Bill Nelson

Nearly five hours with Hazel Barnes can break most walls of resistance. Hazel's hair style is severely Keely Smith and her overall vibe is like a strict school librarian. You know, with a sour-face of constant disapproval and such conservative dress -- when she crosses her legs you can hear the sound of rubber stretching.

"Composer Mark Spencer" appears as the final credits roll at 4:55:15 -- the proverbial long trip to the well.

While we're on the subject of the Broadway musical, 'How To Succeed in Business', there's a brilliant lyric stanza inside the song, 'Coffee Break': "If I can't make three daily trips, where shining shrine benignly drips, and taste cardboard between my lips, something within me dies."

All the cats whose royalties he copped can finally see him in hell.

Don't ask me why, but I've got the 45-rpm single, Capitol 5503. It's titled, 'The Lurch' by Ted Cassidy as Lurch (with the music of Gary Paxton). Until now, I never knew the dance moves, which reminds me of leaving the bar after getting shipwrecked.

The above texts from Verve are so thick with bullshit, larded heavily with name-dropping. Why do any of us need to view these exercises in written excretion?

Gene Lees takes the reader inside his coterie of singers and musicians -- making you feel part of the inner circle. While the ride makes you glad to be invited, it soon rubs off as smug and ingratiating. Still, I've kept six of his books for my occasional drop-ins to Lees' intimate parties.

The 26:30 track, 'Casinha Pequenina', is the 'raison d'etre' for me. At midpoint, it enters a state of total exhilaration which would be the envy of Frank Zappa and perhaps Sun Ra.

While these All Platinum cheap repros kept the record titles in stores de fucto, the vinyl itself was flimsy (see: RCA Dynaflex), often warped, and with pressing bubbles. Adding in the thin cardboard LP jackets with bastardized cover art and you had a product barely worth the $1.98 sticker price. Given the connection to Roulette, any artist/composer asking for royalties would be greeted with, "You got some kind of PROBLEM, buddy?"

Santana (same year as Woodstock) Richie Havens (James Cotton Band opened) Arlo Guthrie Sly & the Family Stone (same year as Woodstock) Ten Years After (Blood, Sweat &Tears on the same bill at '69 Newport Jazz Fest) Johnny Winter (the following night at '69 Newport Jazz)

Just be sure to leave it in the shrink wrap for future resale.

"My bald spot is actually a solar panel for a sex machine."

Next door is a Pomeranian which frequently tempts me to violate my local city gun ordinance.

Yusef Lateef - 'Live at Pep's' (in Philly). Grant Green and Lonnie Liston Smith recorded separate LPs 'Live at Club Mozambique' (in Detroit).

Barbara Moore was the singer on the Roger Webb Sound's 'Vocal Patterns'. Here's one track which qualifies for entry in TTK's 'Now Sound' or 'Swinging Jet Set':

Speaking of Nina in '69, I saw her on Jan. 31 that year at the Boston Globe Jazz Fest (at the War Memorial Auditorium). Instead of being in thrall, I was scared shitless and avoided eye contact -- fearing she might find me. Nina appeared on a bill with B.B. King, Hugh Masekela, and Sun Ra (who proceeded to clear out the mostly white audience). Despite quaking in the fierce 'pleasure' of Ms. Simone, I should've attended the previous night when Roland Kirk sat in with the Mothers of Invention.

Many thanks to the above-thread contributors who convinced me to get into my local theater for 'Summer of Soul'. it was the first actual movie I'd seen since '1917' and the experience was well worth the trip. By itself, the duo of Mahalia Jackson and Mavis Staples was, as HutchFan said, "as powerful and beautiful as music can possibly be". 'SoS' went far beyond any previous festival or concert films, as it had actual participants reflect on the 1969 concerts. In addition, there were several documentary drop-ins of prior political and social events of the 60's to provide context. As an Athens resident, I cannot overlook the commentary of journalist Charlayne Hunter-Gault describing her breaking the color barrier in 1960 to attend the University of Georgia. Indeed, such were the times and it's to the credit of 'SoS' for the many reminders.

"Buddy Poor" and "Art Salt" (album creds you can easily guess).

Michael GJ's 1979 Arista LP, 'Heart and Center' is amazing -- a favorite. Imagine Shuggie Otis' Inspiration Information' with Baikida Carroll. Marty Ehrlich, and Pheeroan ak Laff drumming on all 8 tracks. The album has yet to appear on CD -- there's probably more vinyl promo copies from '79 than stocks.

The frequency of DG's entire pages of "Just Sold Out" used CDs defies credulity. It invites suspicion that a single buyer has worked a deal under the table -- esp. when the they all got 'sold' within minutes of posting. On a good day, U.S. music dealers can't unload HALF of their listed CDs.

As Warren got older, she reminded me of John Wayne in drag. (Not that I've actually had the pleasure.)

I require dining out followed by a show before proceeding to "de-tangle those luscious locks".

However, with Crown you get outstanding audio fidelity from top quality vinyl. And at such an affordable price, who needs inner sleeves?

I've sold my Mosaic box and since bought the individual CDs and Music Matters' 33 of Jackie's Bag'. The Mosaic re-mastering sounded tepid, the CDs are much better, esp. the XRCD of 'Back To the Tracks'.

Thanks guys, for steering me from the P2, as I need both automatic return and 45 rpm features (yes, for Music Matters).