Dan Gould Posted July 22, 2003 Report Posted July 22, 2003 With the RVG upcoming, time to reconsider this one. I open with the poll question, but I was wondering about something else related to this album-an enormous part of the success of the album was Coltrane's tunes, and yet, to my knowledge, I can't recall that he ever revisited these numbers ever again. Maybe its the fact that he went back with Miles and when he left for good, his head was in an increasingly different place, but I do think its unfortunate that on the live recordings that have come out from the later-Miles period, Trane is of course stuck playing what Miles' called and when he did get to play his own when he went on his own, he never came back to these classic compositions. Which brings up another question-just how was Blue Train regarded at the time? Was it immediately recognized as a special record? Was it compared favorably to the "blowing sessions" on Prestige? Or had Trane even released a Prestige date as a leader at that point? Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted July 22, 2003 Report Posted July 22, 2003 I know I've heard a live version or two of "Blue Train", on what were some European boots from the early 60's, and probably the same version that's on "Live Trane: The European Tours (1961-63)" - which I haven't ever heard. He may have covered it at other times too, in concert. Quote
Peter Johnson Posted July 22, 2003 Report Posted July 22, 2003 This is an easy one, and close to my heart for a reason that is enjoyable for me to share. I picked Blue Train. In college, I was shopping for records on a whim--it was a strange whim, because I was not buying vinyl at the time, and other than my dad's Brubeck collection ( B) ) and a few rock sides, I had none. This was in the (very) early nineties, for those keeping track. I can't even remember what I was looking for in the jazz section, which is where I was browsing, but in the C's, sure enough, I came upon what I now know, but didn't know then, was a somewhat beat up original mono deep groove pressing of Blue Train. I thought the cover was cool (and I wasn't the only one--a previous owner had put four thumbtack holes, one neatly in each corner! ), thought it was worth the seven dollar price, and bought it. Probably bought a Pearl Jam or Meat Puppets record too--who the hell can remember. Now keep in mind, I had never (knowingly) listened to a blue note record, and the extent of my jazz knowledge was Kind of Blue (which I didn't even remember Trane had played on), Miles' Porgy and Bess, my Brubeck records, and Jeff Lorber. I put that record on my frat house record player ( )/soundsystem when I got home, and I never looked back. Hey guys! Check this shit out! I mean, I had the entire HOUSE digging Blue Train. "Turn it up!" "That's sick!" Remember, this was the EARLY 90's, Seattle area. 20-year-olds were NOT listening to jazz. The bug bit a little, and then bit hard when I got to grad school, which is when I finally figured out what I had purchased with lunch money at that dirty used record store in Seattle. And in classic BN DG mono form, the record looks all beat to hell, but contains hardly any groove noise. Rarely will more than two weeks go by without it getting air time in my house. So to reiterate--Blue Train! Peter J Quote
Templejazz Posted July 22, 2003 Report Posted July 22, 2003 Went with Moment's Notice. Classic, Classic, Classic. The Bb pedal section right before the break is SWEET and Lee's final chorus on this explodes. I can't tell you how many times I back up my player every time I listen to this. Quote
Dan Gould Posted July 22, 2003 Author Report Posted July 22, 2003 Nice story, Peter, I have a similar one, even from almost the same time period. I had just started getting into jazz the previous winter, and now it was spring and I was home from Graduate School. I had used the first two LPs I received (Columbia Jazz Masterpiece Sampler Volume 1 and 2) to head off into different directions-Miles and Trane, Brubeck, Basie. I went music shopping with my younger brother, who had started playing trombone in the jazz band in high school, and I saw this album. Like everyone, I liked the cover, so I showed it to my brother and he said I should get it (though he really knew nothing whatosever about it). So I get it home, put it on, am completely blown away, and I start looking at the back cover, wanting to know more about these people. The only date I could find was 1984, and I remember thinking, "that was 5 years ago-these guys must have another album out by now." I was such a newbie, I had no idea Trane had died over 20 years earlier! Quote
Alexander Hawkins Posted July 22, 2003 Report Posted July 22, 2003 I couldn't decide, really, but I went with Moment's Notice, because I think it's compositionally more interesting than Blue Train. I like them both equally to hear, but I had to split them somehow! Nice structured song, with the pedal and the breaks. Some of the changes, although they're relatively conventional, sound like the 'Coltrane' changes without actually being them. At least to my ears(!) But I like these two, MN and BT, the best! Quote
Peter Johnson Posted July 22, 2003 Report Posted July 22, 2003 That is a great story, Dan--I love the, "these guys must have another album out by now"--I went through that a lot when I was green! This would probably be a good topic for its own thread--maybe I'll try to start one. Peter J Quote
jazzbo Posted July 22, 2003 Report Posted July 22, 2003 Blue Train. That head! It's just too much. Quote
Free For All Posted July 22, 2003 Report Posted July 22, 2003 I think Blue Train was a better performance on the recording than Moment's Notice- there was an understandable amount of scuffling during solos on the latter. Just think; Lee, Curtis and Kenny were experiencing those changes for the first time (hence the title) while the composer had some time to think about what to play! I think everyone faired better on Lazy Bird. Moment's Notice certainly has the most interesting changes of the two, but the "vibe" of Blue Train is irresistable. One of Curtis' best solos ever! It's interesting that in the "Real Book" Blue Train is written as a MINOR blues. Even though the head alludes to minor blues changes, the blowing changes are regular dominant-based blues changes (just listen to Trane's first chorus). Unfortunately, a lot of young players (who have yet to realize that the Real Book has many errors) learn the tune as a minor blues. I always tell young players to check published changes with as many recordings as possible- never take anything for granted! Quote
Dan Gould Posted July 23, 2003 Author Report Posted July 23, 2003 For what it's worth, Free For All, I was asking about composition and not necessarily performance. Believe it or not, I still haven't voted yet. Need to revisit one more time before I decide. This is one of those favorites that eventually slipped into the stacks and stayed there for too long! (Sorry, Peter!) Quote
JSngry Posted July 23, 2003 Report Posted July 23, 2003 If we're talking straight composition here, I go "Lazy Bird", no contest. LOVE those changes and the way the melody lays inside them. A great melody it is too, very lyrical. Seems like this one's gotten short shrift in the cover department. Quote
Bright Moments Posted July 23, 2003 Report Posted July 23, 2003 This was a good excuse to listen to the entire album again! For me it was Blue Train, hands down! Now what album is next?! Quote
Big Wheel Posted July 23, 2003 Report Posted July 23, 2003 I'm gonna dissent here and say Locomotion. Yeah, it's a riff tune, but I'm a sucker for the blues with a bridge. And that ending is sick! Quote
Jazzdog Posted July 23, 2003 Report Posted July 23, 2003 This was a good excuse to listen to the entire album again! For me it was Blue Train, hands down! Now what album is next?! Have to agree there...my cds are not really organized and I had to look at the cover of EVERY damn disc int he pile...folks, that is a TON of disks scattered around my apartment. The payoff was pretty incredible though...gotta love "Blue Train". When that theme runs thru my noggin at inopportune monts, it brings me to a better place. I was gonna listen to the whole thing a few times and then vote, but I just have to go with my gut on this one. Trust me folks, my gut is almost as big as the pile of discs on the floor! Quote
brownie Posted July 23, 2003 Report Posted July 23, 2003 Which brings up another question-just how was Blue Train regarded at the time? Was it immediately recognized as a special record? Was it compared favorably to the "blowing sessions" on Prestige? Or had Trane even released a Prestige date as a leader at that point? The opening track 'Blue Train' did it for me. My vote went there. As for which Coltrane came first (BN or Prestige), the Prestige was out first. I was a teenage Coltrane freak at the time (I'm talking about 1958/1959) and there were very few of us around then. I caught the bug when I heard the Miles Davis Quintet records. The first articles on Coltrane appeared in swedish and french magazines around that time. Much later in the USA. I made sure at the time that any new LP by him, I'ld get. The Prestige came first. 'Blue Train' showed up some months later. I still cherish my original copies. Quote
Gary Posted July 23, 2003 Report Posted July 23, 2003 I know I've heard a live version or two of "Blue Train", on what were some European boots from the early 60's, and probably the same version that's on "Live Trane: The European Tours (1961-63)" - which I haven't ever heard. He may have covered it at other times too, in concert. Coincidentally i received the European tours set yesterday . There is a live version of Blue Train recorded 23 Nov 1961 in Stockholm , the line up includes Eric Dolphy & its beautiful! Quote
Dan Gould Posted July 23, 2003 Author Report Posted July 23, 2003 I stand corrected. Sure which he had covered the other tunes as well, though! (I am of course prepared to place my other foot in my mouth Quote
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