Urban75 Album of the Year 1957

[belboid]

Let's just have a little light snack of a poll, in between the main courses.

1957 then, one hell of a year for jazz and blues, the beginnings of rock n roll, a few country classics, and several out of this world soundtracks.

You'll have to be careful tho, some of those classics (eg Birth of the Cool) are compilations, and we all know what we think of compilations, dont we?

So, usual rules apply. PM me a list of your top....whatever number you like actually - if more than one person (other than danny la rouge ) manages more than ten, I'll be gobsmacked - in order, and I'll add them all up. NO COMPILATIONS. Live albums fine. BY NOON ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 16

Here's a list - 1957 in music - Wikipedia

 

[isvicthere?]

John Coltrane, Gene Vincent, Art Pepper, Chuck Berry.

 

[Casual Observer]

Think I'll have to sit this one out. The earliest album I have is eden ahbez (lower case) and his Eden's Island offering from 1960 which some punters see as the world's first psychedelic record.

Also have an unofficial CDR of 28 early untamed rock 'n' roll stompers from various bands, none of whom have any Google presence. Probably a few 1957 chestnuts on there.

I'm expecting a few easy listening crooners to appear in the eventual top 10.

 

[Fozzie Bear]

Discogs says Birth of the Cool was 1956 anyhoo. I think I might struggle with this one... it will be fun digging about though

 

[Fez909]

Shame comps aren't allowed...I was going to nominate this: Various - My Pussy Belongs To Daddy

NSFW album cover, btw

 

[danny la rouge]

I've a feeling some people are thinking Blue Train is an option, but though it was recorded in 57 it wasn't released until 58.

Miles' Birth of the Cool probably shouldn't be allowed either: it's a compilation. All those tracks were originally released on 78s in the late 40s. 8 tracks were realeased on a 10" vinyl in 54, and the Capitol LP released in 57 isn't the collection you all have on CD.

 

[belboid]

I've a feeling some people are thinking Blue Train is an option, but though it was recorded in 57 it wasn't released until 58.

Blue Note themselves say it was December '57 - John Coltrane | Artists

 

[killer b]

I've a feeling some people are thinking Blue Train is an option, but though it was recorded in 57 it wasn't released until 58.

Miles' Birth of the Cool probably shouldn't be allowed either: it's a compilation. All those tracks were originally released on 78s in the late 40s. 8 tracks were realeased on a 10" vinyl in 54, and the Capitol LP released in 57 isn't the collection you all have on CD.

I have the '78 vinyl repress, thanks very much.

 

[Lurdan]

Are 10" albums allowed ?

The results of this will be interesting. In 1957 the transition from 78's to LPs and 45s was still not complete. The LP market was dominated by the major record labels far more than the singles market and skewed towards those genres felt to be attractive to people who had bought into the new technology needed to play LPs. In the US in particular that meant it was skewed towards the white middle class market.

In an important sense the result is inevitably going to be a bit like a list of the best 1957 films issued on Blu-Ray.

1957 then, one hell of a year for jazz and blues,

What was happening in jazz was fairly well represented on LP (although I wonder about Trad Jazz). Blues and RnB, and even Rock n Roll LP releases were in no sense representative of what was happening and HEALTH WARNING a not insignificant number of the few LPs released were compilations of previously released material.

the beginnings of rock n roll

Even in France Rock 'n' Roll had begun by 1957 (Sadly for Mac Kac fans I see the 1957 Mac Kac and his French Rock & Roll LP was an anglophone reissue).

 

[belboid]

Are 10" albums allowed ?

I am operating a 'Dont Ask, Dont Tell' policy on this one. I trust the judgement of my fellow Urbanites.

 

[danny la rouge]

Blue Note themselves say it was December '57 - John Coltrane | Artists

I'll accept that as adjudication. (Richard Cook has it as '58, but he's not Blue Note records).

 

[danny la rouge]

I have the '78 vinyl repress, thanks very much.

Cool. This one?

 

[killer b]

the same.

 

[danny la rouge]

Even in France

Miaou

 

[Knotted]

Some great albums that year. But there is a clear winner for me.

 

[killer b]

I bet it isn't clear to anyone else.

 

[belboid]

I will fall back n my normal decision making process - 'I know, abstractly, the X is a better album than Y, but Y gets played a hell of a lot more.' There are a few where I think X is such an intense album you cant play it that often. But not many.

I think I have a fair guess of what will eventually win, but I wouldn't put money on it.

 

[Knotted]

I bet it isn't clear to anyone else.

You're probably at least aware of it. Oh I'm so excited, there may be one or two others voting for it!!

 

[Knotted]

1957 is about the peak of bossa nova. Just reminding folks - mine Brazil.

Edit: Early bossa nova not peak. Still, surely there's a few killers in there.

 

[Fozzie Bear]

I've got a definite 5 with one clear winner and an album I've not heard but have been curious about for yonks.

I think this might be one where people's individual lists are way more interesting than the actual chart but let's see.

 

[discokermit]

exotica - martin denny. played it a fair bit over the summer. sometimes i crave music with animal and bird noises and this is where i usually go. still as fresh now as when it was released.

 

[TruXta]

Some great albums that year. But there is a clear winner for me.

Something Stockhausen?

 

[Knotted]

Something Stockhausen?

No, but good thought.

 

[belboid]

Can't remember the actual titles of the Art Blakey albums I am/was fond of from around then (ie, the ones me dad played). I could do without having to listen to them all to remind myself.

 

[Knotted]

There is all seven hour of this:

Spoiler

 

[Knotted]

exotica - martin denny. played it a fair bit over the summer. sometimes i crave music with animal and bird noises and this is where i usually go. still as fresh now as when it was released.

Weirdly I've just discovered this half an hour ago. It could be so cheesy but it isn't.

 

[danny la rouge]

Can't rembmer the titles of the Art Blakey albums I am/was fond of from around then. I could do without having to listen to them all to remind myself.

Jazz Messengers' Night in Tunisia that year is an absolute belter. Jackie McLean and Johnny Griffin (who also has his best known effort as leader out that year) both in the band.

 

[Sirena]

'Winifred Atwell Selection' (Winifred Atwell And Her Pianos* - Winifred Atwell Selection)

 

[Sirena]

The "Chirping" Crickets - Wikipedia

 

[danny la rouge]

I'm not voting for Mingus' the Clown, although the music is even better than the previous year's better-known Pithecanthropus Erectus, purely because the cover utterly freaks me out. I can't even.