Tiny Bradshaw LPs and those mighty 78s

It seems fitting to post the new links to 2 Tiny Bradshaw LPs as three of our recently featured tenor sax men had spells in his band - Red Prysock, Sil Austin and Noble Watts.

The main post on Tiny is about the King LP "A Tribute To The Late Tiny Bradshaw, The Great Composer." This magnificent post which is guaranteed to treble your brainpower, increase your vocabulary tenfold and transform you into the hippest character in your neighbourhood (if you aren't already) can be found here:

http://bebopwinorip.blogspot.co.uk/2009/01/tribute-to-late-tiny-bradshaw-great_03.html

Not only do you get a fantastic LP to download, you also get biographical details and a pile of scans of labels and EP covers from Joan.

For those of you with a short attention span or who are already at the top of the hipness scale, the new download link for "The Great Composer" is:

Tiny Bradshaw The Great Composer (Mega)

The Krazy Kat LP "Stomping Room Only" can be found at:

http://bebopwinorip.blogspot.co.uk/2009/10/tiny-bradshaw-stomping-room-only.html

There is some duplication of tracks with "The Great Composer" but there are enough dynamite extras such as "T-99" and "Walk That Mess" to make it well worth your while downloading both albums.

The new download link for "Stomping Room Only" is:


Tiny Bradshaw Stomping Room Only (Mega)


We mustn't forget 3 superb 78s that El Emascarado ripped and sent in. These posts are well worth investigating for the streaming audio, label shots, and insights of El Enmascarado ( a real musician as well as failed Mexican wrestler). These posts can be found at:

Well Oh Well / I Hate You











http://bebopwinorip.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/well-oh-well-tiny-bradshaw.html

South of the Orient / Later











http://bebopwinorip.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/south-of-orient-later-tiny-bradshaw-his.html

Walkin' The Chalk Line / Bradshaw Boogie










http://bebopwinorip.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/walkin-chalk-line-bradshaw-boogie-tiny.html

These tracks were featured in the downloadable series "Jump & Jive On 78".

Sil Austin LPs

Okay groovers, 3 LPs by Sil Austin have been re-upped, plus I've added "Slow Walk Rock" which originally appeared on the Schadenfreudian Therapy blog some years back. For that album I've brightened up the cover scans and re-tagged the mp3s.

Normally I only post my own rips or donated rips, but in this case as Schadenfreudian Therapy is no longer with us, I have succumbed to temptation. Many thanks to Baikinange for originally uploading this monstrously good LP.

The main Sil Austin post on which you will find both these LPs is here:

http://bebopwinorip.blogspot.co.uk/2010/02/sil-austin-everythings-shakin-mgw-12227.html

You will find an outline of Sil's career, download links, plus updated artwork for "Everything's Shakin'". Here are the new download links if you don't wish to read the original post although I strongly recommend that you do as it will transform you from a hopeless square into a stylish, suave and knowledgeable hepcat.

Everything's Shakin'

Slow Walk Rock

In 1959 Sil recorded an album of ballads with string and vocal chorus accompaniment. "Sil Austin Plays Pretty For The People" was quite a departure from his previous full-on rock 'n' roll LPs. A track from the album, "Danny Boy," was a pop hit for Sil thus justifying the new approach. You will find a link to a reissued and truncated version of the LP on this post:

http://bebopwinorip.blogspot.co.uk/2009/02/sil-austin-plays-pretty-for-people_19.html

I have updated the artwork to go with this album. Again, for those who have no wish to descend into the depths of the world of Be Bop Wino, here is the new download link:

Sil Austin Plays Pretty For The People

Sil Austin Plays Pretty For The People Again -

This 1967 follow up to "Sil Austin Plays Pretty For The People" was donated by Oracle, who ran a cool retro/jazz/lounge/latin blog called Portal Of Groove which is sadly no longer with us. The front cover, which appears to be populated by refugees from "Yellow Submarine", jars somewhat with the 1940s / 50s look of Be Bop Wino but Sil still looks pretty cool.

The original post is here:

http://bebopwinorip.blogspot.co.uk/2010/02/sil-austin-plays-pretty-for-people.html

The download link is here:

Sil Austin Plays Pretty For The People Again

Many thanks to Oracle.

Coming soon - more Big Apple sax blast with Freddie Mitchell, Buddy Lucas and Jesse Powell. PLUS Tiny Bradshaw - the band which featured Red Prysock, Sil Austin and Noble Watts, although not all at the same time!

Red Prysock LPs

On with the Big Beat honkfest! In this post we feature updates to previous Red Prysock posts, especially the revamped "Cryin' My Heart Out" Saxophonograph LP. For a little bit of fun I thought I'd come up with a new front cover which is more "in period" as it utilizes a 1940s photo of Red with Tiny Grimes in New York. The real cover and label artwork is below.

The original (improved) "Cryin' My Heart Out" post is here:

http://bebopwinorip.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/red-prysock-cryin-my-heart-out.html

Download "Cryin' My Heart Out" from here:

http://www17.zippyshare.com/v/6bATpyif/file.html

An anonymous donor sent in "The Big Sound Of Red Prysock" which is a 1964 LP on the budget Forum Circle label. The original post is here: 

http://bebopwinorip.blogspot.co.uk/2008/06/big-sound-of-red-prysock-fc-9083_4157.html

I can't find any discographical information on this release but having listened to it earlier today I can say that "Castle Rock" is one of the best honk tracks I've ever heard.

Download "The Big Sound Of Red Prysock" from here:

http://www90.zippyshare.com/v/uVi8bBTY/file.html

Back in 2010, Jeff sent in a copy of the Sil Austin v Red Prysock sax duel LP, "Battle Royal." You can read the original post with comments from Jeff here:

http://bebopwinorip.blogspot.co.uk/2010/03/sil-austin-red-prysock-battle-royal-mg.html

Download "Battle Royal" from here:

http://www8.zippyshare.com/v/iAsYLY6f/file.html

Coming soon - more New York honk with Sil Austin, Buddy Lucas and Freddie Mitchell.

South of the Orient / Later – Tiny Bradshaw, His Piano and Band (King 4664 Dee Jay Special)

Both sides were recorded in Cincinnati on July 29th, 1953. Personnel: Bill Hardman (tp); Andrew Penn (tb); Sil Austin, Rufus Gore (ts); Jimmy Robinson (p); Sam Jones (b); Philip Paul (d)

The record was released in October, 1953. Sil Austin made his recording debut for the Bradshaw band at this session, having replaced Red Prysock who left earlier in the year to start a successful solo career. Thanks are due to El Enmascarado for unearthing this 78 rpm disc.

Listen to "South Of The Orient"

Listen to "Later"

El Enmascarado comments: “South Of The Orient/Later by Tiny Bradshaw is on a white label promo/DJ copy. Although it looked pristine and pretty much unplayed, it had more surface grit than I expected. That might possibly have something to do with the disc seeming to be made out of vinyl rather than shellac.

South Of The Orient is kind of Afro/Exotica with a mambo beat. It's mostly piano bass and drums, although the horns play quietly in a few spots.

Later is a more straight ahead jump number. The drummer plays brushes rather than sticks, which tend to give it a lighter feel.”

This disc was released after Tiny Bradshaw had enjoyed two substantial instrumental R&B chart hits in 1953 – “Soft” and “Heavy Juice.” Unfortunately “South Of The Orient” failed to live up to the success of the two preceding Bradshaw releases. It may be that “South Of The Orient” was a little too exotic and “jazzy” for the R&B crowd.

Billboard Magazine reviewed “South Of The Orient” thus: “This Oriental flavoured effort bears a close kinship to some of the work being turned out by the bopsters today, but the pulsating tempo and the bright drum work make it a listenable hunk of wax. Good for jazz jocks.”

As for “Later” Billboard commented: “The Tiny Bradshaw ork has a happy time with this riff instrumental that is more jazz than r&b. It swings and it should please a lot of the cats.”

Here’s your chance to hear the two numbers that made it big for Tiny Bradshaw in 1953. “Soft” was released in late 1952 and peaked at number 3 in the R&B charts, spending most of spring 1953 on the best selling list. “Heavy Juice” was a smaller hit, reaching number 9 in August 1953.

Listen to "Soft"

Listen to "Heavy Juice"

Sil Austin & Red Prysock - Battle Royal! (MG 20434)

Man oh man! This is the holy grail of honk. Sil Austin and Red Prysock, two of the all time great R&B tenor sax men, square off for a “battle royal” on this 1959 Mercury LP.

Thanks to sax fan Jeff who sent in these rips from vinyl, plus label and cover scans. One of the best things about music blogging is that fellow enthusiasts get in touch and send in contributions. This is an LP I’ve wanted to hear for some time now and it’s all due to Jeff that not only do I finally have the chance to hear these tracks, but so do you oh fellow boppers de wino.

Here’s some of Jeff’s thoughts on hearing this album -

“It is one of the most incredible sax records I have ever heard. A real joy, and I am so happy I saw it. The two of them were at the top of their form, and go at it like there is no tomorrow. It's actually just an unbelievable experience.

Incidentally, the record is heavily jazz with an R&B cornerstone. Both of them seemed like they were still into the 50s R&B but had recognized the death of the genre and were shifting into real jazz.

But then, of course, Sil went over to the ballad syndrome, and took a complete about face with his career. He was great in either genre, but what an absolute difference. I do feel we lost something in the transition. I'd love to know if he consciously went where the money was, or decided himself that R&B was dead, or lost his enthusiasm for uptempo honking.

And lastly incidentally, in case you aren't up on modern sax people, Sax Gordon has made a couple of CDs and truly is a throwback to the days of both Austin and Prysock. If you haven't heard him you should.

I sure hope you enjoy this one as much as I do. It just builds and builds and builds.

It is truly a shame that these two didn't get more popular acclaim. They are certainly way up there with the R&B afficionados, but they stand out so far from many of the other R&B sax men that more fame would have been warranted and well-deserved. This record is a gem.”

Recorded in New York, 1959. A stereo version, SR 60106, was also released on Mercury. A two part version of “Kenny’s Blues” was issued on a 45 rpm disc, Mercury 71683x45.

“No 1 Sil” and “Take The A Train” are extended frantic tenor sax duels. The shorter and slower “Kenny’s Blues” showcases the guitar of Kenny Burrell as well as the saxes of Austin and Prysock.

Personnel: Red Prysock, Sil Austin (ts) Dave Martin (p) Kenny Burrell, Everett Barksdale (g) Milt Hinton (b) Panama Francis (d)

Ripped from vinyl at 320 kbps.

Download from here:

http://www8.zippyshare.com/v/iAsYLY6f/file.html

1. No.1 Sil
2. Kenny's Blues
3. Take The 'A' Train

Thanks for this post, Jeff.

Sil Austin Plays Pretty For The People Again (Mercury LP SR 61126)

A big thank you to Oracle for kindly sending in this 1967 Sil Austin follow-up to his "Plays Pretty For The People" LP. Oracle used to run a very distinctive Lounge - Latin - Retro - Jazz - What the Heck blog called Portal of Groove which sadly seems to have disappeared from the blogosphere.

Once again Sil is in a romantic mood with settings varying from full on string accompaniment with choir to small group with vibes (like a laid back Earl Bostic.) I have no discographical details of these sessions so I can't comment on the accompanying musicians.

Ripped from vinyl at 320 kbps. No password.

http://www17.zippyshare.com/v/RLn3RX9h/file.html

Side A
1. I'm In The Mood For Love
2. The Lonely One
3. Cry Me A River
4. The Rose Tattoo
5. To Love Again

Side B
1. Harlem Nocturne
2. Broken Promises
3. Save The Last Dance For Me
4. On A Tropic Night
5. Oh Rose, My Rose
6. Good Night

Thank you Mr Oracle!

Sil Austin - Everything's Shakin' (MGW 12227)

Side 1
1. Everything's Shakin'
2. Fall Out
3. Tell Your Story
4. The Square From Cuba
5. Late Show

Side 2
Sil Austin - Balin' Wire
Sil Austin - So Slow
Sil Austin - Green Blazer
Sil Austin - Yipe
Sil Austin - I'm Back

Download from:

http://www13.zippyshare.com/v/cvAVFvYr/file.html

Get ready to dance, ‘cos here’s a 1957 collection of wild R&B screechers by one of the great tenor sax honkers, Sil Austin. This LP was originally issued as Mercury LP MG20320 and is presented here in its Wing reissue incarnation. Long time followers of Be Bop Wino will remember that I posted this album on the original blog and before that on Rock Hall, but this time round you get a scan of the whole front cover plus back cover and label scans.

Sil Austin was born in Florida in 1929. A performance of “Danny Boy” at an Apollo Theatre amateur night in 1948 led to a gig with Roy Eldridge. The following year he replaced Willis Jackson in the Cootie Williams band and in 1953 he joined the Tiny Bradshaw band as a replacement for Red Prysock. He stayed with Bradshaw for about a year, featuring on eight sides, the best known being “Ping Pong.” In the spring of 1954 Sil went solo (Noble Watts stepped into the vacant Bradshaw spot) and recorded two sessions for Jubilee, with three singles being released.

Two years later Sil signed for Mercury Records where he remained until 1964. His biggest hit “Slow Walk” was recorded in September 1956 and the following month his first album, “Slow Walk Rock” was recorded. That LP used to be on the old Baikinange’s Schadenfreudian Therapy blog which has since gone to the great blog bin in the sky. I have reuploaded the LP and now you can download it from this blog. The front cover should look kinda familiar as it has the same dancing couple as the cover of “Everything’s Shakin’”.

The sides for “Everything’s Shakin’” were recorded in April and May of 1957. In 1959 Sil changed his sound, laying down the sides for his “Plays Pretty for the People” LP accompanied by an orchestra and choir. You can download a reissue version of that LP from Be Bop Wino here. One of the tracks, “Danny Boy,” was a pop hit, which encouraged Sil to continue recording with strings and choir. But “Everything’s Shakin’” is a feast of greasy R&B, Rock and Roll, and even a touch of Latin.

Side 1
1. Train Whistle
2. Shufflin' Home
3. Pink Shade Of Blue
4. Walkin' And Talkin'
5. Oochie John
6. Birthday Party

Side 2
7. The Last Time
8. One Plus Two Is Nine
9. Dogwood Junction
10. Bout Time
11. A Mother's Child
12. He's A Real Gone Guy

Download "Slow Walk Rock" from here:

http://www20.zippyshare.com/v/uiXZbtj7/file.html

"Slow Walk Rock" is a tremendous album, probably better than "Everything's Shakin'" and although it is in a lower bitrate, it certainly behooves beholding (to borrow a phrase from Nick Tosches.)

Sil Austin Plays Pretty For The People

This is a 1987 reissue on Polygram of an LP which was originally released on Mercury (MG-20424) in 1959. Recorded in one session in New York City in February 1959, this album of sentimental ballads with orchestral and vocal chorus accompaniment represented a change of sound for R&B tenor sax man Sil Austin. This may not be to the taste of those of you who lapped up his booting tenor on "Everything's Shakin'" and on the Tiny Bradshaw compilations, but it certainly attracted attention at the time it was originally released – enough to persuade Mercury to issue more albums in the same vein, and to propel “Danny Boy” into the pop charts.

It’s time for a confession from this fan of honkin’ tenor sax – “Danny Boy” chokes me up every time I listen to it. The string accompaniment is relatively restrained and Sil Austin puts in a ballad performance that is for the ages. So download, and if you have tears to shed, be prepared to shed them as you listen to “Danny Boy”.

The original 1959 release of this album had twelve tracks with the running order as follows:

SIDE-A

A-1 Danny Boy
A-2 Sweet Slumber
A-3 Summertime
A-4 I'll Walk Alone
A-5 My Foolish Heart
A-6 Call Me

SIDE-B
B-1 Ruby
B-2 I Can't Get Started
B-3 My Mother's Eyes
B-4 Prisoner Of Love
B-5 It's The Talk Of The Town
B-6 Stardust

This re-release has only ten tracks in the following order:

1. Danny Boy
2. Prisoner Of Love
3. Summertime
4. I Can't Get Started With You
5. My Foolish Heart
6. Call Me
7. Ruby
8. My Mother's Eyes
9. Sweet Slumber
10. It's The Talk Of The Town

Ripped from vinyl at 320 kbps.

Download from here:

http://www24.zippyshare.com/v/Wnue1TMS/file.html

A Tribute to the Late Tiny Bradshaw, the Great Composer (King LP 653)

Let us start the New Year of 2009 by paying tribute to a true giant of rhythm and blues: Myron “Tiny” Bradshaw, bandleader, drummer, blues shouter and tunesmith. If ever one musician encapsulated what Bebopwino is about then that musician is Tiny Bradshaw, a man whose musical career started in a college swing band in the 1920s, progressed through various big bands in the 1930s and 1940s, and then switched to small group jump and R&B in the late 1940s and thereafter had an influence on rock and roll in the 1950s via his song “The Train Kept A’Rollin’” which was covered by Johnny Burnette and the Rock’n’Roll Trio. Of course during the 1960s the Burnette version was covered in turn by The Yardbirds who then covered themselves by regurgitating the number as “Stroll On” in the Antonioni film “Blowup.” But I am getting somewhat ahead of myself. Let’s go back to the 1920s …

… back to Wilberforce University where we find young Tiny drumming and singing in Horace Henderson’s Collegians. Henderson (brother of Fletcher) broke up the band in 1928 and Bradshaw moved to New York where he played in a succession of big bands including Marion Hardy’s Alabamians, Duncan Mayer’s Savoy Bearcats and The Mills Blue Rhythm Band. When Bradshaw formed his own band in 1934, he took on the role of singing, dancing frontman inspired partly by Mills Blue Rhythm Band frontman Baron Lee, and partly by Cab Calloway. The band quickly secured a recording contract with Decca and although they had some success with “Shout Sister Shout” and “Darktown Strutters’ Ball”, the contract was not renewed and the Bradshaw band remained unrecorded for more than a decade.

Despite the lack of records being issued, the Bradshaw outfit remained a popular live attraction throughout the rest of the 1930s and into the wartime era. Tiny’s next recordings were Jubilee recordings for the Armed Forces in early 1944. Later that year his band was recording for the Regis and Manor labels in a jump-blues style. When Bradshaw signed with the Savoy label in 1947, he had slimmed the band down to a small group and was now recording tracks like “Take The Hands Off The Clock” in a rhythm and blues style.

In late 1949 Tiny Bradshaw signed for the King label and his powerful swing influenced R&B was soon hitting the charts. “Well Oh Well”, “Walking The Chalk Line”, “Soft” and “Heavy Juice” (the latter two tracks being instrumentals featuring Red Prysock on tenor sax) all charted between 1950 and 1953. Although there were no more chart hits for Tiny, his extremely danceable sax driven music was a big live attraction. When Red Prysock left the group in 1953, he was replaced by Sil Austin, who was replaced in turn by Noble Watts in mid-1954.

It was at this time that Tiny’s ever growing health problems forced him to cut back drastically on touring and recording. A stroke or heart attack left Tiny paralysed in both legs and although the band continued to record under his name until January 1958, he was actually present on only a handful of the recordings. In November 1958 it all came to an end when Tiny suffered a fatal heart attack.

This LP is a 1980s reissue on Sing of King LP 653 “A Tribute to the Late Tiny Bradshaw, the Great Composer” which was released in 1959. The 1959 tribute was in fact a reissue, with four additional tracks, of the 1958 King LP 395-501 “Tiny Bradshaw.” There are only two vocal tracks on the album, “Well Oh Well”, and “The Train Kept A’Rollin’”, with the bulk of the tracks made up of instrumentals recorded in 1953 and 1954. The three big hitting tenor sax men, Red Prysock, Sil Austin and Noble Watts are all well represented but we should also sing the praises of tenor sax man Rufus Gore who is present on most of these tracks.

Most of the above information on the career of Tiny Bradshaw was taken from Joop Visser’s sleevenotes to the “Tiny Bradshaw The EP Collection” CD. Label shots supplied by Joan K. If you are interested in investigating the early career of Tiny Bradshaw then CD1 of the Proper 2CD set “Breaking Up The House” has his pre-King recordings. CD2 of the set has a selection of his early King material. 43 tracks for a budget price – it has to be a bargain!

Ripped from vinyl at 320 kbps.

Download from here:

Tiny Bradshaw The Great Composer (Mega)


1. Soft
2. Off And On
3. Heavy Juice
4. Well Oh Well
5. Free For All
6. Choice
7. Bushes
8. Stack Of Dollars
9. Later
10.Powder Puff
11. South Of The Orient
12. The Train Kept A’Rollin’
13. Light
14. Ping Pong
15. Come on
16. Cat Fruit

Moondog Boogie

It looks like I’ve caught the compilation bug. A few weeks ago I posted a collection called “Doo Dob Sha Bam” which I’d put together for the esteemed Rocker Stomp blog (see sidebar for link). As I said in that post, Rocker Stomp is the outstanding blog for all things rockin’ on the Spanish scene, so it was a pleasure and a bit of a challenge to compile another selection of stompin’ rhythm ‘n’ blues which would appear on both Bebopwino and Rocker Stomp.

This time round there’s an Alan Freed theme behind the collection. The opening title track by Freddie Mitchell was later adapted as “Rock ‘n’ Roll Boogie” when Freddie joined the Alan Freed Rock’n’Roll Band. It was used in the film “Rock, Rock, Rock!” as you can see from the cover pic which is a screen capture from the film and shows Freddie honking away happily while Freed claps in encouragement. Further Freed connections in the collection are “The Moondog”, a 1952 tribute by The Treniers, the instrumentals “Big Heavy” and “Blues For The Red Boy” which Freed used as themes on his radio shows, and a spoken Freed intro to Jesse Belvin’s “Goodnight My Love”, a tune which Freed often used as a show closer.

Mind you, I’m not sure if Freed would have included “Wine-O” or “Slow, Smooth and Easy” in his playlists, but what the heck, both tunes are on my current playlist. Anyway there’s plenty of hot sax work, bloozy chantoozies and riotous rockin’ goin’ on here. I’m sure the Moondog would have approved of such shenanigans.

Every track is ripped from vinyl. Even when I had a CD version of the track already available in my media player library I went to my vinyl vault to rip a fresh version. Thanks to Joan K for the label shots which are included in the download.

Ripped from vinyl at 320 kbps. Download from this Rocker Stomp link:

http://www32.zippyshare.com/v/ZZXqDG3c/file.html


01. Moon Dog Boogie - Freddie Mitchell – Derby 1952
02. Them There Eyes - Varetta Dillard – Savoy 1952
03. This Little Girl’s Gone Rockin’ - Ruth Brown – Atlantic 1958
04. Paquino Walk - Red Prysock – Mercury 1956
05. Party Time - The Ray-O-Vacs – Kaiser 1956
06. Hot Tamales - Noble Watts – Baton 1958
07. Peanut Vendor - Alvin 'Red' Tyler – Ace 1961
08. Slow, Smooth And Easy - Anita Tucker – Capitol 1955
09. Rock And Roll Wedding - The Midnighters – Federal 1955
10. Shufflin' Home - Sil Austin – Mercury 1956
11. Night Crawlin' - Big John Greer – Groove 1955
12. Grey Hound - Amos Milburn – Aladdin 1952
13. The Moondog - The Treniers – Okeh 1952
14. Thunderbird - Maxwell Davis & His Rock'n'Roll Orchestra – RPM 1955
15. Preachin' - Freddie Mitchell – Rock’n Roll 1955
16. Old Time Rock'n'Roll - Art Neville – Specialty 1958 (unreleased)
17. Big Heavy - Cozy Eggleston – States 1952
18. Wine-O - The Ray-O-Vacs – Kaiser 1957
19. I'll Never Let You Go - Big John Greer – Vic 1952
20. Jim Dandy - Ruth Brown - Philips 1962
21. Ridin' The Riff - Big Bob Dougherty – Decca 1951
22. You Ain't Ready - The Flamingos – Chance 1953
23. Back Up - Eddie Chamblee – Mercury 1957
24. My Country Man - Big Maybelle – Okeh 1952
25. Mr Freddie's Boogie - Freddie Mitchell – Brunswick 1953
26. Pog Wog - Red Prysock – Mercury 1957
27. Cool Diggin' - Maxwell Davis & His Orchestra – RPM 1956
28. Blues For The Red Boy - Todd Rhodes – Sensation/King 1948
29. The Voice of Alan Freed - Alan Freed
30. Goodnight My Love - Jesse Belvin – Modern 1956