Evan
Junior Member
Posts: 99 
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Post by Evan on Jul 8, 2016 2:33:10 GMT
Thanks for the link, Spencer. Great pictures. I'm wondering, though, where do you see the upcoming titles for next year listed? Have you heard any confirmation elsewhere? One of the pictures has a stash of tapes in a box (stacked upright). If you look at the titles on the tape you will notice Duke Pearson's Wahoo and others in there. Wahoo is a title that is currently not on the MM reissue catalog. The fact that it is sitting in Kevin Gray's work station when those photos were taken is an indication that they are remastering this title for release. Donald Byrd's Byrd in Flight is another unreissued one, and so is Sonny Clark Trio and Lee Morgan Lee Way. Long time ago when I used frequent Hoffman's watering hole. I noticed there were some people over there commenting about how many times they've written to MM to reissue Wahoo. Looks like their persistence has paid off. I saw that photo but wasn't able to make the leap that they were thus forthcoming, especially since the box also contained already-released titles. Let's hope they (and others) are in the can though. I also like the idea of them deciding on future titles based on what their customers are asking for. |
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mcsvt
New Member
Posts: 11
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Post by mcsvt on Jul 11, 2016 20:07:29 GMT
New member here, just went through the entire thread as I am a jazz head and like all things Blue Note. I am first and foremost a music lover and have a fairly large vinyl collection of 3000+. A large part of which are thrift store fare(love me some thrifts, just never know what you are going to find). I too have bought collections off CL, and titles I was looking for off eBay as well as from the local record shop (just have 1, pretty small town). I am fairly new to the jazz scene, always been a metal/rock head going back to my high school days. But pretty much dove head long into jazz some 7-8 years ago. I have been pretty lucking in finding good jazz in my hunt, and have around 80 or so Blue Note titles, ranging from Lexington labels up through the 70's Liberty and dark blue labels. Due to varying sources, condition's range from Good to NM, they all get a good cleaning on my VPI and then spun. So I don't own any of the new MM or other reissues, and can't comment on their quality or lack there of. But for me there is just something about holding a 50-60 year old slab of vinyl in my hands, reading the liner notes and just sitting back and enjoying the music. Original pressings just have that mojo so to speak that a NEW reissue does not have. To think about where that record came from, who could have owned it, loved it (or not based on the condition of some of my finds), just adds another layer to the my listening pleasure.
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Post by gregorythefish on Jul 12, 2016 14:54:13 GMT
^^^i like this guy!
welcome to the board, mcsvt!
you sound like me a lot. i don't have that many blue notes, mind you, but i have some.
i think a trashed record was probably more loved, though, since it got taken out and scratched up more often!
and you do a good job or articulating why i love original pressings so much. nice to have you here. dive in!
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mcsvt
New Member
Posts: 11
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Post by mcsvt on Jul 13, 2016 14:53:08 GMT
Thanks Gregory, look forward to spending some time on this board discussing all things Jazz.
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Post by Rich on Jul 14, 2016 16:56:47 GMT
New member here, just went through the entire thread as I am a jazz head and like all things Blue Note. I am first and foremost a music lover and have a fairly large vinyl collection of 3000+. A large part of which are thrift store fare(love me some thrifts, just never know what you are going to find). I too have bought collections off CL, and titles I was looking for off eBay as well as from the local record shop (just have 1, pretty small town). I am fairly new to the jazz scene, always been a metal/rock head going back to my high school days. But pretty much dove head long into jazz some 7-8 years ago. I have been pretty lucking in finding good jazz in my hunt, and have around 80 or so Blue Note titles, ranging from Lexington labels up through the 70's Liberty and dark blue labels. Due to varying sources, condition's range from Good to NM, they all get a good cleaning on my VPI and then spun. So I don't own any of the new MM or other reissues, and can't comment on their quality or lack there of. But for me there is just something about holding a 50-60 year old slab of vinyl in my hands, reading the liner notes and just sitting back and enjoying the music. Original pressings just have that mojo so to speak that a NEW reissue does not have. To think about where that record came from, who could have owned it, loved it (or not based on the condition of some of my finds), just adds another layer to the my listening pleasure. Welcome, mcsvt! Sounds like we have a lot in common as well. My philosophy of collecting jazz records has evolved over the years. I started out as a (naive) original pressing purist, and though I managed to get a few of the more common titles I was interested in in great condition at a reasonable price, the plan for rarer records was to try to secure them in less-than-near-mint condition at a more affordable price. But during that time I became a much more critical listener and I realized I wasn't satisifed with most VG records. So I took the reissue route for the rarer records on my list, and though I'm quite happy with my reissues, nothing will ever beat the thrill of a near-mint original for me. Truthfully, sometimes I do prefer the sound of a reissue or a CD to an original, but that certainly doesn't mean that the (near-mint) original doesn't sound good, and a big part of my decision to commit to the hunt for near-mint originals was being okay with the fact that they might not always be the 'best-sounding' version of an album to me. So I'm on the 20-year plan for collecting now; it's a life-long mission to eventually replace all my reissues with near-mint originals. The list only has about 50 titles on it so I'm thinking 20 years is a reasonable amount of time to achieve my goal. I've even been thinking about having a section of my blog dedicated to this mission in order to document the experience online over time.  |
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Post by bassman on Jul 14, 2016 18:22:51 GMT
( ... )Truthfully, sometimes I do prefer the sound of a reissue or a CD to an original, but that certainly doesn't mean that the (near-mint) original doesn't sound good, and a big part of my decision to commit to the hunt for near-mint originals was being okay with the fact that they might not always be the 'best-sounding' version of an album to me. ( ... ) - - - - - - - - - - - - Rich, I have always appreciated your realistic view of the vinyl/CD controversy. Collectors' preferences aside, I sometimes ask myself what, at present, might be the best mastering available of a particular jazz album. I am convinced that in many cases, speaking of sound quality, digital versions would beat (be closer to the master tape than) the "original" vinyl, which I nevertheless have every good reason to respect and revere. I have a dream of a website approximating LJC's (anathema!), but approaching sound quality in a more relaxed, less dogmatic way. It's not my job, but someone else may feel like he could tackle it. |
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Evan
Junior Member
Posts: 99
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Post by Evan on Jul 15, 2016 5:58:54 GMT
So I'm on the 20-year plan for collecting now; it's a life-long mission to eventually replace all my reissues with near-mint originals. The list only has about 50 titles on it so I'm thinking 20 years is a reasonable amount of time to achieve my goal. I've even been thinking about having a section of my blog dedicated to this mission in order to document the experience online over time. Any reason for such a short list, Rich? |
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Post by Rich on Jul 15, 2016 14:50:08 GMT
So I'm on the 20-year plan for collecting now; it's a life-long mission to eventually replace all my reissues with near-mint originals. The list only has about 50 titles on it so I'm thinking 20 years is a reasonable amount of time to achieve my goal. I've even been thinking about having a section of my blog dedicated to this mission in order to document the experience online over time. Any reason for such a short list, Rich? Yes. For any title I'm remotely interested in from the period 1955-1965, a near-mint original is more or less expensive. There's probably well over 100 hard bop albums I am happy to own on CD but I can't justify shelling out x dollars for a near-mint original pressing of all of them. So I've spent a lot of time narrowing down my wish list of near-mint originals so it only includes my most favorite albums. As it is, the 40-50 titles on this list will cost thousands of dollars in total, and working in education, I'm not and probably never will be anywhere near what might be considered wealthy. So obtaining these records is going to involve budgeting, saving, discipline, and patience. |
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Post by gst on Jul 18, 2016 20:32:48 GMT
I picked up a copy of Jimmy Smith’s “Prayer Meetin'” (Blue Note, New York label with RVG and ear, but no DG) at my local store yesterday and it got me thinking. Knowing that a considerable amount of folks on the various jazz boards aren’t big fans of Jimmy’s work is this something you would pick up (assuming it’s in reasonable shape at a reasonable price). Are there any original Blue Note titles, NY label or earlier, if you ran across it in the wild (again assuming good shape/price) that you would put back? I’m thinking the 3 Sounds may be in this category as well. I would pick up anything assuming I didn’t already own a copy in similar or better shape, but I’m a fan of Jimmy Smith so what do I know  |
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Post by Rich on Jul 18, 2016 21:37:45 GMT
I picked up a copy of Jimmy Smith’s “Prayer Meetin'” (Blue Note, New York label with RVG and ear, but no DG) at my local store yesterday and it got me thinking. Knowing that a considerable amount of folks on the various jazz boards aren’t big fans of Jimmy’s work is this something you would pick up (assuming it’s in reasonable shape at a reasonable price). Are there any original Blue Note titles, NY label or earlier, if you ran across it in the wild (again assuming good shape/price) that you would put back? I’m thinking the 3 Sounds may be in this category as well. I would pick up anything assuming I didn’t already own a copy in similar or better shape, but I’m a fan of Jimmy Smith so what do I know I friggin love Jimmy Smith, but I actually don't own any of his records. I have a huge Spotify playlist of all my favorite songs of his, but so far, none of his albums are consistent enough to me to want to own the LP. It's more about a song here and a song there for me with Jimmy Smith. And I have passed on many, many original Blue Notes in my time, sometimes simply because they were overpriced or not in great shape, but usually because I'm very picky about what enters my collection--only my most favorite albums. |
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Post by gregorythefish on Jul 19, 2016 18:01:36 GMT
i also love jimmy smith, and would happily pick it up. i fear i have a bit of a hoarding mentality. it makes me so happy seeing my shelves knowing i have so many nice options for connections to that great era via its recordings in original form.
i have passed on plenty of blue notes for the same reasons rich has, though there are none i would pass on outright (other than a few from the post-liberty takeover) given the history of the label and its increading value (gotta strike now!), but there are plenty that i would never buy for very much. i wouldn't pay more than $30 for any 3 sounds record, and it would need to be nice and minty. i don't have any 3 sounds and i am not actively searching for them, so it is no big deal. but i typically buy a record if the following tests are passed, in order: 1) it is a record i want or am interested in 2) it is an original, 1st pressing or as close as can be verified 3) the price is right 4) the condition is nice 5) i can afford it in the moment or it is so unlikely i will see it ever again in that price/condition that i will be able to convince the other half not to yell at me. haha.
this leads me to owning all sorts of fun stuff, and i think i have a reasonably nice collection of middle to upper-middle-range jazz records in terms of desirability, with a few minor grails in there.
i think it is very trendy to dislike jimmy smith. i thought i would dislike him just from all the talk, but then i tried to just sit and listen, and i found his recordings to be very enjoyable. too many people talk too much. not enough listen.
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mcsvt
New Member
Posts: 11
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Post by mcsvt on Jul 19, 2016 19:24:32 GMT
Big Jimmy Smith fan here as well, I think those who knock him just haven't spent enough time listening to him. I mean he played with all the big shots early on in his BN catalog, Mobley, Blakey, Byrd, Donaldson etc. I love "The Sermon", it's probably my favorite, and really enjoy his later more funk/jazz outings. I would and do pick up any of his stuff I come across, his Verve catalog is really good as well.
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Post by gst on Jul 19, 2016 20:01:51 GMT
Well I'm glad to see I'm not the only Jimmy fan. I think "Back at the Chicken Shack" is his best.
I understand not wanting to be burdened with two many records as there becomes a point you can no longer play what you have. I've been trying to pair down what I have, but that hasn't stopped me from buying albums at the same time.
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Post by Rich on Jul 19, 2016 23:03:40 GMT
Anyone who prematurely shuns Jimmy Smith needs to see film of him performing live. Dude had so much passion for what he did and it comes through in his live performances especially.
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Post by Rich on Jul 19, 2016 23:09:12 GMT
Speaking of Smith originals, I was disappointed to discover that his solo on "Indiana" wasn't included in the original pressing of Groovin at Smalls' Paradise Vol. 2. Though this was most likely due to the LP's time limitations, the complete version of the song *is* on the RVG Edition CD, and man does he rip on it.
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