Thursday 10 December 2009

Walthamstow Swings! Courtesy of The Johnny Scott Orchestra


Sometimes, it's the album you most begrudgingly purchase that brings the maximum pleasure. Desperately needing to satiate my vinyl thirst one particularly gloomy Walthamstow afternoon, and all my usual secret sources of vinyl bearing me no fruit, I, heavy hearted, and no doubt with a slightly wild look in my eye, ventured into one of those charity emporiums on the high-street that usually forces me to leave empty handed (and don't we all hate doing that!?) due to its paltry box of records.

When, in this frame of mind, I know of only one technique that can salvage the abortive hunt, and that is identifying "the least worst purchase," and promptly buying it.

And so it came to pass that my eyes fell upon the only record that even half aroused my audio ardour. I applied my "least worst purchase" philosophy, and bought the blighter.

London Swings. The Johnny Scott Orchestra.


"Let's All Go Down The Strand" instantly fills my listening cave with amazing technicolour vibes-I suddenly feel like I'm starring in the opening credits of a swinging 60s movie. I improve my posture, and wish I was dressed smarter. A hip prelude.

"They're Changing Guard At Buckingham Palace" kicks off with a sly Mancinni Pink Panther rip off, then kicks into an easy swing. Some pretty awesome playing on this track. Cooking electric guitar. Madly inventive arranging.

"Chelsea Bridge" Have always loved this tune since Tony Bennett featured an instrumental version on his 1999 Duke Ellington themed collection "Hot and Cool" and Johnny Scott does a fine version here of the beautiful Strayhorn tune. Not sure Strayhorn was thinking of the same Chelsea Bridge that the Johnny Scott Orchestra is though...

"Knocked 'em In The Old Kent Road" Great brass work, this one really builds from a funky little understated number, to a real lip buster.

"The Trees In Grosvenor Square" I'm a glutton for this kind of thing, the title already had me won over. A fine composition, with stately strings accentuating the graceful modulations 'twixt major and minor. Impressionistic use of harp at the end too.

"Limehouse Blues
" It must be panto-season at the Palladium at the start of this one. Imagine the music accompanying the slow reveal of the "Chinese Laundry set" and you'll have a rough idea... Great drumming, trumpets, trombones and saxes all buzzing neatly around each other in a densely syncopated score

Side 2

"London By Night" another track I've always loved and sometimes croon on the way home from a late night gig if I'm in a good enough mood. Tastefully handled by Johnny Scott here, with neat contrast between the various sections. Nice trumpet on the coda.

"Greek Street, Soho" One of Scott's own compositions here then, and a cool bluesy, late nite groove it has. Probably the most jazzy thing we've had so far. Solid bass work. Things go crazy in the middle, as the composer conveys the multi ethnicity in Soho through various musical syles (a Latin bit, a North African bit etc) some outtasight vibes playing too.

"A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Sqaure" another London standard, requested in every piano bar in the Capital, if not around the world... Taken at a nice medium swing, all rather pleasant and tea dance-esque, especially when the full brass section kicks in on the bridge. A groovy vibraphone solo bubbles up the second time we get to the bridge however, which I fear would leave the tea dancers a bit disorientated. Class.

"Covent Garden Starts Early" One can almost hear cries of "Big Issue, Big Issue" on this cut. Another Scott original. Really captures the swarm of the crowd and the hustle and bustle of the area. What I love about this record, is that you the listener, never have time to get bored, Johnny constantly revises and embellishes his arrangements as he goes, so we hardly ever have to hear the same section played the same way ever again.

"Springtime In Piccadilly Square" Another fine original piece. This would have been fine as incidental music on an episode of the old BBC comedy series "The Good Life." But its no doubt worthy of far more than that. Great jazzy sax playing on the outro

"London Bridge Is Falling Down" Johnny Scott goes all Brian Wilson "Fire" from the fabled "Smile" sessions on the intro here. Discordant, and intense, a heavy impressionistic scene gives the nursey rhyme an adult re-dux.

This album has officially salvaged my afternoon, what an unexpected surprise. And, aren't they always the best ones...

Details:

Artist: The Johnny Scott Orchestra
Album: London Swings
Label: Columbia SX 6026
Year: 1966

Sunday 6 December 2009

Of Sex Shops, Associates, Hefner and My Guilt Complex

Since my wife was catching up with some old university pals over a Sunday Lunch, I decided to do a spot of Christmas shopping, and at the same time make the most of the unusually rain-free December streets, and the vivid blue, cloud-free December sky.

After a couple of hours of browsing around the Seven Dials district of London (Mrs Nickoll has some expensive tastes) and having crossed off a few of the items from her Christmas list, I felt a sudden, powerful, guilt tinged desire (aren't most desires?) to pop into a few of the record stores on Berwick Street, Soho.

Much like the awkward looking American tourist, timidly darting into one of the many sex shops in this part of town, I began to feel somewhat depraved.

"How could I possibly be thinking about buying myself some records, when I'm ostensibly buying gifts for others?"

"Why must I constantly spend money on myself?" etc etc. And so the inner self lacerating dialogue continued, until I walked into Music & Goods Exchange, 75 Berwick Street, that is.

The store was happily busy for 2.30ish on a Sunday; an Italian chap leisurely flipping through the wracks whilst his girlfriend tried vainly to catch his attention, an 8 foot giant of a man, with two crutches, feverishly raping and pillaging his way through assorted cds like an angry Viking, and a couple of trendier types, more cooly hovering around the sections of the store that I don't usually dabble in (Drum & Bass, Dubstep...)

I quickly found my first 3 purchases, all being filed under "A."

A beautiful Japanese issue of "Sulk" by the Associates for a reasonable £15. Followed by a couple of Associates 12 inches, namely "Club Country" and "18 Carat Love Affair."

This is what I love about record shops in a nutshell. I haven't thought or listened to any Associates records for half a year or so, I love them dearly, but my neurological hard drive had temporarily removed them from my seasonal playlist to make room for other swarming bees in my bonnet. So, I must confess that my heart leapt a little when I spied these stunning specimens waiting patiently for me to bag 'em. And bag 'em I did.



















Just before I dragged myself out of the store, I had a little look at the singles, and, my record collecting Guardian Angel (we all have one of those) rewarded me with a Hefner single "Half a Life." Since Hefner main man Darren Hayman lives about 2 streets a way from me in East London, and I very much admire his albums "Pram Town" and the "Great British Holiday EPs" I was delighted to come upon this Hefner vinyl.

And so with a receipt for £26 hastily shoved into the recesses of my wallet, I skulked out the door to join the rest of the Soho sinners.



















Details:

Artist: Associates
Album: Sulk
Label: WEA/ Beggers Banquet Records P-11242
Year: 1982

Artist: Associates
Single: Club Country
Label: WEA/ Beggers Banquet ASC 2 T (A)
Year: 1982

Artist: Associates
Single: 18 Carat Love Affair
Label: WEA/ Beggers Banquet ASC 3T

Artist: Hefner/ Murry The Hump
Single: Half a Life
Label: Too Pure/ Pure 122s no. 2642
Year: 2001