Mats
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Posts: 28
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Post by Mats on Sept 16, 2016 8:45:18 GMT
I don't know if you are familiar with The Electric Recording Company. They're mostly into classical audiophile releases. You might want to check them out, now that they will be releasing their first (I think) jazz release - Mobleys Message. I have no experience of their releases whatsoever (they are insanely expensive) but they have received som very good press. Check it out: electricrecordingco.com/releases/mobleys-message
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Post by alunsevern on Sept 16, 2016 10:19:16 GMT
Mats, I think I mentioned this somewhere here a couple of weeks back. They certainly are expensive... But when you think about the size of the runs -- a few hundred -- and the vintage equipment invested in, and the obsessive lengths the company goes to to realise period detail, I suppose the prices aren't out of proportion to the effort involved.
I remember reading that one of the company's classical releases required it finding special papery and card stock for the inner and outer sleeves, a printer still able to print using letterpress hot metal methods, and a milliner able to produce ribbon to the required standards for part of the packaging.
I think it's nuts --but in a reassuringly eccentric and passionate pursuit of excellence.
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Post by gregorythefish on Sept 16, 2016 18:12:14 GMT
while reading your take, alun, my opinion went from "wow that is agonizingly stupid" to "ok, i suppose it's fine if someone is interested, but wow."
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Post by Rich on Sept 16, 2016 21:58:36 GMT
To be honest, I am very intrigued by limited-run, obsessive-attention-to-detail reissue programs. Philosophically though, I think the pursuit of perfect replication of originals is futile; in fact, in a way I see it as the antithesis of what they intend to do: at the end of it all, what one has in front of them is still not an original, no matter how much it looks like it...might as well buck the trend and not sweat the small stuff. This is actually kinda why I prefer 'vintage reissues' to modern reissues that try too hard to in some way replicate the original pressing. Though I understand that the benefit of such a program is that something very closely resembling an original can be had for much less than the genuine article and to some degree have the 'spirit' of an original.
That being said, I love the idea of people getting so crazy about reproducing originals faithfully that they get the exact vintage equipment to make sure the bleed of the ink etc. is identical (that was one of my pet peeves about Music Matters, that they didn't honor the 'finish' of the original album covers by using super sharp, perfect photos; Disk Union did a better job with their newer reissues, as did Classic Records with their labels). As for this Mobley reissue, it doesn't look like it even has a deep groove! What's so special about it then? 300 pounds British? I mean that thing would nee to look EXACTLY like an original for me to think it's worth anyone paying that much for it (not me but someone else).
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Post by Rich on Sept 16, 2016 22:14:59 GMT
I did enjoy watching the videos on the site that explain their process.
EDIT: From the videos, it would appear that they are planning to do Overseas by Tommy Flanagan, a holy grail of collecting indeed.
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arick
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Posts: 30
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Post by arick on Sept 16, 2016 23:14:05 GMT
I'm intrigued. I'm impressed with their care and attention to detail and could support this kind of undertaking. I might consider buying a copy of a grail like Overseas knowing I couldn't afford an original in decent shape for many times the cost of their pressing. I'm not excited to do necessarily, but I've heard some less than spectacular "audiophile" targeted releases in the double 45RPM and 200gram likes of the last few years. I bought the Thad Jones - Detroit New York Junction in 200 gram that was released in 2006 and I was underwhelmed. I would have paid more for something to be excited about and to really feel comfortable knowing I was going to keep as an enjoyable purchase for many years. I'll stay open minded about these.
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Post by bassman on Sept 17, 2016 11:01:34 GMT
I'm intrigued. I'm impressed with their care and attention to detail and could support this kind of undertaking. I might consider buying a copy of a grail like Overseas knowing I couldn't afford an original in decent shape for many times the cost of their pressing. I'm not excited to do necessarily, but I've heard some less than spectacular "audiophile" targeted releases in the double 45RPM and 200gram likes of the last few years. I bought the Thad Jones - Detroit New York Junction in 200 gram that was released in 2006 and I was underwhelmed. I would have paid more for something to be excited about and to really feel comfortable knowing I was going to keep as an enjoyable purchase for many years. I'll stay open minded about these. Arick, I have never been a fan of vinyl re-issues (nor are you, it seems) but I can understand people's enthusiasm if something is really done with "care and attention to detail", as you say. What exactly was it that you disliked about the Thad Jones 200 gram?
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Post by alunsevern on Sept 17, 2016 12:39:42 GMT
One point that hasn't been made so far is that some of the classical reissues this company does are perhaps even rarer than some of the jazz we lust after -- and may indeed date back a bit further. Finding originals would be virtually impossible. However, it is just possible that some of those buying the ERC's output may already have originals. The reissue of for playing; the original is for special occasions....
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Post by gregorythefish on Sept 17, 2016 14:45:31 GMT
when i become a billionaire, alun, i think i will do that. i am quite serious about all of that except the billionaire part. maybe when i pay off my student loans i will have a party and buy a nice jimmy smith. haha.
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Post by alunsevern on Sept 18, 2016 10:29:35 GMT
t least you have an aim, GTF, albeit modest Actually, when I was at school I did know someone who was a Beatles fanatic. Neither he nor his family I don't think we're well off, but as Beatles records came out he always bought two copies -- one to play, one to keep.... I wonder whether he still has them?
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arick
New Member
Posts: 30
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Post by arick on Sept 20, 2016 0:00:02 GMT
I'm intrigued. I'm impressed with their care and attention to detail and could support this kind of undertaking. I might consider buying a copy of a grail like Overseas knowing I couldn't afford an original in decent shape for many times the cost of their pressing. I'm not excited to do necessarily, but I've heard some less than spectacular "audiophile" targeted releases in the double 45RPM and 200gram likes of the last few years. I bought the Thad Jones - Detroit New York Junction in 200 gram that was released in 2006 and I was underwhelmed. I would have paid more for something to be excited about and to really feel comfortable knowing I was going to keep as an enjoyable purchase for many years. I'll stay open minded about these. Arick, I have never been a fan of vinyl re-issues (nor are you, it seems) but I can understand people's enthusiasm if something is really done with "care and attention to detail", as you say. What exactly was it that you disliked about the Thad Jones 200 gram? I disliked expecting to hear something amazing and was disappointed. The album is great, of course, but it didn't reproduce the sound depth that I hear on my other BN originals or even 2nd presses. It was like listening to an OJC, but the disc was thicker and price tag greater.
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Post by gregorythefish on Sept 20, 2016 23:51:12 GMT
...and arick explains succinctly and crisply what i dislike about these big-money reissue programs. too easy to be swindled.
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Post by bassman on Sept 21, 2016 9:23:26 GMT
...and arick explains succinctly and crisply what i dislike about these big-money reissue programs. too easy to be swindled. I agree about the big-money part, but soundwise - I'm in two minds about all this, really. If something "sounds like OJC" it doesn't have to be bad by necessity. In other words: If someone likes "classic" BN vinyl sound then a re-issue, especially on CD, is not for him, period. Nevertheless the latter, ideally, might still be closer to the master tape than any vinyl can conceivably be. I have never listened to a BN master tape, but it should be a thrilling (and telling) experience comparing it to various kinds of published versions.
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Post by alunsevern on Sept 21, 2016 15:42:31 GMT
Yes, it is too easy to be swindled, but I still think one is more likely to be swindled with cheap public domain knock-offs that are rushed out simply because vinyl is 'hot'. In some ways, even though I'm not in the market for the kind of thing the ERC does, I prefer really high quality premium reissues done with love and care. At least they are being done for the right reasons...
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Post by gregorythefish on Sept 21, 2016 15:43:18 GMT
i'm not an audiophile, i just think originals are really neat, so it's the big-money part that really gets me, but you make a fair point. who really knows? i was just responding to what i've heard - a dangerous game, really!
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