Sic transit Gloria

Singer Gloria Lynne was discovered in 1958 by Raymond Scott, who signed her to her first recording contract that same year. Scott produced her debut album, Miss Gloria Lynne, for Everest Records, a label for which he briefly served as A&R director. The musicians on Lynne's album were many of the same session aces from Scott's Secret 7 project.

Lynne died of heart failure at age 83 on October 8. An obit in the October 18 New York Times describes the rough times she faced when her career went into decline. She had one major hit, "I Wish You Love," in 1964, and it became her signature tune. (Scott produced only her debut album.)

In the Miss Gloria Lynne liner notes by jazz scholar Nat Hentoff, Scott was quoted on the magnitude of her talent and strengths:

"Overall, she has a sincerity and power. She's been based in gospel music and she also has a jazz talent, and this is the first chance she's had to sing with a swinging group. As for her vocal resources, she's at a stage at her beginning that most people don't reach until the middle or end of their careers. She's extremely warm and she can tell a story. She's young and fresh and should have a remarkable future." 

For Lynne's debut, Scott recruited Harry "Sweets" Edison (trumpet), Sam "The Man" Taylor (piano), Eddie Costa (vibes), "Wild Bill" Davis (organ), Kenny Burrell (guitar), Milton Hinton (bass), George Duvivier (bass), Tom Bryant (bass), and Jo Jones (drums). All except the last three were part of Scott's Secret 7.

2 New Vinyl Album Reissues —Party Like It's 1959!

Good news for wax maniacs: to celebrate the 75th ANNIVERSARY of Raymond Scott's music, the Basta Audio-Visuals label (working with the RS Archives) has reissued a pair of classic Scott 1950s LPs in 180-gram 12" vinyl format. Both meticulously replicate the original artwork in every detail.

"THE UNEXPECTED" by Raymond Scott & The Secret Seven — While serving as an A&R director for Everest Records in 1958, Raymond Scott produced an album for singer Gloria Lynne. The LP's sidemen included many of the same session players on Scott's mysterious 1959 album, "THE UNEXPECTED" — performed by his all-star jazz-legend supergroup, The Secret Seven — whose identities remained confidential for decades. The secrecy extended to withholding the band member's names from the LP jacket, but as music historian Nat Hentoff wrote in the liner notes, "Jazz aficionados will instantly recognize the players." The members are now known to be Elvin Jones, "Wild" Bill Davis, Milt Hinton, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Kenny Burrell, Eddie Costa, Sam "The Man" Taylor, and "Toots" Thielemans. NOTE: Basta's vinyl pressing is the extremely rare STEREO mix — the stereo version will not be issued on CD/digital-download. • Order: here <<< • Listen to a track from this album: "Waltz Of The Diddles" by Raymond Scott & The Secret 7

"THIS TIME WITH STRINGS" by Raymond Scott & His Orchestra — Scott musically re-invents his compositions for full-orchestra and strings on this 1957 album. RS favorites like "Powerhouse," "The Toy Trumpet," and "Twilight in Turkey" are retooled for expanded setting — but that's not all. "There are many of the Quintette things in this LP," said the composer in the original liner notes. "Also things for dance band, material written for Broadway, the movie screen, and some of my recent writing. Indeed, a potpourri, given Hi-Fidelity dressing, and a certain vividness in string treatment." The album was recorded in glorious monophonic sound, which is retained on the vinyl. No artificial processing. Crank up the Hi-Fi! • Order: here <<< • Listen to a track from this album: "The Toy Trumpet" by Raymond Scott & His Orchestra

The perils of gluttony

Sweet Wishes, a short film by Mark Ryden and Marion Peck. Donuts and cheesecake in the prop budget. Mops, too. Soundtrack: "And the Dish Ran Away with the Spoon," by RS + The Secret 7, chipmunked vocals by Dorothy Collins.