Fresh Grabs

Selaws said:
Here are some records that I got in the lead up to Christmas and stuff that arrived whilst I was away for a few days. I have bought a few bits from the sales as well but I imagine Royal Mail will be swamped at the moment so they won't arrive for a while.

Binker And Moses - Alive In The East? (Gearbox Records, 2018 First Pressing)
Jackie McLean - A Fickle Sonance (Blue Note, 2020 BN80 Pressing)

First of all, @dhodo absolutely knocked it out of the park with these killer Secret Santa gifts. I couldn't be happier with them, they really were the perfect choices! Thanks again man!

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The Stan Tracey Big Band – Alice In Jazz Land (Columbia, 1966 First Stereo Pressing)
Graham Collier Music – Songs For My Father (Fontana, 1970 First Pressing)
Ray Russell Quartet – Turn Circle (CBS, 1968 First Mono Pressing)
Various - "Das" Is Jazz! (Decca, 1956 First Pressing)
Hoagy Carmichael / Emil Seidel (Ristic, 1970 First 10" Pressing)
Tubby Hayes And The Paul Gonsalves All Stars - Change Of Setting (World Record Club, 1967 First Stereo Pressing)

A bumper stack of fantastic British jazz (plus a couple of others). I finished reading Stan Tracey's biography a few days ago and have been itching to spin 'Alice In Jazzland'. Graham Collier is a musician that I have been really digging over the past year and 'Songs For My Father' is an album that has alluded me for quite a while so I was thrilled to have gotten this copy. Ray Russell is a killer guitarist who is still active on the jazz scene and 'Turn Circle' is a great example of his music. The Tubby Hayes/Paul Gonsalves is one that I already have in mono format but this was so affordable that, for once, I decided to double up. "Das Is Jazz" is notable for including an early appearance from Jutta Hipp on piano. Finally, a 10" oddity which was 1 of just 99 pressed.

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Relief - A Benefit For The Jazz Foundation Of America's Musician's Emergency Fund (Mack Avenue, 2021 VMP Exclusive Pressing)
João Donato / Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad – Jazz Is Dead 7 (Jazz Is Dead, 2021 VMP Exclusive Pressing)
Brian Jackson / Ali Shaheed Muhammad & Adrian Younge – Jazz Is Dead 8 (Jazz Is Dead, 2021 VMP Exclusive Pressing)
Claudia Thompson – Goodbye To Love (Edison International, 2021 VMP Exclusive Pressing)
Roberta Flack – Quiet Fire (Atlantic, 2021 VMP Classics Pressing)

A few VMP parcels also arrived. The JID series is now up to date apart from the Instrumental release. I have to admit that I thought I cancelled the 'Relief' as I believe I queried how much was going to the cause and it was less than the standard release but still, at least it will help them out a bit. Claudia Thompson is an album that I have been incredibly excited for and cant wait to dig in! Finally, the latest Classics which im sure will be a great pressing

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Untitled Tape / Untitled Work (Self-Released, 2021 Test Pressing)

This is a fantastically unexpected release from Leon Brichard of Ill Considered, Wildflower, MADMADMAD, etc. Leon messaged me before Christmas to say that he was releasing his previously tape-only project on vinyl, with a handful of 30 45-rpm test-pressings being available first. Cant wait to hear how this sounds on vinyl!

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Johnny Hodges – The Complete Johnny Hodges Sessions 1951 - 1955 (Mosaic, 1989 Limited Box Set Pressing)

This was a Christmas present to myself that I ordered just before the big day. I have listened to a lot of Duke Ellington's music over the past year (and read a hefty biography) and Johnny Hodges' playing has definitely been a stand-out for me, so I'm thrilled to have this set of his complete early-50's sessions.

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The Ronnie Scott File 20th Anniversary Tour Programme
Ortofon 2M Blue

A final couple of music-related oddities. The Ronnie Scotts file was given to guests at the 20th-anniversary party and includes 2 magazines and 2 pull-outs which is quite cool. The crème de la crème is a stylus upgrade. Thanks to @Joe Mac and @Mather for their invaluable advice with this one. I currently use the Ortofon 2M Silver cart and will be switching out the stylus for this 2M Blue which should be a noticeable upgrade. I actually ordered just the stylus but the shop rang to tell me that, like everything record related at the moment, there are severe delays in getting Ortofon stock over here in the UK. He did have the cart&stylus available and ended up sending that at the same price which was nice of him.

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Brilliant mate! Glad your blue arrived safely! You’ll definitely notice a lot more detail and poise with that stylus, let us know what you think once you’ve got it broken in and listened to a few of your better pressings/masters!
 
Joe Mac said:
Brilliant mate! Glad your blue arrived safely! You’ll definitely notice a lot more detail and poise with that stylus, let us know what you think once you’ve got it broken in and listened to a few of your better pressings/masters!
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I will do and cheers again for your advice on the Blue, certainly helped clear up a few points for me so it's much appreciated. I am on a second record with the Blue now and the difference is already staggering!
 
That "damaged" shipment from Germany finally arrived... unscathed!!

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The Sons of Kemet 12" was the main order here, everything else was cheapo stuff added to the order to maximize the value of the shipping costs. And the Big Bill Broonzy was actually mispicked and they sent me a comp they were selling for twice the price of the one I ordered (although it also has a waaaaaay uglier cover!)

Sons Of Kemet – African Cosmology
Fletcher Henderson – Vol. 2 (1927-1934)
Brian Ritchie – Sonic Temple & Court Of Babylon
Big Bill Broonzy – Big Bill's Blues
 
Selaws said:
I will do and cheers again for your advice on the Blue, certainly helped clear up a few points for me so it's much appreciated. I am on a second record with the Blue now and the difference is already staggering!
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I loved the 2M Blue, until I was seduced by a Hana SL! Still have the Blue, but it moved over to my office system. Welcome to the upgrade rabbit hole!
 
Figured I'd post a few days early; not going to buy more records in the waning year, and don't see any outstanding orders en route.

December Acquisitions

Secret Santa gifts / PIF arrivals:

Laurie Anderson - Mister Heartbreak
Jackson C. Frank - Jackson C. Frank
Spiritualized - Lazer Guided Melodies
Steve & Teresa - Catching a Wave
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Thank you to @wokeupnew for both Jackson C. Frank and Spiritualized, the first being a record from my wantlist and the second being an album that I have never listened to. Currently I am undergoing an A-Z playthrough of my collection (by album title), so it might be several months before I touch back on these.
I got this original Laurie Anderson press from an order I made on Musique Plastique's webstore and having received it for free just from chatting with the (now) single owner of the business at his house where he operates his business. Hoping to see a brick-n-mortar shop making headway in the first half of 2022, would love nothing more. ❤️
Thank you to @Colonel4Bin for the Steve & Teresa PIF. My father is from Hawaii, so he'll love this.


Current year pickups:

Arooj Aftab - Vulture Prince
Loveshadow - Loveshadow
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FINALLY! One of my faves from this year is now in my library. I'll be seeing Arooj next year for the second time and I'm thrilled to have the physical record in hand to get autographed! 😍
This record by Loveshadow is what I was referencing earlier from the Musique Plastique order made above. Interesting music with synthpop and funk leanings recorded between '17-'20 and released this year under the excellent Music From Memory label. Mostly bought this to help out the store, but I do like what I hear.


Miscellaneous pickups:

Ichiko Aoba - Windswept Adan
Musk Ox - Woodfall
Run the Jewels - Run the Jewels
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Nice to have a favorite from last year made available for a reasonable price from Bandcamp with distro in the US. This newest from Ichiko Aoba, who was a fascinating discovery near the end of 2020, is ethereally enchanting.
Thanks again to @avecigrec for spreading word in the Pre Order Thread of a Musk Ox repress. Just as lovely as their record from this year and perhaps even more sprawling, given the track lengths.
Came across the 2xLP special edition of RTJ1 at a store for $32 and didn't hesitate. I had originally sold my standard gold repress from '18 for pennies on the dollar at a record store, a big mistake that I will ensure to avoid committing in the future.
 
Fresh Grabs!

One whale of mine, Cafe Tacvba's 1996 Avalancha de Éxitos finally had a vinyl pressing(official it seems) in Argentina. Bought from a store in Peru, traveled to USA and now it's in Mexico! Love how far we travel to get great stuff. The other is a PIF from @hatfieldpdx , rounding up the M. Ward collection, need a few more albums to get everything on vinyl(albums at least!)
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Excited to play these, but first, Cafeta's album! Been wanting to hear this on vinyl for a while now.
 
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