Bill Nelson

Joe Biden heard earlier today: "Listen, I've taken enough shit from Castro and I sure don't need a box set of it! Joe Biden may well have thought that. I couldn't possibly comment." :-)

'Culture Factory' appears to be a French label -- located a mere stone's throw north of Andorra. Their chutzpah in using the tag 'Blue Note Collectors Edition' is perfect for pulling punters.

Stan Kenton did this electrifying version (after 3:34) on his 'Live at Redlands' album, August, 1970. The band goes wild at 3:34 after a lame attempt singing the basic lyric -- waving their arms in circles at the point of "looking at the sun". I had the pleasure of sitting front row center when they did this at Boise State in 1972 and it was indeed a thrill. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM6HacD_5hu

A quote from a 'Seinfeld' episode might apply: "Yes, they're real... and they're spectacular!"

The Master of Ceremonies interrupted the program with, "Paging Mr. Johnson... Paging Mr. Johnson." During the intermission, the MC announced, "Our guest conductor needs no introduction." Afterwards, the performance received a standing ovation.

Two days ago marks the 5th Anniversary of Lauren Bacall's passing. Y'all must be feeling some lingering 'tugs' from the great beyond. Or visit your nearest Tuesday Morning and say, "Miss Bacall sent me. You'll need to apply a 25% memorial discount."

Two years after Stafford's 'New Orleans', husband Paul Weston did an all-instrumental LP, Crescent City', (Columbia CL-977, 1956) which serves as his quasi-jazz NOLA tribute.

My copy was a mono white label promo from the collection of the (then) general manager of WSB-AM in Atlanta (along with 150 more LPs at $3 each, my biggest score).

Recorded live in Vegas, half of the songs are gambling-related and it seemed they were 'playing to the audience'. For Brubeck completists only. My copy was a mono promo with pasted-on timing strip and yes, I sold it to a completist..

Gregg presented a lasting gift to the Univ. of Georgia about two years before he passed. https://news.uga.edu/gregg-allman-scholarship-to-hugh-hodgson-school-of-music-0115

Mosaic Hines sets missing #1 and #2 seems to be an epidemic. eBay seller bluenotesound has got one with the same predicament. As my mother-in-law often said, "It could be worse."

"So maybe it is across from the cop shop -- you got a problem wit' that?"

Since Herbie Mann gave William Fischer a shot with his own LP for Embryo in 1970, check this out: specifically, 'Green Forever' running up to 4:35 (shades of Tony Williams' Lifetime w/McLaughlin) Guitar and drums courtesy of Hugh McCracken and Billy Cobham. Electronic noodling after 4:36 by Fischer.

Glad you mentioned 'Stone Flute' (1970), which has to be inspired by Miles' 'In A Silent Way'. 'SF' s overall sound is unhurried and very inside. With the help of Roy Ayers, Ron Carter, Sonny Sharrock, and Miroslav Vitous, it's completely atypical of anything else Mann has done. The string arranging by William Fischer and Selwart Clarke take the music out even further. Atlantic entrusted Mann with his own label, Embryo, and gave him full creative control on this.

A frenetic take on 'Cottontail' by Ellington

Yes, attracting newbies and vinyl fiends to visit local independent stores is certainly worthy. Obtaining limited-editions (usually 1,000 to 3,000) of alternate, never-released tracks or straight reissues (Albert King - 'Born Under A Bad Sign') makes for happy consumers. I'd expect half of purchased items to remain sealed and stored away for investment or merely gazed-upon like those who collect commemorative plates. The purchases which are opened and played may well reveal the flaws of hasty, overstressed pressing facilities*. Off-centered, warped, scratched, or horrible sounding vinyl has been reported by many customers on the Hoffman site. Most RSD stores are unable to replace defective items and may be reluctant to refund cash. Record Store Day is not necessarily a completely happy one for all concerned. *United Record Pressing in Nashville is an often-mentioned culprit

Speaking of "viable, sellable product" -- new technology helped boost the initial popularity of both Marsalis'. In 1985, when CDs in long boxes began to appear in record stores (a premium product given only a couple rows of bin space) Columbia made sure that Marsalis product was recorded in DDD and among the few jazz titles in those bins. And the sonics of those DDD recordings sounded amazing on our new CD players. New product adoption came easily with those Marsalis discs.

Tiger's 5th Masters Win (and 15th Major) has just entered the sports pantheon of Recovery and Redemption

At this moment on eBay, a NYC dealer has listed a copy of BN 'Lost Sessions' for $12.06 "or best offer". Amazon's crafty 3rd-party dealers regularly post wildly inflated prices to snare the naïve and unsophisticated.

It was Linus, Lucy and Charlie Brown that moved unit sales for Fantasy. Just two years ago, 'A Charlie Brown Christmas received 4X platinum sales certification by RIAA.

Original UA of 'Jazz Soul' was issued in mono and stereo in 1959. Specifically, UAL-4032 and UAS-5032 and pressed by Plastylite with a 'ear' onn the trail-out. My stereo original LP is a steady mix with reeds left channel, rhythm center, and brass right-side throughout. This array holds firm for every solo. No razzle-dazzle. No moving back and forth in your chairs. Jim's Ultra Audio LP is probably UA's attempt to match RCA's Stereo Action series, "the Sound your Eyes Can Follow". Both series were short-lived, running from 1960-62.

My collection of Horace Silver goes no further than 'Serenade'. I bailed out on 'Pursuit of 27th Man'

If Shecky, then it was prior to the beating he took in the parking lot. As Shecky tells it, Frank Sinatra came to his rescue, telling the henchmen, "Okay fellas, that's enough."