BST 84318

Lou Donaldson - Hot Dog

Released - August 1969

Recording and Session Information

Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, April 25, 1969
Ed Williams, trumpet; Lou Donaldson, electric alto sax, vocals; Charles Earland, organ; Melvin Sparks, guitar; Leo Morris, drums.

tk.1 Turtle Walk
tk.4 It's Your Thing
tk.8 Hot Dog
tk.11 Who's Making Love (To Your Old Lady)
tk.14 Bonnie

Track Listing

Side One
Title	Author	Recording Date
Who's Making Love?	Homer Banks, Bettye Crutcher, Don Davis, Raymond Jackson	April 25 1969
Turtle Walk	Lou Donaldson	April 25 1969
Bonnie	Tommy Turrentine	April 25 1969
Side Two
Hot Dog	Lou Donaldson	April 25 1969
It's Your Thing	Rudolph Isley, O'Kelly Isley, Ronald Isley	April 25 1969

Liner Notes

NORMALLY jazz recordings have particular strength if they are made by a group that has been together for a period of time and has gotten into the material before arriving at the studio. In this instance, it is obstensible. aurally, that the Lou Donaldson aggregation on this session is “together" musically and in spirit.

The album opens with an infectious R&B beat on the tune, Who’s Making Love. reinforced by an underlining, driving and compelling organ pattern which. incidentally. establishes the groove right from the start. The overall feeling is loose and infectiously bouyant.

Turtle Walk a Lou Donaldson composition allows each musician within the group to display his talent. And, it is immediately evident that they are imbued with the idea that rhythm is the thing. The work is extremely well executed and shows each musician to be a capable technician with the ability to “cook,”

Bonnie is a Tommy Turrentine tune. Listening to his work, it becomes evident how definite a talent Tommy has as a tune writer and how he has a veritable knack for writing strong firm melodies. On this side, Lou demonstrates and illustrates his consistent command of improvisatory form. His variations are unique in their singing beauty and unforced eloquence. Also, his phrases have an in-built swing which are fully enhanced by superb phrasing and a wonderful tone.

Side two opens with Hot Dog which gives an immediate insight into the fibre and soul of Lou Donaldson. The essence of the “soul” mood is expressed — that quality which remains even after rhythmic approaches to it change. Central to the evolution of “soul” here are Melvin Sparks on guitar, Charles Earland on organ, Leo Morris on drums and Ed Williams on trumpet. who makes his debut here. Incidentally, Ed, who was born in Charleston, South Carolina has performed with outstanding bands such as Lionel Hampton, Duke Ellington, Buddy Johnson and Frank Foster. His versatility in the music business is reflected by his having recorded with top rhythm and blues artists such as James Brown. Jackie Wilson, Mary Wells, et al. As you have heard at this juncture, Ed Williams is characteristically crisp and cohesive. His solos are prolific and convincing. He possesses a formidable technique, but he concentrates on the one thing that makes this fusion of jazz and rhythm and blues what it is—basic and honest, eschewing grandeur phrases.

Lou’s interpretation of It’s Your Thing succeeds in listening to rhythm and blues sounds and embellishing the structure with his own imaginative interpretations, in creating a driving, sparkling and flavorful sound. In this performance, he makes your body move. It’s a tune that propels each member of the group.

It should be pointed out that Lou Donaldson and his group chose good tempos and the sounds move all the time. They are dramatic but never static. Even the romantic declarations, Bonnie, e.g., are made on the move.

There is an original quality and style to Lou’s music. It is pulsating. rhythmic — and sometimes provocative. There is a high degree of musicality, and deft melodic touches are dominant throughout.

A unique talent. a modest man, and a gentleman, Lou Donaldson remains a great credit to his profession, and an inspiration to his fellow musicians.

—GEORGE BUTLER