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Post by saxoblues on Nov 23, 2017 12:23:47 GMT
an interesting answer from John Koenig, son of Lester Koenig (founder of the contemporary Label), on the pressing and numbering of their production, and the cover story from Ornette Coleman " something else "
John Koenig : There wasn't always an exact correlation between the date of the jackets and the dates of the pressings. We had to print a minimum of 5000 sheets of jacket paper at a time and the minimum number of pressings on an order was 500. So a newer record might have gone into an older jacket. But while the correlation wasn't exact, it was roughly parallel. People shouldn't pay so much attention to label color. Yes they changed, but that has virtually no significance - there was no method to it. As to which LPs are the best-sounding, I recommend the later D numbers. Disc cutting gear improved over time; the high end got much freer. We always kept our disc cutting system up to date. For many years, we were regarded as one of the two best disc-cutting systems in L.A. (the other being Capitol). So even though they may not be the first issue, the later D numbers virtually always sound better than the earlier ones for this reason. One other note: the photo of Ornette on this jacket is not the same as on the original issue. My father changed the photo to this one after Ornette asked him to -- I believe it was in the late '60s. Ornette didn't like the original picture, but somehow it was released with that picture. Everyone liked this one better.
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Post by saxoblues on Nov 23, 2017 12:31:03 GMT
 
the first one left and the second right |
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Post by alunsevern on Nov 24, 2017 12:17:26 GMT
Very interesting, saxoblues. That first variant photograph of Ornette just doesn't look right at all, does it?
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Post by nicknick on Nov 24, 2017 18:25:35 GMT
Thank you for the post, saxoblue. I've never seen the initial cover of Something Else!!!! I also checked my copies of two old Contemporary editions: Hampton Hawes' For Real! (M3589) and Shelly Manne's My Fair Lady (C3527): they have numbers D1 and D18 respectively on the platters. Therefore, according to Koenig Jr, they should sound better  |
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Post by jonwms on Jan 10, 2018 5:48:00 GMT
Interesting, I just took a look at both of my Ornette Contemporary's and they are both D3. Original DG Melrose Place issues.
I've found that most of their pressings up through the 70's were actually really good. I only have 70's issues of some of the best ones and they do not disappoint me.
Years ago I had a factory cassette tape of Art Pepper, "Meets The Rhythm Section" that I grabbed out of a used bin to have in the car for a road trip. The sound on that crappy cassette tape played through the stock tape player in my Toyota was mind blowing. I could not tell you why, but it was....
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86ed
New Member
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Post by 86ed on Jan 22, 2018 16:23:14 GMT
Great original intel on the "D" pressings, thank you saxoblues!
Your post sent me to do some internal investigation and I come back very pleased, these titles are all "D" stamped in my collection.
Barney Kessel - Barney Kessel 10", Contemporary Records C2508
Barney Kessel - Barney Kessel Volume 2 10", Contemporary Records C-2514
Barney Kessel - Easy Like LP, Album Contemporary Records C 3511
Barney Kessel - Kessel Plays Standards. Barney Kessel, Vol. 2 Contemporary Records C3512
Barney Kessel - Let's Cook! Contemporary Records M3603
Barney Kessel - Music To Listen To Barney Kessel By Contemporary Records C3521
Barney Kessel - Vol. 3, To Swing Or Not To Swing Contemporary Records C 3513
The Barney Kessel Quartet - Workin' Out Contemporary Records S 7585
Hampton Hawes !!!! With Barney Kessel, Shelly Manne & Red Mitchell - Four! Contemporary Records S7026
The Poll Winners - The Poll Winners Contemporary Records C 3535
The Poll Winners - Ride Again! Contemporary Records C3556
The Poll Winners - Poll Winners Three! Contemporary Records M 3576
The Poll Winners - The Poll Winners Exploring The Scene Contemporary Records M 3581
The Poll Winners - Straight Ahead Contemporary Records S 7635
Shelly Manne & His Men - At The Black Hawk Vol. 1 Contemporary Records S 7577
Shelly Manne & His Men - At The Black Hawk Vol. 1 Contemporary Records S 7577
Shelly Manne & His Men - At The Black Hawk, Vol. 2 Contemporary Records S 7578
Shelly Manne & His Men - At The Black Hawk, Vol. 2 Contemporary Records S 7578
Shelly Manne & His Men - At The Black Hawk, Vol. 2 Contemporary Records S 7578
Shelly Manne & His Men - At The Black Hawk, Vol. 2 Contemporary Records M 3578
Shelly Manne & His Men - At The Black Hawk, Vol. 3 Contemporary Records S-7579
Shelly Manne & His Men - At The Black Hawk, Vol. 4 Contemporary Records S-7580
Somewhat on the same topic, I was disappointed to learn they will not allow Chad Kassem (Analogue Productions) to do a Contemporary reissue vinyl series.
It has been off/on/off many times, seems now from a recent correspondence with Chad that it will not happen...
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Post by sztiv on Jan 23, 2018 17:42:13 GMT
'Listen, mate, *life* has surface noise." - John Peel
Wonderful - doesn't it just.
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Aaron
New Member
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Post by Aaron on Mar 8, 2018 7:19:52 GMT
John Koenig : "...People shouldn't pay so much attention to label color. Yes they changed, but that has virtually no significance - there was no method to it..."
Green labels, I'm looking at you! |
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