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Post by jonwms on Jan 18, 2018 17:33:43 GMT
I just posted scans of the 1948 Record Changer with Keepnew's article on Monk. Published soon after Monk's first Blue Note recordings. A big concession for a "moldy fig". Although they still misspelled his name. You will need to go to link to be able to click on the pages to full-size to be legible: www.flickr.com/photos/54616231@N04/albums/72157660953915473
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heavyp
Junior Member
Posts: 69
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Post by heavyp on Jan 19, 2018 14:48:54 GMT
thanks for the update! and my gene deitch book (1st repress ;-D is ordered and on its way
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Post by Rich on Jan 21, 2018 22:45:20 GMT
Wow, amazing thread, thanks for sharing!
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Post by Rich on Jan 21, 2018 22:57:36 GMT
well i don't claim to be an expert, but just because that was the practice, doesn't mean it isn't shitty. Setting aside publishing royalties for a second, how were the session musicians and leaders typically compensated? I recall reading/hearing that the musicians were typically paid per diem while the leader might also receive sales royalties, though I might be making this all up. Anyway, I’ve gathered that the session musicians were generally ‘underpaid’ (clearly debatable)...?
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Post by Rich on Jan 21, 2018 23:11:31 GMT
I just posted scans of the 1948 Record Changer with Keepnew's article on Monk. Published soon after Monk's first Blue Note recordings. A big concession for a "moldy fig". Although they still misspelled his name. You will need to go to link to be able to click on the pages to full-size to be legible: www.flickr.com/photos/54616231@N04/albums/72157660953915473I am REEEALLY excited to read this!!!!!
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Post by gregorythefish on Jan 22, 2018 2:32:44 GMT
yeah, rich, that's my impression as well, though i similarly don't have much to back it up.
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Post by Rich on Jan 22, 2018 4:14:07 GMT
I just posted scans of the 1948 Record Changer with Keepnew's article on Monk. Published soon after Monk's first Blue Note recordings. A big concession for a "moldy fig". Although they still misspelled his name. You will need to go to link to be able to click on the pages to full-size to be legible: www.flickr.com/photos/54616231@N04/albums/72157660953915473Reading a critic review of Monk in that type of historical context was just fascinating. I just thought it was so interesting to basically witness Keepnews predicting the eventual widespread acknowledgement of Monk's genius. It's interesting that Keepnews keeps referring to "the first four Monk sides" without ever actually naming any songs. Well in a small act of shameless self-promotion, my Thelonious Monk discography (you will need to sort by catalog number) will point you to what those four 78 sides in all likelihood were: Blue Note 542, "Thelonious" / "Suburban Eyes" and Blue Note 543, "'Round Midnight" / "Well You Needn't", both which, according to Michael Cuscuna, would have been released in 1948 despite being recorded in late 1947, which is consistent with the date of the article. Of the four, I can't say with confidence that 542 would have drawn me in back then, but 543 would have probably stood a much greater chance. If Keepnews had "old-fashioned" taste at that time, I'm really surprised (and don't quite understand how) he saw something in these takes that appealed to him and that he even saw as innovative. I would guess that maybe hearing "'Round Midnight" for the first time may have been an unforgettable moment for someone then (it's actually not a favorite of mine), but I think "Well You Needn't", the trio side, is probably the best of them all. It has the catchiest melody and without the horn accompaniment it really places the spotlight on Monk. (Side note: Keepnews appears to have either erroneously assumed or misunderstood that Monk was born in New York City, whereas most people here will probably know that he was born in North Carolina.)
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Post by jonwms on Jan 22, 2018 5:24:17 GMT
This interview is long but worthwhile to watch in my opinion:
He does talk about the meeting with Monk at the Lion's apartment after those 78's were recorded and interviewing Monk for the Record Changer.
I would also hope the takeaway from this interview would be regardless of how business was done in his day, this man was not an "asshole".
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Post by gregorythefish on Jan 22, 2018 11:38:37 GMT
according to RGD Kelley's Monk bio, he blatantly shortchanged musicians and embezzled from his own company to the extent that it went bankrupt after he died. asshole behavior.
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Post by jonwms on Jan 22, 2018 15:26:42 GMT
according to RGD Kelley's Monk bio, he blatantly shortchanged musicians and embezzled from his own company to the extent that it went bankrupt after he died. asshole behavior. Did you watch the whole interview? I think it presents a little bigger picture than what you are grasping on to.
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Post by Martin on Jan 22, 2018 16:00:28 GMT
GtF - is it possible you've confused Orrin Keepnews with his Riverside business partner Bill Grauer? I know that Riverside hit the financial skids after Grauer's death...
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Post by gregorythefish on Jan 23, 2018 13:55:18 GMT
martin nailed it. yes, i confused keepnews and grauer. thanks for setting me straight, there, martin.
and yes, jonwms, i watched the whole interview, albeit with the confusion above. and now i agree with you.
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