Rolling Stones - Genuine Black Box 1961-1974 [Scorpio, 6 CD, 2010]

Rolling Stones compilations have been produced and in circulation almost from the beginning of the band.

Genuine Black Box on Scorpio is the latest and perhaps best attempt at this much lost compilation. It is six discs dating from the earliest Little Boy Blue & The Blue Boys session to Mick Taylor’s final studio recordings with the band encompassing 144 performances collected together in a comprehensive anthology. “Presenting the best available quality, studio outtake, demo, rehearsal, alternative, rare, withdrawn or otherwise unavailable recordings from the band’s golden era, this collection provides the most authoritative overview to date of The Rolling Stones’ recording career.”

Dana Gillespie - What Memories We Make The Complete MainMan Recordings 1971-1974 [2 CD, 2019]

 English songstress and actress Dana Gillespie is a deep-rooted folk/blues singer, a talent that conveys a hauntingly soulful voice. What makes this set of recordings standout, is actually given away in the title; The Complete Mainman Recordings. The connection is then made to the late David Bowie. That label Mainman was the rights management company set up by Bowie’s ex-manager Tony DeFries. Apart from David Bowie, Mainman also handled artists, and launched the careers of Iggy Pop, Mott The Hoople and in this instance, Dana Gillespie. Gillespie herself performs backing vocals on the track “It Ain’t Easy”, from Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.

The recordings made within that early seventies time period were essential, and inspiring releases, all of which are represented here. This is a treasure trove, even if it seems slightly obscure, the surprise is in the sound. Those involved in the creative process, and the edge that Gillespie sought to become more relevant in the seventies makes What Memories We Make. This is, make no mistake a thoroughly enjoyable listen containing effervescent versions of the Bowie penned “Andy Warhol”. The track which Bowie himself would release on Hunky Dory (1971) makes three appearances. Reason in part is due to the fact that the song was written especially for Gillespie. She recorded it in 1971, but her version of the song was not released until 1973 on her album Weren’t Born a Man. That aforementioned album was produced by Bowie and Mick Ronson, given the same attention that was placed on Lou Reed’s Transformer.

CD1 

1971 Promo Album

1-1 Mother, Don't Be Frightened

1-2 Andy Warhol

1-3 Never Knew

1-4 All Cut Up On You

1-5 Lavender Hill

Weren't Born A Man

1-6 Stardom Road Part I & II

1-7 What Memories We Make

1-8 Dizzy Heights

1-9 Andy Warhol

1-10 Backed A Loser

1-11 Weren't Born A Man

1-12 Mother, Don't Be Frightened

1-13 All Cut Up On You

1-14 Eternal Showman

1-15 All Gone

1-16 Lavender Hill (Alternative Version)

1-17 Never Knew (Alternative Version)

Libido Single

1-18 Hold On To Your Fire

1-19 Weren't Born A Man

CD2 

Ain't Gonna Play No Second Fiddle

2-1 Ain't Gonna Play No Second Fiddle

2-2 Really Love The Man

2-3 Hold Me Gently

2-4 Don't Mind Me

2-5 Pack Your Bags

2-6 No Tail To Wag

2-7 Get My Rocks Off

2-8 Wanderlust

2-9 Getting Through To Me

2-10 Never Knew

2-11 Man Size Job (Outtake)

October 1974 Demos

2-12 Stoke The Engine

2-13 Goin' Crazy With The Blues

2-14 Say Goodbye To The Night

2-15 Do The Spin

2-16 Gone At The Game

2-17 Andy Warhol (Original Demo) 

Sonny Rollins – The Complete Prestige Recordings [7 CD, 1992]

 This seven-CD box set lives up to its title, reissuing in chronological order all of tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins' recordings for Prestige. Dating mostly from 1951-1956, these valuable performances find Rollins developing from a promising player to a potential giant; many of his best recordings would take place a year or two after this program ends. In addition to his own sessions, Rollins is featured with trombonist J.J. Johnson, on four dates with Miles Davis, and on sessions led by Thelonious Monk and trumpeter Art Farmer. Among the other musicians participating are trumpeters Kenny Dorham and Clifford Brown; pianists John Lewis, Kenny Drew, Horace Silver, Elmo Hope, Ray Bryant, Red Garland, and Tommy Flanagan; drummers Max Roach, Roy Haynes, Art Blakey, and Philly Joe Jones; the Modern Jazz Quartet; Julius Watkins on French horn; altoist Jackie McLean; and even Charlie Parker. Among the many highlights are the original versions of Rollins' compositions "Airegin," "Oleo," "Doxy," "St. Thomas," and "Blue 7," and his one recorded meeting with John Coltrane ("Tenor Madness"). Essential music that is treated as it should be.  

Classic Jazz : Encyclopedia of Jazz [100 CD, 2008] CD 11-20

 

CD 11: Louis Armstrong (1924 Vol. 1)

CD 12: Louis Armstrong (1924 Vol. 2)

CD 13: Louis Armstrong (1925 Vol. 1)

CD 14: Louis Armstrong (1925 Vol. 2)

CD 15: The Wolverine Orchestra

CD 16: The Bucktown Five

CD 17: Kansas City Jazz

CD 18: Bennie Moten (1926-27)

CD 19: Sidney Bechet with Clarence Williams (1923)

CD 20: Adrian Rollini Groups (1924-27) 

Jethro Tull- 50 For 50 [3 CD, 2018/FLAC]

Parlophone is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Jethro Tull with 50 for 50, an Ian Anderson curated ‘best of’ that, as the title suggests, includes 50 songs from the band’s rich back catalogue.

The 50-track selection includes everything you’d expect (and more) and features a pair of songs from the very last official studio album, 2003’s The Jethro Tull Christmas Album.