Lou Donaldson Blue Note Sweet Slumber LP 1980 Original Japan King GXF 3068 Rare

$

66

Lou Donaldson Blue Note Sweet Slumber LP 1980 Original Vault Pressing Japan King Records GXF 3068 Rare! Excellent to NM Condition. No Reserve.
Sweet Slumber is an album by jazz saxophonist Lou Donaldson recorded for the Blue Note Records label in 1967 and featuring Donaldson with Freddie Hubbard, Wayne Shorter, Pepper Adams, McCoy Tyner, Ron Carter, Garnett Brown, Jerry Dodgion,  and Al Harewood performing arrangements by Duke Pearson. Due to the success of Donaldson's Alligator Bogaloo that same year... the album was not released until 1980 in Japan (on King Records GXF 3068) under the title "Sweet Slumber" and then finally released decades later internationally.

The original Japanese Blue Note pressing of a Lou Donaldson set (later issued in the states as "Lush Life") -- an unusual session from the heart of Lou Donaldson's return to Blue Note in the late 60s, and a mellower date that stands in strong contrast to his funkier albums of the time! As you might guess from the title, there's a lusher feel going on here -- one that has Lou's alto sax augmented by larger backings from Duke Pearson -- who manages to score things perfectly with a balance of soul and sophistication. The album's hardly a "Donaldson with strings" date -- and instead is done in the more mature mode that Duke was using in some of his own sides from the time, and on work with players like Donald Byrd or Stanley Turrentine. Other players here include Wayne Shorter on tenor, Pepper Adams on baritone, Jerry Dodgion on alto and flute, Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, and Garnett Brown on trombone -- plus core rhythms from the trio of McCoy Tyner on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Al Harewood on drums. Titles include "Sweet Slumber", "The Good Life", "Sweet & Lovely", "Stardust", and "You've Changed" -- and the album was recorded in the 60s, it was only first issued in Japan in 1980 -- and even then only later in the US!
ブルーノート世界初登場1800シリーズ Part of the Blue Note Sekai Hatsutōjō 1800 Series. Japanese vinyl series that ran for 23 albums, all released starting in 1979, presenting materials from the "Classic Blue Note" period still unissued at that time (worldwide first release). 
Condition: For being over 43 years old this is in amazing shape. The vinyl shows little sign of play. EX to NM. See pics. Labels are really clean - no marks. Jacket has a very slight bump in the right corner. No splits. Sturdy. Very clean and bright. Very slight browning on the white back area towards the bottom. Small import sticker in upper right corner. Excellent condition. Super clean copy of this Blue Note Japan rarity. Enjoy... NO Reserve.
Track listing: "Sweet Slumber" (Lucky Millinder, Al J. Neiburg, Henri Woode) - 5:56 "You've Changed" (Bill Carey, Carl T. Fischer - 4:23 "The Good Life" (Sacha Distel, Jack Reardon) - 4:53 "Stardust" (Hoagy Carmichael) - 3:40 "What Will I Tell My Heart" (Irving Gordon, Jack Lawrence, Peter Tinturin) - 4:25 "It Might as Well Be Spring" (Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers) - 5:58 "Sweet and Lovely" (Gus Arnheim, Jules LeMare, Harry Tobias) - 5:58
Review: The album was awarded 4½ stars in an Allmusic review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine, who states: "With its plush arrangements and unabashedly pretty melodies, Sweet Slumber stands in stark contrast to most everything else he cut in the '60s. There are no blues, no stabs at soul-jazz grooves, no hard bop — only sweet, sensitive renditions of romantic standards. Donaldson shone on ballads before, but it's nevertheless surprising how successful he is on this set of slow love songs. His tone is full and elegant — it's easy to get lost in his rich readings of these familiar melodies, as well as his slyly seductive improvisations".
Players: Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson Alto Saxophone, Flute – Jerry Dodgion Arranged By – Duke Pearson Baritone Saxophone – Pepper Adams Bass – Ron Carter Drums – Al Harewood Piano – McCoy Tyner Tenor Saxophone – Wayne Shorter Trombone – Garnett Brown Trumpet – Freddie Hubbard
Cover Design – Toshikazu Tanaka Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder Liner Notes – Ira Gitler Produced By – Alfred Lion
Record Company – United Artists Music And Records Group, Inc. Manufactured by – King Record Co. Ltd Recorded at – Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey Recorded on January 20, 1967.
Made in Japan ¥1,800 King Records GXF 3068
I also have listed 180g 45RPM Blue Note releases from John Coltrane (Blue Train), Lee Morgan (Leeway) and Jackie McLean (Capuchin Swing)... and, Miles Davis (Kind of Blue - 200g 45RPM UHQR Box)!  Check my other auctions!
Securely Shipped in the US by USPS Media Mail. USPS Priority Mail also available.