Ok . MORE Arthur Russell (But This Is Great)

Any chance there are unreleased Arthur-driven Necessaries tracks? Also, any likelihood of the Zummo record getting reissued in full by you or any compatriot?

i think i saw a sealed copy at Downtown Music Gallery for $30 or $35.

After Springfield is out I'll jump into completing a new AR compilition of "songs" that tentatively included the John Hammond Sr. tracks + Flying Hearts sings + folk/country tunes. But keep in mind they don't sound like folk and country tunes. It's Arthur music. It will take me awhile so don't expect a release on this stuff for at least a year. Did you know that Arthur was obsessed with Randy Travis? Really weird and beautiful songs.

I do have to take exception to the comment "endless outtakes". With the exception of the four bonus tracks on World Of Echo, and "Hop On Down" on Calling Out Of Context, everything I've released so far has been finished and completed masters. It's important to remember that for the most part, Arthur was ignored throughout his carrier. If he was noticed at all it was as an eccentric at best. Most of the tracks on COOC are from an album that was entitled CORN that Sleeping Bag rejected. The remaining tracks were for a Blanco Negro album that Arthur did not deliver as he had become ill. The unreleased stuff off of First Thought was in a similar situation in that no one would put them out commercially.

That being said I (and Tom Lee) are taking the big leap in releasing Springfield as it was never finished. Arthur wanted to give the 4 + hours of tracking to either 808 State or William Orbit to finish. But Arthur did not have the contacts or wherewithall to make that happen. Tom baggered me to listen to them, and I was blown away. So I gave it to the DFA, and the results are beautiful. Soon come.

but still, why no 24-24?

if those recordings are from the same sessions that spawned the two-minute excerpt on 24-24, i would *love* to hear them. hope they see light at some point. i finally got to hear 24-24 a few weeks ago, and it was all great, really great, but that jam killed me. i wish it was longer!

that's funny that "hop on down" is an outtake, that's actually one of my favorite tracks on COOC.

BTW steve, i love your 'first thought' liner notes ... the way you talk about AR's music being evocative of geography is right on. i feel the same about his other stuff that's been reissued, just w/ respect to NYC instead of iowa. it's partly what drew me to his music initially.

who owns the 24-24 rights currently? did someone buy out the Sleeping Bag catalog?

Stylus review.

don't answer this if it puts you in a bad position, but what happened with the 24-24 rights? I came across that bootleg you mentioned upthread a few years ago, I thought it was an original and nearly wet my pants.

btw, first thought is another masterful job.

I note that the Springfield project is listed in the 'more by Arthur' bit in the liner notes … can't wait for that.

I just got the 3xLP in the mail but there were no liner notes and that doesn't seem right for a Soul Jazz release...

WHAT?!

Classic

I like it!