"Charlie Earland Trio" on Choice Records BOSS ORGAN

[Allan Songer]

This looks like a REALLY early Charles Earland LP. I have never seen or heard of it. Anyone have any information?

Edited October 21, 2006 by Allan Songer

[Dan Gould]

Allen,

I found that one a while back when I was on a serious Earland kick. If I recall correctly, most of that session was reissued on Muse on Mama Roots and Smokin' and I tracked down this LP to get the rest of it (some of the tracks on the Muse LPs were new - makes for a real discographical mess).

If I were better motivated, I'd pull out my copies of the Muse LPs and compare tracks. But that's how I remember it. Its a good LP, that's for sure.

[Stereojack]

Allen,

I found that one a while back when I was on a serious Earland kick. If I recall correctly, most of that session was reissued on Muse on Mama Roots and Smokin' and I tracked down this LP to get the rest of it (some of the tracks on the Muse LPs were new - makes for a real discographical mess).

If I were better motivated, I'd pull out my copies of the Muse LPs and compare tracks. But that's how I remember it. Its a good LP, that's for sure.

Just looked this up in Raben's "Jazz Records". Earland had two LP's on Choice, both recorded c. 1969. All of the second one "Soul Crib" was reissued on Muse, but apparently this one was not reissued.

[Soul Stream]

BOSS ORGAN is a GREAAAAAAATTTT record. Dan Gould hipped me to it and I've loved it ever since. Charles Earland could no doubt groove on the organ from day one. Awesome. Great find!

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Wish I had this one. Only "Danny Boy soul" was reissued on "Smokin'". All other tracks have never been reissued.

"Smokin'" contains some tracks that were recorded at the same sessions as these, but have different titles.

My discog of Charles is posted on the Earland thread - but I've got to carve the meat now, so no time to find it.

MG

[Dan Gould]

I've transferred all three LPs to CD so its time, hopefully today, to listen to these cuts and figure out what is from the Choice record and what isn't. My recollection is that all of the trio recordings on the Muse LPs came from the Choice sessions, and they filled up the two LPs with cuts with George Coleman and David Schnitter.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

I've transferred all three LPs to CD so its time, hopefully today, to listen to these cuts and figure out what is from the Choice record and what isn't. My recollection is that all of the trio recordings on the Muse LPs came from the Choice sessions, and they filled up the two LPs with cuts with George Coleman and David Schnitter.

It'll be good to get this sorted out, Dan. Not having the original LPs, I've always wondered precisely what was what.

MG

[JSngry]

The Choice logo on that label looks almost identical to that of the Choice label from the 70s, a label which had a decidedly different orientation than this one (that catalog listening on the back of the Earland looks interesting, to put it mildly). Anybody know if it was the same label?

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

The Choice logo on that label looks almost identical to that of the Choice label from the 70s, a label which had a decidedly different orientation than this one (that catalog listening on the back of the Earland looks interesting, to put it mildly). Anybody know if it was the same label?

The Choice label for which Earland recorded was owned and operated by Ozzie Cadena. This explains the Gospel orientation of much of the rest of the label's output. Ozzie was hired as a record producer by Herman Lubinsky of Savoy Records in the fifties and was responsible for Savoy undertaking much Gospel recording at the studios of one Rudy Van Gelder. It was also Ozzie who was responsible for much, if not all, of the Gospel recordings issued on Prestige's subsidiary, Trusound.

I don't know about the '70s label.

MG

[Stereojack]

I don't know about the '70s label.

The 70's label was owned by Gerry MacDonald.

[Dan Gould]

I've transferred all three LPs to CD so its time, hopefully today, to listen to these cuts and figure out what is from the Choice record and what isn't. My recollection is that all of the trio recordings on the Muse LPs came from the Choice sessions, and they filled up the two LPs with cuts with George Coleman and David Schnitter.

It'll be good to get this sorted out, Dan. Not having the original LPs, I've always wondered precisely what was what.

MG

Well, here goes:

"Danny Boy Soul" (Boss Organ) is different from "Danny Boy's Soul" (Smokin') as there is a tenor at the opening before the theme - he also solos (sounds like Coleman, not Schnitter).

Also, "Millology" (Boss Organ) is the same tune as "Penn Relays" (Smokin) but it is a different performance, as Schnitter solos first on the Muse LP and Ponder solos first on the Choice LP.

However, "Six Twice" (Boss Organ) appears to be the exact same tune as "Red Green & Black Blues" on Mama Roots. Timing was ever so slightly different, but I noticed, right around 3:40 on both tunes, the same organ trill heading into a new chorus.

My other observation would be that the Choice LP has superior sound, and that isn't just a difference in the particular copies I have.

And a final observation would be that all three albums deserve a lotta

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

I've transferred all three LPs to CD so its time, hopefully today, to listen to these cuts and figure out what is from the Choice record and what isn't. My recollection is that all of the trio recordings on the Muse LPs came from the Choice sessions, and they filled up the two LPs with cuts with George Coleman and David Schnitter.

It'll be good to get this sorted out, Dan. Not having the original LPs, I've always wondered precisely what was what.

MG

Well, here goes:

"Danny Boy Soul" (Boss Organ) is different from "Danny Boy's Soul" (Smokin') as there is a tenor at the opening before the theme - he also solos (sounds like Coleman, not Schnitter).

Also, "Millology" (Boss Organ) is the same tune as "Penn Relays" (Smokin) but it is a different performance, as Schnitter solos first on the Muse LP and Ponder solos first on the Choice LP.

However, "Six Twice" (Boss Organ) appears to be the exact same tune as "Red Green & Black Blues" on Mama Roots. Timing was ever so slightly different, but I noticed, right around 3:40 on both tunes, the same organ trill heading into a new chorus.

My other observation would be that the Choice LP has superior sound, and that isn't just a difference in the particular copies I have.

And a final observation would be that all three albums deserve a lotta

That is VERY interesting, Dan. Thanks. I'll update the discography, accordingly.

But it rasies the question of whether the material on Choice 520 - "Soul crib" is the same as the other tracks on "Smokin'" or if there are some alternative takes on the Muse LP.

Anyone got that one?

MG

[JSngry]

I don't know about the '70s label.

The 70's label was owned by Gerry MacDonald.

So what was up with the logo similarity? Coincidence?

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

A further point, Dan; do Coleman and Schnitter appear on the other "Boss organ" tracks?

MG

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Sorry - one more point.

I always had a feeling that "Danny Boy's soul" was recorded at a different, much earlier, session. Charles' playing on this is VERY like Jimmy McGriff's and quite different from the other tracks from this session that were put on "Smokin'". What's your feeling about that?

MG

[Dan Gould]

A further point, Dan; do Coleman and Schnitter appear on the other "Boss organ" tracks?

MG

MG,

Boss Organ is pure trio, no horns.

As for your other question, I'm not so sure, though I am not as attuned to different organists as you are. But as I was listening, on both LPs, Charles sounds very similar, such that I almost started to wonder if the track on Smokin' could be the same track with an overdubbed tenor. Its not, of course (the times are different) but still, the similarity was there. Whether there is a distinct difference between that and other tracks on Smokin', well, I'll excuse myself from that discussion in favor of folks with better ears.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Oh, I didn't realise from your earlier post that there are no saxes on "Millology" - I thought you meant there was a different order to the solos. Glad that's clear.

On "Danny Boy soul", much of Charles' solo - from when he goes into double time - is almost a straight lift from McGriff's "M G blues" from the "I've got a woman" LP. I'm sure you've got that one to compare.

MG

[Dan Gould]

On "Danny Boy soul", much of Charles' solo - from when he goes into double time - is almost a straight lift from McGriff's "M G blues" from the "I've got a woman" LP. I'm sure you've got that one to compare.

MG

I think I do but it turned out to be such a crappy copy I never transferred it or listened all the way through. I'll have to dig it out.

[Soul Stream]

Wow, great thread.... Forgot about this one. Dan really is the man on this stuff. He hipped me to all of this at the time.... Still lots of mystery left it seems.

[Dan Gould]

Funny when I opened the other thread I thought to myself "$163?! Time to put my copy up." Then I noticed that's a set price, not the result of a bidding war. Then I went through my LPs and realized I never landed a copy of the other Choice album anyway.

[Soul Stream]

Hey Dan...have you ever heard the Greezie 45 of Charlie Earland ...Hold On I'm Coming/Rescue Me....seems like I SWORE I heard that somewhere..?

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

I seem to recall that Funky 16 corners had it on their site a few years ago. I think I listened to it in the library, before I was on line at home.

MG