What Are You Listening To?

[Dennie]

I Love John Frigo He Swings -- Remastered CD

John Frigo and His Quintet

1957/2004 Mercury/Verve Records

Johnny Frigo spent most of his professional life as a jazz bassist, but in the mid-'80s he picked up his first instrument, the violin, and started what amounted to a second jazz career on that instrument. Frigo biographies frequently refer to an obscure album release from the 1950s that prefigured this change, and this is it, a session Frigo recorded in 1957 at Universal Recording Studios in Chicago for Mercury Records. Joined by guitarist Herb Ellis (Frigo and Ellis had previously worked together in the Soft Winds Trio with pianist Lou Carter), Norm Jeffries on drums, Dick Marx on piano, Cy Touff on trumpet, and the great Ray Brown on bass, Frigo delivers a wonderful swing/bop mixture that stands seamlessly with his 1980s releases. At times he uses the violin like a horn, punching in and blocking out solid runs, and at other times, like on the beautiful "Blue Orchids," he uses the instrument to approximate a tenor vocalist, stretching the melody into marvelous shapes. Frigo even does a call-and-response duet with himself on the self-penned "Big Me -- Little Me," answering the violin lines with his own bass runs. I Love John Frigo...He Swings somehow got lost in the shuffle when it was released, and Frigo went back to bass playing for 30 years before getting a late second chance at recording this kind of small-group sides on violin once more. The original master tapes of this session apparently suffered some degradation, and the recordings red-line occasionally in the digital transfer, but it's nothing too serious. Mercury/Verve should be commended for bringing this delightful album back to life. ~ Steve Leggett


"What a Diff'rence a Day Made" – 2:31
"Polka Dots and Moonbeams" – 4:19
"Blow Fiddle Blow" – 2:50
"Blue Orchids" – 3:02
"Gone With the Wind" – 3:04
"Squeeze Me" – 3:37
"You Stepped Out of a Dream" – 2:58
"Moonlight in Vermont" – 3:17
"If Love Is Good to Me" – 3:33
"Big Me — Little Me" – 2:13

Personnel: John Frigo (violin, bass); Mike Simpson (tenor saxophone, flute); Cy Touff (bass trumpet); Vic Val (tenor saxophone); Dick Marx (piano); Herb Elllis (guitar); Ray Brown (bass); Phil Faieta, Norm Jeffries (drums).Recorded at Universal Recording Studios, Chicago, Illinois, 1957

 

[Dennie]

Too Hot For Words -- Remastered CD

Teddy Wilson

1995 Hep Records (Import UK)

The Hep series of Teddy Wilson recordings has been largely superseded by the more complete Classics program. This release has 16 titles from Wilson's first four recording sessions as a leader of all-star bands (skipping his solo piano records). Since Billie Holiday has vocals on 14 of the 16 songs (every one except "Sweet Lorraine" and "Sugar Plum"); this material has been reissued numerous times, but the performances do contain their fair share of classics. ~ Scott Yanow

Track Listing
1. I Wished on the Moon
2. What a Little Moonlight Can Do
3. Miss Brown to You
4. A (And a Little Straw Hat) Sunbonnet Blue
5. It Never Dawned on Me
6. Spreadin' Rhythm Round the World
7. You Let Me Down
8. Sugar Plum
9. Rosetta
10. Liza
11. Sweet Lorraine
12. Yankee Doodle Never Went to Town
13. Eeny Meeny Meiny Mo
14. If You Were Mine
15. Liza (All the Clouds'll Roll Away)
16. Rosetta
17. These 'N' That 'N' Those
18. Sugar Plum
19. You Let Me Down
20. Spreadin' Rhythm Around

Personnel: Teddy Wilson (piano); Billie Holiday (vocals); Dave Barbour, Lawrence Lucie, John Trueheart (guitar); Cecil Scott, Tom Mace, Benny Goodman (clarinet); Grachan Moncur II, John Kirby (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Hilton Jefferson, Johnny Hodges (alto saxophone); Chu Berry, Ben Webster (tenor saxophone); Richard Clarke , Roy Eldridge (trumpet); Benny Morton (trombone); Cozy Cole (drums).Audio Remasterers: Bj”rn Almstedt; John R.T. Davies.Liner Note Author: Frank Driggs.Recording information: New York, NY (07/02/1935-12/03/1935).

 

[v8peters]

Hot Buttered Soul

Isaac Hayes

1969 Enterprise

 

[v8peters]

Can I come over and play? V8 I noticed in one of your pics, on the background, there was some "thunder thighs" (Garth Brooks).

Barney, come on over. You're always welcome! I have lots of Garth.

 

[v8peters]

Empyrean Isles

Herbie Hancock

1964 Blue Note

 

[Botch]

One of my top 5 of all time recordings; Tsuyoshi Yamamoto - Midnight Sugar

I agree Ward. I have the FIM SACD and my only complaint is I wish it was longer.

Dennie :text-bravo:

...annnnnd you guys cost me another $31. :angry-tappingfoot: bscene-buttred: :handgestures-thumbup:

 

[v8peters]

Pretzel Logic

Steely Dan

1974 ABC

 

[Botch]

Hot Buttered Soul

Isaac Hayes

1969 Enterprise

IIRC, that was a full-length LP with four songs on it, including the longest known held organ note intro (By the Time I get to Phoenix). Need to dig that puppy out! :music-listening:

 

[Wardsweb]

Steely Dan - AJA (Japan)

 

[Dennie]

Today's work truck music....

Greatest Hits -- CD

Eurythmics

1991 Arista Records

Amazon.com essential recording

One of the earliest things that we learned about Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart was that the duo had style. In their first few MTV videos, including "Sweet Dreams" and "Love Is a Stranger," they were just as notable for their androgynous suits and rubber utility coverall, as they were for their ice box synthetic dance beats. But as Eurythmics continued to churn out one hit after another, something else became refreshingly apparent: In the midst of all of the impersonal drum machines and frozen electronics, Lennox displayed both rhythm and soul. With a voice powerful enough to hold its own against genre queen Aretha Franklin ("Sisters Are Doing It for Themselves"), Lennox added another dimension to the haunting moodiness of "Who's That Girl" and "Here Comes the Rain Again." Changing personas and musical stylings with every release, Eurythmics blasted out horn-infused rockers ("Would I Lie to You"), country-fied twangers ("Thorn in My Side"), and melodic brilliance ("When Tomorrow Comes"). Greatest Hits captures the band's most inspired moments and justifies all of the original fuss. --Steve Gdula

1. "Love Is a Stranger" 3:40
2. "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" 4:50
3. "Who's That Girl?" 3:44
4. "Right by Your Side" 3:49
5. "Here Comes the Rain Again" 4:54
6. "There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)" 4:41
7. "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" (with Aretha Franklin) 4:53
8. "It's Alright (Baby's Coming Back)" 3:43
9. "When Tomorrow Comes" Lennox, Stewart, Patrick Seymour 4:15
10. "You Have Placed a Chill in My Heart" 3:46
11. "The Miracle of Love" 4:35
12. "Sexcrime (Nineteen Eighty-Four)" 3:52
13. "Thorn in My Side" 4:11
14. "Don't Ask Me Why" 4:13
15. "Angel" 4:47
16. "Would I Lie to You?" 4:22
17. "Missionary Man" 3:45
18. "I Need a Man" 4:21

 

[Deacon]

Hot Buttered Soul

Isaac Hayes

1969 Enterprise

I like this dude already! V8peters, don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

 

[Deacon]

Ship Ahoy

The O'Jays

1973 Philadelphia International

Are you sure you're not my long lost brother? I am going to start asking my Pops some serious questions if you pull out some Aretha Franklin and Ohio Players!

 

[Dennie]

Live At The Metropole Cafe N.Y.C. -- Remastered CD

Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra

1961-62/1989 Hindsight Records

.Although Lionel Hampton is heard on these live dates at the head of a big band, the vibraphonist takes nearly all of the solo space on the 11 selections included on this CD. Pinnoccio James has two vocals and tenor saxophonist Andrew McGhee stretches out on "Flying Home," but otherwise this is very much a Hampton showcase. Even on the ten minutes-plus of "Blues for Gertie," it is virtually all Hamp. Fortunately, the vibraphonist is in exuberant and hard-swinging form, so his renditions of "After You've Gone," "How High the Moon" and some basic originals are worth hearing. The backup band includes trumpeter Virgil Jones, altoist Bobby Plater and sometimes painist Roland Hanna and baritonist Pepper Adams. ~ Scott Yanow

Track Listing
1. After You've Gone
2. It's All Right With Me
3. Alexander's Ragtime Band
4. Rebecca Rebecca
5. Blues for Gertie
6. Flying Home
7. McGhee
8. Lonesome Nights (Take My Word)
9. How High the Moon
10. Mr. John
11. America by Night (Mr. 'J')

Personnel: Lionel Hampton (vibraphone); Pinnoccio James (vocals); Richard Williams (saxophone, trumpet); Bobby Plater, Ed Pazant, Andrew McGhee, Herman Green, Lonnie Shaw, Pepper Adams, John Neely (saxpophone); Dave Gonsalves, Virgil Jones, Floyd Jones, Andrew Wood (trumpet); Vincenta Prudente, Haleem Rasheed, George Jeffers, Lester Robinson (trombone); Harold Mabern, Roland Hanna, Kenny Shaw Lowe (piano); Calvin Newborn, Billy Mackell (guitar); Lawrence Burgan (bass); Wilbur Hogan, Wayne Robinson (drums).Recorded live at the Metropole Cafe, New York, New York in 1960 and 1961. Includes liner notes by Brad McCuen.Digitally remastered by Charlie Mack and John Jungklaus.

 

[Dennie]

Talkin' About -- Remastered 24 Bit CD

Grant Green - Larry Young - Elvin Jones

1965/1999 Blue Note Records

Grant Green ranked alongside Wes Montgomery as the most exciting new jazz guitarist of the early 1960s. Green recorded a couple of dozen very memorable albums for Blue Note in styles ranging from modal jazz to soul jazz, bop, funk, Latin and spirituals. When Grant Green teamed up in a trio with the forward looking organist Larry Young and drummer Elvin Jones on Talkin' About, a magical musical alchemy occurred. Far from sounding like the standard organ trio, Talkin’ About showcases three master musicians in full flight. Larry Young was no longer playing Jimmy Smith licks. He was universally acknowledged as having the first new style on organ since Smith. Elvin Jones was the major drummer of the era, and Green was capable of excelling in any setting. Just listen to the guitarist on the lengthy "Talking About J.C." and the joyous version of "I'm An Old Cowhand." You’ll quickly understand why Talkin’ About is such a sought after gem of the Blue Note catalog.

Grant Green Talkin' About! Track Listing

1. Talkin' About J.C.
2. People
3. Luny Tune
4. You Don't Know What Love Is
5. I'm An Old Cowhand

Personnel: Grant Green (guitar); Larry Young (organ); Elvin Jones (drums).Producer: Alfred Lion.Reissue producer: Michael Cuscuna.Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on September 11, 1964. Originally released on Blue Note (84183). Includes liner notes by Leonard Feather.Digitally remastered using 24-bit technology by Ron McMaster.

 

[v8peters]

Take a Look

Aretha Franklin

1967 Columbia

 

[v8peters]

Fire

Ohio Players

1974 Mercury

 

[Kazaam]

Today's work truck music....

Greatest Hits -- CD

Eurythmics

1991 Arista

Coincidentally, "The Eurythmics" was one of the answers, erm questions, on today's episode of Jeopardy!

 

[Deacon]

Hello Dad, this may be hard for you to get through but I must know.

Do you have any 'off-the-yard' kids that we don't know about?

Why do I ask you say?

Well there's this new guy on the forum and he has all my favorite albums on vinyl and it just seems like too much of a coincidence to just be a coincidence...

 

[Zing]

Vince, you're obviously reading other people's posts and responding so perhaps you simply missed mine from Sunday. Or, because you're new, you may not know that system(s) pics are required.

For your convenience, I'll repost below.

I have two Klipsch systems and a Paradgim system.

Pics or I call BS! :banana-gotpics:

 

[v8peters]

Vince, you're obviously reading other people's posts and responding so perhaps you simply missed mine from Sunday. Or, because you're new, you may not know that system(s) pics are required.

For your convenience, I'll repost below.

I have two Klipsch systems and a Paradgim system.

Pics or I call BS! :banana-gotpics:

LOL! I'll get pics soon, I promise.