I don't listen to the fucked up EQ Bill Laswell records. Too many goofy sounds, not enough interplay.

His sessions work in the 60's and 70's though? Jesus christ what a guy. Just cracks open the music around him with a joyful abandon that every "free" player has chased since.

Linda records NC no WF. The only reason Black Woman was made was because Herbie Mann personally saw to it that his sidemen got a solo record deal. I cannot stand the flute but that alone secures Mr. Mann a NC as well.

I thought this thread was made because George Lowe, the voice of Space Ghost Coast to Coast, passed away. Sonny Sharrock did the balls-out awesome intro theme. It captivated me as a kid, I hadn't heard anything quite like it, and when I was a teenager getting into fucked up jazz (thanks James Chance!) finding out who played that guitar put a big smile on my face. The fucked up jazz had been with me all along.

NOT CRAP

gotdamn wrote: Mon Mar 17, 2025 11:39 pm I thought this thread was made because George Lowe, the voice of Space Ghost Coast to Coast, passed away. Sonny Sharrock did the balls-out awesome intro theme.

I never knew this. Thanks for sharing.

Sonny Sharrock is Not Crap.

I get the comments regarding some of the '80s recordings but really think Ask the Ages got it right. It's more modern than a '60s band-in-room recording of course, but tastefully done IMO, and kind of refreshing to hear Elvin's drums undistorted and panned out a bit.

It's all aged well. He was one of the very best to ever tune up.

Very sweet man, was fortunate to chat with him for fifteen minutes before a show in Seattle in the 90s, not too long before he died, couple years younger then than I am now.

In order:
Guitar
Ask the Ages
Seize the Rainbow
Monkey-Pocky-Boo/Black Woman (tie)
Live in New York
Dance with Me, Montana
Paradise
Highlife (depressingly high keyb content for me)
Faith Moves (talk about keybs)

All his sideman work is good, Pharaoah Miles Shorter a great Don Cherry record. Marzette Watts. Etc.
The Herbie Mann stuff is really genuinely funny--to hear him come out of a flute solo. So good.

The Last Exit and Machine Gun stuff isn't all that interesting to me.
He was a really soulful guy, and I wouldn't say those are particularly deep records.
They encouraged one aspect of his playing only, and they're "impressive" in a kind of dick-wagging way that seems cold.

Sonny Sharrock is NC.
Space Ghost Coast to Coast is NC.

Gods. It’s been ages. A had a close friend that was really into Sharrock.

He did this.



Guitar is brilliant.

Just the greatest. I have time for it all, even the stuff with synths and the most aggro Last Exit live tapes.

Ask the Ages got heavy airplay on my KZSC show when it came out, and I still listen to it regularly 34 years later.

The Space Ghost Coast to Coast tribute episode they did after he died was beautiful.

Has anyone heard Laswell's "remix" of The Stalin's Fish Inn where he basically subs in himself (on SIX string bass) and a buncha wacky Sonny Sharrock solos on top of what the band had already done? Endo, the singer, worked with them on it so it's not a total coup, but the result is way closer to late-era Black Flag than it has any right to be, especially for such an iconic Japanese band whose work should be more popular abroad.

It has made the original mix very difficult to find, which is an absolute travesty.

Yeah, I dunno! 80's blow musta been something, and I'm convinced Sonny lost the plot somewhere in that timeline, but sure it was brief. Ask The Ages is an all-timer, but everyone knew that, right?

gotdamn wrote: Has anyone heard Laswell's "remix" of The Stalin's Fish Inn where he basically subs in himself (on SIX string bass) and a buncha wacky Sonny Sharrock solos on top of what the band had already done? Endo, the singer, worked with them on it so it's not a total coup, but the result is way closer to late-era Black Flag than it has any right to be, especially for such an iconic Japanese band whose work should be more popular abroad.

Now I have, and damn you are right! More of a Ron, maybe Keith, vibe to the singing. I might have to buy a copy.

btw looks like the original was reissued again last year.