Swingsation

Sam Taylor | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 9, 1999)
• Original Release Date: November 9, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Polygram Records
• ASIN: B00002MYXS
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #242,244 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Audio CD

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good in His Own Way, August 22, 2003

By 

J. G. Gollin "JGG" (Holmdel, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Swingsation (Audio CD)

References to Taylor's ranking "way up there with Miles Davis, Charlie Parker and the like" and having "a sound that would echo in Birdland NYC" might be somewhat of a reach.

I loved Sam (The Man). Each school night, I'd listen to the Alan Freed Rock 'n Roll show on my old Philco and hang in there through all the vocals, doo wop and novelty numbers til the top of the hour when Freed would play an instrumental - usually by Taylor, Red Prysock, Rusty Bryant, Gator Jackson, Bill Doggett, Al Sears, Mickey Guitar Baker or maybe Hal "Cornbread" Singer.

Taylor's signature tune was "Cloudburst" - he was featured tenor player for a group John Hendricks claims was led by Leroy Kirkland under the pseudonym, Claude Cloud (& the Thunderclaps). Name of the LP was "Let's Get Cat-Static." Lambert Hendricks and Ross did the cover and made Cloudburst a popular hit.

I loved Sam (The Man) for his energy, drive, lyricism and ability to hit high notes on his axe with ease - without squeaking or squealing.

But creatively note for note - he wasn't in the same league musically as Miles or Bird.

And the closest Sam (The Man)might have gotten musically to Birdland might have been when I saw Jimmy Forrest play there (with Red Garland, Lee Morgan, Wilbur Ware and Philly Joe) and - much to his embarrassment - they made him play "Night Train." No, it's highly unlikely that you'd hear Oo Wee, High Winds or even Cloudburst played at Birdland (unless LHR was the headliner. Then you might get Cloudburst by default). But I loved them all, and I loved Sam (The Man).

5.0 out of 5 stars sam is definitely the man, June 9, 2011

By 

bluesback - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Swingsation (Audio CD)

Sam was always right in the pocket. No doubt he's big time and deserves to be as recognized in R&B as Bird/Trane/Miles are in jazz.

3 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Smooth, June 19, 2000

By 

"dorothee777" (Dallas, Tx United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Swingsation (Audio CD)

Sam "The Man" Taylor is an artist who ranks way up there with Miles Davis, Charlie Parker and the like. His smooth melodies and beats will transcend you to a sound that would echo in Birdland NYC. He surely was "The Man"