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| 10 albums of 1961
So what's this. There's a brief description in the liist for 1960 but basically i'm just documenting a little trip year by year for posterity, choosing ten albums and giving them a good ear and some words. I started to feel more adventurous with this year so some picks might not be so obvious. This is what i got so far. As the last time, you're welcome to rec and I might include them in my second run of the year. | | 1 |  | Abbey Lincoln
Straight Ahead
Candid Records // February, 1961
I haven't checked anything related to Abbey Lincoln prior to Max Roach's "We Insist!" but in only two records she's already left a deep impression, and I can't wait to check her recordings of the late 50s. This is basically the same line-up of "We Insist!", including her husband at the time, Max Roach on drums, but with some very interesting additions, actually this is an insane line-up: Eric Dolphy on alto sax, bass clarinet, flute, Booker Little on trumpet, Mal Waldron on piano, Art Davis on bass... wow, what a dream team. The whole record is consistently brilliant, but Lincoln's interpretation of Billie Holiday's "Left Alone" is a clear highlight. Her version of Thelonious Monk's "Blue Monk", which she actually wrote the lyrics for is also interesting, while the first two opening tracks quickly set a high bar, this is Abbey at her best. Not a big fan of the avant-gard(ness) of "In The Red" but I can see what they were going for there. Amazing album. | | 2 |  | Max Roach
Percussion Bitter Sweet
Impulse! // September, 1961
I think this was Max's first release with Coltrane's label? Good news, by the way (for fans of the Abbey Lincoln record above), because the same line up of "Straight Ahead" plus Clifford Brown on tenor sax enter the studio once again with two cuban percussionist and magic ensues once again. What. A. Record. My friends. Roach and co. doing eerie jazz on "Garvey's Ghost"? Please tell me there's more of this. Abbey featured once again on "Mendacity" with her husband storming a solo right in the middle of the track? Bless! If you thought Dolphy, Waldron, Davis and Little didn't have space to shine on the Abbey Lincoln, here they definitely do and some of the solos are just brain melting. Lots of percussion, lots of cowbells, this record is a drummer's dream and beyond. | | 3 |  | Ornette Coleman
Free Jazz: A Collective Improvisation
Atlantic // September, 1961
That's it. He did it. Ornette Coleman achieved everything he set himself to do in previous works and birthed not only a mind-boggling record, but also an entire subgenre of jazz that would spawn an infinite number of albums of the same kin. The concept: Two jazz quartets playing AT THE SAME TIME. One panned to the left, one panned to the right. Coleman and Don Cherry (trumpet) would captain the left channel with the help of Scott Lafaro on bass and Billy Higgins on drums, and the right channel would be commanded by Eric Dolphy on clarinet and a properly confused Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, supported by Charlie Haden, who absolutely kills it on bass and Ed Blackwell on drums. This is pure madness, words can't describe it, and you should just prepare your body and mind the way you want, plug some headphones and let the storm rain on you. You'll either love it or hate it, but it won't let you indifferent. | | 4 |  | Marty Manning and His Orchestra
The Twilight Zone - A Sound Adventure In Space
Columbia // One day in 1961
Not to mention with the soundtrack of the legendary TV show (like I did, yes I'm the one that added it to DB and tagged it as soundtrack -- facepalm --). In any case, these are a collection of tracks composed and arranged by orchestra conductor Marty Manning. Each track is designed to evoke the ambience of the TV show and honestly I think it makes a great job at that. I've seen this tagged as Space Age Pop... well I guess that could work too, it actually reminds me of the latest Grails records in some way. There's a fair bit of sci-fi exotica here, bit of jazz, everything with a very ghostly feeling, sometimes enhanced by the operistic voice of soprano singer Lois Hunt. Another interesting fact is that Miles Davis' long time producer and collaborator Teo Macero is credited here under "special effects". Plenty of exhuberant instrumentation, chill vibes, full-on atmo... This is a pretty good record to listen to while doing some work or studying. | | 5 |  | Les Baxter
Jewels of the Sea
Capitol // One day in 1961
The undisputed godfather of film music and exotica, Les Baxter's body of work is just unsurmountable, so I picked this randomly because the cover was quite enticing, and the theme was also very inviting. And yes, it does sound like a trip to an oceanic paradise, traveling through coral reefs and sunk cities on board a submersible while mermaids try to lure you out to the water realm. Extremely soothing album, and also a great companion to the Manning album above. | | 6 |  | John Coltrane
My Favorite Things
Atlantic // March, 1961
Lovely album lovely title track. McCoy Tyner's piano intro lures you right in and doesn't let go until the track vanishes. It doesn't feel like 14 minutes have passed. Elvin Jones carries the beat with superb restrain and taste while Coltrane does his magic with the soprano saxophone. The opener is so good it almost eclipses the other three tracks, but the truth is that "Everytime We Say Goodbye" is the perfect moody follow up and "Summertime" takes things up a notch with a Coltrane unleashed on the tenor. "But Not For Me" closes the album with class and leaves a lingering feeling... I need to listen to that opening melody again... | | 7 |  | Eric Dolphy
Out There
New Jazz // One day in 1961
I left Eric Dolphy's debut of last year out of my first 10 choices on purpose with the idea of goig through his catalogue on a second run but after having him featured on the two Max Roach & Abbey Lincoln albums above and just staring at that cover, courtesy of "Prophet" Jennings, I couldn't blue ball anymore and decided to include it on this first run of 1961. Glad I did. Ron Carter on cello playing at unison with Dolphy's wild leads? This is absurdly good. "17 West" is probably the highlight, but "Serene" has its charm too, amazing job by Roy Haynes on drums on both tracks. Dolphy's take on Mingus' "Eclipse" will surely win you over if nothing else does it, but I'd be surprised you don't fall for "The Baron" first. | | 8 |  | The Marvelettes
Please Mr. Postman
Tamla // November, 1961
Did Marvin Gaye really played drums on this? Cause that's pretty wholesome. Anyway, you all know "Please Mr. postman" right? What you don't know is that until very recently, I always thought it was a Beatles original. Scary thought, I know, I know, but that's why we are here, right? To unearth the deepest secrets of music history and pay respect where it's due. The Marvelettes are good, not as good as The Shirelles or the forthcoming The Ronettes, in my opinion, but they manage. Production on this is not great and honestly, apart from "Please Mr. Postman", and its mirror track, "All the Love I've Got", the rest is pretty much filler, covers, and so on. Still worth grabbing a copy if only to scratch "Please Mr. Postman" over and over again. Such a great tune. | | 9 |  | Juliette Greco
Juliette Gréco N° 7
Philips // One day in 1961
She made Miles Davis fall in love with her, became the muse of Jean-Paul Sartre and broke the heart of many men, even laughing at the face of Hollywood fame, which was handled to her in a golden plate and she just giggled and politely declined. This is not my first incursion into Chanson territory, but it's my first contact with Gréco's work. Obviously, I'm not very fluent in French, so much of its charm is lost on me, but I do love the instrumentation in this album and the melodies that form the ground to Juliette's unmistakable voice, “Gréco has a million poems in her voice,” Sartre wrote, and your soul will be able to read them even without understanding a single word. | | 10 |  | The Ventures
Another Smash!!!
Dolton // September, 1961
The Ventures get the credit for many things, including expanding the electric guitar, giving birth to surf rock (along with Dick Dale) or just tailing everyone else who already did their thing in the 50s, including Elvis. I chose this album partly from the cover, partly because one of the tracks ("Lonely Heart") introduced some vocal harmonies along the instrumentals and it sounded great, but the album itself is not as strong as I thought it'd be. If you like tremolo guitar surf music, you'll love this, the vibe is definitely there. Its panning on headphones is interesting too, with drums all the way on the left, the picked guitar on the middle and bass and rythm guitar on the right channel. It's quite confusing at first but you get used to it after a while. | |
Dewinged
12.18.23 | More incoming! | dedex
12.18.23 | 1961 is Trane year:
My Favorite Things
Africa/Brass
Olé Coltrane
Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane
Lush/Life | Dewinged
12.18.23 | Indeed! I'm only gonna do My Favorite Things for this round though! | dedex
12.18.23 | legit, it's the most iconic one! Can't stress how good Africa/Brass is though!! | bighubbabuddha
12.18.23 | Showcase by Patsy Cline
Out Of The Cool by Gil Evans Orchestra
Joan Baez Vol.2 by Joan Baez
enjoy n hugs! | Dewinged
12.18.23 | I was saving Baez 2 for a second round when I jam her debut of the year before, will check the other two, tx Hubba! | Dewinged
12.20.23 | Half of blurbs down! What a great year, pretty happy with the selection so far. | Winesburgohio
12.20.23 | Really fucking cool list, thank you | Dewinged
12.20.23 | Cheers Wines, all blurbs done! Tomorrow I think I'll move on to '62! | protokute
12.20.23 | 5 looks cool | Dewinged
12.21.23 | It is pretty cool. You should check 4 too! |
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