Sunday, June 12, 2011

Jack Wilson - Song For My Daughter



Jack Wilson - Song For My Daughter - Blue Note BST-84328 - Blue Note Original Pressing (?), Liberty/UA Pressing, Stereo

Jack Wilson - Piano +

Ike Isaacs - Bass on A5, B4
Donald Bailey - Drums on A5, B4,B5
Ray Brown - Bass on A1,A3, B3,B5
Howard Roberts - Guitar on A2, A4 B2, B5
Tommy Vig - Vibes on B5
Varner Barlow - Drums on A1, A3, B3
John Gray - Guitar on A1, A3, B3
Stan Levey - Vibes & Shaker on A1, A3, B3
Victor Feldman - Vibes & Tympani on A2, A4, B2
Andy Simpkins - Bass on A2, A4, B2
Jimmie Smith - Drums on A2,A4,B2

Strings Arranged & Conducted by Billy Byers

Recorded - [not listed on the sleeve, but according to major discographies - A1, A3, B3 - September 28, 1968, Liberty Studios, West Hollywood, CA. A2, A4, B2 - December 16, 1968,Liberty Studios, West Hollywood, CA. B5 - April 23, 1969 - Liberty Studios, West Hollywood, CA. A5 - June 19, 1969, Liberty Studios, West Hollywood, CA. B1, B4 - June 21 & 26, 1969, Liberty Studios, West Hollywood, CA.]

Produced by Billy Byers
Recording Engineer - [uncredited]
Cover Photography - Fred Seligo

Released - 1970?

Here's something a bit different for this blog: a genuine Blue Note rarity: Jack Wilson's Song for my Daughter! Blue Note is perhaps the most documented and over scrutinized jazz label of them all (not a slight on the music itself, but on 'the cult of Blue Note' which is a bit excessive: there's other good jazz of the period out there!) However, this side seems to have escaped reissue perhaps because it's of the later post 1967 Alfred Lion, Liberty era which seems to have been too easily dismissed and erased from most Blue Note histories.

This is an enjoyable side. Jack Wilson is a fine player, of the Chicago/mid West sensibility in which this blog specializes... The strings, however are sometimes problematic, and of their time, unfortunately. There's also some ace West Coast studio players here; Howard Roberts and Victor Feldman, which gives the session some 'jazz' gravitas, although the underlying commercial/pop inclinations of the record are explicit. A genuine and unexpected crate-digger find for $5, a slight pop on A1 which couldn't be avoided, but generally good fidelity off the vintage (original?) Liberty/UA stereo vinyl.

Get it
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10 comments:

  1. AnonymousJune 12, 2011 at 11:15 AM

    Another rarity off my Victor Feldman list. A nice listen also. Many thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ian GJune 12, 2011 at 10:35 PM

    Right On! Never heard of this one!
    Thought I knew every Blue Note LP
    but this one definitely slipped my attention.
    Just been looking through gokudo's list,
    (http://www.gokudo.co.jp/index2.htm)
    & noticed a few more rarities among the
    later releases. All worth hearing I'm sure.

    As for this one, you're right about the strings,
    way over the top, more jazz lounge a la Mancini
    than a typical Blue Note session but when they're given
    space to breathe, they can cut it perfectly well,
    especially on Scarborough Fair where we can hear
    what a fine jazz trio Jack can make. The last track
    is a winner too!

    Now I wanna hear more from this guy.
    Only other Wilson I own is Easterly Winds.
    (Great but a bit top heavy on the horns)
    Is there anything else out there?

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJune 13, 2011 at 1:15 AM

    Thanks for sharing this recording. Classy pianist.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJune 14, 2011 at 12:25 AM

    Hi thanks again for wonderful posting, love the stuff on your site and this side is no exception. Also its great to hear the fantastic Howard Roberts in this setting.
    I wonder if I could request anything else at all from Sam Lazar. The album you posted earlier is superb. Do you have his Argo set with Grant Green? Or any thing with Joe Dorion on guitar (Know they cut a 45 in 1963 called Scootin).
    Anyway cheers & thanks again from Pete from Melbourne Australia

    ReplyDelete
  5. CristianJune 15, 2011 at 5:50 AM

    Great Post!
    I've Ramblin', Somethin' Special,Easterly Winds and the others Atlantic's recordings of Jack Wilson but this one of Blue Note is hard to find...so thank you very much!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. radenkoJune 17, 2011 at 5:17 PM

    Thanks! Like Cristian, I have other Wilson albums but This is a very nice surprise.

    ReplyDelete
  7. taro nombeiJune 19, 2011 at 11:46 AM

    I wasn't sure about the strings at first, but they kind of grew on me.
    Thanks for this.

    ReplyDelete
  8. OldHippieRickJune 24, 2011 at 4:53 PM

    @ Ian Van Groove do you have The Jack Wilson Quartet Featuring Roy Ayers 1963 Out of print reissue of this great album recorded in 1963 for Atlantic. playing straight jazzy vibes - if not Email me and I'll rip it. (¿.☮ldhippieяick's "Jazz and Blues All Day"
    ☛ http://oldhippierick.wordpress.com/

    ReplyDelete
  9. deGalloJuly 15, 2011 at 5:59 PM

    Jack Wilson very glad to get this as it has the great Johnny Gray on guitar. I try to search out all his recordings. Thank you. Here is one of his albums on my blog that I did if you like jazz guitar http://yellowdaysvinyl9.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  10. .July 19, 2011 at 1:38 PM

    hey thanks for this.. downloading it now.. can't wait to hear Duck (Donald Bailey) and Ray Brown .. i don't think Mr Bailey is doing all that well these days, but i got to play a few tunes with him at a jam session a few years back (which included Kenny Brooks on tenor) and he sounded pretty great still -- Thanks for this and for all the work you've put into this blog!!!!

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