How is the New Mosaic single Newport 1958 ?

[Jazztropic]

Many people pick this one up?How does it compare to the Other Ellington Newport Session?

Thanks

[jazzbo]

I like it. Excellent sound. If you liked the material on the live session that is on studio here, and are someone who can have multiple versions of the same thing and not squeam, this is likely to please.

It does duplicate some live tracks, but would it have been better for them to have left it a shorter cd? Well maybe, but . . . .

Anyway, I would be hardpressed to agree with the liner notes that all the studio tracks are "better" than the live performance ones they replaced on the original lp; I really find this sort of thing falls more in the "different than" category than "better." I felt the same way about the live and studio versions of Newport '56. I'm glad to have both.

[Swinging Swede]

I understand that the studio tracks are mono. Why is that? Columbia had recorded Ellington in stereo since 1956, and the actual 1958 Newport live performance is in stereo. So why is this studio session in mono only?

[jazzbo]

No explanation given.

I have a copy of the lp . . . it also was mono.

[Chuck Nessa]

No explanation given.

I have a copy of the lp . . . it also was mono.

I have a "six eye" stereo obtained around 1960. I'll check it out.

[jazzbo]

Thanks. I heard a copy at a friend's in Ohio years ago that was stereo. . . it might have been. . .fake?

[Chuck Nessa]

Thanks. I heard a copy at a friend's in Ohio years ago that was stereo. . . it might have been. . .fake?

They might have panned the applause with the band in the center to give the stereo effect. I will see. If it was only recorded in mono, maybe they used a 2 track machine and dubbed the "noise" into the second track and played with it later. 3 or 4 track machines weren't all that common in 1958. Columbia was a bit behind the curve created by the guys at RCA.

[jazzbo]

The Mosaic Single notes do offer an explanation, I was wrong: according to those the 3 track tapes were cut up to make the lp master (intertwined with applause, announcements, etc.) so they used the uncut mono tapes.

[Chuck Nessa]

Still don't make sense to me.

[Claude]

Why would they cut up the original 3-track tapes instead of a stereo copy? That sounds very unprofessional to me. Maybe the 3-track tapes were just lost or misplaced, or unusable for another reason.

[jazzbo]

Are you calling MC and Mosaic liars?

[Claude]

No, maybe they were told the tape was not available because it had been cut up for the LP release.

[jazzbo]

Maybe. But I think MC has enough reissue experience that if he says that he couldn't or wouldn't use the tape that means he had his hands on it.

[Daniel A]

Sonny Lester was splicing his way well into the late 60s. But that doesn't make it more professional...

[medjuck]

This business of destroying original stereo or 3 track masters to create mono issues seems to have happened often. There's an RCA

George Russel cd where the originally released tracks are in mono but the alternate "bonus" tracks are in stereo. And say what you like about Phil Schaap (and I've said my share of nasty things about him) I'm forever grateful that he found a way to release a stereo version of Miles Ahead.

[BruceH]

This business of destroying original stereo or 3 track masters to create mono issues seems to have happened often.

It strikes me as a bizarre and rather dickish practice. But then, that's record companies for ya.

[BruceH]

I like it. Excellent sound. If you liked the material on the live session that is on studio here, and are someone who can have multiple versions of the same thing and not squeam, this is likely to please.

I'm someone who can have multiple versions of the same thing and wish for more.

[jazzbo]

I think the point about the three track tapes is that they had portions edited out and disposed of where applause and announcements had been added on. Michael Cuscuna and Mark Wilder apparently chose the mono tape as it was complete and they could then recreate the complete studio session without pieces removed.

Chuck, Swining: I found my lp this morning. It's STEREO. I found that my preamp that has the phono circuit and that I use with my turntable had the mono button on. . . I listened to it in mono last time, but it's a stereo copy. Not the widest stereo of the time, but stereo. . . .Sounds like "true stereo" from the cut up three track masters no doubt.