Jazz on vinyl - originals and re-issues

[bugsnest]

This topic perhaps deserves its own thread since there's plenty of gyan here than can be streamlined better


I am interested in Jazz recordings on Prestige, Blue Note, Columbia, Riverside from the 50's thru the 60's (the golden age in my mind!). I recently acquired a Bud Powell first pressing on Prestige and was amazed how great this sounded. The vinyl itself was HEAVY and just felt superior in all aspects!

That said, I realize I am not going to luck out on original pressings all the time so was curious on the quality of the re-issues and what to look for in that space (and what to avoid). I had checked out the recent Blue Note reissues (the $10 ones) and that was kinda blah! I am also not looking to spend in the $50 range like the Analogue Production/Music Master 45 rpm reissues.

Are some of the 70's reissues of these titles worth getting or are they underwhelming like the recent reissues? What's your experience?

 

[issigonis]

>>>
A good idea to start a thread on the subject. I will check the details of my recent jazz records purchases ( Sonny Rollins, Cannonball Adderley, Coultrane, Brubeck you know) and post them here.
Regards

 

[G401fan]

Hi Bugsnest,

The Blue Note originals (Mono, deep groove, etc, etc) are generally tough to find, as most collectors have already snapped them up, and the value of most titles are $200+ and a few rare ones go into the thousands. Original Prestiges and Riversides go for a bit less but again it depends on the title.

I don't know about the new 45 rpm reissues ($50+ each), but you could do well to pick up reissues from the late 60s, and later ones from the 70s on the blue Liberty label (they bought out BN in '68). They sound pretty good, as also the reissues from '84 to '86 when they revived the original label design. There were also a bunch of 2-LP compilations in the 70s called the 'Blue Note Re-issue series' all with a uniform off-white cover design that brought in a lot of unissued sessions from the 50s and 60s. They're easy to find at most used record shops in the US, and priced quite cheap.

An original Blue Note from the 50s is still a fabulous find, no matter what the condition. I recently found an original copy of 'Art Blakey at the Jazz Corner of the World' (BN 4015) in CB, and it had a totally beat up look with dozens of scuff marks, and a dull surface with not a hint of gloss. But, it played Near Mint with a sound that literally leapt off the record. Amazing!

 

[bugsnest]

Hi Bugsnest,

The Blue Note originals (Mono, deep groove, etc, etc) are generally tough to find, as most collectors have already snapped them up, and the value of most titles are $200+ and a few rare ones go into the thousands. Original Prestiges and Riversides go for a bit less but again it depends on the title.

I don't know about the new 45 rpm reissues ($50+ each), but you could do well to pick up reissues from the late 60s, and later ones from the 70s on the blue Liberty label (they bought out BN in '68). They sound pretty good, as also the reissues from '84 to '86 when they revived the original label design. There were also a bunch of 2-LP compilations in the 70s called the 'Blue Note Re-issue series' all with a uniform off-white cover design that brought in a lot of unissued sessions from the 50s and 60s. They're easy to find at most used record shops in the US, and priced quite cheap.

An original Blue Note from the 50s is still a fabulous find, no matter what the condition. I recently found an original copy of 'Art Blakey at the Jazz Corner of the World' (BN 4015) in CB, and it had a totally beat up look with dozens of scuff marks, and a dull surface with not a hint of gloss. But, it played Near Mint with a sound that literally leapt off the record. Amazing!

Great info as always! Thanks!!

I have given up on scoring an original Blue Note pressing, I may be more inclined to sell it on FleaBay if I do find one. It's ridiculous how much moolah people are willing to pay for these!!


But I had not known of the 70's reissues that you mentioned; will look out for them certainly. I have been looking for a good pressing of Horace Silver's Song for My Father and may cave in at some point and get the MM pressing.

 

[bugsnest]

Picked up some great jazz, original pressings at a local record show!
A few Jimmy Smith's, Cannonball Aderly on Blue Note. A 6-eye Columbia Take Five and Porgy and Bess.

The records need a good cleaning but the quality looks good.

 

[G401fan]

Ah! You found 'Something Else', Cannonball's classic LP on Blue Note. Congrats!

Another great label is Contemporary, with its distinctive Yellow/black label. Their recording engineer in the 50s and 60s was Roy DuNann, who ought to be as celebrated as Rudy Van Gelder. Key artists were Art Pepper, Hampton Hawes, and Shelly Manne. Sonny Rollins' Way out west' was on this label. Very high quality sound.

 

[bugsnest]

In my haul from Sunday I picked up a Horace Silver Trio Sides twofer on the Blue Note Reissue series. Good quality and very reasonably priced LP set. Is there a comprehensive list to the releases on the BN reissue series? Could not find one online. Also, are the reissue series all "compilations"?

 

[G401fan]

Hi,
I don't have a list of all the two-fers that were issued in the 70s in the Re-issue series, but you could get an idea of some titles from the original inner sleeves which advertised the covers of many LPs in the series.

There appears to have been two separate cover designs, one off-white and black, which came first, followed by a set of gaudily coloured cover designs that just listed the artist's name.

Most are not simple compilations, but gather together a lot of unissued sessions, and tracks only available of early 10 inch LPs.

Some interesting information about BN, and its label designs are also available at the following links:

Bluenote

labelography.html

 

[G401fan]

Excellent information here:

The Blue Note Labels | LondonJazzCollector

 

[bugsnest]

Excellent information here:

The Blue Note Labels | LondonJazzCollector

This is a coincidence, I came across the London Jazz Collector blog a few days ago and it's great info. I printed out the label image that he has on his site and kept it for reference.

Meanwhile, I have managed to score a Blue Train Mono pressing. 47 W 63rd copy DG, RVG Ear and all! Happened last night. I am still gloating and have attached a picture (need to share the joy!! hyeah

 

[G401fan]

Fabulous find! Congrats!
I's been looking out for that LP (original or reissue) for decades, but never spotted a copy in India.
Finally bought the recent reissue from Flipkart. It sounds fine, but...