Stephen Mejias

Between Heaven and Hell

By Stephen Mejias • Posted: Sep 12, 2008

As I searched through the new arrivals at the Princeton Record Exchange, I kept coming back to this album. I knew nothing about Oscar Brown Jr.—had never even heard of the guy—but the pain communicated in the album title and cover art intrigued me. Even if it turned out that I didn't like the music, I'd at least get an interesting piece of art. And for just four bucks!

Turned out I liked the music.

In fact, I was pretty much blown away. Again, judging from the album art and liner notes, I was expecting something like a male Nina Simone—a deep burning anguish—but it was nothing like that at all.

Oscar Brown Jr. is, as PREX general manager Jon Lambert said, "one cool cat." This music erupted from my system with solid, fleshy images set within a vast soundstage. The music swings with a big-band beatnik feel, horns trading off with bongos, and Oscar Brown singing his poetry.

Released in 1961, my copy of Between Heaven and Hell is pristine, drop-dead quiet, and beautiful.

Share | |
»
Comments
struts's picture
Submitted by struts on September 16, 2008 - 6:00am.

Looks like I am going to have to badger my old man into giving me this one too. I don't specifically remember it, Sin and Soul was the one I always wanted him to play with its fun tracks like 'Signifyin' Monkey' and 'Dat Dere'. However something tells me I just gotta check it out...

Robert's picture
Submitted by Robert on September 12, 2008 - 4:42pm.

Last year I bought a case full of old LPs including a Luis Prima live record. Wow. I always wanted to know who sang on most (if not all) gangster-mafia movie soundtracks. Now I know. A real classic!In the same case load I got a Trini Lopez LP (La Bamba live)... you never know.

chen2020's picture
In this Coach Outlet Online
Submitted by chen2020 on December 23, 2011 - 7:29pm.

In this Coach Outlet Online Store eye-catching holiday season, Pioneer coach factory online American style producer coach factory outlet delivers you a gorgeous gown with bold coach outlet online, multi-colored eye-catching coach outlet online. This season, coach factory outlet store brought us sweet and neutral girl Coach Factory. Purple Coach Factory coupled with metal pendant, pendant is truly a trademark of Coach outlet online, and we will immediately recognize coach factory outlet. Sweet coach factory outlet online princess also can positioned on purple leather-based bag over a beautiful vital coach outlet chain, vital coach outlet online store ring pink bag could make you lovely. Coach factory traditional light leather-based trim contours a perfect, Coach Outlet lightweight wrist strap, Coach Factory Online metal lock; Coach outlet store online is truly a lady placing on a neutral favorite. Coach factory is pleased to begin for fall 2010 males to construct a producer new design. coach factory awesome leather-based objects and components since the founded players, coach outlet store online toward the men's sequence onto a producer new level, American coach outlet design and rugged charm of males in these new and modern alternative objects at a glance. Indispensable handbook digesting pervasive luxury particulars and specific coach factory outlet leather-based producing methods, CLARKSON TOT function is inspired with the broad belt of ultra-light Coach outlet online look after and hand polished sheepskin. shortly after dealing using a comparable gentle folds, louis vuitton pursesgetaway bag is great for daily equipment, its sizing but in inclusion just for weekend travel.

Site Map / Direct Links
Loudspeakers Amplification Digital Sources Analog Sources Accessories Featured Music Columns Features Show Reports Show Reports Recommended
Components Blogs Latest News Community 		Shop Resources Subscriptions