Scott Martin of Jacksonville, Arkansas wrote:

I'm searching for information about a Jo Stafford record called "A Gal Named Jo, with Paul Weston and his Music from Hollywood." I'd like to know when Jo recorded it and if there was anything special about the recording or distribution of the album. All I know is it's a Columbia Records "House Party" record, CL 2591, with six excellent Jo Stafford tunes. Bob Willoughby shot the cover. I've looked at several web sites, including Stafford's "Corinthian Records" web site, and I can't find any references to this particular record in any of the Jo Stafford discographies I've seen. This intrigues me. Another thing that intrigues me is the handwritten (in pencil) "10/56" in the lower left corner of the back of the jacket, and the "1.98" in the upper left corner. These probably mean nothing of any value but they are interesting to speculate on.

In case you're wondering, I've sent this same basic message to Columia Records. I'm sure it will be a while before I hear from them, if at all. Thank you for any help you can provide.

Scott:

I haven't been able to turn up much. Weston & Stafford were a husband and wife musical team. I don't know the significance of the "House Party" series. The 10/56 may have been the date is was acquired by its previous owner, the 1.98 is likely the price. LPs weren't always shrink wrapped throughout the 1950s; I have seen quite a few vintage LPs with the price written, usually in pencil, on one upper corner of the back cover.

Carlos Valim of São Paulo, Brazil wrote:

I am having trouble to find the original studio recordings of Duke EllingtonŜs suite "Black, Brown and Beige" (1944 for RCA) and Hoagy Carmichael and His PalsŜ "Star Dust", which he recorded for Gennet in 1927. Are they available on CD? The first one, I know, was released in the commemorative 24 disc-box RCA made for the 100 years of Ellington. But it is very expensive for me now. Thank you.

Carlos:

Duke debuted his complete "Black, Brown & Beige" suite at Carnegie Hall on Jan. 23, 1943; the complete concert, except for some excerpts from a concert in Boston (substituted for portions damaged or lost from the Carnegie Hall concert) five days later, is available from Fantasy Records. The strong critical reaction caused Duke to edit the suite considerably, so he never recorded it in the studio in its original 45 minute form. The four sections that he recorded for RCA total around 18 minutes. They appeared in the earlier 3 CD set of mid-1940s Ellington called Black, Brown & Beige; if you are interested in acquiring a used copy of this I have one available, since I have the complete Duke Ellington Centennial Edition set. Write me for pricing and shipping if you're interested.

I'm having trouble confirming if the Gennett version of Hoagy Carmichael doing "Stardust" is on CD. Gennett was originally a piano manufacturer and they've been out of business for decades. Carmichael also recorded his biggest hit on more than one occasion, making it difficult to answer without a physical copy in front of me. Timeless Historical Presents Hoagy Carmichael (Timeless Historical CD # 5326) may or may not have the version of the song you are seeking.

Osei Terry Chandler of Charleston, SC wrote:

Whom else recorded "A Love Supreme"? Did Alice Coltrane record it with a section of spoken word by someone with an accent? Who are the other players?

Osei:

Most artists who record "A Love Supreme" usually only do a portion of the suite. In addition to Alice Coltrane, Elvin Jones, Santana, John McLaughlin, and Conrad Herwig have recorded it. I am unaware of Alice Coltrane's use of spoken words on it or who the specific players are on her version.

Anne Lampert of Norwalk, CT wrote:

I heard a fantastic vocalist on an obscure community station -- I think his name was Dennis Roland (sic) and the CD, relatively recent, was a Musical Tribute to John Coltrane. I am almost positive that was his name. Any thoughts?

Anne:

Dennis Rowland was with Count Basie during the last seven years of the pianist's life, but as a trombonist. He has done three releases for Concord Jazz, and appeared as a guest on a number of other releases, but I am unaware of his participation in a Coltrane tribute and could find no information on the web about it.

Lisa M. Williams of SUN PRAIRIE wrote:

Can you give me some information on an artist by the name of Steve Turrell? (sic) I believe his last CD is called "Jazz Standards."

Lisa:

The artist you are seeking is Steve Tyrell and the CD is called "A New Standard." Although Clark Terry, Toots Thielemans, Joe Sample and the late Harry "Sweets" Edison are among the musicians backing him, Tyrell is more of a pop than a jazz singer.

Randy Thaler of Williamstown, NJ wrote:

Is there anything you can tell me about the availability of a recording by Oliver Nelson called "Jazzhattan Suite?" This was apparently recorded in the '60s, but I was completely unaware of its existence before the other day. Thanks.

Randy:

I don't have it either. It was originally released under the Jazz Interactions Orchestra by Verve, rather than under Oliver Nelson's name. Most of its tracks were reissued in the Oliver Nelson Jazz Masters compilation CD.

Jim Eason of Asheville, NC wrote:

It's happened again. I just bought a CD, but the liner notes are just about nonexistent. I'd love to find out who plays which solos on the 1944 JATP recording (Nat Cole, Les Paul, Illinois Jacquet...). There must be some place to see them listed, IN ORDER.. Thanks for any help, and good luck with this online resource!!!

Jim:

There is a place to see them listed, if you buy the 10 CD Jazz at the Philharmonic on Verve boxed set! Here they are:

Lester Leaps In: McVea, Johnson, Cole, Jacquet, Paul, Cole Tea for Two: Cole, McVea, Johnson, Cole, Jacquet, Paul Blues: Cole, McVea, Johnson, Jacquet, Paul, Paul & Cole (duet) Body and Soul: Cole, McVea, Johnson, Paul, Jacquet, Cole, McVea, Cole C-Jam Blues: Cole, Sherock, Thomas, Sherock, Cole, Myers I've Found a New Baby: Cole, Sherock, McVea, Cole, Callendar & Miller (duet), Paul, Jacquet, Sherock Rosetta: Cole, Sherock, McVea, Paul, Jacquet, Sherock Bugle Call Rag: Sherock, McVea, Cole, Callendar & Miller (breaks), Paul (solo breaks), Jacquet (solo breaks), Young

The remaining tracks are small groups and should be easy to identify.

If anyone is interested, I have a sealed copy of the Complete Jazz at the Philharmonic on Verve 1945-1949 (10 CDs) for sale or trade. Write me for details.

Alessandro Bortolini of Milan, Italy wrote:

Some time ago I had the chance to listen to a great CD, featuring Kenny Drew in duo with Hans Orsted Pederson (sic). I've been trying to search for it ever since but with no result. Although I do not remember either the title or the label, I am quite sure I could track it if I could find it somewhere (say a music store shelf or on the web) so I thought that perhaps you could help me. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Alessandro:

The late Kenny Drew made a number of recordings with bassist Niels- Henning Orsted Pedersen, including Duo 1 and Duo 2 for Steeplechase, plus Solo/Duo for Storyville, which also features bassist Bo Stief on some tracks. Drew and Pedersen also made some trio dates together, most of which were for Steeplechase.

Carlos Pageacutes of Buenos Aires, Argentina wrote:

Hi Ken, I've an old Benny Golson vinyl record called "Just Jazz", featuring, among others, Bill Evans, Eric Dolphy and Wayne Shorter. Do you know if this record is available on CD? Many thanks, and sorry for my bad English!

Carlos:

It could turn up on one of those European labels one of these days, but to my knowledge it hasn't appeared on CD. I've been looking for that record for some time. Your English is better than my Espanol! (I took German, oder Deutsch, in die Schule).

Emile Bakker of Rotterdam, the Netherlands wrote:

I am looking for Thad Jones/Mel Lewis big band recordings on CD. They seem to be difficult to find in Europe. Any suggestions? Best regards.

Emile:

The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra is also hard to find on CD in the USA now. The Mosaic boxed set of their recordings for Solid State is out of print (the Laserlight CDs are a poor substitute), and I believe that the two CDs where they accompanied singers Joe Williams and Ruth Brown may be gone as well. The only CD which I'm sure is available is from TCB, "Basle 1969," as a part of that label's Swiss Radio Days series. You might find the Mosaic box on eBay, but it won't be cheap (only 5000 copies were made of this 1994 5 CD set) So don't wait!

James Lee wrote:

I recall some mighty fine jazz recordings which were done on the Palo Alto label in the 80's which have not yet been reissued on CD. In an effort to determine the reissue status of these recordings I attempted to contact Dr. Herb Wong (who as you might be aware was involved with the label) through the Palo Alto Jazz Alliance - of which he is apparently a member. The Alliance has not seen fit to respond to any of my three emails. I understand that the legal/ contractual issues in reissuing a recording may be sensitive, however I am frustrated by the lack of assistance I'm getting regardless of which direction I turn here. Can you offer me any suggestions in pursuing this matter? A gentleman by the name of Jim Benham was the label's founder. I would dearly love to know if some of this very solid material will ever see the light of day again.

James:

I don't know who owns the rights to the 100 or so Palo Alto master tapes that were released during the life of the label, although several were reissued on LP or CD on other labels, including:

McCoy Tyner: Just Feeling Quicksilver Denny Zeitlin: Tidal Wave Quicksilver (LP) Phil Woods: Live From New York Quicksilver Various artists: Bill Evans-A Tribute TBA 8028 (a crappy reissue that dropped the wonderful photos, liner notes and 3 tracks from the original 2 LP set, look for it instead!)

It is quite possible that the masters left the hands of the original owners to settle outstanding debts or via bankruptcy. Obviously, some have been leased out. My suggestion would be to contact Quicksilver Records, which is still in business, to see if they plan to license any more of the Palo Alto for future reissues.

Julia Battersby of Elmhurst, NY wrote:

Years ago Nelson Riddle recorded an instrumental of "I Was Born in Love with You" by Michel LeGrand; the Mike Kerb (sic) Congregation did a vocal on the same song. The song was featured in the British production of Wuthering Heights in which Oliver Reed played Heathcliff. Know anything about these and where I might find vinyls?

Julia:

I'm familiar with Nelson Riddle, the Mike Curb Congregation (he was lieutenant governor of California for a time), Michel Legrand, and his lovely song "I Was Born in Love with You," but I am not familiar with the original cast or soundtrack LPs featuring this particular recording you are seeking. It may be a long out of print record, but I can't even find any record of its existence in the databases I've searched.

Tammy of Berkeley, CA wrote:

I'm a tap dancer and I'd like to find a recording of a song called something like "Doing the New Low Down" that dancer Bill Robinson once choreographed a dance to. Can you tell me who recorded it and how to find a CD? Thanks!

Tammy:

This composition was recorded in 1928 (3 takes) by Ellington with narrator Irving Mills (who was actually Duke's partner at the time) for Okeh, again in 1929 for Brunswick with Bill Robinson doing the narrating, and again in 1947, though that version hasn't been released. One take of Mill's vocal version is on the Columbia/Legacy Duke Ellington reissue "The Okeh Ellington;" Bill Robinson's version with Ellington was issued on the Early Ellington CD set on Decca Jazz/GRP. I believe one or both of these recordings may have also appeared on the Classics label in Europe.

Mary Skidgel of Tulsa, OK wrote:

Do you have any idea who Spike Robinson is? My dad was involved with quite a few jazz folk over the years and I found a picture of Spike autographed and signed. I wondered if you could give me any background? Thank you.

Mary:

Spike Robinson was a career engineer who concentrated on music full time only beginning in 1981 (at the age of 51). This cool tenor saxophonist has made recordings for Hep, Discovery, and Capri as a leader.

Eric G. Poulos of Brooklyn, NY wrote:

3 albums that I've waited to be released on CD. Are they? Fiddler on the Roof artist Cannonball Adderley Uptown by Duke Ellington Stittsville by Sonny Stitt.

Thank you.

Eric:

Only Ellington Uptown has been reissued so far on CD according to my research. It appeared as a Columbia Legacy reissue (40836) and was released by Sony (474254) earlier this year, overseas, I guess.

Ed Slome of Hamilton NJ wrote:

Dear Ken, Please advise how I would go about finding whether an 8-track of a Duke Ellington live recording at the Newport festival of his Togo Brava Suite has any value. I was told by the Temple University radio people that it does. Would appreciate any input.

Ed:

In his excellent Ellington discography Ellingtonia, W. E. Timmer lists 24 recordings of "Togo Brava Suite," beginning with the July 21, 1971 concert at the High Chapparal in Chicago, but he doesn't even list a recording of a performance of the suite at Newport. That sure doesn't rule out that's exactly what you have; he does mention that one section of the suite, "Naturellment," was definitely previewed on July 2, 1971 at Newport, so it's quite possible that more tape exists that he is not yet aware of. Let me know more about the tape ASAP: Is it a broadcast, an audience tape, or soundboard copy? What other songs are present? What band members are introduced by Duke? How did you acquire the tape and is there a date on it? I'll follow up with you when I learn more.

R. Bruce Tuck of Oshawa, Ontario, Canada wrote:

Forty years ago Capitol records released a collection of Stan Kenton albums in a black case, likely about 6 or 8 albums in it. Is this available anywhere today - either on disk or on CD that you are aware of? Many thanks.

Bruce:

Euclid Records says they have several copies in stock. Email joe@euclidrecords.com for information.

Bruce Greeley wrote:

I'm not sure you found these lyrics (to Mingus' "Fable of Faubus") so here they are (I read another of your messages saying how you loved & collected lots of Dolphy so I was surprised u didn't know their Candid '60-'61(?) recordings of "Faubus" among others complete with lyrics):

Fables of Faubus First recorded on May 5, 1959 for Columbia Records, on Mingus Ah-Um. Orval E. Faubus was a governor of Arkansas who, in 1957, sent out the National Guard to prevent a few black children from entering Little Rock's Central High School. Mingus' condemnation of this action was apparently too strong for those in charge at Columbia Records, who prohibited Mingus and his drummer Dannie Richmond from singing the following lyrics which, on this recording, are slightly audible in the background:

Oh, Lord, don't let 'em shoot us! Oh, Lord, don't let 'em stab us! Oh, Lord, don't let 'em tar and feather us! Oh, Lord, no more swastikas! Oh, Lord, no more Ku Klux Klan! Name me someone who's ridiculous, Dannie. Governor Faubus! Why is he so sick and ridiculous? He won't permit integrated schools. Then he's a fool! Boo! Nazi Fascist supremists! Boo! Ku Klux Klan (with your Jim Crow plan) Name me a handful that's ridiculous, Dannie Richmond. -Faubus-Rockefeller-Eisenhower Why are they so sick and ridiculous? Two, four, six, eight: They brainwash and teach you hate. H-E-L-L-O--Hello. (From Charles Mingus: More Than a Fake Book.) Later retitlings of "Fables of Faubus" included "Nix on Nixon" and "Oh, Lord, Help Mr. Ford." Although Orville Faubus died in the fall of 1994, "Fables of Faubus" lives on.

from http://www.mingusmingusmingus.com/noboot/rvgliner.html

Ed:

I have several versions of "Fables of Faubus," including the Columbia and Candid studio versions (on the out of print Mosaic collections), plus two versions from different concerts in Paris and another in Germany during the 1964 tour that included Eric Dolphy. I didn't remember hearing lyrics on any of them, but it may have been a decade since I've heard the Candid recording of the song (Of course, the Candid version had to be re-titled "Original Faubus Fables" for legal reasons since it had already been recorded for Columbia in the recent past). The recently updated booklet to Charles Mingus: Revenge!, which I just received near the end of March, also has the lyrics printed. Thanks for your update!