Soul Stream Posted August 18, 2003 Report Posted August 18, 2003 Baby Face Willette's "Face to Face" was one of the first organ records I ever came across in the "used bin" (luckily), and really inspired me. I used to listen to this one A LOT. For years. It's taken a back seat until today, when I put it on for the first time in a while. It made me realize something my neophyte ears told me long ago...that this may well be THE BEST ORGAN RECORD EVER MADE!!!!! I know that type of grand statement gets made now and then. But truely, Grant Green is so on fire, as is Ben Dixon, Fred Jackson on Tenor, and Baby Face is so FRESH and explosive. A truely phenomenal recording. And one that, if it doesn't top the list, it's surely in the top 5. Quote
Jim Alfredson Posted August 18, 2003 Report Posted August 18, 2003 I'll have to listen to this one again. I haven't spun it in a looooong time. All my CDs are still packed from moving too, so it might be awhile. I remember when I first got it I was struck by Willette's attack and the tone he got out of the organ... very percussive and jabby. Quote
Soul Stream Posted August 18, 2003 Author Report Posted August 18, 2003 (edited) b3-er said: I'll have to listen to this one again. I haven't spun it in a looooong time. All my CDs are still packed from moving too, so it might be awhile. I remember when I first got it I was struck by Willette's attack and the tone he got out of the organ... very percussive and jabby. Yeah, Willette's tone, phrasing and sheer power are really hard to match. There is a short list of unique organists, and BFW is on there for sure! Edited August 18, 2003 by Soul Stream Quote
Jim Alfredson Posted August 18, 2003 Report Posted August 18, 2003 Remembering that I packed my CDs in alphabetical order, I opened up the third box on a whim and BAM, there sat Face To Face right on top! Dig it! Right now Grant is swingin' his nuts off on Swingin' At Sugar Ray's! Quote
Jim Alfredson Posted August 18, 2003 Report Posted August 18, 2003 Soul Stream, I've been meaning to ask you, what's the name and label of that Ben Dixon date that Scone is on? Quote
Soul Stream Posted August 18, 2003 Author Report Posted August 18, 2003 b3-er said: Soul Stream, I've been meaning to ask you, what's the name and label of that Ben Dixon date that Scone is on? The CD is entitled "Say Yes To Your Best." it was under Ben Dixon. It used to be sold on his website (americanclassicaljazz.com if i remember right), which last time I checked was down. I'll call Ben if you'd like to see about ordering one from him. It's a homegrown deal, but professionally manufactured, produced, ect. It's a REAL good CD, and one that sounds like it was done in about 1964. Ben wrote all the tunes on it too except a couple. If you remember right, Ben wrote a lot of tunes on Patton's "Along Came John" and also penned "Cantaoupe Woman" among other things, so you KNOW his tunes are BAAAD. By the way, I'm listening to "Face to Face" as well right now...again. Put on some headphones and CRANK IT UP. It's really gooood LOUD! Let me know if you want me to call Ben about that.... Quote
Jim Alfredson Posted August 18, 2003 Report Posted August 18, 2003 Definately... that would be great if you could call him. I want one! Quote
Soul Stream Posted August 18, 2003 Author Report Posted August 18, 2003 b3-er said: Definately... that would be great if you could call him. I want one! Yes, I'll call tommorrow. Quote
Soul Stream Posted August 19, 2003 Author Report Posted August 19, 2003 I tried to PM you Jim, but it wouldn't go through. I talked to Ben Dixon today. He said if you wanted the CD, just send $20 along with your name and address to: Ben Dixon 630 Decatur Brooklyn, N.Y. 11233 I told him your name, so he'd recognize it.... Let me know. Quote
RDK Posted August 19, 2003 Report Posted August 19, 2003 Speaking of Baby Face, has anybody else heard "Behind the Eight Ball?" A great date (Argo, I believe, but the disc isn't in front of me at the moment). My question, though, is: what's up with the sound on this one? The organ, especially, sounds very distorted, as if it's seriously clipping or had a recording limiter set way too high. Is this just on the Jpn CD or is the original LP like this as well? Ray Quote
Soul Stream Posted August 19, 2003 Author Report Posted August 19, 2003 RDK said: Speaking of Baby Face, has anybody else heard "Behind the Eight Ball?" A great date (Argo, I believe, but the disc isn't in front of me at the moment). My question, though, is: what's up with the sound on this one? The organ, especially, sounds very distorted, as if it's seriously clipping or had a recording limiter set way too high. Is this just on the Jpn CD or is the original LP like this as well? Ray I think it's just recorded that way. I've got an LP, so I'll listen to that....but, I think the studio that alot of those Argo and Cadet things were cut at was kind of questionable-The Tel-Arc studios in Chicago. Jack McDuff told me that place was a dump. However, "Behind The 8 Ball" is still a truely GREAT date!!!!! Quote
RDK Posted August 19, 2003 Report Posted August 19, 2003 Oh it's a *killer* date all right, but the organ sound drives me nuts. I used to have a CDR of this that I figured was home-mastered by somebody off an old LP... and mastered so hot that the digital limiter cut in. Then I recently found the import CD of it and it sounded exactly the same. Still groovy though... Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted August 19, 2003 Report Posted August 19, 2003 Soul Stream said: I think it's just recorded that way. I've got an LP, so I'll listen to that....but, I think the studio that alot of those Argo and Cadet things were cut at was kind of questionable-The Tel-Arc studios in Chicago. Jack McDuff told me that place was a dump. However, "Behind The 8 Ball" is still a truely GREAT date!!!!! The old Chess studio may have been a dump, but the studio McDuff recorded "The Natural Thing" in was state of the art in 1968. I did some sessions there and wish it still existed. The Chess studios were called Ter-Mar after the 2 Chess kids, Terry and Marshall. Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted August 19, 2003 Report Posted August 19, 2003 Soul Stream said: ...this may well be THE BEST ORGAN RECORD EVER MADE!!!!! Some years ago I helped our local NPR station write a recommended listening book. I said Face To Face was the reason God let Mr. Hammond desecrate the organ. Quote
BruceH Posted August 20, 2003 Report Posted August 20, 2003 This was also one of my first jazz organ albums, but I haven't listened to it in years. After reading this thread I'm definately giving it a spin tonight! Quote
Jim Alfredson Posted August 20, 2003 Report Posted August 20, 2003 Chuck Nessa said: I said Face To Face was the reason God let Mr. Hammond desecrate the organ. Now THAT'S funny! Quote
Soul Stream Posted August 20, 2003 Author Report Posted August 20, 2003 Chuck Nessa said: Soul Stream said: I think it's just recorded that way. I've got an LP, so I'll listen to that....but, I think the studio that alot of those Argo and Cadet things were cut at was kind of questionable-The Tel-Arc studios in Chicago. Jack McDuff told me that place was a dump. However, "Behind The 8 Ball" is still a truely GREAT date!!!!! The old Chess studio may have been a dump, but the studio McDuff recorded "The Natural Thing" in was state of the art in 1968. I did some sessions there and wish it still existed. The Chess studios were called Ter-Mar after the 2 Chess kids, Terry and Marshall. Ah Yes, the Tel-Mar studios...I was just going by memory and Tel-Arc came out . I didin't know that was the Chess records studio! Wow, of course I LOVE Chess, but now I know why those Argo Baby Face albums sound so nice and lowdown. Nice to know you're a Face To Face lover Chuck! Being a Chicagoan from back in the day....Did you ever get a chance to see or meet Baby Face Willette? As you probably know, it's kind of a mystery as to whatever happened to him. Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted August 20, 2003 Report Posted August 20, 2003 Never had the chance to catch Baby Face in person. Quote
kinuta Posted August 23, 2003 Report Posted August 23, 2003 (edited) I prefer ' Stop And Listen'. 'Willow Weep For Me ' is a classic. Sorry, I thought the Argo was pretty over rated. Edited August 23, 2003 by kinuta Quote
davef Posted August 24, 2003 Report Posted August 24, 2003 I remember when this came out, the CD store I bought from had it on and they were tripped out by the fact that I could pick out the organist without looking at the disc. He had a unique tone, that's for sure... ...not my favorite organist by any means, but I have 4 of his CD's and I'm glad I do.. this is my favorite one of the bunch. BTW, Soul Stream, how is Ben Dixon doing? Quote
Soul Stream Posted August 24, 2003 Author Report Posted August 24, 2003 davef said: BTW, Soul Stream, how is Ben Dixon doing? Ben is doing GREAT!!!! Man, he's so in shape and healthy, he's got to look 10 years younger than his age at least. He's slender, muscular....officiates basketball games to show you how in shape that cat is. His drumming is still amazing. He just retired and is getting back into gigging more now. He's playing with Lonnie Smith and Rhoda Scott and the Vail Jazz Festival at the end of the month. Plus, to this day, Ben is one of the "hippest" cats you'll ever meet. Slick. He dresses slick, talks slick and PLAYS slick....! Quote
Dmitry Posted August 24, 2003 Report Posted August 24, 2003 Ben Dixon is SLICK. And these can back it up! George Braith Laughing Soul George Braith Musart Lou Donaldson Natural Soul Lou Donaldson Good Gracious Lou Donaldson Signifyin' Lou Donaldson Musty Rusty Lou Donaldson Man with a Horn Ray Draper Quintet Tuba Sounds Grant Green Grant's First Stand Grant Green Sunday Mornin' Grant Green Have Guitar, Will Travel Grant Green Am I Blue? Grant Green His Majesty, King Funk Grant Green Iron City Grant Green Blues for Lou Grant Green Ballads Richard "Groove" Holmes Soul Power Boogaloo Joe Jones Introducing the Psychedelic Soul... Boogaloo Joe Jones Mindbender Jack McDuff Honeydripper John Patton Along Came John Big John Patton Blue John John Patton Way I Feel John Patton Oh Baby! Sonny Phillips Black Magic Sonny Phillips My Black Flower Sonny Phillips Sure 'Nuff Harold Vick Steppin' Out! Don Wilkerson Shoutin' Baby Face Willette Face to Face Baby Face Willette Stop and Listen Can anyone post a photo of the man? Quote
JohnS Posted August 24, 2003 Report Posted August 24, 2003 I've not played Willette as a leader for some time and didn't really have a strong view about him or his BN dates. Both "Face to Face" and "Stop and Listen" are good solid dates. I prefered "Stop and Listen", a very nice laid back session. However, John Patton is still my man on Hammond. Quote
Soul Stream Posted August 24, 2003 Author Report Posted August 24, 2003 JohnS said: However, John Patton is still my man on Hammond. OF COURSE!!!! Quote
davef Posted August 24, 2003 Report Posted August 24, 2003 Oh yeah! Is that Patton Mosaic select available for pre-order yet? With my engagement official now, I've got just a few months of unconstrained (except by my own inner conscience) CD spending, so I'm glad that Patton set is coming out now, right after my birthday. Is it true that Baby Face died in the 90's? Quote
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