LEE MORGAN "Sidewinder" LP VG+/VG+ VAN GELDER 1966 Reissue

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The Sidewinder Review by Stacia Proefrock

Carried by its almost impossibly infectious eponymous opening track, The Sidewinder helped foreshadow the sounds of boogaloo and soul-jazz with its healthy R&B influence and Latin tinge. While the rest of the album retreats to a more conventional hard bop sound, Morgan's compositions are forward-thinking and universally solid. Only 25 at the time of its release, Morgan was accomplished (and perhaps cocky) enough to speak of mentoring the great Joe Henderson, who at 26 was just beginning to play dates with Blue Note after getting out of the military. Henderson makes a major contribution to the album, especially on "Totem Pole," where his solos showed off his singular style, threatening to upstage Morgan, who is also fairly impressive here. Barry Harris, Bob Cranshaw, and Billy Higgins are all in good form throughout the album as well, and the group works together seamlessly to create an album that crackles with energy while maintaining a stylish flow.

Lee Morgan – The Sidewinder

Lee Morgan - The Sidewinder album cover

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Label:

Blue Note – BST 84157

Format:

Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, 2nd issue

Country:

US

Released:

1966

Genre:

Jazz

Style:

Hard Bop

A1 The Sidewinder

A2 Totem Pole

B1 Gary's Notebook

B2 Boy, What A Night

B3 Hocus-Pocus

Copyright © – Liberty Records, Inc.

Record Company – Liberty Records, Inc.

Recorded At – Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Lacquer Cut At – Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Bass – Bob Cranshaw

Design [Cover Design By] – Reid Miles

Drums – Billy Higgins

Photography By [Cover Photo By] – Francis Wolff

Piano – Barry Harris (2)

Producer [Uncredited] – Alfred Lion

Recorded By [Recording By] – Rudy Van Gelder

Sleeve Notes – Leonard Feather

Tenor Saxophone [Tenor Sax] – Joe Henderson

Trumpet, Written-By – Lee Morgan

Recorded December 21, 1963. [Recording date and location are not printed on the release]

Barry Harris performs by courtesy of Riverside Records.

Blue Note A Product Of Liberty Records [Logo top left of back cover]

BLP-4157/84157 [Top right of back cover]

Printed in U.S.A. [Bottom right of back cover]

1966 second issue of 1964 original with "Blue Note Records • A Division Of Liberty Records, Inc." printed on labels.

Front cover and center labels show Bob Cranshaw as "Bob Crenshaw".

Matrix / Runout (Side A runout): BNST-84157·A

Matrix / Runout (Side B runout): BNST-84157·B

Matrix / Runout (Sides A & B, Stamped): STEREO VAN GELDER

Matrix / Runout (Side A label): BNST 84157-A

Matrix / Runout (Side B label): BNST 84157-B

GOLDMINE GRADING

MINT ---- It should appear to be perfect. No scuffs or scratches, blotches or stains, labels or writing, tears or splits. Mint means perfect.

NEAR MINT ---- Otherwise mint but has one or two tiny inconsequential flaws that do not affect play. Covers should be close to perfect with minor signs of wear or age just becoming evident: slight ring-wear, minor denting to a corner, or writing on the cover should all be noted properly.

VERY GOOD PLUS ---- The record has been handled and played infrequently or very carefully. Not too far from perfect. On a disc, there may be light paper scuffs from sliding in and out of a sleeve or the vinyl or some of the original luster may be lost. A slight scratch that did not affect play would be acceptably VG+ for most collectors.

VERY GOOD ---- Record displays visible signs of handling and playing, such as loss of vinyl luster, light surface scratches, groove wear and spindle trails. Some audible surface noise, but should not overwhelm the musical experience. Usually a cover is VG when one or two of these problems are evident: ring wear, seam splits, bent corners, loss of gloss, stains, etc.

GOOD ---- Well played with little luster and significant surface noise. Despite defects, record should still play all the way through without skipping. Several cover flaws will be apparent, but should not obliterate the artwork.

POOR ---- Any record or cover that does not qualify for the above "Good" grading should be seen as Poor. Several cover flaws.