Peter A

Marte Röling made a famous portrait of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands: Actually she is quite close to the queen.

I was aware of that. It was not my intention to deny your view, only wanted to express there can be exceptions on the rule.

This is often the case, but not always. I have a white label test pressing of a Ray Draper album (w/Coltrane) on Jubilee records. Although the vinyl looks unplayed, the record sounds really lousy. But I guess this was not really a quality label...

This one has been an inspiration for others:

That's not a bad price! According to this database this record was sold (on eBay?) in 2004 for $ 213! BTW, these early Pacific Jazz LP's are quite hard to find, especially with a decent jacket. Jackets seem to be made of very heavy cardboard, so have often been split. Peter

Interesting. Thanks for the info ! Regards, Peter

What label is that record on and who are the sidemen? I have a record of GL on Muse (recorde in the 70's) which I particularly like. Thanks, Peter

I am still looking for a nice copy of True Blue. The disc I have is NM, but the cover is damaged: the previous owner cut out the -very small- picture of Tina Brooks form the FRONT of the jacket. I bought the record from a large collection of which all the records are nice but the jackets have problems. Mostly pictures cut out (with a razor?) from the liner notes.

Amazing, such a collection of unplayed promo's. And a VERY interesting source of information, as it helps to determine the real first Blue Note pressings. For instance, on auction now is an audition copy of Kenny Drew's Undercurrent (BLP 4059), with no DG on either side. People always think the DG (side 2 only) version is the original version. Anyway, after a slow start, his auctions do quite well. Last time prices went through the roof and potential bidders now know how to find him.

Interesting! I remember Larry told me he finally found a copy of KB's Blue Light vol. II with DG! BTW, have you seen this guy in NYC selling - parts of - complete collection of BN originals, all stamped "audition copy", on eBay recently?

No, I am afraid I don't have a list of stereo originals w/ear. I have nearly all mono originals - still looking for a bunch of 1500 series titles - and only some stereo copies. At some point I started collecting the stereo counterparts as well, but I did not go through with it. Perhaps Larry Cohn could supply you with such a list. Perhaps even more interesting would be a complete list of BN originals, each title specified with all the neccesary features: flat edge, address on label, DG, jacket type etc. I have made annotations on each title in my Japanese Blue Note guide. Regards, Peter

As far as I know the following pre-4226 BN originals have no ear: 4118 DonaldByrd - Free Form 4171 George Braith - Extension 4193 Art Blakey - Indestructible 4196 Freddie Hubbard - Blue Spirits 4203 Andrew Hill - Andrew!! 4204 Dexter Gordon - Gettin' Around 4206 Sam Rivers - Contours 4209 Hank Mobley - Dippin' 84212 Lee Morgan - The Gigolo 4213 Bobby Hutcherson - Components 4215 Jackie McLean - Right Now! 4217 Andrew Hill - Compulsion!!!! 4218 Jackie McLean - Action 4219 Wayne Shorter - The All Seeing Eye 4222 Lee Morgan - Cornbread Allan, have you ever SEEN a copy of 4204 with ear yourself? Either mono or stereo? Regards, Peter

In my opinion, the late 50's - early 60's titles have the best sound. For instance, titles such as Cool Struttin' (1579), Blues Walk (LD - 1593), Soul Stirrin' (Bennie Green - 1599) and Moanin' (Blakey - 4003). Less sounding titles are Bone en Bari by Curtis Fuller (1572) and Here Comes Louis Smith (1584). I think the Louis Smith titles were originally recorded for Transition (not by RVG).

I have noticed too that PJC has been increasing the prices for vinyl quite a bit recently. On the other hand, they seem to dump what not's been sold on the international record fair in Utrecht - here in the Netherlands - every year. I have bought many records there for quite reasonable prices. I agree with Brownie the prices for European jazz vinyl in the little French guide by Arnaud Boubet are quite accurate. Peter

Go to the Both Sides Now website for the complete Parkway/Cameo discography. No other jazz records than the ones which are mentioned.

No, all the regular OJC CD's, the 24 bit ones in cardboard boxes, are there as well. Hundreds of them. I think ZYX, the license holder in Germany, should be blamed of dumping these. I was just wondering if the OJC issues were offered at discount prices in the US as well.

Last week my local CD shop, which usually only sells CD's at discount prices, bought a huge amount of CD's from the Fantasy/OJC catalogue. The owner of the shop claims Fantasy "went bankrupt" and offers the CD's at circa 60% of the regular price. They were all there: box sets with the complete Prestige recordings by Miles, Coltrane and Rollins, Complete recordings on Debut by Mingus, many box sets of Bill Evans, Art Pepper, MJQ etc etc. I bought the Complete Prestige Recordings of Dexter Gordon, the Complete Riverside Recordings of Wes Montgomery and the Complete Milestone Recording of Joe Henderson. All these box sets look so damn attractive! Does anyone know if these box sets are on sale in the US as well or if will still be available after the takeover by Concord? Peter

I think Larry is doing a great job trying to figure out which pressing varieties exist in Blue Note. He is always very helpful in answering questions with regard to the subject. It is a pity certain people, who are perhaps not interested in this kind of elaborate research, only want to make silly jokes about it...

You don't, unless you know the previous owner. On the other hand: I have the experience that signed jazz records are not collectable (or wanted) at all (pop/rock records is another story). Collectors of jazz records seem to prefer clean jackets. So there is no obvious reason why anyone would fake a signature. Peter

I have a couple of signed (original) Blue Note LP's, such as: Smithville (Louis Smith), The Scene Changes (Bud Powell), Gettin' Around (Dexter Gordon) and Groovin' at Small's Paradise (Jimmy Smith). Also a New Jazz LP - A Change of Direction -, signed by Walt Dickinson (and his wife). All signatures were dedicated to the original owner of the LP's, whose (huge) jazz collection has been sold after his dead by Amsterdam's largest second hand record shop.

Some additions: Stan Hunter - Trip On The Strip - Rec. RvG; Prod. Cal Lampley; Pat Martino - El Hombre - Rec. RvG; Prod. Cal Lampley; Sonny Phillips - Sure 'Nuff - Rec. RvG; Sup. Bob Porter; Charles Kynard - Reelin' With A Feelin' - Rec. Hank McGill (RCA Victor); Sup. Bob Porter; Billy Butler - Night Life - Rec. RvG; Sup. Bob Porter; Morris Nanton Trio - Preface - Rec. RvG; Prod. Cal Lampley; Morris Nanton Trio - Soul Fingers - Rec. RvG; Prod. Cal Lampley.

It's a nice album, but it could have been much better if not all the tracks had been faded out. It has many (10 or 11) tracks which are all very short! Peter

Yes, it's a pity about the - lack of - sonic quality of Riverside LP's (Atlantic originals do not sound fantastic either). Perhaps the reissues on labels like Analogue Productions (on 45 RPM) have an improved sound quality? I have not bought these myself (yet) as the price is rather high and I prefer originals.

I agree with you, Brownie. However, I wonder if this bad "sound" on Riverside originals is caused only by bad recording or also by the bad pressing quality of the vinyl. For instance, the first Riverside pressings on thick vinyl with the white labels actually do sound quite good. I have the (first) Bill Evans and Kenny Drew LP's and they have a crisp sound with a thick bass. Unfortunately I don't have the Dorham title, so I can't comment on that one... Peter

According to the liner notes of "The Buck Clarke Sound" (Argo LP 4021), Hampton was a "long time associate" to Clarke. He (Hampton) wrote four of the eight tracks and played flute, alto and piano. Also baritone and clarinet but not on this record. Peter