Allan - Excellent History of the "Mercury" Label and all of the "Sub-Labels", too! Your research and Historical references to the various eras adds to the story telling for the Jazz Music Lovers! Thank You for a Job well done and please continue in profiling other Jazz Labels, it is very much appreciated! As an avid Collector of the "EmArcy & Limelight" labels this was most enjoyable! :-)))
Another engaging deep-dive, sharing important historical context, personalities, technical information, stories and images that enhance my appreciation of the music, which is the whole point. BTW your record collection is inspiring! Thanks, Allan.
Great episode! I strongly recommend Clark Terry and Joe Gordon on Emarcy. And, while we could see the blue backs as you showed your records, a passing mention of the significance of the color would have been useful to collectors.
Good point. Always a balance as to how much extremely nerdy detail to add! But that’s a key point: blue ink on the rear cover is said to indicate a first pressing. Though I’ve not done any systematic testing of that premise, myself.
I enjoyed your presentation. It's smart, entertaining and the graphics are fascinating. I find the Mercury releases are well recorded and pressed. I live in the Chicagoland area and this label is readily found in book and record stores and shows. I look for the brassy releases such as Pete Rugolo as I am fond of arrangers. There are two record shows in the area this weekend and your guide will help me find some more of these fine recordings. Much appreciated.
As usual, wonderfully informative segment - I learned a lot and enjoyed it completely. Those Max Roach & Clifford Brown LPs are favorites in my collection. I appreciate your work very much!
Hi, thanks for the great segment with the huge love to Mercury and its subsidiaries as a whole, as I also have long had (and I still do). Also thanks for the link to my old Mercury website (not well maintained for these years though, sorry for that). But my huge love to Mercury and research still continues - ongoing and still very active. I think my Mercury website will be renewed & will be reactivated very soon... Anyway, thanks again for the video. Here's one thing to add to your video: Wing label was originally a dedicated subsidiary label established by Bob Shad in 1955 (i.e. when EmArcy was really active and huge), releasing six notable original Jazz LPs from MGW-60000 to MGW-60005 (and eight original Pop/R&B LPs from MGW-12000 to MGW-12007, as well as dozens of 45s/78s). But in 1956 Mercury stopped using the original Wing label. Then in the summer of 1958, Mercury reactivated the defunct Wing label as “Mercury Wing”, as an economy budget label, reissuing old LPs from all genres as well as budget compilations. BTW some of the original Wing Jazz LPs (MGW-60000 to MGW-60005) were re-issued in 1957 from EmArcy as MG-36091 to MG-36096, but as far as I have researched, MGW-60001 (Paul Bley) and MGW-60004 (Jackie Paris) was never reissued from EmArcy. Hope this helps, Kohji, Tokyo, Japan.
As usual an excellent commentary on a label or in this case multiple labels as usual you do 150% job excellent...by the way it's colder here than it is up where you're at...yup Philly is frigid
Another informative and interesting content. Bravo! May I suggest the Pablo Records-themed episode? This label seems to get a momentum after the reissues announcement by Acoustic Sounds. And rightly so, as there are some real gems in their (Pablo) catalogue. Best regards!
Thank you. You’re quite right, re Pablo. And I would like to do that, but my Pablo collection at this stage is not really what’s required for me to feel comfortable offering first-hand knowledge. So it’ll have to wait! But Bethlehem and a few other labels are in the queue.
Love the work you do here! Just curious if you might consider giving a 10 minute review to an album from the 80s? Marsalis brothers, Stanley Clarke, Spyro Gyro, Crusaders, maybe?
Thanks Charles. I must confess that my post-1975 collecting is extremely sporadic, in part because I am not the biggest fusion fan. But you make some good suggestions and I will give it some thought. Cheers, Allan.
RCA had Al Sxhmitt, Mercury had Robert Fine - recording engineer-director. imo, trhe greatest of all time, so far, includingt he man in Englewood Guy, Van Gelder. the end resulzs, in xour listening toom, attest to this- his use og 35mm magnetic film Westrwx recorderd with 3-channeloigination (mixed down to 2, in post). Command used 35mmfilmm for straight 2 channel stereo;, no others as far as I know..Mercury'a use of mobile recorder vans,, was innovatory, too. His Wife/Widow, was switched-on, too.from the early days, mono recordings, even of full orchestras with one microphone, sound brilliant. intimate knowledge of mic characteristics paid-off. there have been some lp re-issued and CDs'. lije the 'Divine One' recordings.
What an outstanding segment. I loved every minute of it and was sorry to see it come to an end. Excellent work Allan and so much appreciated.
Thank you Tony. These are quite enjoyable to do once one gets to grips with the personalities involved! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Allan - Excellent History of the "Mercury" Label and all of the "Sub-Labels", too! Your research and Historical references to the various eras adds to the story telling for the Jazz Music Lovers! Thank You for a Job well done and please continue in profiling other Jazz Labels, it is very much appreciated! As an avid Collector of the "EmArcy & Limelight" labels this was most enjoyable! :-)))
So glad it hit the spot! Thank you for the kind words, and for watching.
Another engaging deep-dive, sharing important historical context, personalities, technical information, stories and images that enhance my appreciation of the music, which is the whole point. BTW your record collection is inspiring! Thanks, Allan.
Thanks Tony, glad you are finding these useful.
Thank you Sir. Like this comprehensive view of this label group. They are....alright 😃
Thanks. Glad you enjoy them!
Very enjoyable and thorough overview Alan,great stuff.
Thanks for watching and commenting - always appreciated.
Great episode! I strongly recommend Clark Terry and Joe Gordon on Emarcy.
And, while we could see the blue backs as you showed your records, a passing mention of the significance of the color would have been useful to collectors.
Good point. Always a balance as to how much extremely nerdy detail to add! But that’s a key point: blue ink on the rear cover is said to indicate a first pressing. Though I’ve not done any systematic testing of that premise, myself.
As my knowledge on Mercury is limited, this was a great piece of information for me, thanks a lot.
I’m pleased you enjoyed it and thanks for the note.
I enjoyed your presentation. It's smart, entertaining and the graphics are fascinating. I find the Mercury releases are well recorded and pressed. I live in the Chicagoland area and this label is readily found in book and record stores and shows. I look for the brassy releases such as Pete Rugolo as I am fond of arrangers. There are two record shows in the area this weekend and your guide will help me find some more of these fine recordings. Much appreciated.
Yes it’s the hometown label I guess, along with Chess and Argo and a few others. Thanks and good hunting this weekend!
As usual, wonderfully informative segment - I learned a lot and enjoyed it completely. Those Max Roach & Clifford Brown LPs are favorites in my collection. I appreciate your work very much!
Thank you - I appreciate the feedback especially from long-time viewers like yourself.
Hi, thanks for the great segment with the huge love to Mercury and its subsidiaries as a whole, as I also have long had (and I still do). Also thanks for the link to my old Mercury website (not well maintained for these years though, sorry for that). But my huge love to Mercury and research still continues - ongoing and still very active. I think my Mercury website will be renewed & will be reactivated very soon... Anyway, thanks again for the video.
Here's one thing to add to your video: Wing label was originally a dedicated subsidiary label established by Bob Shad in 1955 (i.e. when EmArcy was really active and huge), releasing six notable original Jazz LPs from MGW-60000 to MGW-60005 (and eight original Pop/R&B LPs from MGW-12000 to MGW-12007, as well as dozens of 45s/78s). But in 1956 Mercury stopped using the original Wing label. Then in the summer of 1958, Mercury reactivated the defunct Wing label as “Mercury Wing”, as an economy budget label, reissuing old LPs from all genres as well as budget compilations. BTW some of the original Wing Jazz LPs (MGW-60000 to MGW-60005) were re-issued in 1957 from EmArcy as MG-36091 to MG-36096, but as far as I have researched, MGW-60001 (Paul Bley) and MGW-60004 (Jackie Paris) was never reissued from EmArcy.
Hope this helps, Kohji, Tokyo, Japan.
Fantastic VR thank you
Glad you enjoyed it
Great stuff as usual.👍
Cheers!
As usual an excellent commentary on a label or in this case multiple labels as usual you do 150% job excellent...by the way it's colder here than it is up where you're at...yup Philly is frigid
This too shall pass :). Thanks very much and glad you enjoyed it.
Excellent work Allan. Thanks again for a fabulous overview. There’s a heap of work done there!
Just a little reading, really, but thanks. Some big personalities involved over the years!
Another informative and interesting content. Bravo! May I suggest the Pablo Records-themed episode?
This label seems to get a momentum after the reissues announcement by Acoustic Sounds. And rightly so, as there are some real gems in their (Pablo) catalogue.
Best regards!
Thank you. You’re quite right, re Pablo. And I would like to do that, but my Pablo collection at this stage is not really what’s required for me to feel comfortable offering first-hand knowledge. So it’ll have to wait! But Bethlehem and a few other labels are in the queue.
Love the work you do here! Just curious if you might consider giving a 10 minute review to an album from the 80s? Marsalis brothers, Stanley Clarke, Spyro Gyro, Crusaders, maybe?
Thanks Charles. I must confess that my post-1975 collecting is extremely sporadic, in part because I am not the biggest fusion fan. But you make some good suggestions and I will give it some thought. Cheers, Allan.
Another great video, Allan! One thing, though: Gene Ammons was Albert’s son, not his brother. 🤓
Right you are. And I knew that, too. Where was my head?
No worries. So many factoids to keep straight. Keep up the good work!
RCA had Al Sxhmitt, Mercury had Robert Fine - recording engineer-director. imo, trhe greatest of all time, so far, includingt he man in Englewood Guy, Van Gelder.
the end resulzs, in xour listening toom, attest to this- his use og 35mm magnetic film Westrwx recorderd with 3-channeloigination (mixed down to 2, in post). Command used 35mmfilmm for straight 2 channel stereo;, no others as far as I know..Mercury'a use of mobile recorder vans,, was innovatory, too. His Wife/Widow, was switched-on, too.from the early days, mono recordings, even of full orchestras with one microphone, sound brilliant. intimate knowledge of mic characteristics paid-off. there have been some lp re-issued and CDs'. lije the 'Divine One' recordings.