An extraordinarily candid and direct note from jazz giant Charles Mingus to Columbia Records president Goddard Lieberson, regarding his dissatisfaction with the label.

This was part of the legendary jazz collection of Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts (1941-2022); and sold at auction in 2023 by Christie’s, London.

The note reads, in full:

‘Goddard:

Have decided to send this

directly to you, – rather than

the accounting department –

as I know you will see

it gets the proper results.

‘LOVE!’   Charles Mingus.’

This intriguing note dates from Mingus’s second tenure with Columbia in the early 1970s, following his initial stint in the late 50s.

Lieberson, upon receiving Mingus’s note, forwarded it to Columbia vice president and general council Clive Davis, a future president of Columbia.  Davis, in a second note, forwards it to then staff attorney Walter Yetnikoff, yet another future president of Columbia Records, asking him to ‘Pls [please] handle delicately.’

In an extraordinary example of corporate passing the buck, Yetnikoff then forwards Mingus’s inquiry to a fourth Columbia executive, known here only by the initials ‘HBC,’ asking him to ‘Pls [please] handle, then adding, ‘(Is your life insurance up to date?)’

While Mingus, a genius composer, bandleader and bassist, was known as a prickly artist, it’s remarkable to see four senior Columbia executives pass him around like a hot potato—with the legendarily volatile Yetnikoff suggesting, we hope humorously, that Mingus even might be dangerous.

Mingus’s second stint at Columbia, during 1971-1972, came at an extraordinarily productive time for the musician.  For Columbia, he recorded Let My Children Hear Music, an album he described as “the best album I have ever made,” as well as the live double album Charles Mingus and Friends in Concert.  He also released his acclaimed autobiography Beneath The Underdog, and won a prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship.

This was sold as part of Lot 568 in the Christie’s auction Charlie Watts: Gentleman, Collector, Rolling Stone. It has been authenticated by music autograph expert Roger Epperson, whose Certificate of Authenticity is included.  With Recordmecca’s written lifetime guarantee, our card identifying this as part of the Charlie Watts Collection, and a copy of the Christie’s lot label.