sidewinder

The beauty of those green-label twofers are that they are analog, no DMM bullshit. In addition the early ones had reasonably chunky vinyl and were well re-mastered. I prefer the early US pressings on that first batch with 'Davis', 'Coltrane', 'Lateef' etc. in big bold letters on the front. Some of the later ones I have seem to have been pressed in France by the 'America' operation and they are not quite so good (sorry Brownie - no offence ). Similar story with the Savoy reissues put out by Arista. Some fantastic stuff on those !

So, what's the verdict? ← I like it. Nothing spectacular but good, solid playing by Harold Land (I'll take anything with Harold on it). Added bonus of Martin Banks on trumpet too ! I suspect that the somewhat boxed-in sound on the original 'Rainbow series' LP did this session no favours so the Mighty Quinn issue (if they improve the sound) should be beneficial.

07:21 AM Hey sidewinder, are you listening jazz music 24/7! ← Early morning shift before I set off for work. I get much of my quality listening time in then before the BS starts flying...

Sidewinder, what are YOU doing with a twofer?!? ← Roughing it.. No, seriously - I have a whole stack of those Prestige 2LP sets. The Sonny Rollins was just about the first jazz LP I ever got when it first came out. I have most of the early series (24000?) US pressings and just love them. Very under-rated (unless you happen to have NY deep groove mints of the whole catalogue I guess..)

Check out this Neil Ardley: Western Reunion

Is that all?

Might be worth checking out AAJ for the uproar over the Tubby Hayes reissues. Looks to be quite a few not very happy campers over there who have bought the CDs. In low-key British terms, that thread is a near riot. At least one of them is dubbed from a mono LP and I believe Universal used the same source as the Japanese reissues. Either couldn't be bothered (or couldn't find) the master tapes. I'm sticking with the vinyl - more than happy with the sound. I wonder why they didn't also reissue Tubby's 1970 album 'The Orchestra'. Commercially-slanted music admittedly but Hayes's playing is majesterial.

I wonder why they skimped on just the one sausage 'patty' Thanks for showing this just before my breakfast..

Birthday greetings !

Tubby Hayes 'The Orchestra' (Fontana stereo)

Anyone else have problems scrolling down the Vinyl West catalogue pages? I can only get as far as 'O'.

John - I have a number of 2nd hand LPs with the label of your Stourbridge shop on the back ! I didn't go to 'All Change' very many times but I recall it being on the upper floor of a property very near Sherlock's pad. Last time I was in there they had Albert Ayler's 'New Grass' blaring out at full volume. I also have vague memories of seeing most of the French 'America' vinyls on deletion special including 'Panther and the Lash' and 'Tes Etat'. I think I picked up a few BN twofer deletions from there though. Ah... those were the days..

Thanks for the heads up, Alfred. Last time I checked out Vinyl West's site the LP listings were in construction. Very good shop in Stuttgart, very friendly, highly recommended !

Miles Davis 'Tune Up' (Prestige twofer). Great sleeve notes by Conrad Silvert

Another for Paris Jazz Corner. Not cheap but quality is A1 and delivery is very reliable !

Sounds like an oxymoron but I've heard that the 47W63rd pressings on the thinner vinyl (without the ear and deepgroove) originate from the 'Liberty' era ie. around 1967 onwards. Strangely enough, these titles usually have the original laminated sleeves, so it can get a bit confusing. The labels are marked '47W63rd' and there is usually 'RVG' in the runoff. Titles I have seen in the past (from the 1500 and 4000 series) are: Freddie Redd 'The Connection' Donald Byrd 'Byrd In Flight' (I have one of these and it sounds ) Stanley Turrentine 'Up at Mintons Vol 1'. Thoughts?

Finn Peters/Dr Seuss 'The Rif' 12" 45rpm single

Hope it was a good one, Matthew !

It usually goes for over $2k if in near-mint. I guess it must be fairly scarce in that condition and - of course - the marketing/advertising wallas love it..

Well, the UK concert was pretty memorable (a stellar lineup with the likes of Palle Mikkelborg, Andy Sheppard and Stanton Davis) and the live atmosphere at the Barbican terrific. Apparently much of that concert is on this release. Great version of 'So What' with Mr Russell rapping ( ). As a reminder of the gig I'll snap it up as soon as I see it.

That wouldn't be 'All Change' Records would it? I remember that place !

'Afro American Sketches' is also absolutely superb. I would rate that one next in line after 'BATAT' in terms of overall quality, I think. Again, magnificently recorded. Just spinning the original stereo pressing of 'Blues'. Grabs you by the throat from the outset and Haynes' timekeeping and groove is remarkable.

Interesting how - once again - Bill Evans was the catalyst who underpined one of the greatest modal jazz classics. For me, everything about this album is right: - Great compositions, pride of place for me being 'Stolen Moments' and 'Cascades'. - Wonderful arranging for the saxophones. As a result the band sounds a lot bigger than it actually is. The big sound contributed by Nelson on tenor and George Barrow on baritone helps immesurably. - Phenomenal soloing by Eric Dolphy and Freddie Hubbard. Some of their best on record. - Incredible recording. RVG manages to pin down a very cool and somewhat misterious mood (helped immensely by Roy Haynes' brushwork on the title track). Creed Taylor's finest hour as producer. What more can I say?

Johnny Coles 'Little Johnny C' (BN NY USA DG side 1)

Sonny Rollins 'Saxophone Collossus and More' (Prestige twofer). Amazing how good these 1970s analogue twofers can sound !