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88. ROACH, MAX: “We Insist! Max Roach’s – Freedom Now Suite” (Candid Records/ Victor – SMJ-6169) (Record: Near Mint/ Jacket: Near Mint/ Insert: Near Mint/ Additional Article 46 page liners: Excellent/ Obi: Near Mint). Top condition original Japanese press issue. “We Insist!, recorded in August and September 1960, was the first of several jazz albums explicitly to voice the growing demand for equal rights. In November, it was followed by the recording of bassist Charles Mingus' Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus (Candid, 1960), whose "Original Faubus Fables," a ferocious attack on Arkansas governor Orval E. Faubus (of Little Rock High School infamy), possessed an intensity which set the tone for most jazz-as-protest albums to follow. Some of those albums sound like period pieces today, but not We Insist!, which is sufficiently nuanced and free of agit-prop literalism to transcend its era. Conceived as a suite by Roach, its composer and arranger, the album features a shifting cast of players, with only Roach and singer Abbey Lincoln heard throughout. Three of the five tracks—"Driva' Man," "Freedom Day" and "All Africa"—feature lyrics by Oscar Brown Jr., sung by Lincoln, who is joined on "All Africa" by Nigerian conga player Michael Olatunji. Brown's words, pitched as poetry rather than polemic, are deep and eloquent, and Lincoln's assertive, uncompromising delivery of them is widely considered to be her finest recorded performance. The album is ablaze with instrumental spirit too. Tenor saxophonist Coleman Hawkins, in an inspired piece of guest casting, solos at length on the opening "Driva' Man," his sturdy, heavyweight testifying suggesting dignity and determination in the face of whip-wielding oppression—he sounds like the civil rights marchers looked. "All Africa" closes with four minutes of collective improvisation between Roach, Olatunji and Afro-Cuban percussionists Ray Mantilla and Tomas DuVall, as thrilling an African/Afro-American drum summit as could be wished for. There are stirring solos from trumpeter Booker Little, trombonist Julian Priester and tenor saxophonist Walter Benton, and the ensemble's focus is razor sharp throughout, honed by Roach's virtuosic drumming. Awesome is an over-used word, but it's the right one for We Insist!.” (All About Jazz). Price: 35 Euro |
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89. ROLLINS, SONNY: “Our Man In Jazz” (Victor – SHP-5158) (Record: Excellent/ Flip Back Jacket: Excellent ~ Near Mint) Original 1963 Japan first original stereo press issue. One of Sonny Rollins' best albums ever, and a totally inspired, totally non-stop freewheeling live set, recorded with Don Cherry, Bob Cranshaw, and Billy Higgins! Working on long tracks in an unfettered setting, Rollins' hits one of those rare moments of genius where he can turn his solo over and over again – never losing interest, and always opening up new territory – at a level that easily matches the oft-made claim that he's one of the greatest tenor talents ever on the tenor sax! The album features only 3 long tracks, all dominated by masterful work by Rollins. Price: 35 Euro |
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90. ROLLINS, SONNY: “Way Out West” (SR-3025) (Record: Near Mint/ Flip Back Jacket: Near Mint). Japan very first press original from 1969 in outstanding condition. Those very first pressings with flip back sleeve are such a hard catch in great shape so…. Price: 35 Euro |
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91. RYPDAL, TERJE: “Whenever I seem To Be Far Away” (ECM/ Trio Records – PAP-9027) (Record: Near Mint/ Jacket: near Mint/ Insert: Near Mint/ Obi: Near Mint). Japan original 1st press – PROMO issue. “Whenever I Seem To Be Far Away is, by common consensus, one of Terje’s early masterpieces. Rypdal has said that he sometimes felt conflicted in his early years, pulled in different directions by the urges to compose orchestral music and to develop an improvising language as a guitarist drawing upon the sonorities of rock rather than jazz. The demands of the mediums could seem contradictory. Not on Whenever I Seem To Be Far Away, however. “Terje Rypdal pursues his own way with purity, clarity and inspirational complexity,” the reviewer in the Los Angeles Free Press declared. “He touches you on an improvisational level and a compositional level. I never heard an electric guitar sound so natural in an orchestral setting before.” An important contributor here was Mladen Gutesha, the Saravejo-born conductor and arranger who worked on several ECM sessions which framed improvisers with string players, including Keith Jarrett’s In The Light, Luminessence and Arbour Zena, and Nana Vasconçelos’s Saudades. On the title piece of Whenever I Seem To Be Far Away (subtitled “Image for Electric Guitar, Strings, Oboe and Clarinet”), the players of the Südfunk Symphony convincingly echo the yearning quality of Terje’s singing electric guitar, with moving results.” (ECM). Price: 30 Euro |
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92. RYPDAL, TERJE: “After The Rain” (ECM/ Trio Records – PAP-9055) (Record: Near Mint/ Jacket: Near Mint/ Insert: Near Mint/ Obi: Near Mint). Japan 1st press original – PROMO issue. If Terje Rypdal's previous album, Odyssey was up your alley, then you will like After the Rain. While this album has the atmospheric ECM "house sound" found on their other releases of this era, After the Rain sounds more like a Terje Rypdal solo album than Odyssey. This is due to the fact that there is not a group playing on this album. It is only Terje Rypdal playing all of the instruments. Inge Lise Rypdal (Terje's wife) provides wordless vocals on a few of the songs. Price: 30 Euro |
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93. SAIRAIJI HIROMI: “Hatoba b/w Futari No Nakimichi” (Columbia – SAS-1552) (Single Record: Excellent/ Picture Sleeve: Excellent/ Company Inner Sleeve: Excellent). 1971 Japan original press issue of all time greatest but so unknown beached belly-up & bottom of the grave Enka wailing chanteuse Sairaiji Hiromi. PSF records Hideo Ikeezumi introduced me to her and we both cultivated a secret but long lasting heavy love for Sairaiji’s output. This is the deep shit, merely 19 years old at the time, she succeeded in sounding like a 95 year old hag at the brink of oblivion. It makes the hairs on my neck stand up straight for weeks on end after I play this at full volume. Enka never got as good, as deep, as depraved and as rurally fucked up as Sairaiji’s debut. Bloody insane killer shit!!! Price: 30 Euro |
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94. SHEPP, ARCHIE: “On This Night” (Impulse – AS-97) (Record: Excellent ~ Near Mint/ Gatefold Jacket: Excellent ~ Near Mint/ Company Inner Sleeve: Near Mint). US pressing in outstanding condition. “Tenor saxophonist Archie Shepp’s third release for the Impulse label collects valuable loose ends recorded between March and August 1965. Among the highlights are a passionate reading of Duke Ellington’s "In a Sentimental Mood" and the title piece, a moving tribute to W.E.B. DuBois, featuring the haunting soprano vocalist Christine Spencer employing a distinct 20th century classical influence, with Shepp on piano. Shepp is the solo horn on these dates, playing at peak form with contributions from vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson early in his career, David Izenzon or Henry Grimes on bass, and four rotating drummers, including Rashied Ali, J.C. Moses, Joe Chambers and Ed Blackwell playing a variety of percussion.” (All Msuic Guide). Price: 30 Euro | Price: 30 Euro
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95. SHEPP, ARCHIE: “Day Dream” (Denon/ Nippon Columbia – YX-7570-ND) (Record: Near Mint/ Jacket: Near Mint/ Insert: Near Mint/ Obi: Near Mint). 1977 Japan only issue all complete with obi and insert. Top shape. Price: 40 Euro |
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96. SHIDE AND ACORN: “S/T” (Acme – AC8006LP) (Record: Side A = VG++ clearly visible mark that does NOT sound & Side B = Near Mint/ Jacket: Excellent ~ Near Mint/ Insert: Near Mint). Reissue that is long and gone of mega rare UK pastoral acid folk slide that saw the light of day in the beginning of the 1970s. original released as a micro-quantity private pressing. Such a gem of a record, utterly beautiful. Price: 25 Euro |
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97. SIMON & GARFUNKEL: “Wednesday Morning 3 AM” (CBS Sony – SOPM-100) (Record: Excellent/ Gatefold Jacket: Near Mint/ Insert: Near Mint/ Company Inner Sleeve: Near Mint/ Cap Obi: Near Mint). Clean Japanese pressing with obi of always stellar Simon and Garfunkel ear-waxing sounds. Price: 30 Euro |
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98. SISTERS OF MERCY: “Alice b/w Floorshow” (A Merciful release – MR-015) (7 Inch Single: Excellent/ Picture Sleeve: Excellent). Original 1982 French press original of killer single. Price: 25 Euro |
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99. SLAP HAPPY
HUMPHREY: “Chiheisen b/w Sentimental
Street” (Public Bath – PB14) (7 Inch Single Record: Near Mint/ Picture
Sleeve: Near Mint). Original 1994 pressing of noisey take on Morita Doji folk
songs by Hijokaidan front man backed up by the lovely vocals of Angel In Heavy
Syrup lead chanteuse Mineko Itakura. Price: 35 Euro |
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100. SMITH, JIMMY: “All About Jimmy Smith” (Verve/ Nippon Phonogram – SMV-9001 (1~2) (2 LP Record: Near Mint/ Outer Box: Near Mint/ Insert: Near Mint/ Obi: Excellent) Scarce Japan 1970 original press all complete with obi and insert. Comes housed in thick fancy box set. Price: 35 Euro |
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101. SONIC YOUTH: “Personality Crisis b/w Dirty Boots” (Geffen – 7-19664-dj) (Single Record: Near Mint/ generic Sleeve: Mint). Promo only issue from 1990 by the mighty Sonic Youth venturing into New York Dolls territory and ripping it up with much conviction and galore! So bloody awesome! Price: 35 Euro |
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102. SONNY CLARK TRIO: “S/T” (Top Rank Records/ Victor Records – RANK-5032) (Record: Excellent/ Flip Back Jacket: Near Mint/ Imprinted Inner Sleeve: Near Mint). The legendary “Time” album. Mega rare Japan very first press original MONO. “This lesser-known Sonny Clark session (his only studio album not made for Blue Note) is sometimes issued under drummer Max Roach’s name, too. They are joined by bassist George Duvivier for a set of generally obscure Clark originals including "Minor Meeting," "Blues Mambo," and "My Conception" (which is taken as an unaccompanied piano solo). Although not obvious while listening to his recording, Clark’s life was in decline and this would be his penultimate date as a leader.” (All Music Guide). Beautifully sounding Japanese first original MONO pressing. Price: 40 Euro |
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103. SONNY STITT & ZOOT SIMS: “Inter-Action” (Baybridge – UPS-2008-B) (Record: Near Mint ~ Mint/ Jacket: Near Mint ~ Mint/ Obi: Mint/ Insert: Mint). Virginally untouched Japanese PROMO issue. A nice little set by Sonny Stitt and Zoot Sims – recorded in Chicago after the two had played together at the Plugged Nickel in the Windy City! Backing is by the trio of pianist John Young – who gives the album a rolling bottom groove that shows off the Chicago sound of the early 60s quite nicely – and both Stitt and Sims respond with some strong solo work on their own part, opening up a bit more than on other sides at the time. Sonny plays both alto and tenor. Price: 30 Euro |
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104. STONEWALL: “S/T” (Tiger Lily Records – TL-14013) (Record: Near Mint/ Jacket: Near Mint). Damned nice and long gone and deleted reproduction of this killer psych LP on the tax scam label. Originals sell for the same amount as a kidney transplant, so nice to see an almost identical – but long gone and sold out – high quality reissue of this. Killer slide with the band having no problem of getting loose and brutal in the studio in the early 70s. Fantastic crunching guitar, heavy stormy grooves, killer songs, and a singer who vibes like a trailer park Ozzy in the early stages of a meth binge. The record opens with "Right On," an invocation to "come on over to our shack" and get wild. "Outer Spaced" is the peak, the singer channeling bizarre visions while riding a tidal wave of pulverizing guitar and organ. Shoots you off like a rocket and flattens you like a steamroller simultaneously. Price: 40 Euro |
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105. 13th FLOOR ELEVATORS: “I’ve Seen Your Face Before”
(Big Beat – WIK-82) (Record: Excellent ‾ Near Mint/ Jacket: Near Mint).
Original infamous live recording release that saw the light of day in 1988. “Despite their commercial success, it
was in California that problems began developing around the Elevators in
general, and Roky Erickson in particular. After returning to Texas around
Christmas, the band played a large number of gigs during early ‘67, but their
performances were getting uneven and unpredictable. Nothing
illustrates this better than the notorious Houston Mustic Theatre Tape, from
February ‘67. Through a twist of fate, this is the best
documented concert in the entire Elevators annals. Apart from the
professional live recording, there exists a poster, old ticket stubs, detailed
comments from band members, and personal reminiscences from audience members.
How unfortunate then, that the Elevators decided to
drop more LSD than usual before the concert, and went on stage zonked out of
their skulls. While the crowd was yelling and IA:s tape deck was rolling, lead guitarist Stacy Sutherland entered a profound
hallucinatory stage, which he described years later as: “...Everybody turned
into wolves, and I thought that our band was evil, because of some of the
things we had advocated. And I was tryin' to escape the room, I didn't know what
I was gonna do, but I was gonna get out of there. I
didn't want anything to do with it, because everybody was turning into
animals...”. While on stage, Sutherland entered a
dissociated spiritual space wherein an angel gave him three “prophecies”, all
of a negative nature. This vision would continue to haunt the guitarist, and
informed some of the lyrics he later wrote for the band’s final LP, Bull Of
The Woods. On top of these heavy acid vibes, the revolving stage
of the venue contributed to the musicians’ confusion. On the live tape, you can
hear drummer John Ike Walton desperately trying to hold the gig together, while
Roky forgets his lines or his vocal mic, Stacy’s guitar leads abruptly come and
go, and the whole thing is pretty much out to lunch. As a freak document of a
very freaky night, it has its moments, but for the Elevators legacy we would
have been better off without it. To add insult to injury, when the recording
was made available in the late ‘80s, the clueless people involved simply put it
out with zero corrections of the raw mix, which means that it sounds even more
bizarre than it had to. Furthermore, it was incorrectly listed as coming from
La Maison, which didn’t even exist by early ’67. For the bold or curious, the
concert can be found on Big Beat’s I’ve Seen Your Face Before –
Live LP” (Patrick
Lundborg). Historically so great and I love it. Price: 30 Euro |
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106. TAYLOR, CECIL: “Nuits De La Fondation Maeght – Vol. 1” (Shandar – SR-10.011) (Record: Near Mint/ gatefold Jacket: Near Mint). Legendary and necessary ear candy that needs a home in any collection. Original French 1st pressing on highly collectable label. Price: 20 Euro |
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107. TAYLOR, CECIL: “Nuits De La Foundation Maeght Vol. 1” (RCA Records/ Shandar – RCA-6085(M) (Record: Near Mint/ gatefold Jacket: Near Mint/ Obi: Near Mint). Original 1973 Japanese pressing all complete with rare obi. Price: 30 Euro |
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108. TRISTANO, LENNIE: “S/T aka Kyojin Lennie Tristano” (Atlantic – MJ-7087) (Record: Near Mint/ Flip Back Jacket: Near Mint). Stupidly rare Japan very first original MONO press issue all complete with first issue obi. Damned rare 1959~1960 Japan first original pressing. Later pressings turn up often and for cheap but a true 1st pressing is something out of another world. Obi got lost in the mists of time so comes dead cheap for a virginal original pressing. Price: 40 Euro |
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109. UNIVERS ZERO: “Crawling Wind” (Chaos International – 1982)
Classic recording by Belgian’s finest and best avant-garde combo. This disc was
solely released in Japan and is the rarest Univers Zéro record. The
music is haunting, dark, frightening, oppressive and threatening avant-garde
chamber rock. For lovers of Magma, Univers Zekt, Shub Nigurat, Zao, Zeuhl music and the
likes. Highly recommended. Price: 40 Euro |
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110. VAMPYROS
LESBOS: “Sexadelic Dance party with
The Lion & The Cucumber b/w The Message” (Crippled Dick Hot Wax) (7 Inch
Record: Near Mint/ Picture Sleeve: Near Mint). Long time no see original German
pressing that saw the light of day way back in 1990s. Limited edition single in
a tiny run of 500 only. Price: 25 Euro |
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111. The VILETONES ’77: “Screamin Fist b/w Rebel” (Man’s Ruin Records – MR-055) (Single Record: Near Mint/ Thick Card Gatefold Picture Sleeve: Near Mint). Long gone reissue that came out way back in 1997 of Totono, Canada’s greatest Punk Rock band, the Viletones. The a-side’s a great, high-energy moronic punk banger that’s surprisingly tough for 1977; “relentless” is an over-used term in a genre defined by the two-minute-or-less song, but the word certainly fits here. On the flip, “Rebel” is a raw but engaging mid-tempo punker with its sixties roots showing, reprising the quick-paced ranting of the first number. Just a killer punk rock single in the purest form– Highest recommendation!!! Price: 25 Euro |
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112. WALDRON, MAL: “Mal 1” (Prestige/ Victor Records – SMJ-7430) (Record: Near Mint/ Jacket: Near Mint). Top condition Japan original press issue for dead cheap. Impossible to upgrade upon. Classic mal slide. Price: 35 Euro |
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113. WALDRON, MAL: “All Alone” (GTA/ Globe Records – SMJ-6124) (Record: Near Mint/ Jacket: Excellent ~ Near Mint – some foxing on back sleeve/ Insert: Near Mint/ Obi: Near Mint). Clean Japanese pressing all complete with obi. Originally released in Italy on GTA in 1966, this is the 2nd Japanese pressing of that post-Bop face slasher. Austere, minimal, stark and highly atmospheric solo piano album, All Alone. The brooding title track is one of the most haunting explorations of solitude. It was also influenced by Billie Holiday, with whom he worked during the last years of her life, and who inspired many of Waldron’s compositions. While playing this late at night, goose bumps pop up all over your skin and you just hope it ain’t no Covid-19 come down that makes you reach out for that quick fix of bleach to pop into your veins. Desolation rules!! Damned a hard one to track down with obi there. Price: 35 Euro
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114. WALT DICKERSON: “To My Queen” (Prestige/ Victor Records – SMJ-7223) (Record: Near Mint/ Flip Back Jacket: Near Mint). Scarce Japan very first original press issue housed in Japan only fragile flip back sleeve art.“To My Queen is Walt Dickerson’s crowning achievement, a perfect balance between his intellectually advanced concepts and deeply felt passion. Dickerson had always displayed a fertile imagination, but there hadn't been much indication that his vision could be as expansive as it was on To My Queen. Never before had he attempted such extended, freely structured performances, which makes the album's consistency and focus all the more impressive. Like the foreground of a canvas, the listener's attention naturally falls on the title cut, a side-long, 17-and-a-half-minute opus (written in tribute to his wife, Elizabeth) that became Dickerson’s signature piece. It's deliberate, spare, and tender, with the soloists accompanied by either a gentle swing or the barest hints of support Dickerson’s shimmering opening statements are followed by thoughtful explorations from pianist Andrew Hill and bassist George Tucker. while drummer Andrew Cyrille offers subtle, whisper-quiet shadings, save for occasional drum rolls that come off like momentarily swelling passions amidst all the introspection. The second half of the album maintains the mood set by the first, featuring an 11-minute version of "How Deep Is the Ocean" and a vibes/bass duet on "God Bless the Child" that trumps Dickerson’s earlier effort in the same vein. This is arguably the finest quartet Dickerson ever led, not just because of the advanced musicianship and sympathetic interplay, but also because each member serves the material with taste and care. The whole album is swathed in a gauzy glow that speaks even more eloquently than its creator's conceptual ambition; this is music from the heart as well as the mind.” (All Music Guide). A bewitchingly beautiful and austere recording. Makes your ears glowing like fireflies during a rainstorm. Price: 50 Euro |
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115. WYATT, ROBERT: “Nothing can stop us” (Rough Trade/ Victor
– VIP-4228) Promo copy, 1st original Japanese pressing of subliminal solo
recordings by former Soft Machine and Matching Mole kingpin. Stuff of legends,
Wyatt solo material is amazing and so needed. TOP copy. Price: 35 Euro |
