Popped out for beer and potatoes. Had to check the two local charity shops even though I had been in them a few days ago. One of the shops carries on with a 5 for £1 policy and long may it continue, and they had a new box out. Their offerings over the past year have been interesting. Mostly easy listening, some classical, and quite a few non UK releases in amongst (US , Canada, Brazil, various European countries). A lot of tat but also a lot of titles I haven't seen before. And for 20p a pop you can't go wrong. Here are today's 5, and I hit the jackpot with one of them.

Thelma Gracen. Had never heard of Thelma but described as a jazz singer so worth investigating. My find of the year so far. Cool jazz from 1956, this is just wonderful. An original deep groove US release from 1956 and sought after by the looks of things. Needs a clean but no nasty scratches this plays pretty well as it is.

Sweet And Lowdown. Lee Wiley sings George Gershwin and Cole Porter. Recordings made in 1939-40 transcribed from 78s. Another singer I was previously unaware of. Some good tracks on this, Find Me A Primitive Man for instance. I have been playing some of my 78s recently (with the wrong needle it transpires!) so this album fits in well with my mood for things ancient at the moment.
Morty Lewis – Happy Heart, Goodbye Columbus, Both Sides Now. Where Morty can't decide what to call his album (checking his discog it seems he had the same problem on his only other album). Morty is a sax player and blows his way through some poptastic jazztastic tunes. Very late 60s. In The Hall Of The Mountain King and Opus No.1 are the picks I think but the whole album will actually get another play from me.
Rock And Roll Giants. A misleading title. With tracks by John Lee Hooker, Billy Preston, Jimmy Reed, Chris Kenner are scattered amongst other more obvious R&Rers like Little Richard this is much more a Blues and R&B compilation really. Certainly not all original recordings but pretty good anyway.
New Music For Jazz Ensemble Vol XV. Designed to sell jazz charts for budding jazz musicians by the looks of things. Lots of tracks which seem to start, fade and then reprise. Good quality big band style jazz musicians by the sounds of things. Maybe some hidden breaks if I can be bothered to listen to it all.

Thelma Gracen. Had never heard of Thelma but described as a jazz singer so worth investigating. My find of the year so far. Cool jazz from 1956, this is just wonderful. An original deep groove US release from 1956 and sought after by the looks of things. Needs a clean but no nasty scratches this plays pretty well as it is.

Sweet And Lowdown. Lee Wiley sings George Gershwin and Cole Porter. Recordings made in 1939-40 transcribed from 78s. Another singer I was previously unaware of. Some good tracks on this, Find Me A Primitive Man for instance. I have been playing some of my 78s recently (with the wrong needle it transpires!) so this album fits in well with my mood for things ancient at the moment.
Morty Lewis – Happy Heart, Goodbye Columbus, Both Sides Now. Where Morty can't decide what to call his album (checking his discog it seems he had the same problem on his only other album). Morty is a sax player and blows his way through some poptastic jazztastic tunes. Very late 60s. In The Hall Of The Mountain King and Opus No.1 are the picks I think but the whole album will actually get another play from me.
Rock And Roll Giants. A misleading title. With tracks by John Lee Hooker, Billy Preston, Jimmy Reed, Chris Kenner are scattered amongst other more obvious R&Rers like Little Richard this is much more a Blues and R&B compilation really. Certainly not all original recordings but pretty good anyway.
New Music For Jazz Ensemble Vol XV. Designed to sell jazz charts for budding jazz musicians by the looks of things. Lots of tracks which seem to start, fade and then reprise. Good quality big band style jazz musicians by the sounds of things. Maybe some hidden breaks if I can be bothered to listen to it all.
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