Side 1:
01. Cool One - Groove Two - Tommy Dean & His Gloom Raiders
02. Lonely Monday - Tommy Dean & His Gloom Raiders
03. Hour Past Midnight - Tommy Dean & Orchestra
04. Scamon Boogie - Tommy Dean & Orchestra
05. Just About Right - Tommy Dean & Orchestra
06. Sweet And Lovely - Tommy Dean & Orchestra
07. Deanie Boy - Tommy Deans Orchestra
Side 2:
01. Eventime - Joe Buckner w Tommy Deans Orchestra
02. How Can I Let You Go - Joe Buckner w Tommy Deans Orchestra
03. Why Don't Chu - Tommy Deans Orchestra
04. The Gold Coast - Tommy "Deanie Boy" Dean
05. Straight And Ready - Tommy Deans Orchestra
06. Skid Row - Tommy "Deanie Boy" Dean
07. One More Mile - Joe Buckner with Tommy Deans Orchestra
New link for those who are having problems with WinRAR archive files:
A nice collection of sides recorded in Chicago by pianist and bandleader Tommy Deans. I picked this one up second hand about five years ago, listened to it once, wasn't too impressed, digitized it nevertheless, and then filed it away in the "ah, forget it" section. However it turns out to be one of those LP's that grow on you the more you listen to it with a slew of jazzy instrumentals for finger snappin' fun plus some vocal tracks which are somewhat mixed in quality. It was a couple of those vocal tracks which put me off the album (it won't be hard to guess which, once you've heard them) but the mid 1950's vocals by Joe Buckner on Vee Jay are very good indeed.
More information on the life of Tommy Dean has come to light since this Dave Penny compiled LP was released in 1989. The Red Saunders Research Foundation ( a marvelous source of info on Chicago R&B) has an article which is well worth perusing here -
Tommy Dean was born in Franklin, Louisiana, in 1909. His early years were spent in Beaumont, Texas and Lake Charles, Louisiana. It seems that until the late 1930's he was based in Beaumont although he traveled around Texas and the Midwest as a musician in carnivals and circuses. He joined the St. Louis based band of Eddie Randle, subsequently began to lead his own band which toured the Mid West, and made St. Louis his home base. In 1945 he appeared in Chicago clubs, then reappeared in the Windy City in 1947. However, his first recording session was back in home in St. Louis where he cut a pair of sides for the small Town & Country label in late 1947.
His band at this time included tenor sax man Gene Easton, alto sax player Chris Woods and drummer / vocalist Nathaniel "Pee Wee" Jernigan, all of whom were still present when Tommy started recording for the Chicago-based Miracle label in July / August 1949. Two of the three singles cut at that session are present on this collection. "Sweet And Lovely" featuring a Pee Wee Jernigan vocal is, shall we say, an acquired taste, but the other three tracks are good late '40's jump somewhat reminiscent of sides by better known label mate Sonny Thompson.
Tommy Dean's next recording session took place in Chicago in June 1952 for the States label. The same band was featured with the addition of singer Jewel Belle on two of the tracks. Only one of the singles is included here - a vocal (which is another acquired taste), Lonely Monday" paired with an excellent instrumental, "Cool One-Groove Two." A second session for States in November produced another single - a re-recording of "Scammon Boogie" and a "Pee Wee" Jernigan vocal on "How Can I Let You Go," which Dean would later re-record for Vee-Jay with Joe Buckner on vocal.
There was a brief stop at Chance records in March 1953 to record a single credited to Barrel House Blott and the St. Louisians. Tommy's next label (and his last) was Vee-Jay for whom he recorded between December 1954 and May 1958. No material from his last two sessions (October 1956 and May 1958) for the label was issued, so his July 1955 Vee-Jay session (featured on this comp) was the last session from which tracks were released. The Vee-Jay material is excellent. It features a new band in which Tommy plays both organ and piano and Joe Buckner provides strong vocals, particularly on the heartfelt "One More Mile." Mention should also be made of the tasteful alto sax performance of Oliver Nelson on these sides.
The strong Vee-Jay sides form the whole of Side Two of this LP, plus the last track on Side One, so along with the good instrumentals from Miracle and States, they make for a satisfying compilation overall.
Tommy Dean's band continued to play and tour into the early sixties but eventually he downsized to a solo act which appeared in St. Louis clubs. He died suddenly, probably from a heart attack, in 1965.
Remember, for the full Tommy Deans story go to:
These are the fax on the trax :
"Hour Past Midnight," "Scammon Boogie," "Just About Right" and "Sweet And Lovely" recorded in Chicago, July - August 1949.
Personnel: Chris Woods (alto sax); Edgar Hayes (tenor sax); Gene Easton (baritone sax); Tommy Dean (piano); unidentified (bass); Nathaniel "Pee Wee" Jernigan (drums, vocal).
"Just About Right" / "Sweet And Lovely" by Tommy Dean and Orchestra, released on Miracle 144, October 1949. Re-released on Federal 12031 in 1951.
"Lonely Monday" and "Cool One-Groove Two" recorded in Chicago on June 4th, 1952.
Personnel: Chris Woods (alto sax); Edgar Hayes (tenor sax); Gene Easton (baritone sax); Tommy Dean (piano); Eugene Thomas (bass); Nathaniel "Pee Wee" Jernigan (drums); Jewel Belle (vocals).
"Lonely Monday" / "Cool One-Groove Two" by Tommy Dean and his Gloom Raiders released on States 106 in August 1952.
"Deanie Boy," "Eventime," "How Can I Let You Go?" and "Why Don't Chu?" were recorded in Chicago on December 20th, 1954.
Personnel: Tommy Dean (piano and organ); Oliver Nelson (alto sax); Cornelius "Chuck" Tillman (tenor sax); Archie Burnside (bass); Edgar Plaes (drums); Joe Buckner (vocals).
"Deanie Boy" by Tommy Deans Orchestra / "Eventime" by Joe Buckner w Tommy Deans Orchestra was released on Vee-Jay 125 in January 1955. "Deanie Boy" was renamed "The Horse" on a 1960 release on Vee-Jay 339 (b/w "Skid Row").
"How Can I Let You Go" by Joe Buckner w Tommy Deans Orchestra / "Why Don't Chu" by Tommy Deans Orchestra released on Vee-Jay 141 in July 1955.
"The Gold Coast" was recorded in Chicago on February 17th 1955.
Personnel: Tommy Dean (piano); Oliver Nelson (alto sax); Archie Burnside (bass); Edgar Plaes (drums). Release details see below.
"Straight And Ready," "Skid Row" and "One More Mile" were recorded in Chicago on July 11th, 1955.
Personnel: Tommy Dean (piano and organ); Cornelius "Chuck" Tillman (tenor sax); Joe Whitefield (tenor sax); Archie Burnside (bass); Edgar Plaes (drums); Joe Buckner (vocals).
"One More Mile" by Joe Buckner w Tommy Deans Orchestra / "Straight And Ready" by Tommy Deans Orch. released on Vee-Jay 172 in February 1956.
"Skid Row" / "The Gold Coast" by Tommy "Deanie Boy" Dean released on Vee-Jay 218 in December 1956.
Thanks for this one BW. Certainly new to me, can't recall ever hearing Tommy Dean before.
ReplyDeleteHi Bob. I'd never heard of Tommy Dean either, until I came across this LP a few years ago. One of the tracks on here, "Cool One-Groove Two" was on the classic Delmark compilation "Honkers & Bar Walkers Volume 1" but it was attributed to alto sax player Chris Woods with Tommy's name being left off the session details.
ReplyDeleteDL several times and would not open.
ReplyDeleteHi soulpapa - I've just downloaded it and it works OK for me. Are you using a Mac? If so, could you try the suggestions in the panel just beneath the title of the blog? Please let me know if it still doesn't open. Anyone else out there having a similar problem?
ReplyDeleteBW
Nope! Still won't open. Never had a problem with your blog before or with MEGA either. It's a puzzle and I'm not on a MAC.
ReplyDeleteTommy Dean: para mim é uma novidade, este disco não foi nem será editado no Brasil, agora tenho-o graças a vocês, legal; Very Cool!
ReplyDeleteHi, Boogiewoody !
ReplyDeleteTommy D. seems very interesting. Unfortunately MEGA didn't happen to work
this time around. Tried it 2 times at different dates, one each.
Could it be that ZIPPY would be better just this once? Don't know.
Anyway thanks for the marvellous label scans & solid info as usual.
Perhaps the link could be changed into good condition?
Sincerely,
- Jay from North.
I d/l my copy yesterday, no problems whatsoever, I'm always happy to see a link in MEGA as they are fastest, along with Zippy & MediaFire. Generally the only times I have problems opening a d/l is when the connection craps out before the d/l is completed. Otherwise I have no troubles at all and I'm d/l all the time. I use Win 7 and have several different unzippers...all freeware. Bandizip, 7-Zip, IZArc2Go & Peazip are my main ones.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, good album, bluesier than I expected it to be.
Thanks Bob perhaps those suggestions might help soulpapa. An update to Winzip a couple of months ago might be the cause and the use of a different unzipper might help.
ReplyDeleteAs for zippyshare, I have been unable to upload anything there for nearly a month. My last successful upload was on the 19th January. I've tried to upload Tommy Dean to zippyshare five times today and each time the upload just stops at around 20% completed. I'm going over to superfast broadband at the end of this month so I may be able to upload to zippy after that.
BW
Success! There is now a Zippyshare link above for Tommy Dean.
ReplyDeleteBW
Hi
ReplyDeleteI don't think Official lasted long after this LP issued. I ordered it soon after it came out but it never came and the record shop said the firm had gone. I eventually got an expensive copy from Amazon five years ago.
Dean was a pretty important player. Not quite as early in tenor-organ combo development in the Midwest as Schoolboy Porter and Jack McDuff, but a better organist than McDuff was at that stage. He was the leader on the first session recorded by Grant Green, in 1956, which, as you say, has never come out. It wasn't lost. A couple of years ago a big wodge of Vee-Jay masters were sold by auction and the photo of a load of 'em included that tape.
I've had this LP pulled to rip it for a while - you'll save me the trouble. Gawd blesher Guv!
Al
A very interesting comment, oh Magnificent one! There is still a company issuing CDs which has the same Official logo which appears on the LPs. I always thought the name was ironic as their releases seemed to be "unofficial" if you know what I mean. Their claim to be based in Copenhagen was probably because the Danes had a generous 30 year limit on what was deemed to be public domain. I used to wonder if there was any relationship between Official and Swingtime and perhaps also with a more "legitimate" reissue company.
ReplyDeleteThe Official releases were always interesting and often very good indeed. Your comments on the midwest tenor organ combo development is especially interesting as I've recently been in a Soul Jazz groove in my own listening. Schoolboy Porter is a name which is new to me, so I must investigate further.
Cheers!
BW
BW: some info on John “Schoolboy” Porter for you:
ReplyDeleteNot really from Chicago, but from close enough Gary Indiana comes John “Schoolboy” Porter (born in 1926). Porter recorded for Chicago based Chance Records from 1950 to 1952. Then he appeared – as guitarist! – on a Roosevelt Sykes session for United, also in 1952. After that he opted for a career in the military. Porter has an interesting sound, most of his records pair jukebox groovers with sentimental ballads as was usual during these days. “Kayron”, recorded in 1950, was a fine piece of bop from Chicago with – I think – a really great solo by Schoolboy (search for it on youtube, someone has put it up). On the shuffling “Schoolboy’s Boogie” which was recorded in September 1950, Porter is accompanied by pianist Jesse Hart (who also sang, but not on this track), bassist Walter Broyle and drummer Carl Scott.
Schoolboy Porter: "Schoolboy's Boogie" (1950)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mf80j-HjUds
Thanks Bob. I found "Kayron" on YouTube - excellent jazz side:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZ2LC7X-OhA
It's a shame that so little of Schoolboy Porter's work is available for listening. The 2 sides on YouTube make me thirsty for more!
Information on Schoolboy's Chance sides exactly where you would expect to find it - on the Red Saunders Research Foundation website -
http://campber.people.clemson.edu/chance.html
And now I get the Magnificent Goldberg's reference to Jack McDuff - he played organ on some of Schoolboy's 1952 sides, although he wasn't Brother Jack yet, he was still Eugene McDuffy back then.
The article also says that Schoolboy had a brief spell in the Lionel Hampton band as replacement for Morris Lane. Boy, do we learn things on Be Bop Wino!
BW
BW: Interesting that he also played guitar. The 1952 session with R. Sykes is on the Delmark CD Raining In My Heart (Delmark 642), which I have, and you probably have as well.
ReplyDeleteI found the instrumentals quite groovy, and they are sure growing on me... i had never heard about him before... always good to have a new guy to listen.. thanks a bunch
ReplyDeleteNuno
I'm e-mailing you what I've got of Schoolboy Porter.
ReplyDeleteAl
Link has arrived. Thanks Al. I'll email you shortly.
ReplyDeleteBW
@BW & Magnificent: I'm also extremely interested in getting hold of any Schoolboy Porter tracks. Sure hope BW posts these on Be Bop Wino.
ReplyDeleteHi Bob. I'll get back to you soon. There's only 3 tracks but they're good. Blog activity is suspended for a day or two due to the impending rugby game between Scotland and England. I may resurface on Sunday depending on the result, my intake of beer, and whether or not I get back safely from Edinburgh. I may well find myself posting from Saughton Prison!
ReplyDeleteBW
Bob if you email me at boogiewoody@hotmail.co.uk I'll get copies of the tracks to you.
ReplyDeleteSorry about delay in getting in touch. Still haven't recovered from Scotland's glorious triumph over the Auld Enemy on Saturday. I should finally get it together tomorrow.
BW
Dear Boogiewoody,
ReplyDeleteI'm one of those downloaders who for Deanie Boy
were not able to extract not by mega & not by zippy.
But Peazip system maybe could change all that difficulty,
as I noticed that in the following Ruth Brown post
everything is rockin' again like used to was before.
Thanks for your patience and good will to clear all
'sticks & stones' on these rocky roads of music culture.
Right On !
- Jay from North.
Thanks for letting me know the PeaZip files work, Jay. I'll probably stick with them for now. I moved over to "superfast" broadband just over a week ago so it is now much easier for me to upload archives to Mega and Zippy. Before the move I was on the point of abandoning Zippy altogether but I'll keepgoing with it.
ReplyDeleteI'll see about re-uploading Tommy Dean as a PeaZip archive.
BW
Thanks BW, Remembering Tommy Dean on his birthday (Sep 6, 1909)
ReplyDeleteRegards, Bob