Old Man Blues

[Guest]

Those of you who were participants in the original Radio 3 forum might have been aware of the existence of my web-site
cliveheathmusic.co.uk
on which you will find a selection of tracks (some classic, some not) from the 20's and 30's restored from the original 78s. I hope those who have not yet explored the many selections available will find something to please. If you try nothing else, go for "Old Man Blues", the last track on Duke Ellington Collection 6 (Duke6).

[hackneyvi]

I've just listened to your gorgeous recording of Mood Indigo from 'Duke 5', Clive. I know the tune but I really don't know any of the older Ellington records except Rockin' in Rhythm and Limehouse Blues from The Singing Detective soundtrack.

I turned to Spotify for comparisons and was astonished at the often lamentable quality of Ellington recordings available (not least, I think, a bizarre semi-stereo travesty). The complete clarity of your sound is just wonderful but the soloists are as if in the room next door, with the door itself ajar; I believe on your transcription that I can hear the acoustic of the room they are playing in. The little rumbling run of bass notes from the piano at about 2' 22" is sublime. Likewise the mute trumpet and clarinet solos.

I now have Rent Party Blues running, reminding me of the difficulty I sometimes had finding £14 a week in the early '80s.

What fine work!

[ian russell]

It looks good but the flash player doesn't work for iPad browsers.

[hackneyvi]

It looks good but the flash player doesn't work for iPad browsers.

To my ears, you're missing some outstanding treats, Ian.

[ian russell]

Well, I might have to put a shilling in the old laptop then.

[hackneyvi]

Well, I might have to put a shilling in the old laptop then.

I am an Ellington ignoramus, ir, and I hope I haven't oversold it to you. But if Spotify is anything to go by on the standard of the available 1930 Mood Indigo recording, what Clive has achieved is remarkable; it's remarkable regardless. I'm listening on laptop headphones rather than piping the track through anything more sophisticated but to me it's a marvel.

Track 12 on this page.

http://www.cliveheathmusic.co.uk/transcriptions_01.php

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

cor ta clive!

[ian you'll need half a crown at least!]

[John Wright]

Well done Clive, enjoyed the tracks I selected.

I have been doing something similar for a couple of years, and providing the music in the form of a radio/podcast programme. The music, though, is of the dance/lighter/popular/movietunes varieties and all BRITISH recordings from my own 78rpm records.

Turntables, I've progressed from Lenco, Garrard, to new Stanton and Numark decks which are still made with 78rpm speed, 3mil Shure styli and cartridges. I use software from Algorithmix and construct/compile the shows using Audacity.

The podcasts are accessible here (about 60 programmes are always downloadable)

http://www.r2ok.co.uk/dancebandshow.htm

and the playlists are here,

http://www.r2ok.co.uk/playlists.htm

mainly romantic tunes of the 1930s but I always include 'flapper' tunes from the 1920s and swing or WWII tunes from the 1940s, a bit of comedy, tango, rumba, hawaiian occasionally.