Preview: Watch the Closing Doors – A History of New York’s Musical Melting Pot Vol 1: 1945-59
From Duke Ellington to Raymond Scott, Watch The Closing Doors: A History of New York’s Musical Melting Pot is a six volume, double CD/LP series, by renowned journalist and author Kris Needs.
The first volume focuses on the 1940s and 50s, setting the scene for a further five sets, straddling the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s, each accompanied by a book containing the relevant musical and social history, artist biographies, illustrations and Needs’ own stories and recollections of the city that once never slept.
Kris Needs: ‘One of the aims of the series is to document and celebrate this lost city before it totally disappears, give it some unity and due respect, while striving to explain why the New York of the last half of the 20th century was the most exciting place on Earth. The buildings and individuals might be disappearing, but that indefinable spirit which affected so many has thankfully been captured for posterity on countless records, standing like snapshots of a bygone age, the tip of a mighty iceberg which will be gathered on these albums like an old photo album.’
Watch The Closing Doors
A History Of New York’s Musical Melting Pot
Vol. 1 : 1945-59
Format : 2CD + 72 Page Book / 2LP
Cat No : YZLCD007 / YZLDV007
Tracklisting
CD 1
1. DUKE ELLINGTON – Take The ‘A’ Train
2. COZY COLE – Bad
3. FRANKIE LYMON & TEENAGERS – Why Do Fools Fall In Love
4. MACHITO – Mucho Mambo
5. FAYE ADAMS – Shake A Hand
6. LOUIS ARMSTRONG – Yellow Dog Blues
7. ALMANAC SINGERS – Talking Union
8. HARRY BELAFONTE – Matilda
9. CAB CALLOWAY – Minnie The Moocher
10. DANNY TAYLOR – Coffee Daddy Blues
11. DIZZY GILLESPIE – Manteca
12. NINA SIMONE – Little Girl Blue
13. FIVE SATINS – In The Still Of The Nite
14. BILLIE HOLIDAY – Autumn In New York
15. MILES DAVIS – Summertime
16. CHARLES MINGUS – Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
17. JOHN CAGE – Indeterminacy Pt 2
CD 2
1. COZY COLE -Topsy Pt 2
2. HONEYCONES – Op
3. HORACE SILVER – Senor Blues [Newport Jazz fest]
4. JOSH WHITE – Southern Exposure
5. NEW LOST CITY RAMBLERS – How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live ** 6. DAVE VAN RONK – Duncan & Brady
7. SONNY TERRY – Custard Pie Blues
8. DRIFTERS – Money Honey
9. BIG JOE TURNER – Morning Noon And Night
10. THE EMBERS – Paradise Hill
11. PARAGONS – Twilight
12. BIG MAYBELLE – One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show
13. THELONIOUS MONK – Brilliant Corners
14. RAYMOND SCOTT – Ripples
15. ALLEN GINSBERG – Howl
Some tracks are CD exclusives owing to space: please check the site for details.