[78-L] Alice Hall [was Art van Damme]

[Jeff Sultanof]

According to Pete Rugolo, this series was a wash; it was not marketed well
and sales were poor. I had no idea that the RSP was higher than other single
records (thanks again, Geoffrey) and that no doubt added to the lack of
sales.

Jeff Sultanof

On Fri, Feb 19, 2010 at 2:53 PM, Geoffrey Wheeler <dialjazz at verizon.net>wrote:

> Julien Vein says: Alice Hall did a couple of hip sides for Capitol in
> 1949. She hums along
> with her squeezing a la Slam Stewart.
>
> Yes, the Alice Hall Trio did record two sides for Capitol issued in the
> short-lived 57 dash “Bop” series: 57-60006 “Pennies from
> Heaven/Caravan.” The 32 sides issued in the series were all recorded
> between January and May 1949. Of the major labels with any involvement
> in Bop, Capitol was the only one to create a special catalog series
> largely devoted to vocal and instrumental Be-Bop. This was the 57-60000
> series that ran from 57-60000 to 57-60015. In an article headlined “Cap
> Capturing Top Bop (Mop!),” James B. Conkling, head of Capitol’s artists
> and repertoire division, announced in the February 1949 issue of
> Capitol News [page 4]: “Bebop performers who have aroused wildly
> fanatical followings in the New York area recently are being signed
> almost daily to exclusive contracts with Capitol Records Inc.”  Why
> Capitol thought Alice Hall (or Dave Barbour) would fit in this new
> category with the likes of Miles Davis, Tadd Dameron, Lennie Tristano,
> Babs Gonsalez, and Dave Lambert is anyone’s guess. These records
> retailed for $1.05 each, which was more expensive than the regular
> Capitol issues, which retailed for 89¢ (I think). Many younger critics,
> those born A.C. (after Coltrane) refer to the Davis sides as “Birth of
> the Cool.” When the records were released, they were labeled “Bop
> Instrumental,” which was consistent with the purpose of the series.
> “Birth of the Cool” came into being as an identifier in 1955 when the
> first 12-inch LP was issued with 11 of the 12 tunes. Left out was the
> Kenny Hagood vocal on “Darn That Dream.” It was not until 1971, 16
> years later, that all 12 tunes were finally reissued on (Dutch) Capitol
> Jazz Classics Vol. 1 (M-11026).
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