Ahmad Jamal - The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd [Repost]

Ahmad Jamal - Roar of The Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd - Argo LP 751 -Argo Original Pressing, Grey Label ,Mono [new version]

Ahmad Jamal - Piano
Jamil Nasser - Bass
Chuck Lampkin - Drums

Recorded: Feb 24 & 25 1965, Nola Penthouse Studio, NYC
From the musical production "The Roar of The Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd"
Words and Music by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley

Engineer: Tommy Nola
Album Production and Supervision: Esmond Edwards
Cover Design: Michael Reid Design

Released: May 1, 1965

My dual jazz vinyl collecting and blogging hobbies have taken me in many directions - many fruitful, some less so - but in the end I keep coming back to the Argo/Cadet label and Ahmad Jamal.  On the eve of a major blog milestone [two hundred posts!], I've decided to go back to the beginning, to the very roots of this blog's rationale and mission with three 1965 Jamal sides from my archives.  

I've always felt that 1965 is a key year in the Jamal discography. Unfortunately Jamal's recordings from this year:  'Roar of the Greasepaint' (recorded 02/65) 'Extensions' (recorded 5/65) and 'Rhapsody' (recorded 12/65) have all remained officially unreleased on CD. I gather the unavailability of these sides are for a myriad of reasons;  perhaps licensing/legal issues (Jamal's Chess/Argo recordings were eventually absorbed  into the MCA/Universal Music corporate family, which Jamal didn't appreciate, leading to a lawsuit), commercial considerations (each of these recordings weren't great sellers at the time , and without critical support have been mostly lost to time), and also perhaps due to Jamal himself (he's hypercritical of his own work and dislikes much of his later post 1962 classic trio output). Nevertheless, I think there's a strong case for a reconsideration of these recordings. On a personal note, documenting these lost Jamal sides actually first inspired me to get into blogging nearly five years ago when I was frustrated that I couldn't get to listen to them!

The following three sides are my personal favorites in the Jamal discography because  they represent distinct Jamal approaches to deconstructing familiar jazz forms and genres - 'The Roar of the Greasepaint' reinterprets the typically staid  'jazz standards' form by tackling a silly Broadway musical/Tin Pan Alley ; 'Extensions' represents his attempt play 'out', and  take account of the 'New Thing'/Free Jazz currents of the mid sixties;  'Rhapsody' (courtesy of Joe Kennedy's great arrangements) revitalizes the tired and cheesy 'jazz with strings' genre, and somehow makes it compelling. In the end these are very much Jamal sides, but I appreciate the experimentation beyond the classic piano trio/cocktail jazz setting.

Ahmad Jamal - Extensions [Repost]

Ahmad Jamal - Extensions - Argo LP 758 - Argo Original Pressing, Beige Promo Label, Mono [new version]

Ahmad Jamal - Piano
Jamil [Sulieman] Nasser - Bass
Vernell Fournier - Drums

Recorded: May 18,19 & 20, 1965, Nola's Penthouse Studio, New York City

Album Production & Supervision - Ahmad Jamal & Dave Usher
Engineer: Tommy Nola
Cover: Michael Reid Design

Released: October 23, 1965

Ahmad Jamal - Rhapsody [Repost]

Ahmad Jamal with Strings - Rhapsody - Cadet LP-764 - Original Cadet Pressing, Stereo, Blue Label  [new version]

Ahmad Jamal - Piano
Jamil S. Nasser - Bass
Vernel Fournier - Drums

+ on A1, A3, B2 & B4

[uncredited] - 15 Piece Orchestra (Violins, Violas & Cellos)
String Arrangements by Joseph Kennedy

Recorded - December 15, 16 & 17 1965, Nola Studios, New York City

Production & Supervision - Ahmad Jamal & Dick LaPalm
Engineer - Tommy Nola
Cover Photo - Three Lions
Cover Design - Michael Reid Design

Released - May 21, 1966

Ahmad Jamal - Naked City Theme [New Rip: From the Archives]

Ahmad Jamal - Naked City Theme - Argo LP 733 - Argo original pressing, Stereo, Blue Label

[Updated version - My revisiting of my blog archives continues with a new lossless rip of this great Jamal live side]

Ahmad Jamal - Piano
Jamil Sulieman - Bass
Chuck Lampkin - Drums

Recorded - June 26, 27 & 28, 1964, The Jazz Workshop, San Francisco [only dates listed on the sleeve but according to a discography A1, A3 & B2 recorded earlier on December 10, 1963, B1 recorded unknown date, 1964 and only B2 and B3 recorded on the 'official dates' in June]

Engineer - Reice Harmel
Cover - Don Bronstein

Released - December 12, 1964 (Approx)

Just finishing this mini Ahmad Jamal week with a posting of this rather unknown and very underrated 1964 side. A live recording taken from The Jazz Workshop in San Francisco, this very energetic and I might say rather edgy side was one of the first indications that Jamal was taking his music in new uncharted directions - long extended improvisation mode beckoning and leaving behind his past with his first legendary trio with Israel Crosby and Vernell Fournier.

The word on the street is that Mosaic is finally releasing in July the long anticipated 9 CD box set of this first trio's recordings -and yes that stuff is masterful. But this side was also seminal - the start of Jamal's second great trio/period of the mid 1960s to the early 70s which doesn't get nearly enough attention. It's also come to my attention that bassist Jamil Sulieman of this great second trio with Chuck Lampkin and later Frant Gant passed away last month in New Jersey... Wonderful cover by Don Bronstein, has already surfaced as a Spanish bootleg, but nice to hear in its original stereo vinyl.

Ahmad Jamal - Macanudo [New Rip: From the Archives]

Ahmad Jamal - Macanudo - Argo LP 712 - Canadian Chess Pressing, Maroon Label,  Stereophonic Sound!  

[Updated version - here's a new lossless rip in all of its true stereo glory....put this LP on my turntable the other day and I was so blown away that I was convinced to produce a new rip of this Ahmad Jamal-Richard Evans classic.  

This was one of the original lost Argo sides discovered by my blogfather Orgy in Rhythm (mono version) way back in July 2006 - this (re) rip is from my own copy,  a stereo Canadian Chess pressing - and for once it's the stereo version I prefer as you can hear all the nice orchestral arrangements by Evans. I actually have an interesting story from Esmond Edwards' widow about  how Edwards fell out with Jamal in late 1962- giving the opportunity to Evans as the session's producer - but more on that later]

Ahmad Jamal - Piano

[uncredited] - Orchestra Players

Music Arranged, Conducted [and Composed!] By Richard Evans

Recorded - December 20 & 21, 1962, Rudy Van Gelder's Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ [The Thursday and Friday - interestingly concurrently with Blue Note's Grant Green Feeling the Spirit session (Friday night?), Willis Jackson finished recording his Neapolitan Nights side for Prestige the day before, the Wednesday]

[Production: Ahmad Jamal + Richard Evans?]

Recording: Rudy Van Gelder

[unfortunately no RVG/Van Gelder stamp in the dead wax, which is consistent for all other Van Gelder sessions for Argo in 1962-63. So can we draw the inference that RVG recorded these sessions but didn't master them? Unusual as I can't recall him ever not being totally involved]

Cover Photo/Design: Don Bronstein

Released - April 27, 1963

Here's another wonderful 'Argo/Cadet Classic' for your ears this weekend - a sterling Ahmad Jamal side and his first collaboration with Richard Evans! This is the true companion piece to Gene Shaw's Carnival Sketches - another Evans 'Latin Jazz' inspired composed, arranged and conducted date. This side was apparently Evans' first big break into getting into jazz production/arranging/composing as Jamal's falling out with Chess Jazz's usual Producer Esmond Edwards gave Evans the opportunity to step in and work with Jamal.

The running time of this side though is criminally far too brief, more like an EP than a usual LP's length, but this was apparently driven by an overt play for commercial radio play and hit singles-45 sales - cashing in on the Bossa Nova Craze of the time etc.... This side has appeared in Blogland before, but this is a true booming analogue stereo rip which is a nice revelation - pay very closely to the orchestra phrasings and Evans' sterling arranging - this was burried under previous mono mixes, but now in stereo we can fully appreciate Evans' work and the unfortunately uncredited orchestra players.

'Bogota' might be one of my favorite Jamal sides ever - never knew there was an acoustic guitar/french horn backing Jamal's piano though... This side was recorded in RVG Studios in New Jersey outside of Chess' Chicago base which accounts for the good recording and stereo mix.

Ahmad Jamal - Ahmad Jamal At The Blackhawk

Ahmad Jamal - Ahmad Jamal at the Blackhawk - Argo LP 703, Cadet Reissue, Orange Label, Stereo

Ahmad Jamal - Piano
Israel Crosby - Bass
Vernell Fournier - Drums

Recorded - Blackhawk, San Francisco [no date listed on the sleeve, but most discographies listed late 1961 - Mosaic's new documentation establishes the dates as January 31 & February 1, 1962]

Supervision - Paul Gayten
Cover - Don Bronstein

Released - November 3, 1962 [this particular reissue August 3, 1974]

Well here's my final Ahmad Jamal posting for the foreseeable future, as this blog concludes its second series on Jamal's work on Argo/Cadet, this time spotlighting his first legendary trio, in celebration and anticipation of Mosaic's forthcoming expensive, limited edition and landmark 9 CD complete trio sessions box set shipping at the end of the month. Despite some of my stated misgivings about the 'box set - complete sessions' approach, I pre ordered the set anyways as I do really want to support the artist, and I am so eager to hear some of the newly discovered material that was chosen and approved by Jamal personally.

This Blackhawk side, recorded in early 1962 at San Francisco's legendary jazz club though, is a bit of a somber coda for the trio as it would be its final ever recording. Jamal disbanded the trio shortly afterwards in March 1962 and the sudden passing of bassist Israel Crosby a few months later on August 11, 1962 made any possible future reunion moot. Good fidelity off an early 70s MRT reissue.

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Ahmad Jamal - Ahmad Jamal's Alhambra

Ahmad Jamal - Ahmad Jamal's Alhambra - Argo LP 685 - Original Argo Pressing, Stereo, Blue Label

Ahmad Jamal - Piano
Israel Crosby - Bass
Vernell Fournier -Drums

Recorded - June 1961, Ahmad Jamal's Alhambra, Chicago [only date listed but according to most discographies, sometime in July 1961?]

Supervision - Leonard Chess
Engineer - Ron Malo
Cover - Don Bronstein

Released - September 25, 1961

Here's more classic and exquisite Ahmad Jamal as this blog continues its march to find, post and restore every last Jamal side on Argo/Cadet that is unavailable/or out of print... This time we have the first volume of the summer 1961 live recordings of the first and legendary Ahmad Jamal trio cut in Jamal's own home turf of his supper dining club, the Alhambra.

These final live 1961 recordings are my favorite sides of the trio as you really hear all three players at the pinnacle of their powers, working very closely together, almost in synchronicity as they achieve jazz piano trio perfection. Just average fidelity, off a pretty beat up, VG- original Argo vinyl. Decided to offer my own fold down mono mix, as the original stereo mix didn't sound right - perhaps too thin, an electronically re channeled fake 'stereo' mix that didn't accurately reflect the live recording.

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Ahmad Jamal - Portfolio of Ahmad Jamal

Ahmad Jamal - Portfolio of Ahmad Jamal - Argo LP (2)638 - Argo Pressing, Maroon Label, Mono

Ahmad Jamal - Piano
Israel Crosby - Bass
Vernell Fournier - Drums

Recorded - September 5 & 6, 1958, Spotlite Club, Washington, DC

Producer + Cover Design - Dave Usher
Recording Engineer - Malcolm Chisholm
Mastering Engineer - Douglas Brand
Inside Photo - Don Bronstein

Released - April 6 1959 (Approx)

This is one fine Ahmad Jamal rekkid...a beautiful limited edition gatefold 2 LP Set which collects the remaining takes of the September 1958 Spotlite Club recordings left off the 'Volume 4' side. I think that if you had to first introduce someone to the beauty and genius of Jamal- start with this side. Excellent fidelity off the original Argo mono deep groove vinyl.

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Ahmad Jamal - Listen to the Ahmad Jamal Quintet

Ahmad Jamal - Listen to the Ahmad Jamal Quintet - Argo LP 673 - Cadet Reissue B&W Cover Pressing, Orange Label, Stereo

Ahmad Jamal - Piano
Israel Crosby - Bass
Vernell Fournier - Drums

+

Joe Kennedy - Violin
Ray Crawford - Guitar

All Arrangements by Joe Kennedy

Recorded - August 15, 16 &17 1960, Ter Mar Recording Studio, Chicago

Supervision - Jack Tracy
Engineer - Ron Malo
Cover - Don Bronstein

Released - March 6, 1961

Here's an interesting and different early 60s Ahmad Jamal Argo side - a quintet recording with Jamal sharing the front line with guitarist Ray Crawford and violinist Joe Kennedy. Jamal's trio sides of this period are seminal, but not sure this side is as successful, although the guitar and violin are mostly supportive here. Good fidelity off a later Cadet pressing with B&W cover, unfortunately.

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Ahmad Jamal - Volume IV

Ahmad Jamal - Volume 4 - Argo LP 636 - Original Canadian Pressing

Ahmad Jamal - Piano
Israel Crosby - Bass
Vernell Fournier - Drums

Recorded - September 6, 1958, Spotlite Club, Washington, DC

Producer - Dave Usher
Recording Engineer - Malcolm Chisholm
Photo & Cover Design - Don Bronstein

Released - November 17, 1958 (Approx)

As the title implies this is Ahmad Jamal's fourth side on Argo - and his immediate follow up to his smash 'But Not For Me' Pershing record which is one of the rare Jamals to be continuously in print. This side recorded live at the Spotlite Club in Washington, DC was also a massive hit - peaking at #11 on the Billboard chart, but it's been largely forgotten these days. Although the fidelity of the recording is of less quality than the seminal Pershing recordings, you do really get a nice ambiance of the club (can't those patrons stop talking while Jamal is playing!!) and you can track the development of the first classic Ahmad Jamal trio in almost real time...

Most of these Spotlite recordings have appeared in some form in the CD age, mostly scattered across atrocious and cheap budget CDs with negligible liner notes and little historical documentation. The recent passing out of copyright (50 year rule) in Europe of these recordings has also ensured a now steady stream of new CDs with this material, with even less respect to the historical significance/providence of this work. So yes, I am bending my blog rules a bit for this post along with my earlier Vol 2 Pershing posting , but I think it's important to be able to hear these recordings as they were originally presented, packaged and intended to be heard - there's a real skill in picking good takes and skillfully sequencing them, which is entirely absent in the 'Mosaic Complete Sessions' approach. 'Less is more' is the operating Jamalism here... Good fidelity off an original Canadian pressing.

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Ahmad Jamal - Jamal at the Pershing Volume 2

Ahmad Jamal - Jamal at the Pershing Vol 2 - Argo LP 667 - Original Argo Pressing, Stereo, Blue Label

Ahmad Jamal - Piano
Israel Crosby - Bass
Vernell Fournier - Drums

Recorded - January 17, 1958, Pershing Lounge, Chicago

Engineer - Malcolm Chisholm
Cover Photo - Don Bronstein
Cover Design - Emmet McBain

Released - July 25, 1960

And yet more nice Jamal on Argo... the well never runs dry! Here's Volume 2 of the legendary 1958 Pershing recordings, except this side is from the second night, then packaged and released 2 years later in 1960. It's interesting to read from the liner notes that the reissue business, the lifeblood of jazz labels today was already a big concern in 1960, before any sign of CDs.... A 4$ bonus bargain bin acquisition from a record show two weeks ago, excellent fidelity from the original Argo stereo vinyl

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Ahmad Jamal - Happy Moods

Ahmad Jamal - Happy Moods - Argo LP 662 - Original Canadian Pressing, Mono, Deep Groove

Ahmad Jamal - Piano
Israel Crosby - Bass
Vernell Fournier - Drums

Recorded - January 20 & 21 1960, Ter Mar Recording Studio, Chicago

Supervision - Jack Tracy
Engineer - Ron Malo
Cover Photo - Chuck Stewart
Cover Design - Emmet McBain

Released - May 30, 1960 (Approx)

Here's yet more Ahmad Jamal, this time a rare studio side by the legendary first trio, cut and released in early 1960. It sounds a bit strange to hear them in a studio setting, but this is a nice change of pace from their often fiery live sides. Another record show acquisition, nice fidelity off a quality original Canadian pressing.

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Ahmad Jamal - All of You

Ahmad Jamal - All of You - Argo LP 691 - Original Argo Pressing, Mono, Deep Groove, Grey Label

Ahmad Jamal - Piano
Israel Crosby - Bass
Vernell Fournier - Drums

Recorded - June 1961, at Ahmad Jamal's Alhambra, Chicago [only date listed, but according to discography, sometime in July 1961?]

Supervision - Leonard Chess
Engineer - Ron Malo
Cover - Don Bronstein

Released - May 12, 1962 (Approx)

Well perhaps this blog isn't just finished yet with Ahmad Jamal! Here's a wonderful and a bit elusive side of the first and legendary Ahmad Jamal Trio recorded at the height of their powers in the summer of 1961... Cut at the Alhambra, Jamal's glorious short lived Southside Chicago supper club of which we had much to say about during our last Jamal posting.

This side has a nice Don Bronstein cover design - and a handsome portrait of a very dapper Jamal! 'All of You' is essentially Volume 2 of the Summer 1961 Alhambra recordings, one of the last ever recorded live dates of the first trio which was disbanded the next year as a result of Jamal's personal problems which necessitated his relocation to New York. This side has never seen any sort of official release during the CD era (only 2 tracks have surfaced on a 2 CD compilation), so I think it's fair game for the time being. A nice and very recent record show acquisition, an original Argo deep groove pressing in glorious mono ; nice fidelity and depth to this recording.

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Ahmad Jamal - Heat Wave [original stereo vinyl + essay]

Ahmad Jamal - Heat Wave - Cadet LP-777, Original Cadet Pressing, Stereo, Blue Label, Sealed

Ahmad Jamal - Piano
Jamil Nasser - Bass
Frank Gant - Drums

Recorded - August 1966, Edgewood Recording Studio, Washington, DC [only date listed, but according to a discography, February 17 & 19, 1966]

Album Production & Supervision - Ahmad Jamal & Dick LaPalm
Engineer - Ed Green
Cover - Michael Reid Design

Released - November 26, 1966

This is the second of my newly acquired (formerly) sealed and pristine original pressings of Jamal Argo/Cadet vinyl. This wonderful side first recorded and released in 1966 really grows on you. It's really a companion piece to 1965's Extensions - part of Jamal's attempt to stay true to his 'sound' and instincts of melody, harmony and 'space' above else while also subtly integrating then contemporary influences from the 'new thing'/free jazz currents then wrecking havoc in the jazz world in 1966... Previously archived by Smooth at his landmark My Jazz World blog (now here), I decided to make this side available here as well for the time being.

This posting also concludes this blog's ongoing series on Ahmad Jamal, documenting his unfairly forgotten and all OOP work on Chess-Argo-Cadet from 1962-68, in anticipation of the forthcoming July 2010 landmark 9CD Mosaic box set covering Jamal's legendary and seminal first trio with Israel Crosby and Vernel Fournier from 1956-1961. That period of Jamal's discography is beautiful and timeless - but I am more interested on this blog asking where does the artist go after they have achieved perfection? Do they keep on doing the same thing or they do they attempt something totally different? This is the driving dilemma from which to approach Jamal's work from 1962-68 on Chess.

Yet Jamal's artistic transition during this time also happened to coincide with a pretty hellish period in his personal life which hasn't been documented. After the immense commercial and artistic success of 1958's Pershing side, and the extensive touring of the trio from 1958-60 - Jamal's initial instinct was to do something totally different - but in a business-entrepreneurial vein by both opening his own import-export business while also poring most of his financial resources into opening his own supper club, 'The Alhambra' on Chicago's South side which officially opened on December 2, 1960. The swank and trendy club, decorated in a North African/Morocco motif sat 125 patrons, only served non-alcoholic drinks (in keeping with Jamal's Muslim beliefs) and offered a myriad of Indian, Middle Eastern & American dishes - was estimated to have cost Jamal personally 250,000$. Ebony Magazine's October 1961 issue has a wonderful feature on the 'Alhambra' detailing the elegance of the supper club's design and of the unique dining experience of gourmet cuisine with elegant entertainment provided by the Ahmad Jamal Trio!

Yet this moment of triumph for Jamal was short lived as it was suddenly announced a month later in December 1961 that Jamal was closing the supper club and moving away from Chicago to the East Coast. The shocking news came out later in March 1962 that Jamal was divorcing his wife, Maryam (formerly Virginia Wilkins) and disbanding his trio immediately. The divorce was far from amicable as the contemporary African-American press gleefully reported the private pain of a prominent African American 'celebrity'. The dealbreaker for the marriage apparently was 'The Alhambra', originally mostly Mrs' Jamal's conception and its financial difficulties related to Jamal's refusal to sell alcohol in accordance with his principles. More darkness was to come for Jamal - hospitalized in June 1963 for an apparent overdose of sleeping pills related to the stress from his contentious divorce, later arrested in February 1966 during a Chicago engagement at this instigation of the former Mrs. Jamal for alleged non-payment of child support, later cleared- the divorce case was not finally resolved until August 1968 with Mrs. Jamal winning her appeal for even more support.

With all this private pain and legal hell that Jamal was undergoing during this time, it's amazing that Jamal was even productive and recording regularly from Macanudo, a orchestral latin jazz tinged collaboration with Richard Evans, to the edgy live date of Naked City Theme, the innovative Broadway themed The Roar of the Greasepaint, the two modern jazz sets of Extensions and this side, 'Heatwave', and the more commercially orientated Jazz with Strings date 'Rhapsody' and both of the Jazz Vocals dates - 'Cry Young' and 'The Bright The Blue The Beautiful'. Quite remarkable really - I wouldn't call all of these sides unqualified successes - but from we know of Jamal's personal challenges - this discography does paint a picture of a resilient artist - and of a musical innovator not willing to easily rest on his laurels.

Get it in Stereo or Mono

Ahmad Jamal with Voices - Cry Young [updated x2, new rip]

***new pristine stereo rip***

Ahmad Jamal w/voices - Cry Young - Cadet LP - 792 - Cadet pressing, Orange Label

Ahmad Jamal - Piano
Jamil Nasser - Bass
Frank Gant - Drums
Augmented by twenty voice choral group;
Howard Roberts Chorale - Vocal Ensemble

Recorded: June 12 & 13 1967, Fine Recording Studios, NYC
Album Production: Dick LaPalm
Album Supervision: Phil Chess
Trio and Vocal Arrangements: Ahmad Jamal
Vocal Scoring: Hale Smith
Engineer: George Piros

Cover Art: Judith Friedman
Cover Design: Jerry Griffin

Released: October 14, 1967 (per Billboard)


This is the first of Jamal's mid 1960s experimental jazz with voices LPs. Along the lines of the previous record posted (Bright, Blue, Beautiful) - spooky, but very unique to Jamal's discography. Worth a listen.

Dusty Groove's Review:

"A sweet swinger from Ahmad -- a record that has his usual trio (Jamil Nasser bass, Frank Gant drums) augmented by the super-hip Howard Roberts Chorale on a number of tracks. Roberts' "jazz with voices" style isn't as out there as some of the work of Coleridge Perkinson, but he does a plenty nice job here -- adding in some light and lyrical voices that dream along with Jamal's piano nicely. A bit colorless, but still quite nice -- with tracks that include "Nature Boy", "A Beautiful Friendship", "Where Is Love", "Little Ditty", and "Who Needs Manhattan"."

UPDATE (16/03/10) - Just more housekeeping with my older postings as I've now uploaded a brand new pristine stereo rip from the same LP. Another revelation! Once again, these 'Jazz with Voices' sides are no gimmicks, listen very carefully to Jamal's arrangements and how he integrates his playing with the jazz vocal chorus - very subtle, and graceful. A true Soul-Jazz classic!

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Ahmad Jamal with Voices - The Bright, Blue, and the Beautiful [updated]

*** new pristine stereo rip***

Ahmad Jamal with Voices - The Bright, The Blue, and the Beautiful (Cadet 807, Canadian Pressing)

Ahmad Jamal - Piano
Jamil Sulieman - Bass
Frank Gant - Drums
Howard A Roberts Chorale

Recorded: February 12 & 13 1968, Fine Recording Studios, New York
Recording Engineer: George Piros
Trio & Vocal Arrangements - Ahmad Jamal
'Lover Man' and 'Yesterdays' adapted for voices from Joe Kennedy Arrangements

Released: October 19, 1968

Jamal's very last side on Argo/Cadet after a nearly decade on Chess - it's the second of his 'jazz with voices' experiments. Certainly a bit on the commercial/pop end of the spectrum, but this side is no gimmick - quite touching and reflective at times, it serves as a nice change of pace in a very traumatic year in American history - 1968.

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