Daniel A

As etherbored suspected: no RVG stamp. The King pressing is somewhat similar to the later TOCJ CD and seems to boost the middle register in an unpleasant way compared to the original. I agree that this is one of the very best sessions of the 4200 series. Joe Chambers and Reggie Johnson is such a great team!

I shouldn't have written "further downmixing" since we're only talking about two channels, but "reducing the stereo spread". It was my impression that this step was taken before creating the LP master. You wouldn't need to go into the digital domain to reduce the stereo spread of two channels. Sorry for the confusion.

It was even worse than I remembered: I've got both Toshiba and King LP pressings in addition to the US Liberty release. Anyway, the Malcom Addey remix is better than I remembered and I clearly prefer it to the TOCJ-8676 which I find too loud and compressed. The mix and soundstage of Addey's remix is somewhat different from the original LP, but I can't say I prefer any of them over the other. I believe this was first reissued on CD in the "Collector's choice" series. Some (all?) titles were reprinted a few years later and my copy of the US CD version actually has "(p) © 1995" on it. It's the same 1988 Malcolm Addey remix though.

Not sure if it matters or not, but as Total Eclipse wasn't recorded at Van Gelder's studio it might be a multitrack recording and as a consequence it couldn't be transferred to digital using the same equipment as was used for other "classic" BN CD reissues. FWIW - and any muddiness aside - I think the sound as captured in the studio suits the session. It doesn't sound like a BN recording, but is none the worse for that.

I own the TOCJ-8676 release as well as the American CD reissue from the 90s. I've also got the original LP and a later Japanese LP reissue. Why the obsession? It's simply one of my favourite albums ever and I was searching for the best sounding version. From what I can recall nothing beats the original LP. I'll get back with a fresh opinion when I've had time to check the different versions again, probably this weekend.

In addition to what Michel Devos said I'd like to add that while recording at Rudy's was made onto two-track I've seen the claim that stereo separation was very pronounced, allowing for (and/or requiring) further downmixing to make it suitable for release. There's probably a thread about that somewhere.

I believe CD:s with a playing time exceeding around 74 minutes were exempted from copy protection as there were not enough room on the disc for the data segment containing compressed audio files.

The rates have always been steep over here, but they havent changed in a couple of years. On the other hand the Swedish krona has gotten at least 35 percent stronger against the euro since 2009 so it would perhaps appear so from the eurozone.

The sellers are the winners, since I take it they get the $14 as a shipping reimbursement regardless of the actual cost. It seems odd that the rate is the same regardless of media type; it's more costly to send an LP. Of course the fixed rate system is unfavourable for sellers when it comes to large multi-disc sets. Maybe that is what most people are ordering these days.

I might do that - it can be fun to complain if you're in the right mood!

Thanks, Hans, I didn't know that. The domestic shipping rates for the UK are displayed. However, to get the EU rates you've had to click on the link. It's funny, further down the page where the rates were previously quoted, it does also say "Postage rates and delivery information for items sold by Sellers at Amazon Marketplace can also be found when you click on a Seller's feedback rating in a list of Sellers offering an item for sale. From the page that appears, just click on "Delivery rates" or "Shipping rates" at the bottom right of the page." But if I do that, I only get directed back to the same page where it says that the rates may differ...

I was trying to browse a few of the really old BFT threads (links from thread) and found that I could only access the first page of each topic. The rest of the posts seem to be missing. This is the case for both "discussion" and "answer" threads up to test #44, and quite possibly also for other multi-page topics of the same vintage.

It was a few months since I last ordered something from Amazon Marketplace sellers. I usually check Amazon UK first since their shipping rates within Europe have been much lower than any of the other branches. When I just was checking out a few items on the US Amazon site I noted that the overseas shipping rate for CD:s seems to have been raised from $6.89 to $14.29 per item, which seems unreasonable. And when I went to Amazon UK to check if there had been any changes over there I found that they don't even quote the rates any more. If I click on the 'International and domestic delivery rates' link below every Marketplace listing I only get a message that "Delivery rates for some items sold by Sellers may differ. Please check the delivery charges before you click the final "Place your order" button on the checkout page. ", So I have to put the item in my shopping cart and go through the checkout process just to see what the shipping charges are, which doesn't strike me as particularly user-friendly. (However, when I put a few CD:s in the basket it still appeared to be £1.82 per CD within the EU for those). Has anyone else noted these changes?

Bob Florence's scoring for this album is quite nice. Strange that they omitted these two tracks from the reissue; have had some of these reissues through the years and don't think any tracks were missing from those titles. The covers are spectacularly uninspiring, though. The missing tracks from '...and the Sax Section' are as good as any on that date, and if anything the Beatles tune is one of the better from that album.

Happy birthday!

I guess they ran out of money. Their site has the following message:

Thanks, TTK. I'm sorry to say I voted for "pad".

Last visit in 2006; hope that you're OK Tod. I wish you a happy birthday!

To be able to form an opinion I'd first like to know what meaning native English speaking persons are attributing to "pad" in this context.

Actually, I believe season two was released as well. It was a very good show, especially during the "Esterhaus period".

What a terrific set this seems to be! Many thanks for the heads-up, TTK.

The 'Noon in Tunisia' album was reissued on CD in Japan some six or seven years ago with a wonderful reproduction of the LP gatefold cover and booklet (although with customary microscopic typeface). A fascinating recording.

Happy birthday, Jeff! I wish you all the best! /Daniel

Happy birthday, Clifford! As a birthday gift I'm bringing the cover of this rare Swedish jazz LP from infamous free jazz saxophonist Bengt "Frippe" Nordström: In fact it's not one but many albums, since this was the cover he used for numerous of his privately pressed recordings.

I placed an order with zoverstocks on December 17 and the CD arrived in good shape two weeks laster which is just about average.