Side 1:
01. Flamingo
02. Always
03. Deep Purple
04. Smoke Rings
05. What, No Pearls
06. Jungle Drums
Side 2:
01. Serenade
02. I Can't Give You Anything But Love
03. Seven Steps
04. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You
05. Don't You Do It
06. Steamwhistle Jump
In my previous post on the Earl Bostic LP "Dance Time" I recounted how in 1959 he recorded stereo versions of his 12 inch LPs which had been issued in the King 500 series from February 1956 through to July 1958.
Back in 2010 I posted a 1980's reissue of King LP 500 "Dance To The Best Of Bostic" under the impression that the tracks it contained were the original early 1950's versions. I now know that that LP actually consists of stereo re-recordings from 1959. This post includes both a "reconstruction" of the original 1956 version of the album, "The Best Of Bostic" (King LP 395-500), and the 1980's reissue of the stereo version (originally issued in December 1959), retitled (on the front cover only) "Dance To The Best Of Bostic." (King LP S500.)
You can now download both versions of the album and compare them. They sound quite different, so it's not really like listening to the same album twice! "The Best Of Bostic" is a "reconstruction" of the original LP using tracks from various reissue sources and artwork from the internet.
King Records issued 10 inch LPs from March 1952 until the end of 1955. In early 1956 the label changed its album issues to the 12 inch LP format, launching its 500 series of LPs in February of that year with King LP 395-500 "The Best Of Bostic." The cover was as shown at the top of this post. The tracks were originally recorded and released as singles between 1950 and 1953.
Track Information for "The Best of Bostic" (King LP 395-500)
“Serenade” (T7) and
“Seven Steps” (T9) were recorded in New York, March 23rd, 1950. Personnel: Earl Bostic (as) Count Hastings (ts) Gene Redd (vib) Clifton Smalls (p) Al Casey (g) Keter Betts (b) Joe Marshall (d)
“Serenade” was released as King 4369 (B Side of
"Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams") in May 1950.
“Seven Steps” was released as King 4387 (b/w
"Portrait Of A Faded Love") in July 1950.
“Don’t You Do It” (T11) was recorded in New York, October 13th, 1950. Personnel as above, except Eddie Barefield replaces Al Casey (g)
“Don’t You Do It” was released as King 4683 (B Side of
"Off Shore") in November 1953.
“Flamingo” (T1),
“I Can’t Give You Anything But Love” (T8),
“Always” (T2) and
“I’m Getting Sentimental Over You” (T10) were recorded in New York, January 10th, 1951. Personnel: Gene Redd (tp,vib) Earl Bostic (as) Count Hastings (ts) Clifton Smalls (p) Rene Hall (g) Keter Betts (b) Jimmy Cobb (d)
“I Can’t Give You Anything But Love” was released as King 4437 (B Side of
"Rockin' And Reelin') in March 1951.
“Always” was released as King 4454 (b/w
"How Could It Have Been You And I") in June 1951.
“Flamingo” b/w
"I’m Getting Sentimental Over You" was released as King 4475 in October 1951.
“Steamwhistle Jump” (T12) was recorded in New York, December 17th, 1952. Personnel: Richard "Blue" Mitchell (tp) Earl Bostic (as) Ray Felder (ts) Gene Redd (vib) Joe Knight (p) Mickey Baker (g) Ike Isaacs (b) George Brown (d)
“Steamwhistle Jump” (b/w
"The Sheik Of Araby) was released as King 4603 in March 1953.
“What No Pearls” (T5) was recorded in Los Angeles, June 6th, 1953. Personnel: Blue Mitchell, Tommy Turrentine (tp) Earl Bostic (as) Stanley Turrentine (ts) Luis Rivera (p) Herman Mitchell (g) Mario Delagarde (b) Albert Bartee (d)
“What No Pearls” was released as King 4644 (B Side of
"Melancholy Serenade") in July 1953.
“Deep Purple” (T3),
“Smoke Rings” (T4) and
“Jungle Drums” (T6) were recorded in Cincinnati, August 24th, 1953. Personnel: Blue Mitchell, Tommy Turrentine (tp) Earl Bostic (as) Stanley Turrentine (ts) Edward Richley (vib) Alexander Sample (p) Charles Grayson (g) Bob Burton (b) Granville Hogan (d)
“Deep Purple” /
“Smoke Rings” was released as King 4674 in October 1953.
“Jungle Drums” (b/w
"Danube Waves") was released as King 4708 in April 1954.
This is a link to a volume boosted version of the LP, which therefore differs from previously posted versions. The posted LP is a 1980's reissue. The cover confusingly describes it as both monophonic and stereo. It is in fact in stereo.
The track list is the same as "The Best Of Bostic." The stereo version of "The Best Of Bostic" was originally issued in December 1959 with a new front cover and a new title (at least on the front cover - the disc labels and back cover retained the original title). The tracks were recorded as follows:
"Deep Purple," "Flamingo," "Smoke Rings," "Jungle Drums," "Seven Steps," "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You" and "Steamwhistle Jump" were recorded in Cincinnati on March 26th, 1959. Personnel: Earl Bostic (alto sax); Roland Johnson (vibraphone); Jon Thomas (piano); Allan Seltzer (guitar); Herb Gordy (bass); William Erskine (drums).
"Always," "What No Pearls," "Serenade," "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" and "Don't You Do It" were recorded in Cincinnati on June 4th 1959. Personnel: same as above.
In this version of the LP the tracks are played at a slightly faster tempo with a more emphasized beat, and with Earl using a more abrasive tone. As the altered title indicates, these versions are probably more suitable for cuttin' a rug in the comfort of one's own home.
We're still a long way from definitively solving the mystery of what exactly is on all those Bostic LPs in their varied forms. For example do mono reissues of the albums which use the new cover art contain the original mono tracks or do they consist of mono mixes of the 1959 re-recordings? I have to say that at this stage I don't know.
I have a couple more 1980's reissue LPs of Earl Bostic to listen to, plus a couple of King CD reissues of his albums, but as I am currently on the verge of Bostic overload the investigation is temporarily suspended and the blog will move on to another aspect of 1950's R&B in the next post. If anyone can enlighten the far flung legions of Bostic fans, please send in a comment.
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