10 digging finds of late
Just 10 pretty cheap ones I’ve bought recently in a more or less descending order of goodness, meaning the top titles are among the ones I liked the best but not in any exact order…
Herbie Mann - Impressions of the Middle East, Atlantic 1967
I’ve picked up a few Herbie Mann albums and never really liked any, but I decided to give him one more chance with this one just because it had a promising title. And what I found was the most enjoyable music I’ve heard him make. Jazz influenced by the music of the Middle East. Lots of flute, vibes, percussion and oud. Softly groovy and swinging, sometimes quite nice and dreamy. Most tracks are excellent, but the short cover on Do Wah Diddy Diddy feels very out of place and silly. It is time for me to re-evaluate Herbie Mann and see if there are more gems like this to be found.
Jacques Dutronc - Nouvelle Édition, Vogue 1981
Compilation of material recorded 1966-1976 which is a little bit hard to get a grip on - it's just a bit too varied. There's chansons, schlager, silly comedy songs and angry political numbers in a more rock/pop-style. When he gets it together it results in some fantastic songs with kinda funky drums and even sometimes fuzzy guitars – all made in a typical french way. Too bad not all tracks are like that. Left me curious and not about to pass on any cheap Dutronc album that comes my way in the future.
John Dankworth - The Idol OST, 196?
Looked boring, but was cheap so I had to pick it up. Bought it half-price at a record shop that was closing down together with some blaxplo reissues and funky comps. Soundtrack with some nice jazz pieces and some groovy swinging now type tunes. Mainly instrumentals but the vocal ones work great too. Very good.
Bill Evans with Jeremy Steig - What's New, Verve 1969
Picked this one up because I’ve encountered both Evans and Steigs names several times and Verve has released loads of good jazz – also it was cheap. Nice small combo jazz with drums, bass, piano and flute. Mainly accessible and melodic, but some atonalities too though not such that it interrupts the flow of the groove.
Darts, the - Hollywood Drag, Del-Fi 196?
Music for drag-racing, meaning surf-like guitar instrumentals and sounds of revving engines. Great music and a fun drag-racing glossary on the jacket – a fink is a cheater, a sand bagger is a poor sport, haulin’ mother is a fast or top running vehicle, a tube steak is a hot dog and so on.
National Gallery, the - Performing Musical Interpretations of the Paintings of Paul Klee, Philips 1968
Picked up at a fleamarket, because what looks like a folksy or psych outfit playing musical interpretations of abstract art could be interesting. And it’s quite odd arty soft pop / light psych album with pretty funky drums, vocal harmonies that sometimes resemble classical music and some fuzzy guitar. It’s pretty enjoyable and I think it will grow on me with more listenings.
Electric Indian, the - Keem-O-Sabe, UA 196? (or early 70s?)
Heard a lot about this one, both good and bad things. I found it nice - intrumental e-z, quite soulful and sometimes semi-funky. I believe there are some originals, but mainly covers.
Mike Sammes Singers - Sounds Sensational, Studio 2 Stereo 1965
There’s nothing funky like Hymns a’Swinging here but still some delightful vocal e-z with great arrangements and in places there's some good scatting. Mainly uptempo songs. Very nice. Recommended to all fans of vocal e-z.
Dudley Moore - 30 is a Dangerous Age, Cynthia OST, London Records 196?
Bought this cheap at the same time as The Idol and didn’t expect a lot from this either. This time I was more correct in my judgement. Mixed bag soundtrack - some mood music, jazz, a comedy number etcetera. Not solid, but has some very nice moments.
Johnny Dankworth - What the Dickens!, Fontana 1963
Bought at the same clear-out sale that I bought the other Dankworth – I went back to pick this up after listening to The Idol. Instrumental big band jazz interpretations of Charles Dickens stories. Better than that sounds but by no means essential.
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Originally Posted by Brainbomb
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