Enjoy my new series with Records from the Shelves
I started out in the 1960s buying vinyl records and some 78’s. Most of the records I bought at any price because I just had to have them. My mother could send me out with money to buy new trousers, but I came back with a record. In the beginning it was mostly the milestones of classic jazz and records by blues artists alone with guitar, because that was the music that I wanted to play myself.
When the CD’s came in the 90s I bought many recordings again since they were more practical to work with, and they often contained transfers of better originals. Furthermore, you could sometimes get everything recorded by a special artist in chronological order. Today I’m back to buying vinyl again most often because I find them cheap, and thus I can take a chance to listen to music that I may or may not like.
I have made many discoveries over the years. Things that may not be as important to me as the cornerstones of classic jazz but are still enjoyable and that gives me a wider spectrum.
Now I’m going to play a record every day and present a tune with a short comment. Early jazz, blues, modern jazz, operatic arias maybe and some bygone popular artist’s recordings. Let’s listen together, and we’ll see what comes up!
From the Record Shelves #12 – I’m Watching the Clock. It is volume three in a series and contain recordings that King Oliver’s orchestra did in New York. On the first side they are from 1928, then there is a gap until 1931 and by that time the band had lost their New Orleans connotations (…) read more and listenread more and listen
From the Record Shelves #11 – Ain’t That Hateful?. Here we have Oliver Naylors Seve Aces recorded by Gennett in New York 1924. When this LP was released in the beginning of the 70’s I went with my bike back and forth 20 kilometers to pick it up (…) read more and listenread more and listen
From the Record Shelves #10 – You Took Advantage of Me. This happens to be the first record that I ever played. I was in my teens and I had already heard a lot of 1920’s jazz on reel to reel tapes and also over and over the few records (…) read more and listenread more and listen
From the Record Shelves #9 – Just a Gigolo. The recordings made on the American West Coast has alway had a positive flavor of ”Sunny California” to my ears and on this LP the major part were recorded there by Bing (…) read more and listenread more and listen
From the Record Shelves #8 – Walking the Dog. The title says a lot. The Dorseys dominate the record and in the rhythm section and with often thoughtful solo spots Eddie Lang is the master (…) read more and listenread more and listen
From the Record Shelves #7 – My Inspiration. This LP that I think I bought at a very low price many years ago is a French release and has no detailed information about personel or recording date. But I’ve found out (…) read more and listenread more and listen
From the Record Shelves #6 – It’s the Girl. This was my introduction to Boswell Sisters. Wonderful singing from this trio from New Orleans, but also lovely tunes and good accompaniment throughout. (…) read more and listenread more and listen
From the Record Shelves #5 – Makin’ Friends. Ben Pollack Orchestra used when recording for ”dime store labels”. The music is what we call hot dance music, but here the arrangements are read and performed by (…) read more and listenread more and listen
From the Record Shelves #4 – Singing Pretty Songs. The RCA Vintage Series never let you down. Here is a lively performance with a good balance of arranged passages, loosely arranged dito and short inspired solos. (…) read more and listenread more and listen
From the Record Shelves #3 – Anything. This mood piece is played by a group under Phil Napoleon’s formal leadership. Filippo Napoli as was his birth name had success with his group Original Memphis Five and recorded plenty of music with this and under their different pseudonyms (…) read more and listenread more and listen
From the Record Shelves #2 – Dyin’ with the Blues. Three players represents the hot trumpets recording in Chicago during the late 1920’s: Jabbo Smith, Punch Miller and the least well-known George Dixon who plays here (…) read more and listenread more and listen
From the Record Shelves #1 – Freshman’s Hop. Jack Pettis, what a band he had in the studio! He played alto and C-melody sax himself with a nice mellow sound and he was an important pioneer on the sax (…) read more and listenread more and listen