MG C-104: The Lester Young Trio

	Label Type :	black/gold Mercury type A
	Matrix Number :	SIDE-A	MG C504A
		SIDE-B	MG C504B

Comments

There are two versions of MG C-104 known to exist - 1st version contains take 1 of “I Cover The Waterfront”, and complete take of “Back To The Land” (with the first two meatures of the piano introduction). On the other hand, 2nd version contains take 2 of “I Cover The Waterfront” and edited version (without the first two meatures) of “Back To The Land”.

I have acquired three copies of this album, but all are 1st versions. I am still investigating whether the 2nd version under the Mercury label exists (or it only exists under the Clef label).

By the way, the label of this copy is the earliest “Black label with gold print, no DSM trumpeter logo” type. There is another type - “Black label with silver print, DSM trumpeter logo”. On the latter copy, the matrix information is a bit different (delete line on the “504” imprint, and “C-104” inscription is added).

My copies, one gold label and two silver trumpeter labels, are all 1st versions.

MG C-104 Side-A (early pressing)	MG C-104 Side-A (a bit later pressing)

Inside The Groove

The legendary trio session by the three giants - and definitely the best performance by Lester Young in his post-War era.

Personal Impression (and brief notes)

Lester Young, one of the greatest tenor stylists in the pre-bop scene, was on the top of the entire jazz scene in the late 1930s and early 1940s. His supreme performances with Count Basie and Billie Holiday have been timeless masterpieces indeed.

Then he spent traumatic period of military service. Much have been talked and written about this tragic fourteen months. Anyway, after out of the army, he was not he had used to be. We know his post-war performances are of uneven quality (although there are some supreme performances).

This legendary April 1946 session, with the help of Nat King Cole and Buddy Rich, is one of his best performances in his post-war era. His tenor here is still very fruitful, warm and swingy - definitely in his own style.

Strictly Personal Rating (to what extent I could enjoy this album)

10 out of 10

Track Listing

Personnel

Personnel/recorded date/master numbers confirmed with the Ruppli's discography.
(“The Mercury Labels - A Discography” by Ruppli and Novitsky, Greenwood Press, 1993)

Later pressings contain C 349-2 (I Cover The Waterfront, take 2) instead of C 349-1 (take 1), and C 348-1 (Back To The Land, short version) instead of complete version.

Both versions can be heard on recent CD reissue (314 521 650-2).

Lester Young (ts), Aye Guy (aka Nat “King” Cole) (p), Buddy Rich (ds).
Recorded at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, LA in March or April, 1946.

The Artist Also Appears on...

Jackets

Front	Back

Labels

Side A	Side B