On Friday 14th of March, the iconic jazz label Candid Records released newly remastered albums from Nancy Harrow(Wild Women Don’t Have the Blues), Jaki Byard (Blues For Smoke) and Memphis Slim (Memphis Slim, U.S.A.). Three unearthed musical gems from the 1960s, these reissues are now available on vinyl, CD and all streaming platforms, also marking the first time Byard’s Blues For Smoke is available on vinyl in the U.S.
Still actively creating and releasing music, Nancy Harrow was thrilled to hear the news of the reissue of her debut album. "I am excited that my first album has been remastered and is being released again for a new life,” she says. “I was transported back in time when I heard the new LP. I think it is because the remastering has captured the immediacy of those takes and the energy of all those musicians who inspired me back in 1961. So many great solos – it was like playing tennis with a pro.”
Nancy Harrow - "Wild Women Don’t Have the Blues" Listen Here
Produced by Candid Records A&R Director Nat Hentoff and originally released in 1961, Nancy Harrow’s debut album Wild Women Don’t Have the Blues finds the celebrated vocalist delivering performances that swing effortlessly. Featuring a collection of standards and blues classics, the album includes unforgettable renditions of “Take Me Back Baby,” “I’ve Got the World On a String” and the defiant anthem “Wild Women Don’t Have the Blues.” This recording assembles an extraordinary band led by Buck Clayton (Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington), with arrangements designed to highlight Harrow's bold and natural style. Among the stellar lineup, NEA Jazz Master and guitar icon Kenny Burrell, Buddy Tate (tenor saxophone), Dickie Wells (trombone) and Milt Hinton (bass), with all of these players bringing a depth and warmth to every track.
This release is an original tape remaster by multi GRAMMY Award-winning engineer Michael Graves (Ray Charles, Hank Williams, Blondie), pressed on 180-gram vinyl.
Jaki Byard - "Blues For Smoke" Listen Here
Originally recorded in 1960, Jaki Byard’s debut album Blues For Smoke captures the boundless creativity and technical brilliance of one of jazz’s most versatile pianists. It’s a fascinating snapshot of his deep connection to the full spectrum of jazz styles, with highlights including the tribute to his Queens roots “The Hollis Stomp” and the energetic bebop and ragtime masterpiece, “One Two Five.” Byard was already widely lauded as a dynamic and forward-thinking player during this time, joining Charles Mingus’s ensemble and contributing to seminal works like Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus; The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady; and the iconic Live at Monterey. The jazz visionary also recorded a string of albums for Prestige Records in the ‘60s and went on to perform with luminaries like Art Blakey and Elvin Jones.
This release is an all-analog remaster from original tapes by legendary engineer Bernie Grundman (Michael Jackson, Prince, Quincy Jones), pressed on 180-gram vinyl.
Memphis Slim - "Memphis Slim, U.S.A." Listen Here
Originally released in 1961, Memphis Slim, U.S.A. is a vibrant, soulful odyssey and a cornerstone of blues storytelling from one of the most influential figures in the genre’s history. The album captures the essence of Memphis Slim’s artistry, vividly portraying the hardships and triumphs of a traveling bluesman. Produced by Candid Records A&R Director Nat Hentoff, these sessions feature raw, heartfelt performances from the Blues Hall of Fame inductee alongside jazz and blues stalwarts Arbee Stidham and Jazz Gillum. Slim’s indelible career saw him collaborating alongside legends like Big Bill Broonzy, Sonny Boy Williamson and Willie Dixon. In 1949, he penned “Nobody Loves Me,” which evolved into the ubiquitous blues standard “Everyday I Have the Blues.”
This release is an original tape remaster by multi GRAMMY Award-winning engineer Michael Graves (Ray Charles, Hank Williams, Blondie), pressed on 180-gram vinyl.
About Candid Records:
Candid Records was founded by arranger and bandleader Archie Bleyer as an offshoot of Cadence Records. Bleyer tapped the legendary Nat Hentoff as A&R man and producer of the first 30 records designed to capture the vibrant and creative jazz scene in New York in 1960 and ‘61. One cannot underestimate the breadth of these recordings - from bebop to the avant-garde, to blues. Candid then sat dormant for years until Black Lion Records founder and producer Alan Bates bought the label in 1989 and relaunched another highly successful era, recording another 300 titles and breaking stalwart artists such as Jamie Cullum and Stacey Kent. To continue the legacy, Bates sold the company to Glen Barros and Candid became the foundational label of the newly formed Exceleration Music Partners. Since its relaunch with Exceleration in 2021, the label has faithfully reissued its historic catalog and released a slate of highly celebrated new recordings from Eliane Elias, Wayne Shorter, Terri Lyne Carrington and more. The Exceleration era of Candid has earned nine GRAMMY® nominations and five GRAMMY® awards to date. Learn more at candidrecords.com.
About Exceleration Music:
Exceleration Music is a company formed by global music industry leaders Glen Barros, John Burk, Amy Dietz, Charles Caldas, and Dave Hansen, to invest in the future of independent labels and artists. Established in 2020 with the core founding values of integrity, fairness, openness, humility and excellence, Exceleration offers personalized solutions to entrepreneurs seeking capital to achieve growth as well as those trying to achieve liquidity or an honorable exit. The company’s growing team of data, sales, and marketing experts, enhanced by the acquisition of leading digital and physical distribution and music services company Redeye Worldwide, works to preserve and enhance the legacies of both entrepreneurs and their artists alike. To date, Exceleration has acquired or formed strategic relationships with leading independents including +1 Records, Alligator, Azadi, Bloodshot, Candid, Down The Road, Heroic, Kill Rock Stars, Mom+Pop, SideOneDummy, The Ray Charles Foundation / Tangerine Records and Yep Roc Records. Learn more at excelerationmusic.com.