LINCOLN MAYORGA SHEFFIELD LAB AUDIOPHILE DIRECT DISC

$

25

LINCOLN MAYORGA  &  DISTINGUISHED COLLEAGUES
VOLUME 111
SHEFFIELD LAB LABEL , LAB-1, SL5/SL6

THIS IS THE ORIGINAL 1974 AUDIOPHILE PRESSING , ORIGINAL MASTER, DIRECT TO DISC, LIMITED EDITION

For audiophiles active in the late 70s and early 80s, the name Sheffield Lab conjures up something special. Doug Sax and Lincoln Mayorga were pioneers of the direct-to-disc LP process, introducing the first modern "D-2-D" LP in 1968. It is true that all discs (e.g., 78s) were recorded direct-to-disc before the late 40s, since there was no tape, but the process was not used in the LP era until Sax and Mayorga made their first experimental recording in 1959 and brought out a commercial product in 1968.

Lincoln Mayorga gathered some of the best studio players in LA for what was a  celebration of an era of music - the height of studio perfection.

The Tunes
1 – My Love The horns start this song out with a chorus introduction. And then Tommy Morgan comes in playing the melody to McCartney’s song on harmonica. Mike Deasy Sr plays guitar fills around his work, volume control giving it a lovely feel. And then Plas Johnson takes over the melody. Mike again playing around the solo on electric, and then taking a chorus. The Stratocaster seems to cry and weep in his hands, expressing as much sadness as a soul could mutter.

Then Plas takes over with his rolling style, reminiscent of Wayne Shorter in some ways, and then he finishes with one of the most striking solo endings you will ever hear. The notes are melodic, and furious, and tender. And the last thing we are left with is Deasy’s guitar over the top of the horns.

2 – The Perfect Song Larry Knechtel starts out with alone bass part, leading in to the trumpets and bones laying a foundation of minor chords. And then Plas again on the tenor sax just plays from the depth of his soul. Mike Deasy again plays a short solo, with a slightly country tinged idea. Then Lincoln takes over on piano, with Deasy playing fills around his ideas. Strangely enough, the band breaks and we go to a gentle harmonica line, with bass trombone singing below. This leads to a series of trumpet, trombone and other solos. The song ends with Deasy and Tommy Morgan crescendo into madness.

3 – America (From West Side Story) This is a well-arranged song, with lots of interesting percussion. The brass have a field day playing the melody back and forth. Lincoln actually takes a chorus on Fender Rhodes, and this is the piano taking charge. The brass almost sound like a mariachi at a point, emulating the Puerto Rican vibe in the original version of this song, tell part of the story of America back then.

4 – That Certain Feeling (From Tip Toes) /Oh Lord I’m On My Way (From Porgy and Bess) The piano plays the lead, and there is some lovely interaction between the piano and the marimba. The percussionist is having a field day with this one. Didn’t Miles do this song on his Porgy and Bess album? There is yet another lovely guitar solo and fills by Mike Deasy, massaging and toying with the melody and playing melodically around the piano and the horns. The brass arrangements are stunning, with the trumpets screaming high above the rest and the bone blaring out their bass lines.

5 – You Are The Sunshine Of My Life The lead voices, as has so often been the case on this album, are Lincoln Mayorga on piano, and Mike Deasy Sr on electric guitar. Lincoln plays out, and Deasy solos around him with tender and interesting fills. And then Plas Johnson takes over the melody and solos with relentless calm. It is truly a lovely thing. There is some triangle work that is from the percussion of the gods. And then suddenly we get the very impassioned Tenor voice of Plas again. They are all laying down tracks that would have made Stevie himself proud. This is a truly lovely rendition of this song.

6 – Legrand Medly: Madeleine Theme (from The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg) / Waterfront Song / Elise (from "The Summer Of '42") Ronnie Lang begins his domination of the second side by playing his buttery tone at the beginning of this song. He then takes a ride on the flute, with gently descending guitar lines working around it. Al Casey fills in some of the other guitar. Plas takes a really short fill, but then it is back to Ronnie Lang, who owns this particular track with his alto and flute.

7 – From Menaggio to Bellagio The introduction is pure Keltner, a rambling piano song with a lot of dual sax work and wah-wah on the guitars, and then piccolo from Ronnie Lang at the end as well. The guitar flows and the saxes play harmonies with one another, like dolphins chasing. This is a short one with Plas and Ronnie working it together, and Gary Coleman doing his thing on Timpani and tambourine.

8- King Porter Stomp Here we have Lincoln playing some ragtime with some nice and subdued banjo work from Al Casey. The electric guitar is wah-wah with dad’s patented Cry Baby sound. This one has a big Dixie sound at the end with the banjo and rocking electric guitar and Lincoln’s huge piano sound.

                                                    Record Condition:      MINT

           Gatefold Jacket  Condition: MINT with Orig. inserts

All Photos are the actual item

Direct all questions via email or to:

Second Hand Rose Music

48 East 12th Street

New York, NY 10003

212-675-3735