webbcity Posted April 10, 2006 Report Share Posted April 10, 2006 Is it just me? I've bought probably 4 or 5 Black Lion CDs and most of them seem to have problems... On their release of Stanley Cowell's "Brilliant Circles," one of the channels is about 1/3rd the volume of the other and the EQ is very dull. And because of the way the album was mixed, that means it's tough to hear some of the instruments. This sounds like it was dubbed off a bad tape deck. Cowell's "Travelin' Man" (aka "Blue for the Viet Cong") sounds OK, but again, I think the channels are slightly out of whack causing the drums to be overpowering on a couple of tunes. Is this the case with the original? I've also heard some other oddities, including a Tete Montoliu release on Black Lion that had digital glitches & skips all the way through it. The thing is, you can usually find Black Lion CDs for pretty cheap, and I want to consider purchasing their disc of the Art Ensemble of Chicago's "Tutankhamun"...but I'm feeling a little wary about that. Any thoughts? Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregK Posted April 11, 2006 Report Share Posted April 11, 2006 I have both the Art Ensemble's Tutankhamun and Spiritual, and they seem fine. No issues at all, and the music of course is great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Nessa Posted April 11, 2006 Report Share Posted April 11, 2006 I think you got a couple of "clinkers". Black Lion was a great label. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDK Posted April 11, 2006 Report Share Posted April 11, 2006 Terrific label, yes, but the occassional sound problems. There have been other threads about the Cowell discs, and I have one disc that's a needle drop from an LP. Doesn't mean i don't enjoy them though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P.L.M Posted April 11, 2006 Report Share Posted April 11, 2006 (edited) I think you got a couple of "clinkers". Black Lion was a great label. It WAS maybe a great label but most of the reeditions they done are terrible. Lot of CD are just taken from LP. Why they didn't use the masters? Where are these masters today? No idea. Do you know something about, Chuck? Edited April 11, 2006 by P.L.M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ayers Posted April 14, 2006 Report Share Posted April 14, 2006 My favourite Black Lion was a pair of LP reissues of Ornette's 1965 London Concert. The remastering was better than the versions I had. But they had missed off a track. A gem. But I forgive them: a big for this label! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted April 14, 2006 Report Share Posted April 14, 2006 Seems like Black Lion the CD label is a catchall for all of Alan Bates' work over the years, thus the variable quality. Black Lion the LP label was indeed a very fine operation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robviti Posted April 14, 2006 Report Share Posted April 14, 2006 (edited) recently, i've been enjoying the 24bit remasters of some great black lion titles that were reissued on the 1201 music label a few years ago. many of these reissues are available from cybermusicsurplus.com, the clearance site for music distributed by allegro. currently, they cost only $5.50 each, with free shipping on orders over $50. here are some of the titles they have: stitt, sonny - autumn in new york gordon, dexter - body and soul chaloff, serge - fable of mable webster, ben - gone with the wind sun ra janus konitz, lee - lee konitz at storyville pettiford, oscar - montmartre blues sims, zoot/brookmeyer, bob - morning fun byas, don - night in tunisia, a gray, wardell - one for prez smith, willie "the lion" - pork and beans green, grant - reaching out brand, dollar - reflections bechet, sidney - sidney bechet at storyville sun ra - standards grappelli, stephane - stardust art ensemble of chicago - the spiritual webster, ben - there is no greater love hines, earl - tour de force Edited April 14, 2006 by jazzshrink Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.A.W. Posted April 14, 2006 Report Share Posted April 14, 2006 Noise reduction has been applied to some of those 1201 Music reissues to such an extent that they sound lifeless and very dull to me. I prefer the earlier Black Lion releases. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Late Posted September 10, 2006 Report Share Posted September 10, 2006 I've been reinvestigating this reissue label a lot recently. Some discs sound great, some don't, lots are remastered from vinyl. Still, the quality of music overall is quite high. I agree with Hans — I prefer the original cd issues over the newer 24-bit reissues. The latter often sound overly scrubbed to me. I'm still trying to find Mal Waldron's Blues for Lady Day. Any leads? Oh yeah — Randy Weston's Berkshire Blues is wonderful ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeweil Posted September 11, 2006 Report Share Posted September 11, 2006 Noise reduction has been applied to some of those 1201 Music reissues to such an extent that they sound lifeless and very dull to me. I prefer the earlier Black Lion releases. Thanks for the warning - the same happened to the recent remastering of "Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus" on Candid that Black Lion manufactured Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Late Posted September 11, 2006 Report Share Posted September 11, 2006 Yep, those new Candids don't sound as good (to me) as the original cd issues — especially some of the Cecil Taylors. I'd still buy copies of the Richard Williams and Don Ellis Candids though ... can't find those! Anyone else like the Dollar Brand Black Lions? The Penguin Guide is generally unenthusiastic about them. I think they're pretty fine. Love Reflections. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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