Numero Group: By The Numbers

Sometimes the seemingly mundane but crucial task of composing endless drafts and emails and the sending out of promotional materials and one-sheets in a tiny office can seem like a daunting one way conversation (envision Sisyphus pushing a large rubber band ball or the owner of Winky Dinky Dog offering ‘Stevie’ and ‘Michael’ Hoe Cakes into his shoe in Hollywood Shuffle). So I am always pleased to encounter some sort of correspondence, especially in the form of enthusiasm of having received a release and in particular, a link to a review. Depending on the literary medium, this can range from the simple and factual 100 word review to the carefully thought out, “geez this guy really gets it,” longer, expanded essay. The latest sort of satisfaction comes with the 1,000 page plus tome of Tom Moon’s 1,000 Recordings To Hear Before You Die: A Listener’s Life List. It is carefully cataloged (in alphabetical order according to artist’s last name) for easy perusal and passionately written with suggestions of “key tracks,” “next stops,” (similar to but better thought out than ‘[R]ecommended [I]f [Y]ou [L]ikes) and “after thats” (even more suggestions). Mr. Moon has always been kind to Numero and we were pleased to see the inclusion of one of our earliest and at the time of release, more adventurous and daring titles: the ‘fire and brimstone’ gospel cum rockabilly release of Fern Jones’ The Glory Road. Here’s what Tom Moon had to say:

“Jones’s amalgam of early rock, country and gospel was a kind of cultural dynamite, and way ahead of its time.”