Bill Thompson

For the first time ever released on vinyl, this brilliant 2012 LP features an all-star cast of musicians and actors lead by Tim Robbins, Dr. John, Bill Frisell, Ralph Steadman, Annie Ross, John Joyce III and Will Forte. Hunter S. Thompson's classic Gonzo reportage on the 1970 Kentucky Derby is summoned brilliantly to life through spoken word and musical composition. Conceived by executive producer Michael Minzer for his Paris Records label, the project was produced by Hal Willner, who brought Bill Frisell in as composer/arranger/conductor. Bill then asesmbled a stellar group of musicians including Curtis Fowlkes (trombone), Ron Miles (trumpet), Eyvind Kang (viola), Doug Weiselman (woodwinds), Jenny Scheinman (violin), Hank Roberts (cello) and Kenny Wolleson (drums, percussion). Ralph Steadman does double duty portraying himself in the narration and contributing original artwork for the project. In 2021, Kramer re-Mastered the original audio for this historic re-release on limited-edition 'Horse-Shit Brown' vinyl for his Shimmy-Disc label.

Wild Bill Davis was the stage name of American jazz pianist, organist, and arranger William Strethen Davis. With the dynamic, swirling sounds of his Hammond B-3 organ, Wild Bill Davis provided a bridge from the big band swing of the 1930s and '40s to the organ-driven R&B of the 1950s and early '60s.

Wild Bill Davis pioneered the Hammond Organ in the late 1940s and early 1950s. His always famous driving and swinging trio concept with organ, guitar and drums has served as inspiration for all important jazz organists including Jimmy Smith. From 1964 to 1969, Wild Bill Davis was under contract with RCA Victor and recorded a number of remarkeable albums. "Midnight To Dawn" - Wild Bill's personal favorite album - recorded on August 10 & 11, 1966 with members of the Duke Ellington Orchestra and James "Dickie" Thompson on guitar.

Doggett learned piano at the age of 8, and made his debut in Jimmy Gorham's Orchestra in 1935. In 1938, he formed his own band, which toured with future conductor Lucky Millinder, who took over in 1940 as Millinder's Band. Bill Doggett worked as a pianist-arranger for the vocal group Ink Spots (1942-1944), then worked as a freelance musician, writing arrangements for Count Basie and Lionel Hampton. Between 1944 and 1946, he recorded with Jimmy Rushing, Lucky Thompson and Don Byas, and the following year replaced Wild Bill Davis in Louis Jordan's lineup (from 1947 to 1949). From 1950, Doggett played mainly organ. After leaving Jordan's lineup, he accompanied Ella Fitzgerald (1951), and set up a rhythm'n'blues band with which he achieved considerable success. His hit "Honky Tonk" (1956) was one of the highest post-war record sales (more than two million copies). Doggett played until the 80s with these small rhythm'n'blues bands that were still so successful with the public during European jazz festivals.

Wild Bill Davis was the stage name of American jazz pianist, organist, and arranger William Strethen Davis. With the dynamic, swirling sounds of his Hammond B-3 organ, Wild Bill Davis provided a bridge from the big band swing of the 1930s and '40s to the organ-driven R&B of the 1950s and early '60s.

One of the great tenor and organ dates cut for RCA in the 60's by the team of Johnny Hodges and Wild Bill Davis featuring performances recorded in 1965. The title is a play on words based on the term "console organ", a term used by the Hammond organ company to describe the type of organs favored by Davis.