whiskeycat

Hey Bertrand -- consider me one of the other 10 people in the world and guess what? I had almost exactly the same problem!!! I purchased this DVD through an Amazon Marketplace seller. The DVD cover image on the main purchase page had a big "0" on it, which ususally indicates that the DVD is free from coding and playable "worldwide". As you mentioned, it also says on the purchase page that the DVD is Region 1 (U.S. and Canada). So, I figured either way I should be good, so I went for it. I received it in the mail this past weekend. Just like you did, the DVD I got was indicated on the back of the box that it is Region 2-6. Ugh... I don't have a real fancy machine like yourself, I am using a U.S. Sony DVD/Blu-Ray player. After putting it in, I immediately received a message that playback is prohibited due to region coding. Very frustrating! Especially since a few months ago, I purchased the Weather Report, "Live in Berlin 1975" CD/DVD set (also had the "0" on the front cover) and that plays perfectly. It's been a lot of emailing back and forth between me and the Marketplace seller. They just emailed me a product return mailing label are allowing me to ship it back. Hopefully there won't be issues and they'll understand the situation. If their version wasn't Region 1 as is noted on the purchase page, then it is wrongful advertising on their part. I would certainly accept a new, Region 1 copy, if that exists (I still do really want to see this concert!) But with the annoyance factor, I'm ready to just get my money back and move on. It feels good to share the frustration with someone who knows exactly what I'm going through, so thanks Bertran, for your original post. And good luck!!!

I'm very interested in the Weather Report: Live in Berlin 1975 CD/DVD set. Does anyone actually own this yet? I'm wondering about the DVD and the region coding. I noticed in the picture of the cover art, there is a sticker in the lower left corner with a "0". I'm assuming that this is the region, which would make this disc playable in the U.S. and elsewhere. You never be too sure, though... Any info folks can provide would be greatly appreciated. Weather Report - Live in Berlin 1975 (Amazon)

I saw a copy of the Connoisseur Series version of "Head On" in my local record store yesterday. Since I never heard it before and with all the discussion going on, I had to pick it up. Really looking forward to listening to this tonight! Grant Green's "Idle Moments" RVG was the first time I ever saw Booby (it still gives me a sophomoric chuckle). It was also the first time I ever heard him play and been a fan ever since.

So, I just got home from work and the Ayler "Holy Ghost" box was waiting for me. After having just gone through the contents, I am stunned. I've wanted this for years, knew what was inside, read all the reviews, etc...but I STILL wasn't prepared for how beautiful this set is until I had it open in front of me. I have lots and lots of box sets and this might be the most lovely tribute to a musician that I have ever seen. And for an artist like Albert Ayler, that is so under-appreciated, this is really something special. And I haven't even listened to the music yet! Even after spending some extra money to have it sent priority mail (I'm leaving the country soon and needed to make sure I can receive it before taking off), this is still one of the greatest deals I've gotten. Many thanks again, brownie, for the heads up on the ESP summer sale! If there are still folks out there that don't have it and are even slightly interested in purchasing this set, I'd do it right now. You will have no regrets.

Thank you so much for the heads up! I've wanted this set for a while and the price is finally right. Just placed my order.

Thank you all for your info on this. I was just about to buy Sun Ra - "New Steps" at my local record store the other day, but couldn't go for the rediculous price of $21.99. The packaging and everything looked legit, and I love the song "When There Is No Sun" so much, I almost went for it...but fortunately I waited. With all the talk about this being a rip from an LP, I'm so glad that I didn't splurge. If anyone knows when (or if) a true remaster is ever coming out with great sound, etc. (wishful thinking, I know)...please post any updated info you may have.

Interesting...I didn't realize that the "Legendary Quintet" set had some unreleased stuff on Disc 4. But, after reading the following review (below) from allaboutjazz, I'm still not sure I need this. Might just live without it. The "Chronicle" set does have all the studio cuts that made up the Walkin, Relaxin', etc. albums. Probably all I really need. "In some ways the fourth disc is a disposable add-on. Taken from a television broadcast on The Tonight Show with Steve Allen in November, 1955, a radio broadcast from The Blue Note in Philadelphia in December, 1956, and at New York's Café Bohemia in May, 1958, the sound quality is adequate at best."

I have the "Chronicle: Complete Prestige Recordings" and I'm pretty sure that contains everything (including the Coltrane sessions) all in one box. No reason to buy the seperate 4 CD Prestige Miles/Trane set or this new one as far as I can tell.

Got mine in the mail today from Best Buy as well! What a great deal. I had purchased a brand new copy of the "Fearless Leader" set off of an Amazon seller for under 20 bucks and I've had "Interplay" for a while. Ultimately, I got all three sets for less than the retail price of one of them!

I listened last night to the newly remastered Sgt. Pepper's in both mono and stereo. Boy am I glad I bought both boxes! In regards to the sound quality, they were both SO good and lots of fun, but in quite different ways. The mono mix of Peppers is really incredible. A common misconception that I've been reading online is that folks think mono automatically equals a wash of noise and lack of quality. This couldn't be further from the truth. You can tell right way that The Beatles and George Martin put a lot of time and effort into the mono mix. It is very detailed and nuanced, but it just doesn't have all the separation like a stereo mix, it is coming at you head on. I agree with a previous post, which says that the mono mixes are more "ballsy", cause they definitely are! This is the biggest thing with mono. It is true - the band just rocks way harder! One listen to "Sgt. Pepper's Reprise" in mono and you will understand. It has a driving force like I've NEVER heard before and was a revelation after listening to this album a million times. At the end, you can also hear Paul's "scatting" or whatnot a lot more clear, which again would surprise folks that think mono=worse sound quality. Other mono notes: "She's Leaving Home" is actually in a higher key, which changes the song quite a bit. "Lucy" has some phasing or flange on Lennon's voice that is really interesting (and sounds beautiful), and there's lots more "new" sounds and things in other songs that will make any Beatle fan have to listen to each song a few times to pick out all the cool stuff in there. Regarding the Stereo mix: All I really need to say about the stereo mix is that it is like listening to the Beatles in Hi-Def. The veil has been lifted and everything is super bright, clear, dynamic, etc. You can really hear guitar strings being plucked as if you are in the room with them. The little details come to life. It's loud without being abrasive and just sounds incredible. This will be how most fans will want their Beatles. I enjoyed both listening experiences very much. When I want to hear raw, rockin' Beatles (especially on the early albums, which I also sampled), I'm going with mono. Listen to "She Loves You" in mono...you won't believe how hard this band kicks ass. But, if I want to be swept away by glorious sound and swirling psychedelia in my headphones...that's what the stereo mix is for. Get both sets if you can, you really won't be disappointed by either. And it's fun to compare the two and see what sticks out. They are both so enjoyable and sound so great that there really is no way to lose! But mostly - just enjoy the music. That is what it is really all about. -WhiskeyCat

Yeah, Crisp...that's the box that I have. Good stuff. Just wondering -- what are the two albums that are missing from this set? From my research it looks like it's missing the "Tone Poems" and "A Jolly Christmas" albums. Are those the only two? I can live without the Christmas disc, but I am very interested in the "Tone Poems" album. I'm hoping that's one that may get the reissue treatment sometime, but I'm not holding my breath.

I have the 14-CD "Capitol Concept Albums" box and I have to say that I love it. There are no bonus tracks, just the albums as was originally released. Nice mini-LP packaging too. The booklet isn't much (no useful track information, etc.) if I was going to find anything negative about it. But it is a nice, compact set and the price has come down pretty much in half (approx. $60) at the stores I've seen it in. I'm hunting around for the Reprise stuff and hoping that more of these remasters come out soon. I noticed on iTunes they pretty much have everything on there, so I'm hoping that one-by-one, we'll get all of these released in nice CD copies, like the new "My Way" that just came out.

Thanks, Greg. I heard about that "Sinatra: New York" set as well, sounds interesting. I have most of the Capitol stuff, so I'm really interested in this new Concord reissue campaign, since they are supposedly going to be putting out newly remastered copies of the Reprise Sinatra albums. I don't have all of those and many have gone out of print. The packaging and sound for the new "My Way" reissue is nice, so I'm just getting excited that they'll do the same thing with albums like "Stranger in the Night", etc. I was hoping to find some sort of list of upcoming titles / release schedule or something.

I picked up a copy today of the 40th Anniversary Edition of "My Way" that Concord released a few months ago. I went online to find out more info on this reisssue campaign. Concord's website says the following: [Frank Sinatra Enterprises announced an agreement today with the Concord Music Group to release select titles from Sinatra’s Reprise Records catalog, including an unreleased live recording. The agreement commences on May 5 with the first two titles: My Way 40th Anniversary Edition, which includes two previously unreleased tracks and the never-before-available Live At The Meadowlands, the 1986 live album that spotlights Sinatra back in his New Jersey stomping grounds, wooing a sold-out crowd.] I'm wondering if anyone has any additional information on what other titles are going to be reissued and when we can expect to buy them in stores. Thanks!

Looks like this one has now moved to the top of my list at yourmusic. It definitely should! Just listened to it again and it is great. I might actually prefer the alternate take of "Saturday and Sunday". It's amazing. Tony Williams is beyond belief and Bobby Hutcherson's solo is a thing of beauty.