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Blue Post

26 04 2012

Its been a long time since we offered info on our Blues recordings here at the ARC and the Keith Richards’ Blues Collection.  We hope to make the metadata on the whole 10,000 plus discs available online soon, so stay tuned.  For now, here’s a sampling of recent cataloged additions to the collection, starting with this mint SBW 10″ from France.

Sonny Boy Williamson.   Le Grand Chanteur de Blues et Spécialiste de L’Harmonica: Jazz Classics No. 17  (RCA, France, 130 238, 10″, 33.3, LP,  19??).

Arhoolie label’s vinyl is getting harder and harder to find in good condition these days, and that prompted us to go after a pile of ones we were missing, all mint or sealed, straight from the people at Arhoolie/Down Home Music in CA.

• Dave Alexander.   The Dirt On The Ground  (Arhoolie, USA, 1071, 12″, 33.3, LP, 1973).
• Dave Alexander.   The Rattler  (Arhoolie, USA, 1067, 12″, 33.3, LP, 1972).
• Juke Boy Bonner.   The Struggle  (Arhoolie, USA, 1045, 12″, 33.3, LP, 1969).

• George Coleman.   Bongo Joe  (Arhoolie, USA, 1040, 12″, 33.3, LP, n.d.).
• K.C. Douglas.   The Country Boy  (Arhoolie, USA, 1073, 12″, 33.3, LP, 1974).
• Snooks Eaglin.   Possum Up A Simmon Tree  (Arhoolie, USA, 2014, 12″, 33.3, LP, n.d.).

• Charles Ford Band With Robben Ford.   Charles Ford Band With Robben Ford   (Arhoolie, USA, LP 4005, 12″, 33.3, LP, 1972).
• Guitar Slim & Jelly Belly.   Carolina Blues  (Arhoolie, USA, LP 2005, 12″, 33.3, LP, n.d.). Alex Seward is Guitar Slim; Louis Hayes is Jelly Belly.
• Roosevelt Holts & His Friends.   Roosevelt Holts & His Friends  (Arhoolie, USA, 1057, 12″, 33.3, LP, 1971).
• Earl Hooker.   His First And Last Recordings  (Arhoolie, USA, 1066, 12″, 33.3, LP, n.d.).
• Earl Hooker.   Hooker ‘N’ Steve  (Arhoolie, USA, 1051, 12″, 33.3, LP, n.d.). With Steve Miller.
• Lightning Hopkins.   In Berkeley  (Arhoolie, USA, 1063, 12″, 33.3, LP, n.d.).
• John Jackson.   Blues From Virginia  (Arhoolie, USA, 1025, 12″, 33.3, LP, n.d.).
• John Jackson.   In Europe  (Arhoolie, USA, 1047, 12″, 33.3, LP, n.d.).  .
• John Jackson.   Vol. 2  (Arhoolie, USA, 1035, 12″, 33.3, LP, 1968).
• Lil Son Jackson.   Blues Come To Texas  (Arhoolie, USA, 1004, 12″, 33.3, LP, 1960).
• Johnnie Lewis.   Alabama Slide Guitar   (Arhoolie, USA, 1055, 12″, 33.3, LP, 1971).
• Mercy Dee.   Mercy Dee  (Arhoolie, USA, 1007, 12″, 33.3, LP, n.d.)
• Alex Moore.   In Europe  (Arhoolie, USA, 1048, 12″, 33.3, LP, n.d.)
• Alex Moore.   Piano Blues  (Arhoolie, USA, 1008, 12″, 33.3, LP, n.d.)
• Charlie Musselwhite.   Goin’ Back Down South  (Arhoolie, USA, 1074, 12″, 33.3, LP, 1974). Robben Ford, Lafayette Leake
• Charlie Musselwhite.   Takin’ My Time  (Arhoolie, USA, 1056, 12″, 33.3, LP, 1971).
• Piano Red.   Dr. Feelgood Alone  (Arhoolie, USA, 1064, 12″, 33.3, LP, 1972).
• L.C. Robinson.   Ups And Downs  (Arhoolie, USA, 1062, 12″, 33.3, LP, 1972).
• Doctor Ross.   His First Recordings  (Arhoolie, USA, 1065, 12″, 33.3, LP, 1972).
• Robert Shaw.   Texas Barrelhouse Piano  (Arhoolie, USA, 1010, 12″, 33.3, LP, n.d.).
• Smokey Babe.   Hot Blues  (Arhoolie, USA, LP 2019, 12″, 33.3, LP, n.d.).
• Soundtrack  [ Howard Armstrong ].   Louie Bluie  (Arhoolie, USA, 1095, 12″, 33.3, LP, 1985). R. Crumb Cover
• Various Artists .   Blues N’ Trouble Vol. 2   (Arhoolie, USA, 1012, 12″, 33.3, LP, n.d.).
• Various Artists.   Country Blues I  (Blues Classics, USA, LP BC5, 12″, 33.3, LP, n.d.).
• Various Artists.   Juke Joint Blues  (Arhoolie, USA, LP BC23, 12″, 33.3, LP, 1970).
• Various Artists.   Kings Of Country Blues  (Arhoolie, USA, 1085, 12″, 33.3, LP, 1971).  Dated 1969 and 1981
• Various Artists.   Louisiana Blues  (Arhoolie, USA, 1054, 12″, 33.3, LP, 1970).
• Various Artists.   Oakland Blues  (Arhoolie, USA, LP 2008, 12″, 33.3, LP, 1970).
• Various Artists.   Prison Works Songs  (Arhoolie, USA, LP 2012, 12″, 33.3, LP, n.d.).
• Various Artists.   Texas Blues Vol. 2  (Arhoolie, USA, 1017, 12″, 33.3, LP, 1968).
• Big Joe Williams.   Thinking Of What They Did To Me  (Arhoolie, USA, 1053, 12″, 33.3, LP, n.d.).
• Big Joe Williams & Sonny Boy Williamson .    (Blues Classics, USA, LP BC21, 12″, 33.3, LP, n.d.).
• Sonny Boy Williamson .   Sonny Boy Williamson 1937-1946 Vol. 2  (Blues Classics, USA, LP BC20, 12″, 33.3, LP, n.d.).
• Sonny Boy Williamson .   Sonny Boy Williamson Vol. 3  (Blues Classics, USA, LP BC24, 12″, 33.3, LP, n.d.).
• Ralph Willis.   Carolina Blues  (Blues Classics, USA, LP BC22, 12″, 33.3, LP, n.d.).
• Johnny Young & Big Walter.   Chicago Blues  (Arhoolie, USA, 1037, 12″, 33.3, LP, 1968).  Big Walter Horton.

We’re still looking for a copy of : Big Joe Williams’ Tough Times  (Arhoolie, USA, 1002, 12″, 33.3, LP,).  It is out of print and no longer available from Arhoolie.

Just the other day an anonymous donor dropped off a munitions box stocked with 78s from the late 20s and 30s.  Here’s the Blues and Jazz related ones of interest.

• Benny Goodman Trio/Sextet.   “Body and Soul” / “After You’ve Gone”  (Columbia, 36781, 10″, 78 rpm, n.d.).  With Teddy Wilson
• Benny Goodman Sextet.   “Limehouse Blues” / “If I Had You”  (Harmony, 1011, 10″, 78 rpm, n.d.).  Harmony may have been a Columbia subsidiary.
• Wynonie Harris with the Hamp-Tone All Stars.   “In the Evening” / “Good Morning Corinne”  (Hamp-Tone, 103, 10″, 78 rpm, n.d.).  “Good Morning Corinne” side listed as “Wynonie Harris with the In the Evening Blues” instead of “with the Hamp-Tone All Stars.”

• Billie Holiday and Her Orchestra.   “Summertime” / “Billie’s Blues”  (Columbia, C135-7/C135-8  37496, 10″, 78 rpm, n.d.).    Probably part of an album of reissued tracks
• Cliff Jackson.   “Lime House Blues” / “Royal Garden Blues”  (Black & White, 26, 10″, 78 rpm, n.d.).
• Jelly Roll Morton and His Red Hot Peppers.   “Georgia Swing”  (Bluebird, B-8515, 10″, 78 rpm, n.d.).
• Jelly Roll Morton and His Red Hot Peppers.   “Wild Man Blues”  (Bluebird, B-10256, 10″, 78 rpm, n.d.).
• Kid Ory’s Creaole Jazz Band.   “South”  (Crescent, Number 1, 10″, 78 rpm, n.d.).  Recorded August 1944
• The Platters.   “The Great Pretender”  (Mercury, 70753, 10″, 78 rpm, n.d.).
• Tex Ritter.   “San Antonio Rose”  (Capitol, 20065, 10″, 78 rpm, n.d.).
• Bessie Smith.   “Cake Walking Babies”  (Columbia, C 31-3 / C 31-4; 35673, 10″, 78 rpm, n.d.).  From album of reissued sides.
• Bessie Smith.   “Empty Bed Blues”  (Columbia, C 31-7 / C 31-8; 35675, 10″, 78 rpm, n.d.).   from album of reissued sides.
• Fats Waller and His Piano.   “Basin Street Blues”  (Bluebird, B-10115, 10″, 78 rpm, n.d.).


• Lu Watters Yerba Buena Jazz Band.   “Maple Leaf Rag”  (Jazz Man, Album 1, No. 1, 10″, 78 rpm, n.d.).  Recorded 1941.
• Lu Watters Yerba Buena Jazz Band.   “At a Georgia Camp Meeting”  (Jazz Man, Album 1, No. 4, 10″, 78 rpm, n.d.).  Recorded 1941.
• Sonny Boy Williamson.   Le Grand Chanteur de Blues et Spécialiste de L’Harmonica: Jazz Classics No. 17  (RCA, France, 130 238, 10″, 33.3, LP, ).
• Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra featuring Billie Holiday.   “Miss Brown to You” / “I Wished on the Moon”  (Columbia, C61-1/C61-2  36205, 10″, 78 rpm, n.d.).  Probably part of a 4-disc album of reissued tracks.
• Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra featuring Billie Holiday.   “Easy Living” / “When You’re Smiling”  (Columbia, C61-7/C61-8  36208, 10″, 78 rpm, n.d.).  Probably part of a 4-disc album of reissued tracks

Not quite Blues, but nice to find in the big box, Bill Haley with Haley’s Comets.   “Crazy Man, Crazy”  (Essex, 321, 10″, 78 rpm, n.d.).

Finally, Fred Patterson, our head archivist has graciously donated a pile of Blues, R&B, Jazz and world CDs.  Here’s 73 relevant to this collection:

• Johnny Ace.   Memorial Album  (MCA, Europe, MCD 32642, 5″, CD, 1995).  008813264220.  CD reissue of album with bonus tracks
• La Vern Baker.   Saved  (Sequal, UK, RSA CD 912, 5″, CD, 1997).  5023224091222.
• Bobby Bland.   Dreamer  (MCA, MCAD-10415, 5″, CD, [1974]).  008811041526.  CD release of 1974 LP
• Blues Busters.   Busted!  (HMG / High Water, HMG 6512, 5″, -, CD, 1999).  012928651226.
• Charles Brown with Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers.   Drifting & Dreaming  (Ace, UK, CDCHD 589, 5″, CD, 1996).  029667158923.
• Leroy Carr.   Blues Before Sunrise  (Portrait, RK 44122, 5″, CD, 1989).  07464441222.  accompanied by Scrapper Blackwell and Josh White
• Leroy Carr & Scrapper Blackwell.   1929-1935  (Wolf, Austria, BoB 10-CD, 5″, CD, n.d.).  -.  guitarist Scrapper Blackwell plays on all the Leroy Carr tracks, too.
• Wynona Carr.   Jump Jack Jump!  (Specialty, SPCD-7048-2, 5″, CD, 1993).  02221170482.
• Ray Charles.   The Early Years  (Tomato, R2-71656, 5″, CD, 1994).  081227165629.
• Albert Collins.   The Complete Imperial Recordings  (Imperial / EMI, CDP-7-96741-2, 5″, CD, 1991).  07777967402.
• James Cotton.   Best of the Verve Years  (Verve, 314 527 371-2, 5″, CD, 1995).  731452737120.
• Bill Doggett.   As You Desire Me  (King, KCD-523, 5″, CD, 1987).  012676052320.
• Bill Doggett.   Doggett Beat for Dancing Feet  (King, KCD-557, 5″, CD, 1987).  012676055727.
• Bill Doggett.   Dame Dreaming With Bill Doggett  (King, KCD-532, 5″, CD, 1988).  012676053228.
• Willie Egan and others.   Come On  (Relic, 7042, 5″, CD, 1993).  724075704723.
• Cecil Gant.   Cecil Gant  (Krazy Kat, UK, KK CD 03, 5″, CD, 1989).  008637600327.  writing on cover
• Smokey Hogg.   Angels In Harlem  (Specialty, UK, CDCHD 419, 5″, CD, 1992).  02667141925.
• Smokey Hogg.   Sittin’ in With Smokey Hogg  (Mainstream, MDCD 906, 5″, CD, 1991).  727285906529.
• The Hollywood All Stars.   Hard Hitting Blues From Memphis  (HMG / High Water, HMG 6518, 5″, -, CD, 1999).  012928651820.
• Homesick James.   Got To Move  (32 Blues, 32175, 5″, -, CD, 1999).  604123217521.  plastic/cardboard package
• Earl Hooker.   Play Your Guitar Mr. Hooker!  (Black Top, CD BT-1093, 5″, CD, 1993).  0 11661-6593-2 2.
• Bull Moose Jackson.   Sings His All-Time Hits  (Audio Lab / King, ACD-1524, 5″, CD, 1988).  012676152426.
• Floyd Jones – Eddie Taylor.   Masters of Modern Blues  (Testament, TCD 5001, 5″, CD, 1994).  012928500128.
• Junior Kimbrough and the Soul Blues Boys.   Do the Rump!  (HMG / High Water, HMG 6503, 5″, CD, 1997).  012928650328.
• Saunders King.   Cool Blues, Jumps & Shuffles  (Ace, UK, CDCHD 865, 5″, -, CD, 2002).  029667186520.
• Smiley Lewis.   The Best Of Smiley Lewis, I Hear You Knocking  (Imperial / EMI, E2-98824, 5″, CD, 1992).  0 7777-98824-2 7.
• Papa George Lightfoot.   Goin’ Back To The Natchez Trace  (Rhino / Ace, CDCHD 543, 5″, CD, 1994).  0 29667 15482 6.
• Little Axe.   “Ride On (Fight On)  (Wired, UK, 28, 5″, CD, 1994).  5026184002826.  samples Howlin’ Wolf.  Three mixes of title track
• Little George Smith.   Harmonica Ace  (Ace, UK, CDCHD 337 MONO, 5″, CD, 1991).  0 29667 13372 2.
• Little Willie Littlefield.   Boogie, Blues and Bounce : The Modern Recordings Volume 2  (Ace, UK, CDCHD 1056, 5″, CD, 2005).  029667010122.
• Little Willie Littlefield and Friends.   Going Back to Kay Cee  (Ace, UK, CDCHD 503, 5″, CD, 1994).  029667150323.
• Blind Willie McTell.   Atlanta Twelve String  (Atlantic, 82366-2, 5″, CD, 1992).  075678236624.  recorded 1949
• Bobby Mitchell & the Toppers.   I’m Gonna Be a Wheel Someday  (Night Train, NTI CD 7079, 5″, CD, 1996).  048612707924.
• Robert Nighthawk.   Bricks in My Pillow  (Delmark, 711, 5″, CD, 1998).  038153071127.  Recorded for the United label in 1951, 1952
• Professor Longhair.   Big Chief  (Rhino / Tomato,  R2 71446, 5″, -, CD, 1993).  0 8122-71446-2 3.
• Professor Longhair.   Rum And Coke  (Rhino / Tomato, R2 71447, 5″, -, CD, 1993).  0 8122-71447-2 2.
• Jimmy Reed.   Best Of Jimmy Reed  (GNP Crescendo, GNPD 2-0006, 5″, -, CD, 1987).  05282400062.
• Jimmy Reed / Eddie Taylor.   Ride ‘Em On Down  (Charly, UK , CD CHARLY 171, 5″, -, CD, 1989).  0 82333 09872 5.  the first song is by Eddie Taylor,
• Billy Lee Riley.   Shade Tree Blues  (Icehouse, IHR 9434, 5″, -, CD, 1999).  097037943424.  Rockabilly legend sings blues.
• Jimmy Rushing.   Rushing Lullabies  (Columbia / Legacy, CK 65118, 5″, -, CD, 1997).  0 7464-65118-2 4.  Originally recorded 1959, this is a combination of two albums Rushing Lullabies with Little Jimmy Rushing and the Big Brass, includes liner notes by original producer Irving Townsend and reissue producer Phil Schaap
• Roscoe Shelton.   Roscoe Shelton Sings!  (Excello, Excello CD 3007, 5″, -, CD, 1995).  7 68501 30072 1.
• Johnny Shines and Robert Lockwood.   Johnny Shines And Robert Lockwood  (Paula, PCD-14, 5″, -, CD, 1991).  0 97453-0014-2 5.  featuring Sunnyland Slim on piano, the first song is by Johnny Shines.
• Huey Smith and Friends.   Pitta Pattin’  (Charly R&B, UK, CD CHARLY 225, 5″, -, CD, 1990).  8 82333 11412 8.
• Sunnyland Slim featuring Jimmy Rogers,  Willie Mabon, St. Louis Jimmy.   House Rent Party  (Delmark, DD 655, 5″, -, CD, 1992).  038153065522.  recorded for Apollo label 1949.  Sunnyland Slim plays piano on all but the two Willie Mabon titles–Mabon plays on those.
• Tampa Red.   The Guitar Wizard  (Columbia / Legacy, CK 53235, 5″, -, CD, 1994).  0 7464-53235-2.
• Little Johnny and Ted Taylor.   The Super Taylors   (Paula Records, PCD-503, 5″, -, CD, 1991).  0 97453-0503-2 4.
• Various Artists.   River Town Blues  (Hi, UK, HI UK CD 118, 5″, -, CD, 1988).  5014757271182.
• Various Artists.   Not the Same Old Blues Crap II: A Fat Possum Records Compilation  (Fat Possum Records, 80342-2, 5″, -, CD, 2001).  045778034222.
• Various Artists.   Barrelhouse Boogie  (Bluebird / RCA, 8334-2-RB, 5″, -, CD, 1989).  7863583342.
• Various Artists.   Angola Prisoners Blues  (Arhoolie, CD 419, 5″, -, CD, 1996).  096297041925.
• Various Artists.   Regal Records In New Orleans  (Specialty, SPCD 2169-2, 5″, -, CD, 1991).  022211216926.
• Various Artists.   Motor City Blues  (Alive / Total Energy, Ner3019, 5″, -, CD, 1998).  095081301924.
• Various Artists.   Super Blues: All Time Classic Blues Hits Volume Two  (Stax, 8559-2, 5″, -, CD, 1991).  025218855921.
• Various Artists.   Jumpin’ The Blues  (ACE, CDCHD 941, 5″, -, CD, 1990).  029667194129.
• Various Artists.   St. Louis Town 1927-1932  (Yazoo, 1003, 5″, -, CD, 1991).  016351010322.
• Various Artists.   Risqué Blues Volume One  (King, UK, KCD 6021, 5″, -, CD, ).  667677602120.
• Various Artists.   Jackson Blues  (Yazoo, L 1007, 5″, -, CD, 1991).  016351010728.
• Various Artists.   Atlantic Blues : Guitar  (Atlantic, 7 81695-2, 5″, -, CD, 1986).  075678169526.
• Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble.   Live at Carnegie Hall  (Epic, EK 68163, 5″, -, CD, 1997).  074646816325.  Liner notes by our pal Andy Schwartz
• Mercy Dee Walton.   One Room Country Shack  (Specialty, SPCD-7036-2, 5″, -, CD, 1993).  02221170362.
• Dinah Washington.   The Complete Volume 1  (Official, Denmark, 83 004, 5″, -, CD, 1988).  031287002920.
• Dinah Washington.   The Complete Dinah Washington on Mercury Vol. 1: 1946 – 1949  (Mercury, 832 444-2, 5″, -, CD, 1987).  042283244429.  66 songs
• Dinah Washington.   The Complete Dinah Washington on Mercury Vol. 2: 1950 – 1952  (Mercury, 832 448-2, 5″, -, CD, 1987).  042283244825.  53 songs
• Dinah Washington.   The Complete Dinah Washington on Mercury Vol. 3: 1952 – 1954  (Mercury, 834 675-2, 5″, -, CD, 1988).  042283467521.  53 songs
• Dinah Washington.   The Complete Dinah Washington on Mercury Vol. 4: 1954 – 1956  (Mercury, 834 683-2, 5″, -, CD, 1988).  042283468320.  63 songs
• Junior Wells / Earl Hooker.   Messin’ With the Kid  (Charly, UK, CD CHARLY 219, 5″, -, CD, 1990).  082333112322.  Earl Hooker plays guitar on many of the Junior Wells sides.
• Robert Pete Williams.   Blues Masters  (Storyville, Sweden, STCD 8001, 5″, -, CD, 1991).  717101800124.
• Robert Pete Williams.   Santa Fe Blues: Last Recordings  (Blues Collection, France, 157832, 5″, -, CD, 1979).  3298491578321.
• Chuck Willis.   Let’s Jump Tonight: The Best of Chuck Willis  (Epic / Legacy / OKeh, EK 53619, 5″, -, CD, 1994).  074645361925.
• Chuck Willis.   Stroll On: The Chuck Willis Collection  (Razor & Tie, RE 2055, 5″, -, CD, 1994).  793018205528.  tracks recorded for Atlantic Records.
• Jimmy Witherspoon.   Jimmy Witherspoon  (Ace, UK, CDCHM 1062, 5″, -, CD, 2005).  029667011020.
• Jimmy Witherspoon.   Blowin’ In From Kansas City  (Ace, UK, CDCHD 279, 5″, -, CD, 1991).  029667127929.
• Jimmy Witherspoon.   Jay’s Blues – The Complete Federal Sessions  (Charly, UK, CD CHARLY 270, 5″, -, CD, ).  08233313502.


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Cuban Treats In NY

17 04 2012

Sure Hillary is swigging it down at a Cuban ‘theme’ club in Cartagena, and Obama remains locked into a 50 year hissy fit against the mouse that roared, but we, the sensible ones, the friends of the ARChive, People Who Like People, have a chance to hear the real deal, some real Cuban music!

Sintesis is in New York and performing at SOBs this week (Friday, April 20), and in Miami next week @ the Dade County Auditorium.  That means if you’re smart, you can hear the band in an intimate setting, at one of the nicest clubs in NY.

The band has been around and popular since the 60s; the Sintesis sound is Youruba roots meets jazzy prog rock, and slightly Techno-santería.  Carlos Alfonso is the clan’s leader/founder and in demand vocalist with the younger generation represented by daughter Eme.  Available for the first time on this trip will be the bands new triple CD album, and Eme’s latest.

SOB’s is at 204 Varick St. 8 pm and only 10 bucks.  Whata deal.  You can get more info at the club’s site: http://sobs.com/events/latin-alternative/sintesis     Thanks to Ed Steinberg and Allan Bastos for doing the hard work and bringing the group to the US.

On another Cuban note I saw Yosvany Terry’s group last week at Jazz Standard.  As always the sound was great at this club, and the band was swinging with one of the best rhythm sections I have heard in years.  Not quite Latin, and not locked in to the standard rotating solo’s so commonly boring in jazz, the horns often returned to tight charted sections that were a delight.

Finally, this just in to the ARC –  a 78 set I had seen in the Cuban music archive in Havana (Museo Nacional de la Musica) and always yearned for – an early Miguelito Valdés album.  If you don’t know, Valdés was the role model for Desi Arnaz, Mr. Lucy copied Mr. Babalú’s songs, style, conga carrying and even the haircut!   Thanks to ARC member Ben May who donated this and quite a few other Cuban and Latin 78 albums.

Here’s the relevant recordings we have here @ ARC :

Miguelito Valdes

• Miguelito Valdes with Machito and his Afro-Cubans.   Bim Bam Boom  (DECCA, USA, 344, 10″, n.d0 Four discs in bound album, includes informational booklet in English and Spanish..

• Inolvidables  (Verve, USA, V/V6 5036, 12″, n.d.).  .

• Los Reyes del Ritmo (Decca, USA, DL4595, 12″, N.D).  .

• Orquesta Casino De La Playa Con Miguelito Valdes.   Memories Of Cuba (1937-1944)  (Tumbao, Switzerland, TCD-003, 5”, 1991).  With Miguelito Valdes, Perez Prado and Cascarita

• Miguelito Valdes With the Orquesta Casino De La Playa  (Harlequin, UK, HQ CD 39, 5″, 1994).

• Mr. Babalu!  (Mount Vernon Music, mvm 140, 12”, n.d.).

• Playing His World Famous Latin Rhythms  (Sutton, SSU 288, 12”)

Sintesis:

• Ancestros  (Qbadisc, USA, QB 9001, 5″, 1987 / 1992).

• Ancestros  (Areito, Cuba, LD-4432, 12″, 1987).

• Ancestros 2  (Qbadisc, USA, QB 9015, 5″, 1994).

• El Hombre Extraño  (Areito, Cuba, LD-4787, 12″, 1989).

• Habana a Flor de Piel  (Unicornio, Cuba, UN-CD9030, 5″, 2002).

• Habana a Flor de Piel (VELAS, VLS20512, 5″, 2001).

• Orishas   (Milan Latino, USA, 35830, 5″, 1997).

… and the latest from Terry I bought up at the club;   Today’s Opinion (Criss Cross Jazz, Holland, 1343, 5″, 2012).


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Opening Day

6 04 2012

Ah, Spring – ribs, crocuses, baseball.  Opening day, and an old man’s fancy turns to the sports section of the ARC.   This year, have a look at one of the honorific anomalies of the musical world, “Go Fernando.”

I don’t know much about the Dodgers, just that the recent owners had bad family values, and they are valued at two billion.  Oh, and that they were hijacked out of New York once-upon-a-time and worked one of the most despicable fiddles in urban history, using public domain to seize a Latino section of LA, Chavez Ravine to build their stadium.

But in 1981 Everardo Y Su Flota, and a great deal of the sports world, would focus on the Dodgers and a 20 year old Mexican-American rookie pitcher, Fernando Valenzuela.  Why Fernandomania?  That year “El Toro” (the Bull) pitched and won on opening day, won 13 games despite a players’ strike, was the first rookie ever to lead the NL in strikeouts, had five shutouts in his first seven starts, was Rookie of the Year, first rookie to win the Cy Young Award, Pitcher of the Year, and helped defeat the Yanks in the World Series.  More remarkable is that Fernando is still active, mostly DH-ing in 2011 in the Mexican Leagues.

OK, the recording.  Everardo led a solid, ordinary Latin group from Chicago who found little to sing about in their Cubs or Sox.  They couched this nearly seven-minute medley (popurri) in choruses of “La Bamba” (a son jarocho) with three segmented songs in varied tempos, “Sonora Querida,” (a sentimental cancione), and two corridos, “Maquina 501” (about a heroic train engineer) and “El Morro de Cumpas.”   The LP cover is better than the song; the release reminding us of the pride the Latin community took in sharing the success of one of their own.

Musically, you can learn more about Chávez Ravine from Ry Cooder’s 2005 LP, and visually from Don Normark’s photographs.  By the way his screwball was called “Fernando’s Fadeaway,” and lordy, no one thought to riff on “Fernando’s Hideaway?”   Maybe by Billy Crystal?


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Are We Not Mad Men?

2 04 2012

Mad Men, one of the highest regarded dramatic serials on television today, has received a number of awards including prestigious Peabodys and Emmys, and TV critics as well as fans seem to adore the show. Indeed, Mad Men has been especially lauded for how well it captures the early Sixties in New York City: the clothing, the cars, architectural design, ethos and culture. Even the kitchen cabinets on the sets are evocative of this long gone era. So I began tuning in…

For those of you who are not familiar with the show, Mad Men follows several people who work in a Madison Avenue advertising firm during this period.  Every frame seems to have been sculpted with the precision of an artist, with great care to get details correct.  In order to capture the flavor of what is taking place, very brief scenes (sort of snap-shots that are painted with minutia) are sprinkled throughout each episode.  Although the scenes occasionally slow the action, they add much spice to the show and contribute to the pleasure one may receive from watching Mad Men.  It is in one of these brief scenes where the sharp eyes of the ARChive of Contemporary Music found a major gaffe in season four, episode two.

The offending episode, “Christmas Comes but Once a Year,” is anchored around a Christmas party held by the ad agency to impress its biggest client.  In a very brief scene, it lasts perhaps three seconds and appears about 24 minutes and 25 seconds into the program, a man’s hand is seen placing 45s onto a record changer. Of course this scene captured my undivided attention. These precious three seconds tell the viewer exactly how the music for this party was supplied.  However, note the screen capture of the scene…

Three of the four records with discernible labels that appear in the scene may be considered of the time, 1964: (from left to right) Chancellor, Parkway and Decca.  The label of the 45 in the man’s hand–although a bit bleary–is clearly that of Eric Records.

Eric Records was founded as a reissue label in Philadelphia in May 1968 by Bill Buster.  Although the actual recording on the disc in hand may have been from 1964 or earlier (and perhaps that is why the disc was chosen for the scene), it most definitely did not appear on the Eric label until at least four years later!

Also, in the lower right corner of this scene is another anachronism.  Clearly visible is the Peter Max-like rainbow design of a record sleeve that was used to ship 45s manufactured by RCA Victor but not until the early 1970s.  Lou Reed’s “Walk on the Wild Side” (1973) was issued with this sleeve, but not Elvis Presley’s “Viva Las Vegas” (1964).

Inaccuracies such as these drive record enthusiasts (such as those here at the ARChive) nuts.  Both of these mistakes could have been avoided if the otherwise fine people at Lionsgate Productions (who make the show) were to consult the ARChive regarding the placement of sound recordings into scenes such as this.  If anyone who reads this knows people involved with the production of Mad Men, perhaps they will suggest to them that they should contact the ARChive before they start placing LPs with UPC codes into their scenes.

Reference:

http://www.45cat.com/about/eric-records

http://45-sleeves.com/

by Freddie Patterson

 

…and B. sez:  Do not do this at home or on a TV show.  NEVER touch a sound recording’s surface with your fingers!


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