The Bridge has a nice backstory. I can see why it's so popular among some sorts of jazz fan. Something to talk to people about. It also has no calypso tunes on, which I think a lot of people don't like.
I agree with your view that those intervening RCAs are probably the 'other' consistent high plateau of Rollins' always mountainous career, after the pre-Bridge run.
I have mostly listened to the early 70s ones, which are a mix of big band, funk and electric keyboards. Tsuchi no Ne and New Herd are my favourites I think. The first of those is streamable I think (土の音).
Houston Person - Blue Odyssey (Prestige, 1968)
The cover art to this one really gets to me. There's something about Prestige's artwork of this era that manages to be raw but eye popping. You'd never confuse it with a Blue Note release.
Jennifer Allum, John Butcher, Ute Kanngiesser, Eddie Prévost - Sounds of Assembly (Meenna, 2021)
This got a good review on FJB recently and, for once, I really agree. Some excellent John Butcher set off by violin, cello and percussion.
It’s good. Streamable on bandcamp.
It isn’t a scream fest. It’s distant enough from WSQ and Rova to be worth hearing. The right amount of Vandermark discipline. Some swing-influenced saxophone playing on a lot of the tunes.
After some good advice from this forum, I've been using this brush:
Velvet Vinyl Cleaning Brush by SPINCARE | 2-in-1 Anti Static Record Cleaner Kit Includes Stylus Brush | Remove Dust Dirt & Debris from Your Favourite LPs https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01AKAHF52/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_7J5FF3YXB0APR38HMZFH?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Normally I do it once with cleaning product and then a second time with deionised water, which is cheap and available and which I'm advised is the best way to cut static.
John Patton - Understanding (Blue Note, 1968)
I never pay much mind to All music reviews, but it's treatment of this era of Patton as being simplistic "commercial" music, despite the frequent abrasive Coltrane influenced solos, really makes very little sense.