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Tauranga

I got these records all at the one op-shop in Tauranga. One of the dear ol ladies working there invited me out the back to look through some of the crates they didn’t have room for in the store. I love it when that happens. When I took them up to the counter to pay, a small circle of people gathered around me all asking "do you have a record player?" as if it they were now the rarest thing on earth. "Yes, yes I do"  "wow, did you hear that he's got a record player"
First crate, second record, Miles Davis. Tauranga has heaps of jazz heads, but I never thought I’d come across Miles Davis in an op shop. I was so restricted for time there was no liner note looking and I pulled out these 24 records at glance. I hate to think what I missed. Most of these records are from the collection of John R Kingi, as is written on them.
I have ordered these in groups of 6 from the ones I was least excited about listening to, to the ones I wanted to throw on the turntable right away.
 



Buddy Holly 20 Golden Hits.
I already have this record. This is surplus for trading. I L.O.V.E his version of ‘Bo Didley’.
 
Dolly Parton’s 16 Biggest Hits
Fewer hits than Buddy, but 20 songs is too many for a record. She does have big.. hits. I DJ’d with a ‘Dolly Party’ and ‘Tina Turntables’ and had wished I had a wittier name, like, umm... ‘Chubby Mic Checker’ - hey that’s not bad! 
 
DD Smash – The Optimist
I struggle with Sir Double D. Full respect, but its hard work listening some times. This record would be more suited in the context of the year it was released. It sounds as pro as anything else that came out in the pop world at that time. ‘Whaling’ will always be brilliant, and What a Day has got some funk.
 
I Can Hear It Now. Winston Churchill
Nice packaging with a flip book of large photos inside. The narrator takes us on a chronological guide, and puts in context, one recorded Churchill quote to another. Dude loved his cigars and always looked boss.
 
David Frost – That was the week that was
Do you guys watch Last Week Tonight with John Oliver? Well there are strong parallels between these two guys. Both started in England doing political satire then moved to the U.S.A to host TV shows. Listening to this record is a lot like listening to The Bugle podcast. That’s as much effort I’ll make to draw parallels. “That was the week that was” is a grammatically funny tittle.
 
Werner Muller plays Leroy AndersonI don’t know why this one made the pile. But 24 recs for 10 bucks it don’t matter. I think the song titles hinted at potential. “A Trumpeter’s Lullaby” “The Syncopated Clock” Jazz Pizzicato” “Forgotten Dreams”. MMMMmmmmmmMeh. I got so many records I don’t need this one.

 

Llyod Whitaker – Listen Lovers
This one I was intrigued by and was confident there would be something cool about it even though Llyod looks like a nerd on the back. NZ guy from the ‘Naki, came up playing regular gigs at the Devon Motor Lodge. He and his electronic accordion probably never went further than that. You need an organ? This record can be the donor. Not a lot to it, but one or two small “moments”.

Charles Aznavour – Sings
English is not Charles’ first language. I’m sure he’d sound way better signing in French. But here he sounds ridiculous singing in English and the lyrics are sad and pathetic. I used to like like French girls. But when you finally realise that even the most ordinary French girl’s accent is sexy and exotic, it all seems like a con. Does translating these songs into English reveal that he's a con? Yes and No. As the album title clearly states he “Sings”. And that is true. True like I sing, and drunk people sing.

Jimmy Durante - The Very Best Of
Ha ha ha. This guy is ol timey funny. People are not funny like this no more. A comically gruff voice over a quirky big band type orchestra with songs called ‘A-Razz-A-Ma-Tazz’ and ‘I’m A Vulture For Horticulture’. So many funny words that are never used anymore. Mukluk.

The Nine O’Clock Theatre Production – Beyond The Fringe ‘64
Alan Bennett, Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Paxton Whitehead. More Comedy. Some classic gags re America and England and genuine studio audience laughter. I was laughing too.

The Insane (But Hilarious) Minds of Coyle and Sharpe.
The masters of the “put on”. These comedic yanks approach unsuspecting (but serious) people on the street and start funny conversations, like trying to convince someone to come along to a cannibal ritual, or sell germs wholesale. At one point they make trumpet noises with their mouths. I love doing that.

The Adventurers – Can’t Stop Twisting
A cash in album on popular trends for sure. I doubt The Adventurers named themselves. This album is rockin’ in every way tho and the vocal doo whopping and what notting keep it hip. One of the songs is called “You’re A Teenager Now”. Thank you marketing.

 

The Real Ambassadors – An Original Musical Production by Dave and Iola Brubeck
Mixed feelings on this one. I’m not too into musicals. And I’m not sure about the themes, some weird patriotic / export the jazz? Maybe I’m wrong on that. Carmen McRae and Louis Armstrong are good in small doses. I don’t know who your wife is, but she may be making some bad calls.
 
The Limelitters – Folk Matinee
This is the type of shit you buy not knowing what it is, then learn from that. Its nearly all bad. The track “Funk” is quirky (and misleading), but a fun little number.
 
Georgia Brown – Self Titled
The opening track “Why Was I Born” sets the tone on this album. The rest of the tracks reaffirm that question.  A lady sings dramatically over jazzy arrangements. Summed up.

Dave Brubeck Quartet – Tonight Only
Three records ago I was disappointed with the outcome of The Real Amabassadors. This album I’m sold by track one, drum solos and all. Easy brah, keep it simple and play that damn piano. McCrae only makes a guest appearance, so in small doses, all g.
 
Sergio Mendes & Brasil ‘66 – Crystal Illusions
Mendes was a big seller. So his records are in all op-shops. Haven’t seen this one around too often though. I really like this album. The title track is trippy, and they do an upbeat version of The Dock Of The Bay which is as you know is a real downer (but beautiful) song.
 
George Benson – The George Benson Collection
Double album with full colour booklet insert. Smoooooooth.

 

Duke Ellington – Piano in the background.
I don’t need to say Ellington is the greatest because it’s a known fact right? I do prefer the quintets quartets sextets and other tets to the big bands and orchestras. But I trust this guy fully. An interesting biography about him that has been analysed and tuned into the best of excerpts can be read here.

Pete Jolly and Ralph Pena – Impossible
I was sold on the stripped back Bass & Piano combo (the two piece White Stripes of the day). I have not come across anything on MGM’s Metro Jazz label before. I like this sort of music when I’m reading. You can drift in and out of it easy enough. I do feel pretty corny though, like I’m on some highbrow jazz & literature diet. But i’ll have you know that my other interests include ceramics, subtitled films, sculpture, wine, annnnnd Rugby League.
 
J.J Johnson Quartet – A Touch of Satin
This album was produced by Teo Macero who also produced the Miles Davis album, and Miles named a song after him. Very few notes on this album sleeve but from what I can tell Cannonball Adderley is involved and Sam Jones kills it on Bass. To borrow a turn of phrase from Johnson off the back off this cover about the listening experience: “To say the least, I enjoyed the experience the most”.

Miles Davis Sextet – Someday My Prince Will Come
John Coltrane, Hank Mobley, Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers, Jimmy Cobb. I’ve never gone out of my way to buy a Miles Davis record because I knew they would always be available when I wanted. This record came to me. Recorded in Manhattan by Columbia, manufactured and distributed in NZ, purchased at ‘The Record Inn’ in Gisborne, travelled to Tauranga, then home to me. All over a life span of 53 years. The prince has come. That was Mile’s wife on the cover. Seems the NZ cover cut the photo of her so her dress would not show? Hm.

Jimmy Winser Trio – Appreciation.
So the cover art is inspired by Piet Mondrian, ‘Appreciation’ looks to be spelt in phonetics¿ and there’s a small photo of a slick looking young (turns out he was 28) nerd. That + “trio” and you know this album is going to be good. And it is. It is some hip slick sophisticated mellow-out shit for your penthouse with its minimalist decor.
 
Toshiko Mariano Quartet
On the Candid label. Tohshiko Akiyosho Mariano (piano) and Charlie Mariano (alto sax) share last names because they are (or were?) married. A female capital J Jazz player? It is impossible to notice any gender in the playing so it means nothing, but Jazz seems like a manz world so you do stand out. This record is tight. The song Little T is pretty amazing (I can't find a link sorry). A great match these two. I’m looking them up now to see if their marriage lasted… …. …    Nope. It did not.

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WHK
I went into the op shop on my lunch break to buy my little brother (who handles my records like he does his clean folded washing) some items for his ball. Eyes doing a quick pass over the records expecting to see the usual suspects… then, what the.. Byrd’s Word? Is that a Donald Byrd record!?
It is too! Who died and left this to the Hospice? I didn’t want to even think where the rest of the collection ended up.



Errol Garner – That’s My Kick

This is my kick too! Dude can play a piano like he was conceived, born and raised on it. Great back up ensemble with bass, drums guitar annnd bongos! Nice version of Blue Moon. Throughout the record Garner (I assume) makes unusual noises while he plays. It’s hard to describe, but if I was to try I’d say, like a goat. So happy with this record.

Lennie Tristano (London Records Jazz Series)
This piano player gets deep. So many moods. Little brother played his drums along to it which added to the listening experience. One of the tracks that made me stop and rewind selectah was Turkish Mambo.

Donald Byrd – Byrd’s Word (London Records Jazz Series)
From 1955 it has had few scratches along the way but still very listenable. Hats off to Rudy Van Gelder the noted engineer and Ozzie Cadena the “supervisor”, because this recording sounds amazing. Byrds trumpet resonates all over this record. This record makes me, and I imagine like people at the time, pretty excited about jazz. And that statement is nerdy as, but I’m placing an order for a new number plate ‘JAZZFAN’ to out nerdy it.

The Dave Brubeck Quartet – Jazz Goes to College
This is a lesson in timing. Impeccable timing. Don’t sleep on Brubeck. Jazz records have the longest sleeve notes. Always someone laying it down as I am now but getting all philosophical. I’m sure these sleeve notes could have been submitted as an essay to any of the university Brubeck played at on this record.

Listen Move & Dance
These kind of series can be hit or miss. But damn. There are some far out arrangements on here and some unique recording techniques. I’m dancing away like a little girl, then the record takes a very odd turn. One minute I’m doing the brise, en dehors, and pirouetting, the next I’m doing my alien space krump. I really need to upload a recording of it for you.

Artie Kaplan – Confessions of a Male Chauvinist Pig.
This is Artie’s concept record. Hear him go through all the stages of a divorce like a musical. Now one thing I didn’t notice until I got this record home was that Bernard Purdie is on drums. Sadly Artie didn’t realise that either and Pretty Purdie never gets to shine. Some funny and interesting moments on this record. But overall self-pity doesn’t make for good listening.

The Tahitis - Hawaii
Is what it is.

The Love Unlimited Orchestra  - White Gold.
B-Dubs produces, conducts and arranges like no other. Steady slammin’.

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Sydney 2013
Just seems like yesterday I forgot to post this up. It is hard to post as much as you collect, or for them other fallas not to collect? Come now! That’s why this blogs getting more dust than the ‘Hooked on’ record series... [cricket chirps, person coughs, tumble weed passes by]


Got this digging in Sydney city map which was cool as. I will just conclude now that Real Groovy is better than all their record stores. And here are some of the records that made it home from Sydney:


Repressed Records

So the first store I made three $2 gambles. 1, Meh, 2,Meh, and 3, what a surprise!

Django Reinhardt - Djangologie 1936-1937
Everyone should have Django Reinhardt in their collection. DJ Ango. Fun and full of life. I was familiar with him playing some tunes like Tea For Two and had long ago made a mental note.
There’s a time and a place for listening to Django Reinhardt. This sweet song takes me to that time and place.
(The other two records were not worth a mention. I can’t find them either to mention them)


Revolve Records & Relics in Erskinenville (I think).

One of my favourite record stores during the trip. Dark and dingy with a funny and friendly shop  keeper. The records were a little unsorted and all over the place, which added to the dig. Some of the records had notes advising of what famous samples were on them. There was heaps of Jazz and sound library records.

Charles Mingus – Mingus Moves
This record is soo beautiful. Not a forced moment. An instant favourite in my collection. Highly recommended.

Roland Kirk – Here Comes the Whistleman
This one has some great banter between songs. I can play this twice both sides while cooking and then eating dinner and not once get tired of it or it. Puts me in a good mood like food.
Hurbert laws – Carrnegie Hall + Nina Simone – Baltimore.
Both live albums on CTI and both were cheap. Both have some pretty incredible moments on them. I know they deserve more writing, but I haven't heard either records in a while.

Chappell AV Series – Elements/Weather.
I wish I grabbed some more of these records. There are some tracks on here that evoke some pretty eerie feelings. It is all made digitally and the theme interpretations are not so literal. For example thunder storm was not made with some sheet metal cymbals and a rain stick.

Utopia Records maybe? I can’t remember.


Freddy Robinson – Black Fox
This one good for drinking a pilsner and cooking kingfish on the BBQ before six. You get some people around then ‘The Oogum Boogum Song’ comes on, then “heyy what’s happening brother!” All tried tested and certified. Orchestra arranged and conducted by Monk Higgins – remember that name. Joe Sample on piano.

Nina Simone – It Is Finished
I’ve never thought to watch a Nina Simone documentary, if there is one? I will look now. Oh here’s one. Wow the internet is quick. Not a bad doco, a bit dated though. Some great footage. I digested that doco that quicker than Johnny 5. Turns out the soon to be released biopic is pretty controversial (and Dr Dre is doing the soundtrack?) and there may be a more definitive documentary on the way.

I will eventually have all her records I’m sure. Because I can’t flick by one I don’t have and not buy it. Apparently the French have a few albums that only exist in French town. Funkier Than a Mosquito’s Tweeter is making chump of your game. She got disses (who want to battle?) and the percussion is nuts on this one.

People Choice Volume 1 – Various Artists
$5.00 all good. I don’t have as much reggae as I’d like. This one is from the 1980’s, when reggae went digital. That was a big turning point for the genre. Now days the roots styley has proven to persevere in popularity which is great. I was never big on the digital. But like all that goes round and comes round I now have a soft spot for the digital reggae, and the hits from that era are some of the hits from my childhood. This comp has both Sugar Minott and Horace Andy, two key selling points for me. Judging by the Word Enterprise record label this has all been done on the cheap.

Pigeon Ground Records

Don Pullen – Healing Force
Solo on the piano and amazing. This is some deep shit. Gets pretty emotional at times. I'm not smart enough to put it musical terms, but there are so many magical moments on this record that just....

Oscar Peterson – Return Engagement
You don’t often have to pay a lot for Oscar Peterson records because he was popular and prolific. This is a double album put out by Verve with some weird and interesting pattern and colour combos on the cover. Subtle Jazz with no saxophone for a J. Piano music. Woody Allen would put it on when he had company.

Lou Donaldson – Hot Dog
This album cover is quite distinctive and I have seen in pop up in waxpoetics articles a number of times.  I had never heard this album before and I purchased it on reputation and recognition alone. I hadn’t before associated blue note with this sound (I hadn’t heard tons of blue note though).  This is nearly all straight party jams, doesn’t take its self so seriously but is seriously tight and funky as hell. You will hear many famous samples on this, which is just an added bonus to the overall listening pleasure. The organ and drums alone… damn! I’m not big on the Sax but Lou keeps it in the pocket and holds back enough to make you want to hear him have his turn again. Gold.

Sheeba Baby
It was playing in another record store and I was like, “hey what is? can I buy it?” First time I’ve ever done that at a record store.  The answer was “sorry, this is my own copy, no you can’t buy it”. Then I found a reissue of it at Pigeon. Plays like hip hop. Just one break and gnarly loop after another. It’s got 30 second instrumental interludes between banging songs. You can picture this one in the movie, Pam Grier on some snooping around abandon warehouse or something.
Do you remember the name Monk Higgins? Well he arranged this as well.