Hi, Sam Tompkins

Nimbus Supercut LPs were released as part of a special promotion available only to readers of Practical Hi-Fi and Hi-Fi today magazines in the UK during the early 1980s (this one was released for Hi-Fi Today). The records were only available in limited quantities and are now even rarer than releases from Mobile Fidelity, Nautilus, DCC and similar. Nimbus Records established the need for high quality record releases, as most mainstream vinyl at the time was haphazardly mastered from poor master copies and pressed on poor quality recycled vinyl. In contrast with this release, Nimbus Records went back to the original master tapes for an all-analog pressing, at half speed, for the best version of 'Feats Dont Fail Me Now' ever available. Nimbus Records also had the ICI company produce an extremely pure vinyl for the LPs, which has better frequency reproduction and is virtually noise free. Their pressings have dynamics and pack a punch that will blow your socks off!

Coleman Hawkins - The Hawk In Hi-Fi (1956) {Bluebird First Editions rel 2001}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 243 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 163 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 22 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1956, 2001 RCA Victor / Bluebird | 09026-63842-2
Jazz / Bop / Saxophone

In January 1956, veteran tenor saxophonist Coleman Hawkins recorded a dozen songs, eight with a string orchestra and four accompanied by a big band, all arranged by Billy Byers. Hawkins is the main soloist throughout, and he was still very much in his prime 33 years after he first joined Fletcher Henderson's orchestra; in fact, the upcoming year of 1957 would be one of his finest. However, Byers' arrangements are more functional than inspired, and some of these selections are more easy listening than they are swinging. Still, there are some strong moments (particularly on "The Bean Stalks Again" and "His Very Own Blues") and, although not classic, this is a pleasing release.

When Sam Cooke signed with RCA Records in 1960, he had already had several hits ("You Send Me," "What A Wonderful World," and "Only Sixteen" among them) on the small independent label Keen Records. He had paid attention to the business sides of things, too, and he signed with RCA because he was allowed to keep control of his song publishing…

The Complete Wooly Bully Years 1963-1968 includes six albums on three CDs plus bonus recordings, including non-LP singles. The quintessential Tex-Mex band of the 1960s, Sam The Sham And The Pharaohs hailed from Dallas, Texas where Domingo "Sam" Samudio was born in 1937 and raised. After chart success eluded them after recording Haunted House for the Dingo label in 1965 they landed a contract with MGM Records, home of such rock 'n' roll artists as Roy Orbison, The Animals, and Herman's Hermits.