In mono, it’s in fine fettle for vinyl of this age. Spine is good. Great picture on the front and unblemished. Original inner sleeve by the looks of it. Cleaned on a VPI Cyclone RCM. For photos and music review, see my .com site

VINYL: Ex

LABEL: Ex

COVER: Ex

Side 1

1. It’s tight like that
2. Nobody knows you when you are down and out
3. Martinique
4. Chimes Blues
5. Merrydown rag
6. St Louis Blues

Side 2

1. Ice cream
2. Skokiaan
3. Oh didn’t he ramble?
4. I never knew just what a girl could do
5. The world is waiting for the sunrise
6. Reckless blues

Recorded across the mid fifties this is, in the main, a live recording. The technology must have been very limited but you wouldn’t know it with the quality on offer. An early example of a band splitting due to ‘musical differences’ (even then, and how long has that been going on for), Chris Barber led the remaining members of what was the Ken Colyer band and took the next steps forward. They became a very popular band in the mid 50’s and appeared to be trailblazers to a certain extent. Firstly by introducing a saxophone into the band, which, according to the sleeve notes was akin to ‘musical blasphemy’ and secondly by introducing an Irish singer by the name of Ottilie Patterson. Not to mention an up and coming Lonnie Donegan on banjo who was starting to show promise.

If you are looking to step into the world of jazz to see what it is like this is as good a front door as you are likely to get. Popular at the time with fine musicians and Ottilie’s voice really is something else. Give it a try.