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| Doug Dobell... |
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| In 1945 Doug Dobell took over the family bookshop at 77 Charing Cross Road, London and turned it into London's best known specialist jazz record retailer. Close to London's Soho district it became a regular visit for anybody and everybody interested in jazz. Musicians, fans and jazz record collectors all flocked to the store - it became one of London's best known jazz landmarks. In 1985 Dobell's celebrated it's 40th anniversary, just a year before Dobell's death at the age of 69. The only hiccup had been in 1979 when a demolition order to do with redevelopment led to the much loved 77 Charing Cross Road being demolished. He was out of business for some months before finding new premises at 21 Tower Street. |
Doug Dobell had been born in 1917 and in the early 1950s was still playing jazz piano. He was a keen record collector and was a regular at several London jazz venues. Almost every major visiting jazz musician seemed to make a point of visiting him at the shop and was one of the best loved personalities on the London jazz scene. His was the only shop where you could buy the Tempo records that became the most important recordings of 1950s British modern jazz. In the early 1960s he formed the 77 record label and recorded some of the up and coming musicians of the day as well as some who had been around a bit longer. |
Dick Morrissey Quartet - July/August, 1963 (Have you heard - 77LEU12/8) (JMC35) Dick Morrissey (ts), Harry South (p), Phil Bates (b), Jackie Dougan (d). Down Home*/Skatin'*/The Goblin*/The Celt/Serenata/On The Spot/There And Back/Journey Home*. (*Progressive CD - Kenny Baker's All Stars & The Dick Morrissey Quartet) Peter Comton Big Band - September 30th, 1965 (Sound of eleven - 77LEU12/14) John Burnett, Dave Mowatt, Ian Fenby (tp), Mike Carroll (tb), Peter Ward (as,ts), Ray Warleigh (as-1), Keith Thomas, Art Theman (ts), Peter Comton (bs), Colin Parnell (p), Peter Hughes (b), Chuck Smith (d). C Jam Blues*/Da Capo*/By Request (1)*/Clea*/Djinn (1)*/Sound Of Eleven*/Over The Rainbow (1)*/Mountolive And Balthazar (1)*/Nessim (unissued)/Tonk (unissued)/The Hard School (unissued) . (*Progressive CD - Pete Comton Big Band/Pat Hawes) Tubby Hayes with the Les Condon Quartet - November 18th, 1966 (Jazz tete a tete - "77" LEU12/21) Les Condon (tp), Tubby Hayes (ts), Mike Pyne (p), Ron Mathewson (b), Tony Levin (d). Freedom Monday*/When My Baby Gets Mad-Everybody Split*/ other titles on ths LP and CD by others. (*Harkit CD - Jazz Tete a Tete) Brian Lemon Ensemble - June 30th, 1970 (Our kind of music - "77" LEU12/38) Ray Crane (tp), John Picard (tb), Sandy Brown (cl), Bruce Turner (as,ts,sop), Tony Coe (ts), Brian Lemon (p), Dave Green (b), Bobby Orr (d). Straighten Up And Fly Right/Gentlemen Of The Bar/Sandy's Blues/When My Sugar Walks Down The Street/I'm Coming Virginia/After Supper/Strike up The Band/Easy Living (TC + rhythm)/Hanid (JP + TC + rhythm only). Eddie Thompson - July 28th and 29th, 1970 (By myself - 77 Records LEU 12/39) Eddie Thompson (p). Love Me/By Myself/At Long Last Love/Willow Weep For Me/Doing It/Sweet Georgia Brown/Robbin's Nest/Fine And Dandy/Then I'll Be Tired Of You/Little Susie/Memphis In June. George Chisholm's All Stars - December 15th, 1971 (Along the Chisholm Trail - "77" SEU12/43) Kenny Baker (tp), George Chisholm (tb), Tommy Whittle (ts), Brian Lemon (p), Lennie Bush (b), Bobby Orr (d). In A Mellotone/Ain't Misbehavin'/Avalon/I Got Rhythm. Phil Seamen - December 17th, 1971 (Phil on drums - A jam session at the Hideaway - "77" SEU12/53) Gerry Salisbury (cnt), Ray Crane (tp), Keith Christie, John Picard (tb), Sandy Brown (cl), Tommy Whittle (ts), Brian Lemon (p), Lennie Bush (b), Phil Seamen (d). Allen's Alley (GS,RC,SB out)/It's A Wonderful World/When Sonny Gets Blue (GS,RC,KC,JP out)/Just Squeeze Me. Kenny Baker's All Stars - December 9th, 1974 ("77" S56) Kenny Baker (tp), Don Lusher (tb), Tommy Whittle, Danny Moss (ts), Tony Lee (p), Tony Archer (b), Bill Eyden (d). Sweet Sue*/Out Of Nowhere*/Three Little Words* (DL,DM out)/It Don't Mean A Thing* (DL,DM out). (*Progressive CD - Kenny Baker's All Stars & The Dick Morrissey Quartet) Brian Lemon - November, 1975 (Piano summit - "77" S58) Brian Lemon (p). Yesterdays/Stella By Starlight/Exactly Like You (rest of this LP by Ralph Sutton and Keith Ingham). |