Lynn Hope And His Tenor Sax

This is the first “revamped” post from the old blog. This 1983 Pathe Marconi reissue of a Lynn Hope Aladdin LP was the second album I posted on the original Be Bop Wino. Looking back from two years down the line, the post definitely needed improving, especially the very poor front cover scan! So here is a re-up with new front and back cover scans and new links.

Lynn Hope was one of the top-selling R&B saxmen in the early ‘50’s. His hit-making formula was similar to that of Earl Bostic – take a well-known standard, give it an overheated arrangement, and watch the money roll in. He was a member of the King Kolax band before forming his own combo. He signed for Premium Records in 1950 where he recorded his big hit ‘Tenderly’, a re-recording of which is presented here. His stay at Premium was brief, as was a spell at Chess. He signed with Aladdin in late 1950 or early 1951 where he stayed until 1957. He recorded an album for King Records in 1960 (“The Maharajah of the Saxophone”) which featured former Bostic vibes player Gene Redd, and then faded from the music scene.

Although he failed to recreate the chart success of “Tenderly” during his tenure at Aladdin, Hope remained a big draw at live gigs for much of the 50’s. He was certainly an unusual sight – wearing a bejewelled turban and accompanied by a band resplendent in red fezzes. Two of his brothers and his sister were in the band, and like Lynn, they were converts to Islam. Although such an exotic stage appearance may have been the ideal complement to numbers such as the latin-tinged “Blues for Anna Bacoa” or the traditional Lebanese tune “Miserlou”, there is no doubt that Lynn’s conversion to Islam was sincere and he even made the pilgrimage to Mecca.



Although his forte was the ballad (“Tenderly”, “September Song”, and not on this compilation – “Poinciana” and “Star Dust”), Lynn manages to squeeze in a variety of styles but usually with a certain restraint. So you won’t get any Big Jay style honking and squealing but there is one searing piece of striptease jazz in “Summertime”. Overall the atmosphere is one of the exotic and romantic. Think Earl Bostic or Morris Lane in his “Magic Saxophone” phase.

This album was originally issued as a 10 inch LP (Aladdin 707) in 1954 with just eight tracks. In 1956 it was reissued as a 12 inch LP (Aladdin 805) with twelve tracks. The front cover remained identical through to this 1983 reissue. Thanks to Joan for the cover of an Aladdin EP with tracks from the LP:



Ripped from vinyl at 320 kbps.

Download from here:

http://www33.zippyshare.com/v/oSTGRgvm/file.html

Lynn Hope And His Tenor Sax (Mega)

1. Tenderly
2. Driftin' (Goin' Home)
3. Hope, Skip And Jump
4. Blue Moon
5. Blues For Anna Bacoa
6. Eleven Til Two
7. Miserlou
8. Blow Lynn Blow
9. Move It
10. Don't Worry 'Bout Me
11. South Of The Border
12. September Song
13. Summertime
14. The Scrunch

If you want more Lynn Hope, then you’ll probably have to get yourself along to a second hand dealer.

This 1985 Saxophonograph LP (“Morocco”) was also issued as a CD and includes the original version of “Tenderly”:



Lynn Hope’s complete “Maharajah of the Saxophone” sessions for King are on this 1991 Charly CD (“Juicy!”), along with five tracks by Clifford Scott, sax player with the Bill Doggett band:



In 2006 the sadly now defunct Acrobat label issued this 25 track compilation (“Blow Lynn Blow”) of Lynn’s Aladdin sides. It may still be possible to pick up a new copy from some distributors.