Earl Bostic - "Flamingo" - '51 - (ORIGINAL vinyl issue)

Earl was extraordinary. He developed a way of playing the alto-sax that still baffles sax-players today. His ability to play EXTRA NOTES - and his use of a tenor-sax reed - enabled him to make his alto-sax sound BIGGER than the larger instrument.

Essentially a Rhythm And Blues man, he was also a fine Jazz player, who worked with and influenced most of the greats. And in the Fifties, he even turned his hand to everything from MOR material, with strings, to full-blown Rock 'N' Roll.

But it was with R&B pieces like "Flamingo" that Earl shone. This record was recorded on the 10th of January, 1951 - just a few months after recording tape became available to the commercial record industry.

And this is the ORIGINAL 45. It is HUGELY RARE, being issued not long after WW2, when most people could not yet afford to buy the equipment to PLAY VINYL - which was ALSO something that had only been available for a short time.

Footnote: I also have this as a mint 78. Given the different dynamic, I will upload it when I reach my SHELLAC! [UPDATE! I now HAVE uploaded the 78 - its dynamic is greater, despite the hiss - check it out!]

Second footnote: It is possible the original master tape of this track has been LOST.

A while back, a collectors' album was released of Earl's Greatest Hits. It was called "Earl Bostic Blows A Fuse" and had the recording details of the tracks on the sleeve's reverse; personnel, recording dates - even the original recording numbers.

But whilst, to the best of my knowledge, the details were correct for the other tracks - for Flamingo, while the details were fine, the recording was NOT.

The album sleeve gave the correct details for THIS ORIGINAL recording - but the track on the album was a COVER version Earl had recorded a decade later, for an album.

A bitter disappointment for those who had hoped to obtain a clean recording of this classic, I'm sure. For myself, the other, CORRECT, recordings on the album were more than adequate compensation. But then, that was easy for ME to say - I had this rare ORIGINAL 45!

For years, as a boy, this was my all-time favourite record - and now YOU can enjoy it, too.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Blues
• Jazz
• R&B
• Earl
• Bostic
• Flamingo

[musicbroad]

Greatest sax player ever. Saw him in a club in Maryland once and asked him to play this and he told me he didn't know it...ha ha I was too young and dumb to realize you had to put something in the jar.

[revived45s]

@musicbroad Wow! You MET him. I am truly jealous. This record has been a big part of my life for over half a century.

[Timeplunderer65]

Fantastic !!

I had this track on a 78rpm in the 50s but it got lost or broken, To hear it again after all these years has all the magic I experienced then as an 11 year old.

Thanks for putting this on YouTube

[revived45s]

@Timeplunderer65 My pleasure! I ALSO fell in love with this as a boy - LONG before I got into jazz. I've also put up the 78 (higher dynamic, versus white noise) which is in the video responses below (or above, depending on where this comment is, when you read it!)

I have about four copies of the 78 (in varying stages of wear) but came across this vinyl copy just before escaping England for warmer climes - by a massive FLUKE - and for only TEN PENCE!!!

[DrSaxMusic]

I absolutely LOVE this recording... have always considered it an all time favourite and put it into the category of R&B because of gritty, rocky sound Earl got. I was very surprised to read it was an ALTO sax because, like you say, it sure sounds bigger like a TENOR. Being a sax player myself, I can tell you it takes more than a tenor reed to make an alto sound like that.

When you mention that Bostic was able to play EXTRA NOTES, I assume you are talking about his huge vibrato sound. Amazing!!

[revived45s]

@DrSaxMusic - I have SEVERAL 78s of this. But with "Earl Bostic Blows A Fuse" having the WRONG TRACK - I thought I'd never get it on VINYL. Then just before I ESCAPED Britain for warmer climes. I popped into a collectors shop and as I left, ran my finger across the top of the "cheapies" box and BINGO! The reason it was THERE, was it had a scratch on the "b" side (didn't care). After paying about 20p (30c) for the record, I was sorely tempted to tell the guy I'd have paid a HUNDRED POUNDS for it!

[l8in64]

Too short, should go on and on forever

[caroljm36]

I was only 2 when this came out but boy do I remember it! I liked hearing this one, unlike Abba Dabba Dabba and Que Sera and some of the other stuff that I heard all the time back then. Yeah I had opinions! They must have kept playing this one on radio or jukeboxes quite a few years for me to recall it. What a gas to hear it again.

[winesax]

?? for revived45s.. How did he use the tenor reeds??...Did he cut them down..or use a tenor mouthpiece on his alto.. Was always struck by his big dirty sound...I took as a continuous growl?? Thanks for the info..I do have this record from my Father's collection..killer stuff! Lew III

[musicbroad]

@revived45s I did meet him and it's been a big event in my life. I was very young at the time (17) and didn't realize what an icon he was. Just thought he was the best sax man I ever heard and still think that. Love all his work, but his Getting Sentimental Over You is my fave.

[whackyt]

I wish more old timer recorded music could be put online, I just love this stuff...

[musicbroad]

Wish I had a dollar for every time I danced to this. Also love his "Getting Sentimental Over you." He is the greatest