Scott Dolan

That's odd. When you say "CD layer", you mean the reflective surface? That's usually the only thing that fails.

Wow! Just listened to the opening track, and when I got to the end I simply had to stop it and say "wow" three or four times! I'm downloading the album for immediate consumption, because I can't wait until Christmas when I get the actual box set. This mix is...well, what it should have been in the first place. Lead guitars are on the left and right channels, instead of the center and right. Pauls vocals are FRONT* and center, instead of on the far right. The chorus is now split between the left and right channels, instead of all being jumbled into the left channel. I'd highly encourage all of you, whether you're a fan of the album or not, to at least check out the title track. It is simply amazing. *And by FRONT, I mean FRONT. Though not my favorite song, by any stretch, this was always my favorite McCartney performance, because he's really singing his fucking ass off! Listening to this new mix gives it that much more kick. Makes the old version almost sound muffled in comparison.

What us layfolk called "maturity". Trane sounded like a learned professor, while Pharoah sounded like a kid that didn't have all that much to say, but goddamn if he didn't say it gusto!

Oh, I'm not saying he would have been a perfect fit. I just think his style would have created somewhat of a touchstone, bridging the old with the new. Because perhaps the downside of that group WAS all of the "new". Shepp's tone would have provided a nice counter-balance, as well. Not saying it would have worked, but I would have enjoyed finding out.

Sun Ship and First Meditations are my two favorite Jazz albums...ever. My point was that I could hear seeds of discontent during that Newport date. Nothing more. Hell, even Meditations ended up being pretty good. His '65 output with the Classic Quartet remains my favorite in recorded music. But they were hanging together by a thread, and that's likely what made it so great. Kinda like The Beatles when they recorded Abbey Road. You know who I would have liked to hear playing with Coltrane instead of Sanders, Archie Shepp. It just feels like he would have kept things slightly more..."grounded", without completely weighing it down. I mean, I hear Jim loud and clear on what Pharoah was doing. It just never completely sat well with my ears.

I'd love to gather them all together and have a "discussion" with them. But I know they'd never give up their identities. Buncha litte bitches.

No, he had absolutely no intention going down that road. Neither did McCoy. I actually think you can hear that as early as the Newport date that year. The version of MFT they did sounded like the musical equivilent of a gun fight! Then the augmented group on the Seattle date a few months later. Both McCoy and Tyner had all but completely checked out by then.

Very interesting observations. I'm with you on much of what you've stated, with a couple of caveats: 1. I actually didn't mind Pharaoh with Trane. Would I have been perfectly content had he not been in the group? Absolutely. But I didn't find his playing "horrifying". Perhaps a little much, but... 2. Like you, I most DEFINITELY did NOT like Ali when he played with Coltrane. It's the primary reason why I have absolutely no love for Interstellar Space, an album many Coltrane fans cite as one of his best. But, I DID love Ali's style later in his career. Like Rings Of Saturn later... Speaking of McCoy and Elvin checking out, I've often wondered just how much Garrison actually liked what the late quintet was playing. He always remained in the background on most of those recordings. Was he truly into it, or did he trust Coltrane so much that he knew something truly spectacular was lying ahead, and didn't want to miss out?

Ha! Yes, that was cringe-worthy.

The problem, as I see it, is that the Japan set was simply asking too much of the listener. "Hey, man. We've got some serious shit to work out, iffin you don't mind". Sure, I don't mind. And had I been there to witness it in person, as you stated, fuck man, I would have sung the praises of the religious experience it was to this very day. But, I wasn't. And that disconnect is simply too jarring to overcome. At least in my mind. Cool story, and all. But how about you boil all that sonic spiritual searching down to a single "best of" disc? The set, as it stands, seems like completist material to me. And that's not really a good thing. Being a completist is a choice. Let's not make it compulsory. Thanks in advance.

The problem is that the shipping partner seems about as interested in explaining it as Mosaic is to hearing it. That's a lethal combo.

Yep. And these stories are all too common...HERE! And in this case "small sample size" is actually quite pertinent to the overall conversation. It'd be one thing if ONE poster here said, "eh, they sent me the wrong shit once back in '97..." But this seems to be an ongoing, and by most accounts, wide spread problem with them. Hey, I can dig a freebie fuck up. But when it becomes part of your business model, well...business probably ain't going to go all that well.

I can't join in with the Hey Jude hate. Have always loved it, still love it, will always love it. The Beatles kept me sane at 10 years old when my parents divorced and I was unceremoniously ripped away from my home town. So they have a very extra special place in my ears and in my heart. My son's very first concert (well, aside from seeing Ornette in Chicago, which he was too young to remember) was Paul McCartney just last year. I think he was singing louder than Paul was...

Those are excellent points, Jim. As for the former, I can live with "dense". It's still just too messy to contend with, IMO. A 55 minute MFT simply has no redeeming qualities that I've ever found. There IS good music from that album (4CDs, IIRC), but it just seems like you have to wade through too much "filler" to get to it. Though, I will readily admit that it's been 16 or 17 years since I've sat down with it. Perhaps another spin is in order. God help me... The latter is absolutely spot on. When I read that I shouted in my mind, "I coulda had a V8!!" Now, outside of The Father And The Son And The Holy Ghost which opens Meditations, the two aren't that radically different. Even with Pharaoh in tow. That said, your suggestion also brought to mind that Live In Seattle might also be a good "crossover" point. Closer to the late quintet than the Classic Quartet, but at least the fab four are all present for the dates. So there's a TON of tension there with all of the push/pull involved with Coltrane looking to break away while his rhythm section didn't seem all that eager to follow along.

I emailed Scott, and he sent me a tracking number later that day. But, my box was already waiting at my door before I sawmthe email.

They were entertaining, several years ago. In recent years it had been reduced to a very small and nasty group of people. At least one poster there knew me either from here or JC, and made veiled threats mentioning my actual bank and saying it would be a shame if all my money disappeared.

Yeah, looks like we all received the same standard message, as well as no true shipping notice/tracking number. No biggie.

My suggestions would be Expression, and Live At The Village Vanguard Again!, both on Impulse! I'd avoid the bloated mess Live In Japan. The Olatunji Concert is some of the most outstanding music that group played, but beware: the sound quality is horrifying.

Could have been worse. Girl Power!

Oddly enough, you'd think it's a hardcore buyers market when it comes to used CDs these days. Which logic would dictate far lower prices. Perhaps they've already bottomed out?

That makes sense. But even the $10-11 disparity is still pretty significant. Oops, missed your link. Those prices are far more reasonable and competitive, IMO.

Fair enough. I just can't find any logic behind a 250%, or higher using Kevin's example, difference in price. It just strikes me as completely unsustainable. Even though I almost never buy physical media (box sets only) I also don't want to see them disappear.

Don't get me wrong, I completely get your point, and don't disagree with any of it (aside from our well-established differences in digital vs physical). There is no question that CD cannot compete 1:1 price-wise, but I think even you would have to agree that a $10 difference, or more, doesn't seem to be a wise business decision. $4-5? Sure, I don't see why not. And IMO, that would be competitive considering how much more you're getting with the CD.

I don't want MP3 files either. That's why I cancelled my subscription to Emusic years ago. But I'd think you'd want physical media to remain competitive. There's no guarantee it will be around forever, especially with younger generations that have grown up without. Pricing themselves out of the market doesn't seem like a wise choice, IMO.

Point being there's simply no way to be competitive in the market when you're charging that kind of money for physical media.