Ken Nordine Helps Open a Chicago Hi-Fi Store, April, 1957 (Exploring My Reel-to-Reel Catacombs, Volume Six)

Ken Nordine needs no introduction. But he was probably less well known in the spring of 1957, when he was asked to speak at the opening of the new Allied High Fidelity "Voice and Vision" Store, on the corner of Rush and Walton Streets, in Chicago.

What I was lucky enough to find, during one of my reel to reel thrift and rummage sale buying sprees, many years ago, is what I believe to be a recording made during preparations for that appearance. 

And what a peculiar and fascinating rehearsal this is. After he supplies a bit of playful commentary on the echo effect which occurs while the sound system is being set up, Nordine then gives a nine minute long speech - likely a version of what he was going to say at the gala opening, and completely unrelated to the business at hand of opening a store for audiophiles.

I have not heard all of Nordine's recordings, so I don't know how much of this speech may contain elements of things he later released, except for this: near the end, he makes mention of his "Word Jazz" (which hadn't premiered on album yet), then throws in a version of his piece "Flibberty Jib", which is significantly different  - shorter and simpler - than the version that would be released on album, later that year.

After trying out his speech, he then gives two short performances, both of them poems by Dylan Thomas, the second of which is followed by a smattering of applause from whichever staff happened to be there at the time.

I'm guessing this material has never been released, and that few have even heard it, since the day it was recorded.

1.) Ken Nordine - 1 - Set Up (MP3)
2.) Ken Nordine - 2 - Speech (MP3)
3.) Ken Nordine - 3 - In My Craft Or Sullen Art (MP3)
4.) Ken Nordine - 4 - Fern Hill (MP3)

 

For completists, I'm also including the recordings from the second side of the tape. In this case, the opening celebrations are in full swing, and local radio host Norman Ross interviews several celebrities who happened to be in town, most of them appearing in local clubs or shows. I found these to be fairly vacuous, except the last one, which is meant to be humorous, but falls completely flat, and which is painfully unfunny.

 

I did, however, use some of the references here, including a recent earthquake in San Francisco, a late snowstorm in Chicago and the location of Gale Robbins' night club engagement (along with the help of the Chicago Tribune archives) to pin the date of this even down to some time in mid-April of 1957. The references to Stereo, therefore, must be with regard to reel to reel tapes, since (with a few exceptions) this format wouldn't show up on albums until the following year. Interesting that in a new store which featured the latest marvel, stereo tape recording, that this tape was recorded in monaural.

 

5.) Norman Ross - 1 - Vicki Cummings Interview (MP3)
6.) Norman Ross - 2 - Lisa Kirk Interview (MP3)
7.) Norman Ross - 3 - Josephine Premice and Eddie Heywood Interview (MP3)
8.) Norman Ross - 4 - Gale Robbins Interview (MP3)
9.) Norman Ross - 5 - Dr. Von Schultz Interview (MP3)

 

Tape Box (JPG)

Comments

[twitter.com/taro3yen]

---"...I have not heard all of Nordine's recordings, so I don't know how much of this speech may contain elements of things he later released..."---

I've heard Nordine do the "I'm Double" riff in 1-SetUp(MP3) several times on his NPR WordJazz show---It's one his favorite shticks.

[Timmy]

WOW! Uncirculated, unreleased Ken Nordine? This is bigger than lost books of The Bible. I always dig Nordine & always have & always will. Thanx for sharing this auditory relic with the world.

[Tony]

We've been shooting a feature-length film on Ken for a number of years now. A Word Jazz work of love... I grew up with his sons, so you might say this is an insider's tribute. Ken by the way, is still going full speed ahead at 90!

[Michael]

Hello! Just an FYI, Voice and Vision, INC was open at least in 1955 at 53 E. Walton, Chicago 11, phone # WH3-1166. I have in my possession a catalog issued by the store of items available for order. The back cover has a panoramic photo of the storefront.

I also have some 3-D images of a listening event at the store- not sure of the actual date- I'll need to check the item(s) promoted and see when it was released. However, I don't think the event in question was a one-off. The Ken Nordine event may be one of these listening events.

Hope this information is of help!