Jazz

[Speedracer]

Hopefully you can return it and get sent a better pressing? The Vital Vinyl series is reportedly mastered by Kevin Reeves from UMG, cut at Capital, and pressed by GZ.

I probably could, but not sure whether it's worth the hassle. Knowing what I now know about the pressing, I would only want my money back and not sure how accommodating they are considering that I accused them of sending me the wrong version and I never told them about the second copy (although I wouldn't have to now either)

I think I might drop by my local record store and see how much he is willing to offer for trade in. If he is willing to give me $20 store credit for the two, that would cover me and get me a new record of two.

 

[Nee Lewman]

Ahh okay I see, that would make sense. I looked up the press release and Ballads was listed under the section "Vital Vinyl titles already available". So I suppose they are just slapping the sticker on old stock that is still lying around. Very deceptive indeed, although I have to say that the mastering is not the problem. The master seems to date back to a 1995 version, which supposedly is remastered from the original analog recordings. Now whether this is actually AAA or ADA, I don't know for sure. It has "mastered by Capitol" in the deadwax and I have read that Capitol supposedly has a digital element somewhere in their mastering chain, preventing them from doing true AAA. However, I have no idea how far that information dates back. From what I can gather on Discogs and the Hoffman forums, most Impulse reissues mastered by capitol between 1995 and 2000 sound pretty darn good and are good cheap alternatives for some expensive pressings.

The real problem is the pressing quality. It's so badly off-centre I get sea-sick watching the needle sway back and forth.

A lot of impulse’s catalog (Especially Coltrane) was lost in the Universal Lot fire and AAA isn’t possible.

 

[johnpisme]

A lot of impulse’s catalog (Especially Coltrane) was lost in the Universal Lot fire and AAA isn’t possible.

The fire was in 2008, though, so anything using a mastering from before that could have been AAA potentially. The Vital Vinyl series was from high res files, though.

 

[Nee Lewman]

The fore was in 2008, though, so anything using a mastering from before that could have been AAA potentially. The Vital Vinyl series was from high res files, though.

Understood, but if it’s a new pressing from the 95 master, still not AAA... definitely a safety involved.

 

[Speedracer]

A lot of impulse’s catalog (Especially Coltrane) was lost in the Universal Lot fire and AAA isn’t possible.

Yeah definitely true that the master tapes burned, but that technically doesn't prevent companies from doing AAA releases from copy/safety tapes. If my understanding is correct AAA is just the verbiage used to signify a fully analog process, not specifically the usage of the master tape.

 

[Nee Lewman]

Yeah definitely true that the master tapes burned, but that technically doesn't prevent companies from doing AAA releases from copy/safety tapes. If my understanding is correct AAA is just the verbiage used to signify a fully analog process, not specifically the usage of the master tape.

True but I doubt a safety made in 95 was analog especially for a jazz label.

 

[johnpisme]

Understood, but if it’s a new pressing from the 95 master, still not AAA... definitely a safety involved.

Sure, especially since it was mastered at Captitol. I think the 70's Japanese pressings are some of the best quality vs value for Ballads and that era of Coltrane.

 

[Speedracer]

True but I doubt a safety made in 95 was analog especially for a jazz label.

Yeah, you are probably right. I was referencing this series, which seems to suggest it's fully analog. But you never know nowadays and I'm sure that only the original run of these records pressed between 95 and 97 would have been fully analog, if any where fully analog at all.

Sure, especially since it was mastered at Captitol. I think the 70's Japanese pressings are some of the best quality vs value for Ballads and that era of Coltrane.

70's Japanese pressings are usually a good bet for most albums, but are definitely more expensive and harder to come by in this part of the world. On paper this series seemed like a nice and cheap alternative to try out.

 

[johnpisme]

Yeah, you are probably right. I was referencing this series, which seems to suggest it's fully analog. But you never know nowadays and I'm sure that only the original run of these records pressed between 95 and 97 would have been fully analog, if any where fully analog at all.



70's Japanese pressings are usually a good bet for most albums, but are definitely more expensive and harder to come by in this part of the world. On paper this series seemed like a nice and cheap alternative to try out.

Yeah I've liked all the Vital Vinyl I've heard so far.

 

[The Denmarkian Wonder]

How are the Japanese pressings? I've been looking at a few King pressings as well as the 1973 Toshiba pressing of A Love Supreme.

 

[Selaws]

How are the Japanese pressings? I've been looking at a few King pressings as well as the 1973 Toshiba pressing of A Love Supreme.

I have a few and they are top notch. Really great, especially if you can get a good price on them. Worth noting a few things though, the earlier Toshiba pressings are much better than the later ones. Equally, the King represses are mono only, whereas some of the Toshiba are those 'fake stereo' pressings.

One of the great things about the japanese reissues is that the reissued a lot of Blue Notes that you would otherwise have to sell an arm to be able to afford. I believe a few even included additional tracks (dont quote me on that though).

 

[The Denmarkian Wonder]

I have a few and they are top notch. Really great, especially if you can get a good price on them. Worth noting a few things though, the earlier Toshiba pressings are much better than the later ones. Equally, the King represses are mono only, whereas some of the Toshiba are those 'fake stereo' pressings.

One of the great things about the japanese reissues is that the reissued a lot of Blue Notes that you would otherwise have to sell an arm to be able to afford. I believe a few even included additional tracks (dont quote me on that though).

Yeah, there's quite a selection that would cost a bit more to get from Music Matters or Analogue Productions. These are a few of the one's i've been looking at:

John Coltrane - A Love Supreme

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1973 Vinyl release of "A Love Supreme" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

Lee Morgan - The Sidewinder

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1977 Vinyl release of "The Sidewinder" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

Herbie Hancock - Maiden Voyage (Vinyl, Japan, 1978) For Sale | Discogs

Shop the 1978 Japan Vinyl release of Maiden Voyage by Herbie Hancock at Discogs.

www.discogs.com

Also, is there any difference between the 1977 and 1978 pressing of Moanin'?

Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers - Moanin'

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1977 Vinyl release of "Moanin'" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers - Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1978 Vinyl release of "Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

 

[seeirwin]

How are the Japanese pressings? I've been looking at a few King pressings as well as the 1973 Toshiba pressing of A Love Supreme.

I recently was wondering about different Japanese pressings of A Love Supreme, so I bought a few to compare. Happy to share the needle drops here.

1973 IMP 88060

1976 YP-8527-AI

1980 VIM-4610 - this one is on JVC SuperVinyl

 

[doncornelius]

Yeah, there's quite a selection that would cost a bit more to get from Music Matters or Analogue Productions. These are a few of the one's i've been looking at:

John Coltrane - A Love Supreme

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1973 Vinyl release of "A Love Supreme" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

Lee Morgan - The Sidewinder

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1977 Vinyl release of "The Sidewinder" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

Herbie Hancock - Maiden Voyage (Vinyl, Japan, 1978) For Sale | Discogs

Shop the 1978 Japan Vinyl release of Maiden Voyage by Herbie Hancock at Discogs.

www.discogs.com

Also, is there any difference between the 1977 and 1978 pressing of Moanin'?

Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers - Moanin'

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1977 Vinyl release of "Moanin'" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers - Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1978 Vinyl release of "Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

77 and 78 are the same.

 

[The Denmarkian Wonder]

I recently was wondering about different Japanese pressings of A Love Supreme, so I bought a few to compare. Happy to share the needle drops here.

1973 IMP 88060

1976 YP-8527-AI

1980 VIM-4610 - this one is on JVC SuperVinyl

Thanks! They sound about the same to me so i'm guessing you can't go wrong with either one?

77 and 78 are the same.

Great. Thanks

 

[seeirwin]

Thanks! They sound about the same to me so i'm guessing you can't go wrong with either one?



Great. Thanks

The quality of the packaging on each one varies, if that matters to you. The 1976 seems closest to original Impulse! packaging, in my opinion.

 

[Dark Star Boogie]

Yeah, there's quite a selection that would cost a bit more to get from Music Matters or Analogue Productions. These are a few of the one's i've been looking at:

John Coltrane - A Love Supreme

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1973 Vinyl release of "A Love Supreme" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

Lee Morgan - The Sidewinder

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1977 Vinyl release of "The Sidewinder" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

Herbie Hancock - Maiden Voyage (Vinyl, Japan, 1978) For Sale | Discogs

Shop the 1978 Japan Vinyl release of Maiden Voyage by Herbie Hancock at Discogs.

www.discogs.com

Also, is there any difference between the 1977 and 1978 pressing of Moanin'?

Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers - Moanin'

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1977 Vinyl release of "Moanin'" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers - Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1978 Vinyl release of "Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

I own the ‘73 Japanese pressing of A Love Supreme and think it sounds fantastic, and I will say the same about any of the King pressings I own (think I’m up to 5 or 6 now). Buy with confidence!

 

[The Denmarkian Wonder]

The quality of the packaging on each one varies, if that matters to you. The 1976 seems closest to original Impulse! packaging, in my opinion.

It matters but it's not a deal breaker. The 1976 looks to be a little harder, and cost a little more, to get, though. So i might just stick with the 1973

I own the ‘73 Japanese pressing of A Love Supreme and think it sounds fantastic, and I will say the same about any of the King pressings I own (think I’m up to 5 or 6 now). Buy with confidence!

Thanks!

 

[mitchwagz]

Yeah, there's quite a selection that would cost a bit more to get from Music Matters or Analogue Productions. These are a few of the one's i've been looking at:

John Coltrane - A Love Supreme

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1973 Vinyl release of "A Love Supreme" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

Lee Morgan - The Sidewinder

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1977 Vinyl release of "The Sidewinder" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

Herbie Hancock - Maiden Voyage (Vinyl, Japan, 1978) For Sale | Discogs

Shop the 1978 Japan Vinyl release of Maiden Voyage by Herbie Hancock at Discogs.

www.discogs.com

Also, is there any difference between the 1977 and 1978 pressing of Moanin'?

Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers - Moanin'

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1977 Vinyl release of "Moanin'" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers - Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1978 Vinyl release of "Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

I had the King Maiden Voyage which is indeed superb and sold it to @agutierrezb on here a few months ago. I have a King Out to Lunch! too that is great. Like others said, buy with confidence! Otherwise I have been happy with the mid 90’s release of The Sidewinder. I’m pretty sure it’s one of those digital pressings but it sounds really good, pressed at RTI. Also, be on the lookout for the late 60’s Impulse reissues of A Love Supreme. There’s copies out there that have the Van Gelder stamp and can be had at reasonable prices if patient (just bought one for $35 in strong VG+ condition). You just will have to confirm the deadwax information on those though. I think it was only issued in the early label variation without the registered trademark symbol.

 

[kafunis]

I've got a mix of 73 and 76 Japanese Coltrane pressings that are all very good, A King of Moanin and quite a few other Jazz Japanese pressings. All are top notch quality and would not hesitate in recommending them as a great alternative . They are probably not quite up to MM quality but the Impulse stuff I've got is great and has been cheaper for me that MM (which is Blue Note only obviously) and unless you have a high end set up you probably won't hear any difference. Also I remember reading on SHF about problems with A Love Supreme pressings after the initial run and were told early 70's were probably a better bet for Stereo .