Stompin' at The Savoy (LP 828)

The Charlie Watts Orchestra  Live Fulham Town Hall (Vinyl, Columbia Records, 1986) ****  

Genre: Big Band Jazz 

Places I remember: Record Fair in Palmerston North

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Flying Home

Gear costume: Robbins Nest

Active compensatory factors: When Charlie Watts decided to realise a dream and build a big band to play material from the swing era, he didn't mess around. He went huge! Thirty-three musicians!!

And it sounds like it on this album - recorded live in Fulham. This was his first solo album away from the Stones.

My favourite tracks are the full band versions of the classics like Stompin' At The Savoy, Lester Leaps In and the two listed above.

You can almost see the grin on Charlie's face!

Where do they all belong? A worthy addition to the Big Band sub-genre.

The afterglow (Bob James) (LP 826 - 827)

Bob James and Earl Klugh   One On One (Vinyl, CBS Records, 1979) ***

Bob James   Obsession (Vinyl, Warner Bros Records, 1986) **

Genre: Modern jazz 

Places I remember: Facebook seller

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Kari (One On One)

Gear costume: Love Lips (One On One)

Active compensatory factors: These two are very different looks for Bob, away from the big brass dominated ensembles (that I really love).

One on One is a laid back cool modern jazz exercise with Earl Klugh supplying his laid back cool modern jazz guitar stylings. There is nothing here to ruffle your dinner party or cafe brunch. It sold by the truckload and got all sorts of awards. It deserved the plaudits.

The eighties were unkind to everyone in equal measure and modern jazz in the eighties didn't escape unscathed. 

Obsession has its moments if you are a forgiving sort (like me) and can embrace the musical production values of that time as an interesting experiment. Basically, rule of thumb - if the credits list drum programming, or computer programming you need to approach with caution (even if the programmer is the awesome Lenny White).

Once you can get past all that, Obsession is a worthwhile Bob James album from 1986. 

Where do they all belong? Stick with the great best of Bob James set called Restoration for the depth, breadth, and context. It's brilliant!

Baroque and blue (Claude Bolling and Jean-Pierre Rampal) (LP 825)

Jean-Pierre Rampal and Claude Bolling  Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano (Vinyl, CBS Records, 1975) ****  

Genre: Jazz piano 

Places I remember: Real Groovy Records

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Javanaise

Gear costume: Fugace part 1 and 2

Active compensatory factors: I bought a copy of this album while working at Marbecks Records in the late 70's, but I sold it along the way for some reason.

It's a delightful record - light and breezy and like the cover - a little bit ooh la la - cheeky.

Rampal on flute and Bolling on piano are joined by drums (Marcel Sabiani) and bass (Max Hediguer) to great effect. Everything is very simpatico. 

Where do they all belong? They repeated the trick with Suite 2 in 1987 that I also sold off. I haven't been able to find a replacement as yet but I'll keep looking. Yes, I know I could get it from Discogs but I prefer to find it locally - I'm not desperate for it and I like the thrill of the chase.

Beginnings (Chicago Transit Authority) (LP 824)

Chicago Transit Authority  Chicago Transit Authority (Vinyl, CBS Records, 1969) ****  

Genre: Jazz fusion/ Jazz rock

Places I remember: Marbecks Records

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Questions 67 and 68

Gear costume: Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? 

Active compensatory factors: A double album for a debut? Of course!

The Chicago sound is fully formed here - brass arrangements mix with rock guitar and some free form jazz style improvisation to stretch things out (particularly on side 4). Plus, of course, some catchy commercial sounding songs (particularly on sides 1 and 2).

Stars of the show: producer William Guercio; Robert Lamm (keyboards, lead vocals); Pete Cetera (bass, lead vocals); Terry Kath (guitar, lead vocals); James Pankow (trombone and brass arrangements).

Where do they all belong?  The band would go mega in due course but these are their awesome beginnings.

Three to get ready and four to go (Dave Brubeck) (LP 823)

Dave Brubeck Quartet  The 25th DBQ Anniversary Reunion (Vinyl, Horizon Records, 1976) *** 

Genre: Jazz 

Places I remember: Facebook seller

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: St Louis Blues (couldn't find the 1976 version so here they are in their 1964 glory)

Gear costume: Take Five from 1976

Active compensatory factors: After eight years apart, Dave got the band back together and they easily locked into their groove.

I find the set uneven as it aims to be democratic - so Eugene Wright gets to stretch out on his African Times Suite and Joe Morello gets some drum solos along the way.

The highlights for me are when all four embrace the collective and free form around some old favourites. 

St Louis Blues is a clear standout with Dave on fiery form. Paul Desmond is his usual brilliant self throughout.

Where do they all belong? An unlikely hit (bit weird seeing them all in long hair, mid-seventies style though).

Respect (Aretha Franklin) (LP 821 - 822)

Aretha Franklin Aretha In Paris (Vinyl, Atlantic Records, 1968) ****  

Aretha Franklin This Girl's In Love With You (Vinyl, Atlantic Records, 1970) ***** 

Genre: Soul

Places I remember: Paris is from Spellbound Wax Company in Gisborne, This Girl is from Real Groovy Records.

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Let it Be (versions of Lennon/McCartney are difficult as the original has such a cultural imprint, but it's easy to see what Macca was aiming for with Let It Be when you hear Aretha do it)

Gear costume: This Girl's in Love with You

Active compensatory factors: These two are from the late sixties when she was interpreting hits du jour.

Less so in '68 on the live set - (I Can't get No) Satisfaction and Groovin', but by 1970's studio album she was doing terrific versions of Son Of A Preacher Man, Let It Be, Eleanor Rigby, The Weight and the Bacharach/David title song - This Girl's In Love With You.

All that (plus Duane Allman's guitar) makes it one of my favourite Aretha albums.

Where do they all belong? A cornerstone of any Soul section.

Dancing on air (Jack Bruce) (LP 820)

Jack Bruce   Live In America (Vinyl and CD, Let them eat vinyl/The store for music, 2007) ****  

Genre: Blues rock 

Places I remember: Vinyl copy from Amoeba Music San Francisco. CD copy The Warehouse.

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Hit And Run

Gear costume: Born Under A Bad Sign  (this version features Rory Gallagher on guitar)

Active compensatory factors: A great band on this set as Billy Cobham (drums), David Sancious (keyboards) and Clem Clempson (guitar) join the GOAT on bass - Jack Bruce.

The set list takes in some hits (White Room, Politician, Theme for an Imaginary Western) and some deep cuts. 

The band is tight/loose (these guys just lean and produce). Loads of impromptu improvisation makes this feel like jazz.

The packaging of both is terrible though - it makes it feel like an upmarket bootleg. Because of the different covers I mistakenly bought the vinyl version without realising I had the CD at home. Doh!

It actually plays better as a CD - as it provides a natural flow without the need to get up to flip sides (double album, single CD).

Where do they all belong? A few more CDs to come in the Jack Bruce collection.

Walkin' my blues away (Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee) (LP 819)

Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee  Sonny & Brownie (Vinyl, A&M Records, 1973) ***

Genre: Blues 

Places I remember: Bought recently from a guy off the Facebook group - Vinyl Lovers of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Sail Away 

Gear costume: Sonny's Thing; White Boy Lost In The Blues.

Active compensatory factors: I think this one is a case of too many cooks. The guest list is extensive - John Mayall, Arlo Guthrie, Sugarcane Harris, John Hammond, Michael Franks, and a slew of background vocalists.

I struggle to hear them in the mix (apart from Sugarcane's violin of course).

As far as Sonny and Brownie go, less is more for me in the instrument department. Just a guitar and a harmonica are all they need to set up a vibe. 

That said, there are plenty of great moments on this set, including Sonny's trademark whoops and hollers. Sonny also has an equal presence here - singing, talking and playing that wonderful harmonica.

Where do they all belong? Another worthy addition to the blues section.

Out of control (Eagles) (LP 818)

Eagles  Desperado (Vinyl, Asylum Records, 1973) *** 

Genre: Country rock

Places I remember: Marbecks Records

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Outlaw Man

Gear costume: Doolin Dalton 

Active compensatory factors: Outside of a greatest hits collection this is the only Eagles album I have on vinyl.

I bought this one seduced by the cover and the vague Old West concept that settles over the record - with Doolin Dalton book ending the album a la Sgt Peppers, and Desperado also getting a reprise. There are also tracks like Outlaw Man, Bitter Creek and Tequila Sunrise that add to the western mythology.

Curious that I was not seduced into buying more Eagles product. On the surface all that laid back California bliss is right up my alley. I'd blame my reaction to Hotel California for that slowdown with Eagles.

An overhyped album and Joe Walsh as an Eagle? James Gang? Sure. Solo guitar slinger? Yes please! But not an Eagle. And I still don't own a copy of either Hotel California or Rumours. Just sayin'.

Where do they all belong? A nice addition to the country rock section but not essential.

Heartaches by the number (Dwight Yoakam) (LP 816 - 817)

Dwight Yoakam  Guitars, Cadillacs, etc. etc. (Vinyl, Reprise Records, 1986) ****  

Dwight Yoakam  Hillbilly Deluxe (Vinyl, Reprise Records, 1987) **** 

Genre: Country

Places I remember: Marbecks Records

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Honky Tonk Man. It was hearing this while working at Marbecks in the mid eighties that grabbed my attention. 

Gear costume: Guitars, Cadillacs

Active compensatory factors: I was holding off with the DY CDs, but now that I'm back in the vinyl collection I can kick off my Dwight Yoakam collection with his first two albums.

Guitars etc is his debut, a debut that builds on a previous 12 inch EP by adding four tracks - including a duet with Maria Mckee and the two tracks I've featured above. Magic additions!

I kind of think of Guitars...as raw country Dwight and Hillbilly Deluxe as smoother country Dwight. 

The back cover to Guitars (on the right) has him in the same basic clothes as on Hillbilly but that album adds designer rips to the jeans, a fancier shirt and a few more colourful embellishments to the jacket. All very appropriate to the music inside.

I like both looks, and both albums. Sometimes a voice and sound just grabs me. Dwight came along at the right time and did just that with these two albums.

Where do they all belong? No more Dwight on vinyl but a lot more to come on CD.

Preachin' love (Donovan) (LP 815)

Donovan  Donovan In Concert (Vinyl, Epic Records, 1968) ****  

Genre: Folk rock 

Places I remember: Real Groovy Records

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Poor Cow

Gear costume: Preachin' Love

Active compensatory factors: Only Donovan's sixth album, and his first live album, this is a gem - Donovan in acoustic and jazzy settings live at The Anaheim Convention Center (sic).

He sounds great too. And Scottish! I mean, I knew he was Scottish but hearing his inflections in Widow With Shawl sounds especially appropriate, natural, and great.

My only slight issue as a live album is the sometimes obvious edits after songs into the next selection. Suspension of disbelief - that I am actually at the concert, is important for my enjoyment. But that's just me.

Where do they all belong? I keep adding to the Donovan section in my collection. This one came from a recent trip to Auckland for meetings; I had to stop off at Real Groovy before meeting some old mates for dinner. Couldn't believe my luck with this one - very good condition for 1968 and only $10 - what are the odds on that?