Free Collectible Time: My Favorite Things (Really)
Is it possible someone could be reading Jazz Collector and not own a vinyl copy of John Coltrane’s My Favorite Things? Perhaps we’ll find out, because this is the prize in our next free collectible contest. We have a beautiful near mint later stereo pressing of My Favorite Things, Atlantic 1361, which we will be giving away to one fortunate reader of Jazz Collector in two weeks. This, of course, is a classic record and should be a staple of any jazz collection, even if your jazz collection consists of only five records. But maybe there are readers of our site who are newcomers to jazz and coming to learn, or who have somehow missed out on this record, or who would like a second copy to put in another room of their home, or perhaps one to frame and hang somewhere for perpetual inspiration. I, for one, have copies of this record in at least three different rooms in my house, plus another in my lake cottage. But, of course, I am certifiably insane. Nevertheless, if you would like to win a copy of My Favorite Things for any reason whatsoever, all you have to do is . . .
comment somewhere — anywhere — on the Jazz Collector web site sometime over the next two weeks. We will close this particular contest on August 18, the day before we head off for a 2-week vacation in the lovely Berkshire mountains of western Massachusetts, where we will actually be doing a real gig on guitar, which is a whole other subject suitable for a later post. In any case, if you comment on the site, your name will be placed in a hat along with the names of all the other commentators and the lovely Mrs. Jazz Collector will select one to win this fantastic, amazing, historic, glorious record. If you can’t think of anything to comment about, tell us about the first time you heard My Favorite Things and what it meant to you. I will do the same, even though I am not eligible to win the record. Actually, perhaps I am eligible to win the record. Who’s stopping me? And I could use a copy in my upstairs bathroom. Hmmmmmmm.
certainly you must have a copy in your bathroom..but a mono pressing ofcourse..
I have some 400 jazz records now but no favorite things.. always kept on the easy side of coltrane
(soultrane,blue trane etc)… but i’m missing out here i understand.. well ,mayby i’m lucky
is the cover the same as the 1 st mono pressing?
Yes, it is. You should have My Favorite Things, eventually, either here or somewhere. Hopefully a free copy from Jazz Collector. — al
Well, how could one top a portable turntable, a glass of crisp Vermentino, a Guild guitar (sorry I’m a Richie Havens addict), and a view of the Berkshires…may Mr. and Mrs Jazz Collector have a wonderful time.
Al’s original question was, how this record impressed us upon its issue. Well, I must say, it did not impress me at all. I found “My favourite things” boring, highly repetitive. I don’t like Trane’s sound of the soprano sax. The only soprano I dig is Steve Lacy’s. His is a pure sound on his 2 Prestige albums. So, I played my “Favourite Things” maybe 3 times since 1962 when I bought it.
I must admit that I had the same prejudice against “OLE”, untill Al used it in his quiz. I played it and it was better than I thought. I will try out “Favourite Things” to see if my prejudice after 45 years still stands.
I too have been a skeptic when it comes to Coltrane… I have said (half seeking a rise, knowing full well that it amounts to blasphemy) that My Favorite Things would have been a fantastic trio record – ie without the irritating nasal soprano over top of an otherwise great groove.
I’ve also decided recently to face Coltrane head on… (I’m a major Shorter fan and he’s so often described as a follower). Don’t mistake my opinion for conservatism, I can really get into avant garde stuff, (Dolphy for example) but Coltrane’s sound has always just sounded bad to me.
This contest is timely – I just finished Ben Ratliff’s book on Coltrane, about two days ago, as a way to begin to face my demon(s), and I’ve begun to gather up some of his music . So Jazz Collector, make a convert out of me.
But, I know others out there would appreciate it more…and I’ve already won a nice prize here,
bethellodge, you said it better than I could. I just listened after 3 decades to “My favourite things” and there is no reason o change from what I said above. Coltrane’s reading of “Every time we say good bye”, by the way, is more mature and equilibrated.
Agree on your appreciation of Wayne Shorter, the best tenor to emerge in the sixties. Wonderful coposer and arranger too.
greetings from Singapore!
i love jazz and Coltrane is up there among the other guru’s.
His modal style, either one love it or hate it. Me? I love it!
cheers
Columbia Records Jazz LP Cover Mystery
Does anyone out there know what those little numbers printed on the back cover (bottom right) of most late 50’s Columbia Jazz LP’s mean ??? If you take a look at the back of an early press of Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue or Dave Brubeck’s Time Out for example, you will notice there is a small single digit number stamped down in the bottom right corner. It usually ranges between the numbers 1 through 6, perhaps more.
As it stands, this phenomenon remains unexplained. Could it be as obvious as a simple indication of the actual pressing ?
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