #vinylcollection

McCoy Tyner, Trident, 1975 on Milestone

Tyner (who plays harpsichord and celeste as well as piano) is joined here by Ron Carter (bass) and Elvin Jones (drums), and the album was produced by Orrin Keepnews. It was his eighth LP for Milestone after recording on Blue Note and Impulse! throughought the 60s. (Elvin Jones worked with Tyner in the John Coltrane quartet).

My copy is the Vinyl Me, Please edition from 2023, in the VMP Classics series, with lacquer cut by Ryan Smith at Sterling, and a listening notes booklet by Andy Beta, which is a Craft Recordings reissue.

#1970s #1975 #AndyBeta #craftRecordings #ElvinJones #jazz #McCoyTyner #Milestone #RonCarter #RyanSmith #Sterling #vinyl #vinylMePlease #VinylMePleaseClassics #vinylcollection

Hound Dog Taylor and the House Rockers, Natural Boogie, 1974 on Alligator Records

Second record from Hound Dog Taylor and his band, originally issued as AL 4704. The band her includes Ted Harvey on drums and Brewer Phillips on 2nd guitar, with Hound Dog Taylor on lead guitar and vocals. (Their debut LP had been the first release on newly-formed Alligator in 1971).

Great electrified Chicago blues. Unfortunately Taylor died in 1975 so the band’s recorded output is limited, but this one plus the debut are well worth picking up if you get a chance.

My copy is the 2023 Vinyl Me Please Reissue, C076 in the Vinyl Me Please Classics Series, with listening notes by Andrew Winistorfer and lacquers cut by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound

#1970s #1974 #AlligatorRecords #AndrewWinistorfer #Blues #Chicago #HoundDogTaylor #RyanSmith #Sterling #vinyl #vinylMePlease #VinylMePleaseClassics #vinylcollection