Chick Corea's Tones for Joan's Bones

[skeith]

My copy is a digipak european import, part of the "Atlantic Original Sound" series, as it says on the cover. I love the music, but the sound is thin, shrill and hard to listen to.

Was this a poorly recorded session, or do good sounding versions exist?

Inquiring minds want to know!!

Edited March 31, 2011 by skeith

[JSngry]

I've got the original LP, and it's got much the same type of sound you describe, although whether or not to the same degree I can't say. I certainly don't find it hard to listen to.

[Rooster_Ties]

Previous discussion, where Chuck suggested the Collectables version was perhaps the same mastering as the previous East West Japan HDCD.

I haven't heard both, but to my ears, the Collectables version sounds really good too me -- certainly better than some Collectables editions of other sessions.

Edited March 31, 2011 by Rooster_Ties

[clifford_thornton]

My NM Vortex vinyl sounds just fine. Nice date.

[skeith]

thanks all

RT, which Collectables version are you talking about that sounds good, the one that has most of Mountain in the Clouds on it or the Inner Space one?

[Rooster_Ties]

RT, which Collectables version are you talking about that sounds good, the one that has most of Mountain in the Clouds on it or the Inner Space one?

All my discs are all 1,000 miles away from me at the moment, so I'm not entirely sure (except to say it's definitely NOT the one with "Mountain in the Clouds").

From the previous thread I linked to, I believe it is the one that has the following track-listing (so if there's only two 'Collectables' versions, then the "Inner Space" one appears to be the one).

1 Straight Up and Down Corea 12:32

2 This Is New Gershwin, Weill 7:38

3 Tones for Joan's Bones Corea 6:05

4 Litha Corea 13:29

5 Inner Space Corea 9:20

6 Windows Corea 8:45

7 Guijira Corea 12:18

8 Trio for Flute, Bassoon and Piano Corea 5:07

THIS POST kinda confirms that the 8-track version is the most complete, and the Japanese issue of it has great sound -- and it would appear that the 8-track "Collectables" edition is the same mastering.

The SQ on the "Mountain in the Clouds" one is kinda sad (to put it politely), as best I recall (had it years ago too).

Edited March 31, 2011 by Rooster_Ties

[Daniel A]

I'll be able to check this later, but I believe that the japanese "Inner Space" CD uses the same master as the 70s twofer LP, which had added reverb. I think original vinyl sounds OK, if somewhat thin, and that the digipak is not too much worse.

[Rooster_Ties]

FWIW, whatever one I have is in a Jewel Box (not a digipak).

[sidewinder]

I have a 70s 2LP version, which was put out here as a German pressing I think. Sound quality pretty good I recall, will have to dig it out.

That first LP of the set in particular is an absolute stonker ! Some brilliant Woody Shaw on there.

[JSngry]

All the Vortex LPs I've heard have a slightly brittle sound to them. Not atypical of the times, but not exactly "high quality audio" either.

Embryo LPs were a little different story, though, some of them.

[GA Russell]

At that time (1969), a local (DC) record store filed its jazz music by label rather than by artist. In those days when I thought of Vortex I thought of Steve Marcus first, but anyway I was there to buy Joan's Bones. So I say to the manager, "Can you show me where the Vortex records are?", and he responds, "Tones for Joan's Bones!"

[ValerieB]

one of my favorite tunes of all time!

[skeith]

did anyone do a definitive comparison of the various issues of this? Is the Japanese version of best or does it suffer from added reverb?

[Daniel A]

did anyone do a definitive comparison of the various issues of this? Is the Japanese version of best or does it suffer from added reverb?

I wouldn't say that the Japanese suffers from the reverb, because I find the original issue to be too dry, but in comparsion with the Rhino digipak from 1998 (cat.no 8122-75352-2) it sounds distant and indistinct, albeit easier on the ear. The Japanese version I'm talking about is "Inner Space", cat.no WPCR-13194. It sounds much like the 70s Atlantic LP twofer. The main reason for getting the "Inner Space" CD would be the unissued tracks from the session which are not on the Rhino release.

[skeith]

did anyone do a definitive comparison of the various issues of this? Is the Japanese version of best or does it suffer from added reverb?

I wouldn't say that the Japanese suffers from the reverb, because I find the original issue to be too dry, but in comparsion with the Rhino digipak from 1998 (cat.no 8122-75352-2) it sounds distant and indistinct, albeit easier on the ear. The Japanese version I'm talking about is "Inner Space", cat.no WPCR-13194. It sounds much like the 70s Atlantic LP twofer. The main reason for getting the "Inner Space" CD would be the unissued tracks from the session which are not on the Rhino release.

Thanks Daniel A,

I have the Rhino digipak from 1998. So you are saying that the japanese Inner Space is not much superior soundwise to the 98 Rhino digipak? Wow... I find the Rhino digipak sound to be very disappointing... harsh and too bright at turns.