alex
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Posts: 10
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Post by alex on Feb 13, 2018 17:24:19 GMT
Lucked out yesterday while crate digging and found John Coltrane Quartet "Ballads" LP (AS-32) for $3.99. Took it home, washed it thoroughly, vacuumed, rinsed and vacuumed again and was absolutely blown away by the sound!
Sadly, the LP is in a pretty poor condition, otherwise this would be my show-off LP for anyone who is skeptical that vinyl could offer the best sonic experience. The sound on this record is so robust, so alive and cutting through, that it easily beats any, even the most advanced ultra high end digital sound reproduction.
I'm now wondering if I got lucky and stumbled upon the original first pressing? Not sure how would I go about determining that, because on discogs there are like bazillion gatefold versions of this LP.
I'm asking because I now need to get me a good clean pressing of this LP, but I don't want to lose the amazing robustness that is buried inside these microgrooves. If I can determine which issue that LP is, then I could go on hunting for the same issue only in better condition. And for such incredible quality, I think it makes sense to shell out way more than 4 bucks.
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Post by gregorythefish on Feb 13, 2018 23:06:54 GMT
welcome, alex. if you post pictures of both labels, i can tell you if it is a first pressing or not, and what to look for to get the same pressing regardless.
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alex
New Member
Posts: 10
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Post by alex on Feb 13, 2018 23:11:03 GMT
welcome, alex. if you post pictures of both labels, i can tell you if it is a first pressing or not, and what to look for to get the same pressing regardless. Thank you for the warm welcome, and for offering a helping hand, Mr. God  I'll post the pictures of the label when I get home tonight! Cheers! |
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alex
New Member
Posts: 10
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Post by alex on Feb 14, 2018 5:06:50 GMT
welcome, alex. if you post pictures of both labels, i can tell you if it is a first pressing or not, and what to look for to get the same pressing regardless.  |
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Post by dottorjazz on Feb 14, 2018 9:16:52 GMT
A-1-S to A-14-S: a product of AM PAR record corp
AS-15 to AS-33: a product of AM PAR record corp
NO SUFFIX -A after cat number
AM PAR
your copy: AS-32 A, a product of ABC Paramount, looks like second ed.
I don't know if a copy without suffix -A exists with ABC Paramount nor one with suffix -A exists with AM Par.
Another feature we didn't discuss yet is how the label looks, glossy or matt.
in my data I have:
GLOSSY: 1-90
MATT : 94 on
UNCERTAIN: 91 to 93
my copy of A-85 is glossy on side 2 only.
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Post by gregorythefish on Feb 14, 2018 17:10:16 GMT
haha, i don't know why we become "gods" after 500 posts, but i won't argue! to decifer what dott said a bit, this is not a first pressing, but it is an early one. the very first pressing should have glossy labels (not matte), no "A" after the 32 on the left, and the white text at the bottom should reference "Am-Par" record corp, not ABC-Paramount. "Ballads" was a popular record (for coltrane) and so many pressing runs occurred in almost all known label variations. any orange label pressing you can get was likely made from the same metalwork at the same plant, so you should be good to go if it is sound quality you are after. even the black label with the red rim is probably a safe bet. |
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alex
New Member
Posts: 10
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Post by alex on Feb 14, 2018 18:04:58 GMT
haha, i don't know why we become "gods" after 500 posts, but i won't argue! to decifer what dott said a bit, this is not a first pressing, but it is an early one. the very first pressing should have glossy labels (not matte), no "A" after the 32 on the left, and the white text at the bottom should reference "Am-Par" record corp, not ABC-Paramount. "Ballads" was a popular record (for coltrane) and so many pressing runs occurred in almost all known label variations. any orange label pressing you can get was likely made from the same metalwork at the same plant, so you should be good to go if it is sound quality you are after. even the black label with the red rim is probably a safe bet. Awesome, thanks for the explanation |
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Post by saxoblues on Feb 16, 2018 13:23:38 GMT
my copy of ballads have the ABC-Paramount adress and bellsound in the deadwax but not RVG.Whats the difference?
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Post by gregorythefish on Feb 16, 2018 16:10:37 GMT
hey there saxo:
Bell Sound is the expected runout for "ballads", one of the few not mastered by good ol' rudy. the first press is "Am-Par" but yours is likely sonically identical. also it is probably the second pressing, and pressed very soon after the first.
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Post by dottorjazz on Feb 17, 2018 8:44:30 GMT
once we thought Impulse to be a simple label to decipher: it ain't.
in the purpose to understand (almost) every single detail, I've this question for Impulse gurus.
address on BACK COVER: gtf stated that 1-16 had Am Par.
and from 17 on?
my copies of 21, 28 and 32, AM Par on label, have ABC PARAMOUNT on back cover.
Ballads has VANGELDER on run out.
gtf?
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Post by gregorythefish on Feb 17, 2018 16:58:47 GMT
hey dott: this is the one detail i have not fully figured out, but i think the pattern is essentially random for a while. we need to figure it out on an individual basis.
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Post by Rich on Feb 18, 2018 1:02:09 GMT
Hello Alex, On first read your post is a little confusing because you say the LP sounds amazing but is in poor condition, but I think I get what you're saying, I'm guessing there's a lot of surface noise but the grooves still sound fresh. I'm curious if your copy has Van Gelder in the dead wax. My copy does but it's mono. (Greg, I'm curious if you're saying that Alex's specific stereo pressing does not exist with the Van Gelder stamp?) I've heard several copies of this album, in mono albeit, and it appears that it was mastered quite hot because the few I've come across all suffer from some degree of inner groove distortion near the end of each side. It's very mild on my copy, but my favorite songs, "Say It (Over and Over Again)" and "Too Young to Go Steady", sound amazing--and I say all this in light of the fact that I too got an amazing deal on my copy. Gorgeous cover too. PS: I love when I read about a record I haven't heard in a while. I just threw my copy on and it's a real treat sitting here listening! |
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Post by gregorythefish on Feb 18, 2018 17:33:34 GMT
hi rich:
yep, my understanding has always been that mono copies are van gelder, and stereo ones are bell sound.
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alex
New Member
Posts: 10
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Post by alex on Feb 19, 2018 6:31:41 GMT
Hello Alex, On first read your post is a little confusing because you say the LP sounds amazing but is in poor condition, but I think I get what you're saying, I'm guessing there's a lot of surface noise but the grooves still sound fresh. I'm curious if your copy has Van Gelder in the dead wax. My copy does but it's mono. (Greg, I'm curious if you're saying that Alex's specific stereo pressing does not exist with the Van Gelder stamp?) I've heard several copies of this album, in mono albeit, and it appears that it was mastered quite hot because the few I've come across all suffer from some degree of inner groove distortion near the end of each side. It's very mild on my copy, but my favorite songs, "Say It (Over and Over Again)" and "Too Young to Go Steady", sound amazing--and I say all this in light of the fact that I too got an amazing deal on my copy. Gorgeous cover too. PS: I love when I read about a record I haven't heard in a while. I just threw my copy on and it's a real treat sitting here listening! Hi Rich, The scratches on the dead wax are nearly impossible to decipher. Very, vary pale, barely readable. But does not look like Van Gelder. The condition of the LP is poor because some tracks are marred by visible (and audible) scars, which makes listening a challenge. Luckily, "Too Young To Go Steady" (mine favourite too is in a decent condition, so it's a pleasure to listen to. Looks like I got me one of them so called 'hot stampers', because the sound on this LP literally leaps out of the speakers! It is unbelievably enthusiastic, muscular, fiery and full bodied. Coltrane's sax literally breathes fire. Ah, the passion and the enthusiasm of those early days of making records is just gushing from the micro grooves |
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Post by gst on Feb 22, 2018 16:02:12 GMT
once we thought Impulse to be a simple label to decipher: it ain't. in the purpose to understand (almost) every single detail, I've this question for Impulse gurus. address on BACK COVER: gtf stated that 1-16 had Am Par. and from 17 on? my copies of 21, 28 and 32, AM Par on label, have ABC PARAMOUNT on back cover. Ballads has VANGELDER on run out. gtf? We talked about the back cover before but i haven't really dug in any more. Not sure that LJC has either. londonjazzcollector.freeforums.net/thread/39/impulse-back-cover |
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