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Blue Note released several LPs from that concert (Bobby Hutcherson, Bobbi Humphrey, Marlena Shaw & Ronnie Foster), so they more than made up for any recording costs. The fact that Byrd's performance was the only one not released at the time speaks to the label listening to the artists even back then. It's not like them keeping it in the can was good for Byrd's wallet. Here's what Michael Cuscuna said to me about this when someone on the Steve Hoffman forums questioned why he didn't release it himself: MC: Reality check: This was the only Montreux performance from that Blue Note night on July 5, 1973 to remain unissued in all territories. I asked Donald why and he said that like other live recordings he tried in the States, the results never reached the level of production and perfection that the original studio tracks did. He said it wasn’t successful and did not want it out. In those days, getting studio time to mix down multi track tapes – especially on speculation – was rarely approved. Fast forward to Don Was’s era as Blue Note president. From his vantage point, there isn’t much unreleased, but he liked to find whatever he can. The Byrd Montreux tape was a revelation – not as slick or perfect as a Mizell Bros. production, but cookin’ in a great groove nonetheless. So Don released it and we’re all happy about that. Why this is some indictment of me and the assumption is that this album would have sold hundreds of thousands more copies than anything else at that time are fictions that I can’t grasp.

https://www.organissimo.org/forum/topic/83424-john-coltrane-impulse-masters-destroyed/

I thought it was Atlantic.

It's time for Creation.

I imagine Ravi has been consulted re: any tapes he may have still unreleased.

You mean the big Universal fire? There was definitely Coltrane material destroyed there

Just looked into both of them and...I think we'll try to hit that one as well. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessica_Care_Moore

The Blakey and the Byrd were not released during their lifetimes. I am a huge Blakey fan, but have never had access to any back channels, so never heard it before the BN reissue. That being said, the Blakey was pretty underwhelming based on what was already out there in the marketplace. To me, the Byrd is amazingly/surprisingly good and unique, and I'm very glad it was finally released. I have mixed feelings about "the artist's wishes" on that stuff. BN took on the effort and expense to record that concert, and it was quite worthwhile, why should they have to just eat the costs if it is worthy of release? To me, that concert puts Byrd's contemporaneous studio output to shame, is way above anything he recorded from 'Black Byrd' on, including the commercial BN's, Elektra stuff and the "comeback" albums on Landmark.

I wonder how many tapes made at Van Gelder's had backup copies. Didn't impulse! have a fire at some point?

I'm in for all Classic Quartet and late sextet recordings. I'd love to hear this: Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, March 29, 1967 90784 Number Eight Impulse! lost 90785 Number Seven - 90786 Number Six - 90787 Number Five - 90788 Number Four - 90789 Number Two

The "Just Coolin'" release is the one that really bugs me too. This session was widely distributed through back channels for years & years... decades even. I don't think I knew of any Blakey fan who didn't have it. I even had someone send Michael Cuscuna his "mastering" take on an CD sequence but Michael wouldn't budge that it was not worthy of being released. Michael often talked to the artists about sessions like this and for all we know, Blakey himself might not have wanted that session released. I know that Donald Byrd specifically did not want those Montreux recordings released, but we see what artists' desires mean to today's Blue Note reissue team.

Will read this again when I get around to it, so thanks for the link. But in THIS thread I would not want to go too far into BN territory. The "Prestige/Milestone" twofer experience is a case of its own!

Craft just reissued Amazonas, one the best Tjader Lps from the 1970's. Of course they reprinted the original back cover with all the errors Duncan and me corrected in the Tjader bio and disco. Sometimes I ask myself who we are working for.

Could you translate this for me please? Thanks

What do you thinl the record Compagnie will throw upon us next year? And what would you really want?

We have had an early discussion here https://www.organissimo.org/forum/topic/23214-blue-note-two-fers/

David Bowie’s final work. . . pretty fascinating. Too compressed in mastering, but if I adjust my gain structure down it sounds better. David Bowie “Black Star” Sony Blu-Spec cd

Yes! Some of the twofer liner noten were full of variable insights. The noten Jon Hendricks wrote for the King Pleasure twofer are a gem of Jazz prose. The book that Orrin Keepnews published includes many of his Milestone twofer noten.