Classic Capitol Jazz Sessions

[Jazzmoose]

Guys, I'm still trying to make my mind up on how I'm going to take advantage of this Mosaic/True Blue sale! The problem isn't what to get from True Blue, I've worked that out pretty well. The problem is the Mosaic sets. For some reason, this one keeps popping up in my mind. Anyone out there got it? Like it? Hate it? Good but not essential? (I always hated that, "not essential"...jeez!) Any comments would be appreciated!

[jazzbo]

I've had this since about five or six months after its release.

I love it. It has so many fantastic sessions many to most of which we aren't going to see get separate release for a LOOOOOOONNNNNNGG time. The sound is great. It's exensive, BUT it would mean a nice discount on other items from True Blue. I recommend it.

[Guest mary mcgoon]

Actually one of my favorite Mosaics, and the kind of set I wish they would do more often.

There's a lot of great music from people who are often undeservedly overlooked- Mel Powell, Carl Kress, Rex Stewart, Red Norvo, Stan Hasselgard (Benny Goodman's clarinet protogee), and Bud Freeman, in addition to the Benny Carter and Cootie Williams big bands, and various trad sessions featuring Nappy Lamare & Eddie Miller among others.

What I really like is the variety- the set runs from dixieland to bop, and includes a lot of stuff (Kress, Norvo and Powell especially), that falls into that ?? category- it's jazz but it's jazz of a somewhat uncategorizable and highly individualistic type. A lot of what's on here has made itself a little home in my brain, which is the only definition of "essential" I recognize.

And of course, like Lon said, most of this music is probably not going to be easily available again once the set's gone. So it's worth it....

[Ed S]

One of my absolutely favorite Mosaics. A treasure trove of music that would never have and may never will see the light of day. There's so much great material and so many different styles on this set that I find it very easy to listen to the whole set straight through. Can't say much more that what the others posters have added. I would not be without this set - it's fabulous.

[ghost of miles]

Mark, I, too, love this set (in fact I just pulled it out last night to listen to the Joe Sullivan/Mel Powell sides). The Carter and Williams material is priceless, and there are nice stray sets of Anita O'Day and Kay Starr, in addition to the other artists already mentioned. There is a fair amount of trad/dixie early on (just a cautionary note--don't know your feelings about that music, but it's not enough to keep me from really enjoying the set. A little bit of it goes a long way for my own tastes). Given the ongoing Mosaic/True Blue sale, this seems like a prime moment to grab the Capitol set.

[vajerzy]

If I had to pick one set to keep and sell the others- it would be the Classic Capitol Jazz set.....(and the Nat King Cole set). I like the fact that I'm exposed to lots of artists I've never heard of- so I can go off in different tangents and find other works by those artists. There's so much variety in this set- I never tire of listening to it.

I enjoy the multiple artists sets- the HRS set being another one!

[Out2Lunch]

One of the top ten Mosaic sets based on the quality and selection of music. Its a time capsule of great music that will probably not be available anwhere anytime soon, if at all. Its an expensive proposition, but one that will be worth it as you get deeper and deeper into the set!

[ghost of miles]

Ahhhhhh... consensus. An awesome set, one of the very best. Capitol Records is also a fascinating story in and of itself, if ya' listen to hillbilly music at all, you can run in parallel worlds with various Bear Family single artist sets. (I am not aware of a top notch Capitol '40s & '50s country anthology. Anyone?)

We need look no further than "Cow Cow Boogie!" The whole Ella Mae Morse saga is an interesting study in and of itself.

Clem, I have a friend who does a great 40s-60s radio show called "Rhythm Ranch," devoted to country, r & b, and pop from that period. (He writes for AMG, too, and did the review of the Bear Family Morse set.) If anybody knows of a good Capitol set, it would be him. I'll drop him a line and report back.

[Brad]

In case the size of the set might be a bit too chew, a good alternative would be the Complete HRS Sessions.

[ghost of miles]

Clem, here's the reply from my friend:

I'm not aware of any Capitol '40s & '50s country anthologies, top notch

or otherwise.  Capitol didn't have tons of country artists early

on--the label was so pop oriented.  Tex Ritter was the first one, and

then there was Jimmy Wakely, Merle Travis, Wesley Tuttle, and Hank

Thompson.  Tellingly, all of those guys were pretty slick compared to

Ernest Tubb or Kitty Wells.  Some artists from that period that are now

associated with Capitol, like Slim Whitman, were actually on Imperial

or other labels that were later purchased by Capitol.  Many of the

Capitol country artists have either been anthologized as part of the

Capitol Collectors or Vintage Collections series, or have Bear Family

box sets, so that material is out there.

He goes on to say that he's skeptical that such an anthology will ever be issued, owing to commercial reasons. There might be a market for it, though, with some buyers (and I'm potentially one of them) who have an interest in this stuff, but not enough to pick up individual BF boxes or even the Capitol Collectors titles, which are becoming increasingly harder to find.

You know, Gennett's another label with a country/hillbilly angle to its legacy that doesn't get talked about too much. Gennett recorded some of that music, but the 78s haven't turned up as much as the jazz ones did--partly, I guess, because there was a fanatical breed of jazz collectors long before a similar class of country ones emerged.

[andersf]

My own tastes in jazz range from New Orleans to Coltrane, I found it a fascinating set, well worth the expense. I also have the HRS set, but for sheer variety I would recommend the Capitol set.

But someone with less eclectic tastes in jazz, or a strong bias towards modern jazz, might be disappointed.

My own favorites:

Cootie Williams

Jack Teagarden

Joe Sullivan

But there is lots more!

[jazzbo]

I think the Mel Powell sides are FANTASTIC, and the Sid Catlett sides are a hoot.

[ghost of miles]

I think the Mel Powell sides are FANTASTIC, and the Sid Catlett sides are a hoot.

Yes, Lon, I'll second your ringing endorsement--I remember you and I discussing how wonderful the Powell material was on that, erm, what was the name of that board again?

Didn't Powell record some music for Commodore? I'm trying to run down all of his jazz stuff. The Capitol sides are a treasure! I think Ocium swiped them for their Powell CD, though.

[jazzbo]

Yes, he recorded a bit for Commodore. One LARGE ensemble session, and I THINK (memory is going. . . too much mercury in my fish oil?) a small session or two as well.

An amazing pianist and arranger. I appreciate him more and more.

[jmjk]

Ahhhhhh... consensus. An awesome set, one of the very best. Capitol Records is also a fascinating story in and of itself, if ya' listen to hillbilly music at all, you can run in parallel worlds with various Bear Family single artist sets. (I am not aware of a top notch Capitol '40s & '50s country anthology. Anyone?)

We need look no further than "Cow Cow Boogie!" The whole Ella Mae Morse saga is an interesting study in and of itself.

Clem, I have a friend who does a great 40s-60s radio show called "Rhythm Ranch," devoted to country, r & b, and pop from that period. (He writes for AMG, too, and did the review of the Bear Family Morse set.) If anybody knows of a good Capitol set, it would be him. I'll drop him a line and report back.

Cow Cow Boogie is fun, eh?

Also a country-ish early Capitol artist is the singer Tenessee Ernie Ford

[clandy44]

As the pr types are wont to say, just the kind resuscitation project that has made Mosaic its rep. The music is terrific and the collection can not be pieced together by what is available today. The HRS sides are still better in my view, but I would strongly recommend this set.

[BruceH]

Another strong recommendation from me. I wondered when someone would get around to mentioning this set. There's so much good stuff on this (the Williams, Carter, Stewart, & Teagarden alone make it primo IMHO) that the only negative element is the sheer expense. The current True Blue/Mosaic promotion would seem to mitigate that somewhat. I say go for it!!!!

[Jazzmoose]

...and there are nice stray sets of Anita O'Day and Kay Starr...

Whoa! If the other comments hadn't already pushed me over the edge, this one would have given me a swift boot!

Thanks guys; I think it's a go. Brad, the variety of this set is what attracts me; I want to be overwhelmed! Just to get me back in your good graces, I'll let you know that part of my "taking advantage of Mosaic" will be finally getting that Savoy/Dial Bird set! Man, this is going to be good...and I'll be so broke, I'll have plenty of time to listen!

[Brad]

Mark,

Not to take anything way from the Classic Capitol Jazz Sessions, but you're in for a real treat with the Bird set, especially the Red Norvo sessions. They're a real classic and important in the history of the music. There is so much good music on that set, it's hard to know where to begin.

[Jazzmoose]

I hear you, Brad. I'm kind of embarrassed that I'm just getting around to it now. The only Bird I have is a handful of live discs (including The Quintet and Bird 'n' Diz, of course!) and one disc on the Music Club label of Dial stuff. Its an oversight that should have been corrected ages ago. I can't wait!

The only drawback I can see with these two sets (if you can even call it a drawback!) is that it's all going to be "careful listening" stuff, if you know what I mean. I may not finish the first listen to both sets for months. Then again, as much as they're busting the budget, that had better be the case!

Edited August 16, 2003 by Jazzmoose

[DrJ]

Late in the game, so I'll keep it simple - this is a do not miss boxed set. Great music, variety, excellent sound quality, definitive booklet, and composed mostly of stuff that was truly rescued from obscurity (at least as far as U.S. reissue is concerned). Pricey, but worth it, particularly with the current True Blue/Mosaic deal.

[Harold_Z]

I'm in late on this one too, but I'll just toss my praise for this set into the ring and say that I agree with the previous positive posts.

Praiseful previous positive posts - say that 5X fast

[paul secor]

Ahhhhhh... consensus. An awesome set, one of the very best. Capitol Records is also a fascinating story in and of itself, if ya' listen to hillbilly music at all, you can run in parallel worlds with various Bear Family single artist sets. (I am not aware of a top notch Capitol '40s & '50s country anthology. Anyone?)

We need look no further than "Cow Cow Boogie!" The whole Ella Mae Morse saga is an interesting study in and of itself.

Clem, I have a friend who does a great 40s-60s radio show called "Rhythm Ranch," devoted to country, r & b, and pop from that period. (He writes for AMG, too, and did the review of the Bear Family Morse set.) If anybody knows of a good Capitol set, it would be him. I'll drop him a line and report back.

I'm not a fanatic country collector or any kind of expert in that genre, but I have a Charly LP, Boogie Woogie Fever (Charly 30215), with Capitol recordings from the likes of Tennessee Ernie Ford (early stuff - not his pop TV-type material), Gene O'Quinn, Ramblin' Jimmy Dolan, The Milo Twins, Jess Willard, Merle Travis, etc., which is a good listen if you like country boogie. I don't know if all of it was originally recorded by Capitol, or if some was purchased by them from other labels.

I also have a CD, Hillbilly Music - Thank God! (Capitol CDP 7 91346 2), issued in 1989, which is a compilation of Capitol artists (Gene O'Quinn, The Farmer Boys, The Louvin Brothers, Hank Thompson, Rose Maddox, Merle Travis, Jimmy Bryant & Speedy West, Skeets McDonald, etc.). I don't know if it's still in print.

Gene O'Quinn and the Farmer Boys, who recorded country music with a beat, for want of a better description, both have single Cd's issued by Bear Family, and both are truly fine, if you like this kind of thing.

Edited August 16, 2003 by paul secor

[Jazzmoose]

Praiseful previous positive posts - say that 5X fast

I tried, but then decided it was easier just to go ahead and order the darn thing. Thanks, everyone!

[ghost of miles]

I also have a CD, Hillbilly Music - Thank God! (Capitol CDP 7 91346 2), issued in 1989, which is a compilation of Capitol artists (Gene O'Quinn, The Farmer Boys, The Louvin Brothers, Hank Thompson, Rose Maddox, Merle Travis, Jimmy Bryant & Speedy West, Skeets McDonald, etc.). I don't know if it's still in print.

Paul,

Just got an e-mail from my friend mentioning that very set--he'd just remembered it, but says it's long OOP. Clem might want to keep an eye out for it in the used bins, though; sounds like a good anthology.