Ken Nordine -- Four Classic Albums

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Ken Nordine -- Four Classic Albums
Real Gone Jazz, 2012

This is another of those cheapo British reissues, seven bucks for the original recording of Word Jazz plus three other albums. How can you go wrong?

Let me count the ways...



WORD JAZZ (1957) -- I love Ken Nordine, and this was the album that did it for me back in the 50s. Still a great classic, and the seed of his later great albums, like Son of Word Jazz, Colors and The Transparent Mask. This is the only positive in the entire set, and the material here is available elsewhere.

SOUNDS IN SPACE (1958) -- A promotional record for RCA Victor extolling the virtues of "Living Stereo." Nordine is employed as salesman for RCA, most of the record is the standard early 'show off your stereo' music tracks.

LOVE WORDS (1958) -- Recitations of song lyrics as poetry, with the songs' original melodies playing in the background. Not necessarily a flawed idea, but when you pair the cheesiest lyrics with the cheesiest arrangements you get an album that's an embarrassment and unlistenable.

CONCERT IN THE SKY (1957) -- Nordine introduces nostalgic imitations of dead musicians by the the Teddy Phillips Orchestra, a faux Bunny Berrigan playing I Can't Get Started, an un-Mildred Bailey doing Rocking Chair, the band sounding like Glenn Miller's for....etc. Mildly entertaining one time through, probably never listen to it again.

4 albums, cheap, and still not worth the price!

[BFrank]

Ouch!
Too bad - a good collection would be great to have.