Carla Bley, Paul Haines – Escalator Over The Hill (Vinyl 3LP)

Carla Bley, Paul Haines – Escalator Over The Hill is a "chronotransduction", a jazz opera of sorts spread over three LPs: music and adaptation by Carla Bley, words by the poet Paul Haines. The Jazz Composer's Orchestra recorded it between 1968 and 1971, produced by Michael Mantler, and the first edition came out on JCOA Records in 1971. The cast mixes jazz and rock names such as Jack Bruce, Linda Ronstadt, John McLaughlin, Don Cherry, Gato Barbieri and Charlie Haden. The final side ends in a locked groove. This copy is the 1974 UK reissue (JCOA / Virgin JT 4001) in a gatefold sleeve with insert.

Pressing details

• Label / Cat. no.: JCOA Records JT 4001
• Format: 3 x vinyl LP, album, gatefold
• Pressing: UK reissue
• Country: UK
• Year of this pressing: 1974 (original: 1971)
• Genre: Jazz, Experimental, Contemporary Jazz
• Extras: Insert

Condition

• Condition: Second hand
• Media: NM-
• Cover: VG+ (embossed sleeve)

Graded to Goldmine standard (see Vinyl Grading). The images are our own scans of the actual copy for sale (SKU SH383).

Tracklist

Side 1

1. Hotel Overture

Side 2

1. This Is Here...
2. Like Animals
3. Escalator Over The Hill
4. Stay Awake
5. Ginger And David
6. Song To Anything That Moves

Side 3

1. EOTH Theme
2. Businessmen
3. Ginger And David Theme
4. Why
5. It's Not What You Do
6. Detective Writer Daughter
7. Doctor Why
8. Slow Dance (Transductory Music)
9. Smalltown Agonist

Side 4

1. End Of Head
2. Over Her Head
3. Little Pony Soldier
4. Oh Say Can You Do?
5. Holiday In Risk
6. Holiday In Risk Theme

Side 5

1. A.I.R. (All India Radio)
2. Rawalpindi Blues

Side 6

1. End Of Rawalpindi
2. End Of Animals
3. ...And It's Again

Personnel

Vocals / narration: Viva (narrator), Jack Bruce (vocals, bass), Linda Ronstadt, Jeanne Lee, Paul Jones, Sheila Jordan, Carla Bley, Don Preston (also Moog synthesizer), Karen Mantler.

Instrumentalists (selection): Carla Bley (organ, piano, celeste, chimes, calliope), Michael Mantler (trumpet, valve trombone, prepared piano), Don Cherry, Enrico Rava (trumpet), Gato Barbieri (tenor saxophone), Jimmy Lyons (alto saxophone), Roswell Rudd, Jimmy Knepper (trombone), Leroy Jenkins (violin), John McLaughlin, Sam Brown (guitar), Charlie Haden, Ron McClure (bass), Paul Motian (drums), Karl Berger (vibraphone), Howard Johnson (tuba). Produced by Michael Mantler.

FAQ

What kind of work is "Escalator Over The Hill"?
A full-length work moving between jazz, rock, opera and Indian influences, recorded over about three years with changing line-ups. Paul Haines wrote the words, Carla Bley the music, performed by the Jazz Composer's Orchestra with many guests.

Is this the original pressing?
No. The first edition came out in 1971 on JCOA Records. These records are the 1974 UK reissue, cat. no. JT 4001, distributed by Virgin, in a gatefold sleeve with insert.

What does Media NM- / Cover VG+ mean?
NM- (Near Mint minus) for the record means close to new with at most minimal signs of use. VG+ (Very Good Plus) for the sleeve means light wear. All grades are explained on our Vinyl Grading page.

Do you have more Carla Bley records?
Yes, for example Carla Bley – Social Studies, Carla Bley – Live!, The Carla Bley Band – I Hate To Sing. More titles are in our Jazz collection.