Back To It With The Blue Note Masterworks Series

A VERY busy first part of the year, so haven't been able to post much, but we're back at it now here at Down Memory Lane Records and ready for some posting.

So, what have I been listening to?

A lot of jazz reissues, many coming from Dusty Groove, though some from Amazon and Import Cds as well.

These 50 Japanese Blue Note SHM-CD reissues released last December as part of the Blue Note Masterworks Series are highly recommended.

I've especially enjoyed the Lee Morgan reissues:

Lee Morgan: Charisma

Lee Morgan: The Gigolo

Lee Morgan: Delightful

Lee Morgan: Sixth Sense

There are other great reissues from Donald Byrd, Hank Mobley, Grant Green, Tina Brooks and other Blue Note artists from the 60's, some playing hard bop, some playing some soul jazz, and some playing a little more experimental.

The sound is excellent, the booklets are well done, with Japanese and English notes (the latter by Michael Cuscuna) along with original liner notes.

As always, the Japanese imports are more expensive than U.S. or U.K. CDS, but these are put together with care and a lot of them are long out of print anyway here in the U.S.

More later this week about the Blue Note Masterworks series - but I want to end on this: Get them before they're out of print

Miles Davis and John Coltrane: The Final Tour: Bootleg Series Vol. 6

Really looking forward to this:

From Sony Legacy comes Miles Davis and John Coltrane: The Final Tour: Bootleg Series Vol. 6
- here's the description:

The latest entry in the acclaimed Miles Davis Bootleg Series focuses on the final chapter in the landmark collaboration between Davis and saxophonist John Coltrane: their last live performances together.

Miles and Coltrane first collaborated in 1955, when Davis recruited the tenor saxophonist alongside pianist Red Garland, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Philly Joe Jones. This "first great quintet" debuted on record with Round About Midnight, Miles' first album for Columbia Records in 1957. These early recordings showcased the stunning contrasts between Miles' spacious, melodic lines and Trane's cascading high-energy solos, famously described by the critic Ira Gilter in 1958 as "sheets of sound."

While the quintet disbanded shortly after the release of 'Round About Midnight, Coltrane was back in Miles' ensemble in early 1958. A year later, the Miles Davis Sextet (Davis, Coltrane, Chambers, saxophonist Julian "Cannonball" Adderley, pianist Bill Evans and drummer Jimmy Cobb) recorded the historic Kind Of Blue, the best-selling jazz album of all time. That same year, Coltrane built upon the modal jazz ideas of Kind Of Blue (based on scales or "modes" instead of chords) on his fifth studio album Giant Steps, released by Atlantic Records in 1960.

Nonetheless, these early performances from that European tour Miles and Trane's last outing together before Coltrane passed away in 1967 showcased both musicians' incredible influence on the changing sound of jazz. The beautiful music they made together is presented here for the first time from the original ¼" analog tapes recorded by national broadcasters in France and Sweden.

The 4CD set The Final Tour: The Bootleg Series Vol. 6 includes concerts recorded in Paris, Copenhagen and Stockholm. 

 And the tracklist:

Tracklist
[CD1]
1. All Of You
2. So What
3. On Green Dolphin Street
4. Walkin'

[CD2]
1. Bye Bye Blackbird
2. 'Round Midnight
3. Oleo
4. The Theme
5. Introduction
6. So What
7. On Green Dolphin Street
8. All Blues
9. The Theme (Incomplete)

[CD3]
1. Introduction By Norman Granz
2. So What
3. Fran Dance
4. Walkin'
5. The Theme

[CD4]
1. So What (Second Concert)
2. On Green Dolphin Street
3. All Blues
4. The Theme (Second Concert)
5. John Coltrane Interview - John Coltrane

These Davis Bootleg editions have been excellent documents of different times in Miles' career. 

I just got the (now out of print) Mosaic edition of Paul Chambers Blue Note albums, so I've been spending a little time listening to the bass player from Davis' "first great quintet." 

It's going to be great to get these performances on cd.

Sensational Sweet: Brian Connolly Years 77-77

Just got the boxset Sensational Sweet, the Brian Connolly Years 71-77:

I'm a big fan of Slade, Mott and Sweet, so to get a big box like this with all kinds of bonus tracks is a great early Christmas gift.

Here's the description: 

Nine CD box set from the British glam rockers. Contains all of their original albums featuring vocalist Brian Connolly released between 1971 and 1978 - Funny How Sweet Co-Co Can Be (1971), Sweet Fanny Adams (1974), Desolation Boulevard (1974), Give Us A Wink (1976), Off The Record (1977) and Level Headed (1978) - in restored artwork plus bonus CDs featuring non-album singles and B-sides plus newly rediscovered BBC live recordings.

Here's the track list:

[CD 1 – ‘Funny, How Sweet Co Co Can Be’
Original Studio Album + 1 bonus track

1. Co-Co
2. Chop Chop
3. Reflections
4. Honeysuckle Love
5. Santa Monica Sunshine
6. Daydream
7. Funny Funny
8. Tom Tom Turnaround
9. Jeanie
10. Sunny Sleeps Late
11. Spotlight
12. Done Me Wrong All Right
13. Be with You Soon

CD2 – ‘Sweet Fanny Adams’
Original Studio Album + 3 previously unreleased new bonus tracks

1. Set Me Free
2. Heartbreak Today
3. No You Don’t
4. Rebel Rouser
5. Peppermint Twist
6. Sweet F.A.
7. Restless
8. In to the Night
9. AC-DC
10. In to the Night
11. Set Me Free
12. Rebel Rouser (Steve Priest Lead Vocal Version)

CD3 – ‘Desolation Boulevard’
Original Studio Album + 7 bonus tracks, 4 of them are previously unreleased new content

1. The Six Teens
2. Solid Gold Brass
3. Turn It Down
4. Medussa
5. Lady Starlight
6. Man With the Golden Arm
7. Fox on the Run
8. Breakdown
9. My Generation
10. I Wanna Be Committed
11. Medussa
12. Burn on the Flame
13. Turn It Down
14. Are You Coming to See Me
15. Fox on the Run
16. Lady Starlight – Andy Scott

CD4 – ‘Give Us A Wink!’
Original Studio Album + 4 bonus tracks, 1 of them are previously unreleased new content

1. The Lies in Your Eyes
2. Cockroach
3. Keep It In
4. 4th of July
5. Action
6. Yesterday’s Rain
7. White Mice
8. Healer
9. Cockroach
10. 4th of July
11. Action
12. Cockroach

‘Off The Record’
Original Studio Album + 7 bonus tracks, 2 of them are previously unreleased new content

1. Fever of Love
2. Lost Angels
3. Midnight to Daylight
4. Windy City
5. Live for Today
6. She Gimme Lovin’
7. Laura Lee
8. Hard Times
9. Funk It Up
10. Midnight to Daylight
11. Lost Angels
12. She Gimme Lovin’
13. Hard Times
14. Fever of Love
15. Fever of Love
16. A Distinct Lack of Ancient

CD 6 – ‘Level Headed’
Original Studio Album + 7 bonus tracks, 4 of them are previously unreleased new content

1. Dream On
2. Love Is Like Oxygen
3. California Nights
4. Strong Love
5. Fountain
6. Anthem No I (Lady of the Lake)
7. Silverbird
8. Lettres D’Amour
9. Anthem No II
10. Air on a Tape Loop
11. Love Is Like Oxygen
12. California Nights
13. Cover Girl
14. Show Me the Way
15. Dream On
16. Strong Love
17. California Nights
18. Dream On

CD 7 – ‘The Lost Singles’
Non-Album-Singles & B-Sides Compilation (83 minutes playing time)

1. Stairway to the Stars
2. Why Don’t You Do It to Me
3. Funk It Up
4. A Distinct Lack of Ancient
5. Action
6. Fox on the Run
7. Miss Demeanor
8. Someone Else Will
9. Burn on the Flame
10. Teenage Rampage
11. Own Up, Take a Look at Yourself
12. The Ballroom Blitz
13. Rock & Roll Disgrace
14. Hell Raiser
15. Burning
16. Blockbuster
17. Need a Lot of Lovin’
18. Wig Wam Bam
19. New York Connection
20. Little Willy
21. Man From Mecca
22. Poppa Joe
23. Alexander Graham Bell
24. You’re Not Wrong for Loving Me

CD 8 – ‘The Rainbow (Sweet Live in The UK)’
The full concert – previously unavailable on CD since 2007

1. The Stripper (Intro)
2. Hell Raiser
3. Burning/Someone Else Will
4. Rock’n Roll Disgrace
5. Wig Wam Bam
6. Need A Lot Of Loving
7. Done Me Wrong All Right
8. You’re Not Wrong for Loving Me
9. The Man with the Golden Arm
10. Little Willy
11. Teenage Rampage
12. Rock’n Roll Medley
13. Ballroom Blitz
14. Block Buster!

CD 9: ‘The Sweet At The BEEB (The BBC Radio Sessions)’
17 Tracks, 15 newly unearthed and previously unreleased

1. Lollipop Man
2. Time
3. The Juicer
4. All You’ll Ever Get from Me
5. Love Me Two Times
6. I Can’t Explain
7. Paperback Writer
8. I Can Hear the Grass Grow
9. Baby What You Want Me to Do
10. The Who Medley
11. Summertime Blues
12. Done Me Wrong All Right
13. Mr. Business Man
14. Santa Monica Sunshine
15. Chop Chop
16. Rock’n’Roll Repetition
17. Need a Lot of Lovin’

Get it!

Motown Unreleased: 1966

This Motown set Motown Unreleased: 1966 has been available digitally but now it is available in a limited set of 1000 copies from udiscovermusic.com.

Disc 1
1. The Miracles - The Soulful Shack (Alternate Version) 2:57
2. The Temptations - Ain't Too Proud To Beg (Alternate Version) 2:40
3. Marvin Gaye - Suddenly I Was Alone 2:39
4. Billy Eckstine - The Shadow Of Your Smile 3:07
5. I Got You (In My Soul) - The Mynah Birds 2:30
6. The Mynah Birds - I'll Wait Forever 2:08
7. Jr. Walker And The All Stars - Road Burner (Son Of Road Runner) 2:56
8. Billy Eckstine - For Once In My Life 2:41
9. Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston - That'll Be The Day 2:50
10. Earl Van Dyke - Don't Mess With Bill 3:15
11. The Miracles - Flower Girl (Alternate Version) 2:22
12. Brenda Holloway - Can't You Hear Me Knocking 3:03
13. Brenda Holloway - Whenever You Need Me 3:26
14. Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston - Just Too Much To Hope For 3:01
15. Earl Van Dyke - Stand By Me (Live At The 20 Grand, Detroit/1966) 3:47
16. The Four Tops - A Taste Of Honey 3:06
17. The Four Tops - Wives And Lovers (Take 1) 2:36
18. The Four Tops - Wives And Lovers (Take 3) 2:36
19. The Four Tops - Wives And Lovers (Take 4) 2:36

Disc 2
1. Brenda Holloway - The Lonely Heart And Lonely Eyes Of Lonely Me 2:51
2. Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston - Give A Little Love 2:40
3. Brenda Holloway - What Good Am I Without You 2:58
4. Jr. Walker And The All Stars - Pucker Up Buttercup (Alternate Version) 3:02
5. Earl Van Dyke - Monkey Talk 2:43
6. Barbara McNair - A World Without You 2:26
7. Brenda Holloway - I Still Get Butterflies 2:54
8. Gladys Knight & The Pips - In My Heart I Know It's Right 2:41
9. Gladys Knight & The Pips - I'm Losing You 3:03
10. Gladys Knight and The Spinners - All These Things 3:13
11. The Four Tops - Hello, Young Lovers 2:25
12. The Four Tops - I Wish You Love 3:37
13. Barbara McNair - Put On A Happy Face 1:55
14. Barbara McNair - The Second Time Around 3:15
15. Barbara McNair - Smile 3:42
16. Barbara McNair - Day In - Day Out 2:04
17. Gladys Knight & The Pips - Nothing But A Fool 2:51
18. Gladys Knight & The Pips - You're Gone (But Always In My Heart) 2:39
19. Chris Clark - Never Stop Loving Me 2:46
20. Gladys Knight & The Pips - Don't Compare Me With Her 2:49
21. Barbara McNair - You've Got Possibilities 2:08
22. Chris Clark - Never Trust A Man 2:32

Disc 3
1. The Marvelettes - Sweet Talkin' Guy 2:30
2. Brenda Holloway - I Feel Your Love Growin' On Me 3:09
3. Brenda Holloway - Without Love You Lose A Good Feelin' 3:14
4. Brenda Holloway - You Got A Little Of Everything 2:35
5. Brenda Holloway - Baby I've Got It 2:17
6. Brenda Holloway - Keep Me 2:33
7. The Miracles - I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself (Alternate Version) 2:38
8. Spinners - I Can't Let You Go 2:49
9. Little Lisa - Keep Away 2:40
10. Spinners - Tea House In China Town (Alternate Version) 3:09
11. Marvin Gaye - I Found Something (Alternate Version) 2:27
12. The Isley Brothers - Save Me From This Misery 2:19
13. Chris Clark - I Still Love You 2:26
14. The Isley Brothers - Got To Have You Back (Alternate Version) 2:51
15. Gladys Knight & The Pips - I Can't Take You Back 2:37
16. The Temptations - Then 2:43
17. Brenda Holloway - I'm Giving Up 2:26
18. Brenda Holloway - Spellbound 2:09
19. Spinners - For All We Know (Alternate Version) 3:14

Disc 4
1. Brenda Holloway - Can't Hold The Feeling Back 2:21
2. Billy Eckstine - The Impossible Dream 3:15
3. Marvin Gaye - Dear Miss Lonely Hearts 2:59
4. The Underdogs - Need Your Lovin' (Want You Back) 2:23
5. The Underdogs - One Of These Days 2:54
6. The Four Tops - On A Clear Day (You Can See Forever) 3:05
7. The Supremes - More (Theme From "Mondo Cane") 2:54
8. The Supremes - Somewhere 4:14
9. The Supremes - Michelle 2:58
10. Debbie Dean - I'm So Helpless (When I'm With You) 2:27
11. Marvin Gaye - Swing Low, Sweet Chariot 4:50
12. Kim Weston - Just A Closer Walk With Thee 3:04
13. Kim Weston - Never Grow Old 4:33
14. Kim Weston - How Great Thou Art 4:52
15. Gladys Knight & The Pips - Just A Closer Walk With Thee - 3:04
16. The Supremes - Were You There 4:42
17. The Supremes - What Do You Choose The Supremes 2:31
18. Marvin Gaye - Steal Away 4:26
19. The Miracles - Near The Cross 3:05
20. Martha & The Vandellas- Just A Closer Walk With Thee 4:45

I've been a big fan of the Motown singles box sets, so I'm on board for any new Motown box releases like this - especially when it's physical product over the cheaper MP3's that had been available digitally.

The set is released December 15.

Isaac Hayes: The Spirit of Memphis and Stax Singles, Volume 4: Rarities and Best of the Rest

Just received Isaac Hayes: The Spirit of Memphis 1962-1976 in the mail after waiting for a few weeks to get it (bills and all.) It's part of Concord Music Group's sixtieth anniversary celebration of Stax Records and I've been enjoying the set so far.

The first disc covers Hayes-penned or Hayes-produced cuts for Stax Record the second one covers Volt and Enterprise Records singles releases, the third one covers, well, cover versions by Hayes as well as a live show from Chicago in 1972, and the fourth cd is entitled "Jam Master" and has extended jams including the 33 minute "Do Your Thing" that just goes on and on.

There's a lot of music here, most of it quite worthwhile (not sure about the 33 minute jam of "Do Your Thing!") and I highly recommend the set.

Coming next in the Stax sixtieth anniversary release party is Stax Singles, Volume 4: Rarities and Best of the Rest. The info at Amazon says the box will offer "a cross-section of music from all of Stax's associated imprints, including: Truth, Chalice, Enterprise, Hip and Ardent, offering not just soul tracks, but also gospel, country, rock and blues. An accompanying booklet, with photos and extensive new liner notes, will round out the package."

I've long had the first three volumes, which are the Stax sides, so it's great to get some of the b-sides as well, though given that the set is only 6 cds, it's going to be far from definitive.

In any case, it's fun to get these releases and it;s got me digging out a lot of the old Stax releases, especially the singles box sets from years back.

Trying To Listen George Michael's "Listen Without Prejudice" Without Prejudice

Finally got the 3CD/1DVD release of George Michael's Listen Without Prejudice.

My wife is a huge George Michael fan and has been awaiting this re-release since it was first announced over a year ago.

She is also still mourning his untimely passing last Christmas.

She likes Listen Without Prejudice more than Faith and likes to make the argument that the album did exactly what George Michael wanted it to do - make him into a serious artist moving away from the bubble gum days of Wham!

I like Faith better and find Listen Without Prejudice a little "heavy-handed," as the All Music review put it years ago.  It just feels like he's trying way too hard to be a "serious" artist and it takes away some of the great fun that Michael gave us with Faith.

In listening to the 3CD/1DVD release that arrived this week at our house, nothing has changed in how we view the album. The wife still loves it, thinks it's Michael's best album and wishes he had gotten around to make Volume 2 (as Listen Without Prejudice is named "Volume 1") while I think it's a bit overblown and not as fun as Faith.

They added an MTV Unplugged concert to the package which comes six years after the original album as well as a disc of B-sides and Mixes.  The wife prefers the B-sides and Mixes and says it was worth it to get the Heal the Pain version with Paul McCartney and Desafinado with Astrud Gilberto (the last two songs on the B-Sides and Mixes disc.)

Give Listen Without Prejudice a shot if you're a big George Michael fan like my wife and, if you're not, there's always Faith (which got a decent re-release in 2011.)

 Listen Without Prejudice (3CD/1DVD)

Faith (2CD)

A Certain Ratio Reissues

Here's some exciting news: Mute is releasing three A Certain Ratio cds in late November.  They are:

The Graveyard and The Ballroom

To Each

Force

LTM Records had released Force back in 2009, but it's gone out of print, so it's good to have Mute reissuing the album (albeit, with what looks to be a slightly different track list if the Amazon listing is accurate.)

The other two albums, To Each and The Graveyard and The Ballroom, were issued in 2004 by Universal Sound, but those editions have been out of print for some time as well, though two songs from Graveyard showed up on the Soul Jazz compilation A Certain Ratio.

LTM put out a couple of other ACR albums along with Force (I'd Like To See You Again, which came out on the Factory Benelux imprint, and Mind Made Up, which came out on LTM proper) that are both deleted, though Factory Benelux did release a double cd edition of Sextet that contains both the issued album and some non-album sides and Peel sessions.

If you're a fan of Factory Records or post-punk funk, ACR are highly recommended. A few years ago, I got into a Factory Records obsession and began buying up as many LTM and Factory Benelux reissues as I could.  If you can get your hands on them, they have excellent sound and great packaging.

Hopefully some of the other ACR albums that are out of print will get reissues, but for now, we have these three Mute releases to look forward to.