Definitive Audiophile pressings

[MikeH]

Seriously one of the best Bill Evans Trio records.

the only hold up for me rn is that all of the craft one steps have eventually gone on sale....so not sure i wanna pay full price on it...i do want to get it though.

just looked and the others are now $70 in the store.

 

[Portland Sheriff]

interesting they lowered the pressing numbers this time. 2,500 total. some will be available at acoustic sounds too

What were the numbers on more recent ones? I just looked and couldn’t find. I was vaguely remembering 4k but not sure.

 

[MikeH]

What were the numbers on more recent ones? I just looked and couldn’t find. I was vaguely remembering 4k but not sure.

they have been a bit all over the place. i think monk was 4k, hayes 3k, wanna say one may have gone up to 5k?

 

[zdkaiser]

the only hold up for me rn is that all of the craft one steps have eventually gone on sale....so not sure i wanna pay full price on it...i do want to get it though.

Yeah, they are all on sale on their website right now for $70.

Uncertain if this Bill will go on sale. His stuff usually sells fairly quickly, and other than the AP 45, not certain this has had a true "audiophile" release. I am skipping it. Have the AP45 and found the hybrid SACD for like $15. Honestly listen to the SACD more than the vinyl.

 

[ngower]

Limiting a Bill Evans release and a KoB-adjacent album seem like very strange decisions

 

[MikeH]

Limiting a Bill Evans release and a KoB-adjacent album seem like very strange decisions

fomo sells.

one steps literally need to be limited though unless you do digital or wanna destroy some tapes.

 

[Ghost]

Any chance that Bill Evans could make it as a remastered OJC? Same label wheel house right?

 

[keylime_5]

Any chance that Bill Evans could make it as a remastered OJC? Same label wheel house right?

I wouldn't hold my breath. Highly doubt they double dip their small batch titles as AAA non-one steps. They did with Eastern Sounds but that one sold out in five minutes.

Im' gonna get it once it drops to $70sh

 

[Jbraswell]

I wouldn't hold my breath. Highly doubt they double dip their small batch titles as AAA non-one steps. They did with Eastern Sounds but that one sold out in five minutes.

Im' gonna get it once it drops to $70sh

They also cut Black Orpheus as a normal AAA title.

There's no predicting these labels.

 

[keylime_5]

They also cut Black Orpheus as a normal AAA title.

There's no predicting these labels.

That was released at the exact same time. Either way I wouldn't hold my breath.

 

[Jbraswell]

That was released at the exact same time. Either way I wouldn't hold my breath.

Yeah if you really want it, I would go for the 1S.
I like Bernie's mastering better, which is why I will probably go with the new SB when I can get a sale.

 

[MikeH]

Yeah, they are all on sale on their website right now for $70.

Uncertain if this Bill will go on sale. His stuff usually sells fairly quickly, and other than the AP 45, not certain this has had a true "audiophile" release. I am skipping it. Have the AP45 and found the hybrid SACD for like $15. Honestly listen to the SACD more than the vinyl.

i thought that too but the Bill UHQRs are all still in stock i believe. granted those are more expensive...

i'm tempted to buy this through AS to get free shipping...with shipping at craft even if it hits $70, i'd save $18 or something total vs buying at AS full price now with free ship...

 

[Ghost]

I have a really great sounding 80s OJC of Explorations, so I'm probably going to hold off. I still have yet to splurge on any sort of one step or UHQR somehow hahaha

 

[MikeH]

They also cut Black Orpheus as a normal AAA title.

There's no predicting these labels.

they may have learned from that mistake since both ended up on discount.

 

[ngower]

When it goes on sale can everyone let me know thanks.

fomo sells.

one steps literally need to be limited though unless you do digital or wanna destroy some tapes.

I guess. I probably will buy the KoB regardless, but I'm not forking out $100 for FOMO when I can just get an older pressing for half that.

I just get peeved by things like a $100 pressing being the only "audiophile" version of one of the bigger Evans records. These things should be readily available and accessible.

 

[Jbraswell]

they may have learned from that mistake since both ended up on discount.

Also a weird one with the VV Evans titles going UHQR and OJC.
I know it's Chad stuff but still odd timing.
I really don't think Craft gaf about it. They kind of just do whatever they feel like.
Less games than some of the other labels these days.

 

[MikeH]

I just get peeved by things like a $100 pressing being the only "audiophile" version of one of the bigger Evans records. These things should be readily available and accessible.

i agree in theory. and i could see them do explorations in a non one-step format if the one step sells out. but its just not feasible to have every album available on vinyl at all times in good quality.

There are lots of other pressings of these that are good--earlier OJCs, twofers, etc.

 

[MikeH]

Also a weird one with the VV Evans titles going UHQR and OJC.
I know it's Chad stuff but still odd timing.
I really don't think Craft gaf about it. They kind of just do whatever they feel like.
Less games than some of the other labels these days.

I have a feeling that the licensing arm just does not talk to the arm that curates the different vinyl series. at least with AS it's 45 vs 33.

they also just wanna make money. so licensing titles to chad gives them an extra revenue stream for hardly any work on their part.

 

[Ghost]

This is the old OJC of it I have and it sounds pretty damn good. Comments on the listing back me up. Stil seems like you can get good copies at good prices.

https://www.discogs.com/release/2252726-Bill-Evans-Trio-Explorations

 

[MikeH]

@Ghost i am a bit unsure now about whether or not the black vinyl for Birth of the Blue is limited...the email i got from AS seems to say that they are both limited to 1,000 but no mention of a limit on the black vinyl on their site...