Mingus Oh Yeah [audio recording]

In the early 60s, Medhurst’s was the biggest department store in Bromley, my British hometown. In terms of style, they were to be pulverized by their competitors down the road, who stocked up early on the new, “G-Plan” Scandinavian-style furniture. But Medhurst’s did have, unaccountably, a fantastic record department, run by a wonderful “married” couple, Jimmy and Charles. There wasn’t an American release they didn’t have or couldn’t get. Quite as hip as any London supplier. I would have had a very dry musical run were it not for this place. Jane Greene, their counter assistant, took a liking to me, and whenever I would pop in, which was most afternoons after school, she would let me play records in the “sound show more booth” to my heart’s content till the store closed at 5:30 P.M. Jane would often join me, and we would smooch big-time to the sounds of Ray Charles or Eddie Cochran. This was very exciting, as I was around 13 or 14 and she would be a womanly 17 at that time. My first older woman. Charles let me buy at a huge discount, enabling me to build up a fab collection over the two or three years that I frequented this store. Happy days. Jimmy, the younger partner, recommended this Mingus album one day around 1961. I lost my original Medhurst copy, but have continued to re-buy the print through the years, as it was re-released time and time again. It has on it the rather giveaway track “Wham Bam Thank You Ma’am.” It was also my introduction to Roland Kirk. show less

1 Hog Callin' Blues
Written-By – Charlie Mingus*
7:26
2 Devil Woman
Written-By – Charlie Mingus*
9:38
3 Wham Bam Thank You Ma'am
Written-By – Charlie Mingus*
4:41
4 Ecclusiastics
Written-By – Charlie Mingus*
6:55
5 Oh Lord Don't Let Them Drop That Atomic Bomb On Me
Written-By – Charlie Mingus*
5:38
6 Eat That Chicken
Written-By – Charlie Mingus*
4:36
7 Passions Of A Man
Written-By – Charlie Mingus*
4:52
Bonus Tracks
8 "Old" Blues For Walt's Torin
Written-By – Charlie Mingus*
8:59
9 Peggy's Blue Skylight
Written-By – Charlie Mingus*
9:42
10 Invisible Lady
Written-By – Charlie Mingus*
4:49
credits:
Bass – Doug Watkins
Drums – Dannie Richmond
Flute, Siren, Other [Stritch], Other [Manzello] – Roland Kirk
Illustration – John Seabury
Liner Notes show more [Original Album & Reissue] – Nat Hentoff
Photography By [Back Inlay Photo] – Lee Friedlander
Piano, Vocals – Charles Mingus
Tenor Saxophone – Booker Ervin
Trombone – Jimmy Knepper show less