The A&M CTi Records

[JOv2]

We probably have two of the last few sealed Tamiko Jones LPs in the world.

We should shoot her an e-mail... In any event, I will be breaking the seal in a couple days. (For years now I've been shooting videos of such events. I call it Breaking The Seal and I give a little dog and pony show: discuss the background of the artist and the LP and cover art; then I break the seal and review the inner sleeve for a little contextual history (e.g., like why RCA was hocking 1965 Al Hirt and Peter Nero LPs in a 1970 Lighthouse LP...), and finally examine the LP surface and the cut. Silly, I know, but it will be something my kids can laugh at 20 years from now... when they're trying to understand my obsession with 1960s music -- while figuring out what on earth to do with all the LPs and CDs.)

 

[Harry]

We probably have two of the last few sealed Tamiko Jones LPs in the world.

Looking around, I see a number of this Tamiko Jones title that has no A&M or CTi logo on the front, and one of the listings mentioned both a UPC and the Music For Pleasure (mfp) label, and all are still sealed. Looks like this title got a cheap-y reissue on mfp.

 

[JOv2]

Looking around, I see a number of this Tamiko Jones title that has no A&M or CTi logo on the front, and one of the listings mentioned both a UPC and the Music For Pleasure (mfp) label, and all are still sealed. Looks like this title got a cheap-y reissue on mfp.

According to Discogs, that's a 2020 LP issue. The same label has a couple Command LPs listed as well. (Those things are probably created for and marketed to the "new hip vinyl" buyer...with endless disposable income.)

 

[JOv2]

Shoring up the CDs now with the preferred versions (used, of course, SS of these are out of $ite) of these fine releases.

 

[JOv2]

SP-3032 & SP-3033: The first two "post-A&M/CTi" releases... The Desmond, for intents and purposes, is a CTi -- I believe Rudy may have previously said it exhibits all the CTI trimmings, which, given Sebesky managing the affairs, is the principal reason it comes off as the 1970 cousin of Summertime. On the other hand, the Jolly release, which I just picked up, is something else altogether...

 

[JOv2]

Hey, this is a decent pop LP! As expected, it's similar in feel to the Barbary LP -- but it's quickly apparent that Tamiko is a much better vocalist. The sessions seem to have more energy -- and Chuck Rainey really makes his electric bass sing in that unique '60s melodic/rhythmic way (you know what I mean...). She's double tracked here and there; there are also a couple duets with Solomon Burke. I feel bad for having passed on this for 30+ years -- (but, to be fair, it ain't jazz...I knew back in the '80s this wouldn't be a jazz LP just by the song titles and knowing that Creed never puts more than 31 minutes of music on his LPs -- so with 12 songs you know what that means). In any event, it's a solid, enjoyable late '60s pop LP. Good stuff.

Once I broke the seal, I didn't dare open this puppy up -- given the gate was probably folded once during manufacture and has been held firmly in the closed position for 52 years.

 

[Rudy]

I didn't take the shrink fully off of the recent arrivals here either--I'm waiting to put in an order for some LP sleeves to store them in. Especially the foil cover of the one Nat Adderley album.

And while I hate to dig through boxes in storage, I really want to find the Paul Desmond From The Hot Afternoon that I had. The AM+ version is such a good sounding record!

 

[JOv2]

in an order for some LP sleeves to store them in

Last year, I finally broke down and stepped up to "archival" type sleeves (for all the LPs I consider "first call").

Paul Desmond From The Hot Afternoon that I had. The AM+ version is such a good sounding record!

Agreed! That was a really good production. Never had the A+M version, but those that I have (and had) were all very quiet.

 

[Rudy]

Last year, I finally broke down and stepped up to "archival" type sleeves (for all the LPs I consider "first call").

I know, I really need to step that up myself. I will probably get mostly 12-5/8" square sleeves (snug fit), but will probably get 100 or so 12-3/4" square sleeves for the double sets and some of the thicker 180g pressings. My problem is when I get multiple copies, then find a sealed copy (or a "best" copy from used ones) and then can't remember which one was the best. The problem, too, is that a good portion of the LPs are still stored in boxes in the basement. We were only supposed to stay here a year or two, and we just passed the ten year mark four months ago. Thing is, with all my CDs, SACDs and video ripped to a server, I no longer need to have the CDs out, and I'm just getting things ready to put the remainder of them in storage and reclaim all the wall space from the CD racks so I can get some more units to store the LPs.

 

[JOv2]

My problem is when I get multiple copies

Though I very much wanted to have 1 sealed LP + 1 opened LP, I decided about 40 years ago that I would only have one copy of each title. (Still, the thought of a showcase of sealed LPs would be something to behold! Sealed CDs are more akin to office supplies but sealed LPs are surely majestic...

Oh, you work off of a server. Interesting. Don't think I could manage that as I need to hold that LP jacket in my hands (in its archival sleeve, of course) and stare hypnotically at the A&M logo spinning...

 

[JOv2]

Finally found an affordable (used, of course) CD version of Giblet Gravy (FEB 1968), which was recorded and released prior to Shapes of Things to Come.

 

[Bobberman]

Finally found an affordable (used, of course) CD version of Giblet Gravy (FEB 1968), which was recorded and released prior to Shapes of Things to Come.

Its a Great album I bought a download version of this album a few months ago and well worth the money

 

[JOv2]

Its a Great album I bought a download version of this album a few months ago and well worth the money

Thanks, Bobberman! I spun it once and liked it straightaway...now, there's only one '60s Benson left to acquire: the elusive CD version of Goodies (NOV1968 -- which means it was cut a few weeks after Shape of Things to Come). According to Discogs, it was only issued once on CD in Japan; and you know what that means...$ XXX.00, which is wayy over my budget.

 

[lj]

Here's a minor point in the category of trivia. I just played my original vinyl albums from the 1970s, that is Airto "Fingers" and Deodato "Prelude" and I noticed the correct abbreviation of Creed Taylor Incorportated on their record jackets, that is, CTI all in upper case. This forum has shown CTi with the letter I in lower case. That is apparently wrong.

 

[Harry]

If you look at any of the A&M CTi albums, there's clearly a dot over the "i", with the top horizontal part of the "T" crossing into the empty part of the "i".

Once Creed left A&M, the logo changed a bit with the dot then missing from the "i".

 

[lj]

If you look at any of the A&M CTi albums, there's clearly a dot over the "i", with the top horizontal part of the "T" crossing into the empty part of the "i".

Once Creed left A&M, the logo changed a bit with the dot then missing from the "i"

Thanks for pointing out the difference.

 

[Rudy]

Yeah, the logo has shifted a bit over the years. Not a huge deal I guess.

 

[Steven J. Gross]

To me, these are some the greatest jazz albums ever. The essence of it.

 

[Michael Hagerty]

To me, these are some the greatest jazz albums ever. The essence of it.

Creed took heat from jazz purists at the time, but I think the world has caught up with CTi. Just last week, the music director at our jazz station (I work for the NPR news station in town) put a CTi playlist up on social media. It leaned a bit more toward post-A&M CTI, but there was still a track or two from the beginning.

 

[Steven J. Gross]

Some of the greatest. Typo

 

[Moritat]

I have almost all of the A&M CTI jazz lps and most were purchased when they were released. I think for true jazz fans, the best jazz album on A&M is "We And The Sea" by Tamba 4. (The follow up lp "Samba Blim" was a boring disappointment with short uninteresting tunes, but I loved the Pete Turner cover). Other excellent lps on this series would be "Glory Of Love" by Herbie Mann & "Down Here On The Ground" by Wes Montgomery. The Nat Adderley lps are also top notch. One tune worth pointing out is "Bachianas Brasileiras #5" from the "Soul Flutes" lp. Just a great cover of a great classical piece. The only A&M jazz lps I picked up in recent years are sealed copies of the Tamika Jones & Richard Barbary lps. I think Creed Taylor and Pete Turner did a great job in putting this series together for A&M. It was innovative, cool, well packaged commercial jazz.

 

[Harry]

One tune worth pointing out is "Bachianas Brasileiras #5" from the "Soul Flutes" lp. Just a great cover of a great classical piece.

That's a favorite of mine too, and appears on the Jackie & Roy TIME AND LOVE on a CTi after Creed left A&M.

 

[JOv2]

I think Creed Taylor and Pete Turner did a great job in putting this series together for A&M. It was innovative, cool, well packaged commercial jazz.

Agreed. Those covers were memorable visual statements that really pushed the colour envelope in some cases. I was tempted as a child from the inner sleeves and finally in 7th or 8th grade I bought Jobim / Wave.

Funny thing about it all: as a sophomore in college once I heard Cannonball Adderley / Presenting Cannonball I quickly turned away from CTi and Verve to focus 100% on jazz free of pop concessions as it were; starting in the early '80s Prestige, Riverside, Blue Note, impulse! LPs from the '50s and '60s filled a musical void and sent me on a muse-journey that I follow to this day. It would take over 20 years to rediscover and re-appreciate the A&M/CTi releases -- though, to be frank, with a handful of exceptions I think of it as pop music; but, man, if all pop music was at this caliber ...!

 

[Rudy]

Creed took heat from jazz purists at the time, but I think the world has caught up with CTi. Just last week, the music director at our jazz station (I work for the NPR news station in town) put a CTi playlist up on social media. It leaned a bit more toward post-A&M CTI, but there was still a track or two from the beginning.

I can understand the leaning towards later CTi records--the label actually had a sonic identity at that point.

I don't feel that overall, the A&M era was all that strong compared to what CTi released once the label left A&M.

There were some great albums in there, but it feels as though Creed Taylor was trying to find a specific and unique style and finally tapped into that formula just as the A&M era came to an end. Stonebone was a clear signpost for the future--I hear more of the "soul jazz" style in this one than on most other A&M-era records, and this style continued and grew when CTi was on its own (where jazz could take on soul, funk and Brazilian overtones and still offer a "family sound" through the production and occasional orchestral or brass flourishes). There would have been no Deodato "Also Sprach Zarathustra" without Stonebone and its contemporaries, in other words. The "lite jazz" of some of the A&M-era records just never had a market. And the Richard Barbary and Tamiko Jones records almost felt experimental, testing whether or not CTi and soul music had a future together (they didn't), although the soul stylings of the day would be filtered into future CTi releases.

The 4-CD set The Cool Revolution does a good job of assembling the CTi sound in one place. It might not have all the best tracks or our personal favorites, but it does summon up the essence of what CTi became.

 

[JOv2]

Stonebone was a clear signpost for the future--I hear more of the "soul jazz" style in this one than on most other A&M-era records

Interesting assessment. I would have thought Benson's LPs were more representative of where CTi was wanting to go in the early '70s -- if only because Stonebone had no orchestral overdubs, which was unusual for A&M/CTi, and because it didn't bring the curtain down after 2:45 and 16 bars of solos. Nevertheless, I do see your point: about 2 years ago I picked up those first 4 Joe Farrell CTis...man, I kick myself for passing on those back in the '80s!