Question re Johnny Griffin BN "The Congregation"

[mjzee]

Does anyone know why "The Congregation," when originally released, was so short time-wise?  It totaled less than 30 minutes, which was unusual for BN.  There was plenty of room for "I Remember You," the remaining track from the session that was included in the CD reissue.  So why was it left off the LP?

[chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez]

im just lookin on discogs- and the labels on the lp dont match on the listing on back cover----- take a look....hmmm...

Edited December 10, 2019 by chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez

[Chuck Nessa]

Why don't you provide a link so we can answer you?

 

[David Ayers]

https://www.rootsvinylguide.com/ebay_items/jazz-lp-johnny-griffin-congregation-blue-note-1580-mono-w63-dg-ear-rvg-top-copy

[danasgoodstuff]

Yes it is unusually short on LP, and if "I Remember You" is added to the first side it's still only just over 20 minutes, but maybe Alfred didn't think it 'fit' - he seemed to have strong feelings about sequencing...

[Shrdlu]

Is the album worth a spin? I never bothered to chase it up.

[David Ayers]

Worth it for the Andy Warhol cover!

[Gheorghe]

I love the Album and reading a book by Cook About the Blue Note label he also mentioned the shortness of the Album. It´s stated that after the two forerunning Albums (Chicago Calling and Blowin Session) this is outright short. Anyway, Griffin´s contract with BN was only short, just 3 Albums in 2 years and that it was. 

[JSngry]

8 hours ago, danasgoodstuff said:

Yes it is unusually short on LP, and if "I Remember You" is added to the first side it's still only just over 20 minutes, but maybe Alfred didn't think it 'fit' - he seemed to have strong feelings about sequencing...

That would be my guess.

[felser]

3 hours ago, Shrdlu said:

Is the album worth a spin? I never bothered to chase it up.

Any BN from that era is worth a spin just for historical perspective, and anything from Johnny Griffin in that era is well worth a listen.  

[Pim]

6 hours ago, David Ayers said:

Worth it for the Andy Warhol cover!

For more than that. It’s a great record.

[jlhoots]

Another "short" Griffin one that I like is the one on Argo.

[mjzee]

1 hour ago, jlhoots said:

Another "short" Griffin one that I like is the one on Argo.

I think that was originally a 10”.

[sidewinder]

15 hours ago, David Ayers said:

https://www.rootsvinylguide.com/ebay_items/jazz-lp-johnny-griffin-congregation-blue-note-1580-mono-w63-dg-ear-rvg-top-copy

Ridiculous price for a copy with pencil marks !

[Shrdlu]

I appreciate what you say, Felser, but I have heard plenty of Johnny Griffin, and I have a good knowledge of the era. I just felt that it sounds like a blowing session for three tenor saxophonists and I didn't think it would be anything out of the ordinary. I've never heard anyone say anything about it until this thread came up.

Mind you, I do like Gene Ammons with Sonny Stitt, especially the Verve "Boss Tenors" album. But two is enough.

[jazzbo]

6 minutes ago, Shrdlu said:

I appreciate what you say, Felser, but I have heard plenty of Johnny Griffin, and I have a good knowledge of the era. I just felt that it sounds like a blowing session for three tenor saxophonists and I didn't think it would be anything out of the ordinary. I've never heard anyone say anything about it until this thread came up.

Mind you, I do like Gene Ammons with Sonny Stitt, especially the Verve "Boss Tenors" album. But two is enough.

Are you talking about "The Congregation" .  . . that's a quartet session with Sonny Clark.

[JSngry]

24 minutes ago, Shrdlu said:

I just felt that it sounds like a blowing session...

I think you looked at the cover and thought it was a bowling session.

An understandable enough error, certainly.

[felser]

This is the one with the three tenors.  And anything with 1957 John Coltrane is well worth hearing!

[Late]

In my opinion, this is Griffin's most interesting project for Blue Note. He isn't all about 16th notes here, and the relaxed mood lets you (the listener) soak in his deep tone. Sonny Clark is great as always, and I think it may be the only Blue Note appearance for Kenny Dennis on drums. I love Griffin's take on "I'm Glad There Is You." My compact disc copy (TOCJ 1580) says 29:59 on the player.

A Love Supreme is only 33:04! Some records just need to be short, I guess.

[chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez]

I'm against Warhol covers.  I can't get that damn Kenny Burrell Blues Lights series cause of the warhol situation- it drives the price up more, like velvet underground + nico unpeeled banana 

[Shrdlu]

Sorry, folks. I mixed up "The Congregation" with "A Blowing Session". My apologies.

Neither album is near the top of my shopping list.

I also dislike the Andy Warhol covers. Give me Frank Wolff and Reid Miles.