Quentin Bell

A sequel to 2014's Torsten the Bareback Saint, this 2016 release continues the collaboration between Erasure vocalist Andy Bell and theatrical writers Barney Ashton-Bullock and Christopher Frost and revives their Torsten character, who is described completely in the opening "Statement of Intent." "Used to be someone doesn't mean that I'm a has-been" it goes, but this thoroughly modern Millie also proudly crows "I'm gonna do it all before I go to seed." Later titles "Blow Jobs for Cocaine" and "The Slums We Loved" prove that Torsten's "do it all" is different than the everyday "do it all," but debauchery rarely comes framed in such artful flair, as Torsten joins Dr. Frank-N-Furter, Hedwig, and Quentin Crisp on the Mt. Rushmore of the queer and aggressively inquisitive…

Christmas Jump & Jive is one of two holiday-themed compilations included in Rod McKuen's series "Songs That Won The War." This collection is sourced primarily from radio broadcasts and transcriptions. It is a strange package: many of the selections are not holiday tunes; many are not from the 1940s, much less the war years; and some of the track titles are dubious at best: the "Quiet Christmas Riot" attributed to Buddy Rich is plain old "Quiet Riot," and Benny Goodman's "Jingle Bell Jive" is the 1935 "Jingle Bells" recorded for Victor. But buried in the filler are some rare gems: a breakneck broadcast version of Duke Ellington's "Ring Dem Bells"; a rare parody of "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" by the equally rare pairing of Bing Crosby and Ella Fitzgerald; and a broadcast performance of Nat King Cole's "Mrs. Santa Claus."

Count Basie - The Complete Roulette Studio Recordings Of Count Basie & His Orchestra (1993) {10CD Box Set Mosaic MD10-149}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 3.45 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 1.32 Gb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 55 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1957-62, 1993 Mosaic Records | MD10-149
Jazz / Big Band / Swing

Some of Count Basie's finest recordings were cut for the Roulette label during 1957-1962, and all of his studio performances are included on this massive Mosaic ten-CD boxed set. Among the classic former LPs that are reissued here are The Atomic Mr. Basie, Basie Plays Hefti, Chairman of the Board, Everyday I Have the Blues, and Kansas City Suite. With such soloists as trumpeters Thad Jones and Joe Newman, the tenors of Frank Foster and Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Frank Wess on alto and flute, vocals by Joe Williams, and the timeless arrangements of Neal Hefti, Thad Jones, Frank Foster, Ernie Wilkins, and Frank Wess among others, this essential (but unfortunately limited-edition) set features the second Count Basie Orchestra at its very best.

The crusaders' dilemma is clearly exemplified in the song Seigneur, saichies by Thibaut de Champagne. "He who does not leave at once for the land where Christ loved and died, and takes the cross … will hardly go to paradise" and yet in the words of another song by Thibaut "God, why did you create foreign countries? It has parted many lovers who have lost comfort of love and forgotten its joy." There was, though, a joy greater than this: "It is good to be God's servant, and not to be touched by danger or chance; Serve well and be rewarded well." (Conon de Bethune). It is still, even at a distance of 800 years very touching to read these words and to hear these songs; they retain a strong quality, which, in these performances, is captured very well.

Dipping back into Murrell's archive of quality output we now offer you Black Ice's 1982 self-titled release for LA's Montage label, available for the first time ever on compact disc. This is not to be confused with the group's debut of the same name. Once again Antone Curtis, Cleveland Jones, Frank Willis, Gerald Bell and Marcieal Holmes entered the studio with Mr. Murrell producing. Many consider this the groups strongest showing to date. However, the year was 1982 and being that the times and the public's tastes were changing the resulting full-length ended up being the group's swan song. In retrospect, the recording has stood the test of time with original issues of the vinyl going for hundreds whether the price is in dollars, pounds or euros.