Private Press Recordings

[corto maltese]

On 27-9-2016 at 5:44 PM, clifford_thornton said:

I think of the private press as something run by an artist or artist's collective putting out only their music and generally not connected to a large distribution service (the exception being NMDS and North Country in the US -- not sure elsewhere) and releasing titles in relatively small quantities, say 1,000 or fewer.

Lloyd McNeil's records were privately pressed, yes.

I have hundreds of records fitting into that definition, but I'm afraid not many of them would meet the topic starter's expectations (musically, that is).

 

[Dan Gould]

2 hours ago, corto maltese said:

I have hundreds of records fitting into that definition, but I'm afraid not many of them would meet the topic starter's expectations (musically, that is).

 

I started the topic as an opportunity for others to share recommendations of "private press" recordings. So please feel free to share the best of your hundreds, if you think anyone else would enjoy them.

[clifford_thornton]

4 hours ago, corto maltese said:

I have hundreds of records fitting into that definition, but I'm afraid not many of them would meet the topic starter's expectations (musically, that is).

 

Same boat. Probably too many of these things, actually...

[corto maltese]

On 5-8-2016 at 6:28 PM, sidewinder said:

Clifford - I picked this one up about 5 years ago and I don't think it was FMR although I may be wrong. Since then it has also been reissued over here on CD on another label (can't recall which).

I thought that run of 99 copies was initially reduced due to some of them being disposed of so Howard probably has a total monopoly on what is potentially out there.

Also in the 'private pressing' category - the late UK guitarist Frank Evans on his own 'Blue Bag' label.

The first reissue was on the Voiceprint label; the recent one (with two unreleased tracks by an earlier Riley trio - which I haven't heard) is on Dusk Fire. You can find (and buy) both issues on Discogs and elsewhere, I suppose.

I've been told only 99 copies of the original record were pressed to avoid UK sales tax (treshold being 100 copies). Ditto for some other jazz records like the releases on the Nondo label (One Music Ensemble) and the "Kwela" LP with Dudu Pukwana and Chris McGregor. Anyway, all of these are very hard to find.

 

 

 

[sidewinder]

Yep, Voiceprint is the label that my CD is on. That is also correct about the sales tax - the Michael Garrick 'Airborne' LP of Moonscape was a similar one I think. Possibly also that Farnham Festival LP.