The Blue Note Thread

Dark Star Boogie said:
Can anyone comment on if the European Elemental presses would be better than the 75th Anniversary presses?

Wondering if I should upgrade my Empyrean Isles at some point.
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As in you have a 75th of Empyrean? If so, I think it would be a side-step. You might get a slightly cleaner pressing with Elemental but the mastering actually might be better on the 75th.

You’re probably aware, but there are blue label issues floating around out there with Van Gelder stamps that can maybe be had for a little more than those reissues. Herbie Hancock - Empyrean Isles (Vinyl, US, 1975) For Sale | Discogs one is for sale for $40 right now but that’s a little steep. Just make sure Van Gelder is stamped in the runout.
 
mitchwagz said:
As in you have a 75th of Empyrean? If so, I think it would be a side-step. You might get a slightly cleaner pressing with Elemental but the mastering actually might be better on the 75th.

You’re probably aware, but there are blue label issues floating around out there with Van Gelder stamps that can maybe be had for a little more than those reissues. Herbie Hancock - Empyrean Isles (Vinyl, US, 1975) For Sale | Discogs one is for sale for $40 right now but that’s a little steep. Just make sure Van Gelder is stamped in the runout.
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I eyed this one as well but think it can be found cheaper too.
 
Dark Star Boogie said:
Can anyone comment on if the European Elemental presses would be better than the 75th Anniversary presses?

Wondering if I should upgrade my Empyrean Isles at some point.
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I will just double up on what’s already been said here’s but if you have a BN75 Pressing already then the Elemental won’t be an upgrade really as they are so similar. Both are good pressings, especially for the price point, but I would personally hold off for a bigger upgrade which will be more noticeable.
 
Dark Star Boogie said:
Missed it, how much were they askin?
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$15 plus $5 shipping. I scored what appears to be a 1964 copy of Songs for My Father from that same seller for $28 today! It was listed as vinyl being VG but the jacket seriously beat to hell. With Mike H (I think it was him?) commenting previously on his success with VG copies of early Blue Notes, I decided to chance it that it'll play better than VG!

Edit: I should mention be was asking for $40 but took my offer of $28. I offered I think $24 first and he countered with $30 before I offered $28 and he accepted. He's got a few other things that people here may be interested in that have the "Make Offer" option.
 
johnpisme said:
$15 plus $5 shipping. I scored what appears to be a 1964 copy of Songs for My Father from that same seller for $28 today! It was listed as vinyl being VG but the jacket seriously beat to hell. With Mike H (I think it was him?) commenting previously on his success with VG copies of early Blue Notes, I decided to chance it that it'll play better than VG!

Edit: I should mention be was asking for $40 but took my offer of $28. I offered I think $24 first and he countered with $30 before I offered $28 and he accepted. He's got a few other things that people here may be interested in that have the "Make Offer" option.
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Damn! Nice find. Wonder if that’s the same guy I got an early pressing of Soultrane from today...everything was make an offer. I think he had it at $30 and I got it for $20...he didn’t even counter offer me!

And yes, some of those old BN pressings play surprisingly well. @Dark Star Boogie and I have both gotten albums that look kinda beat up and as long as there aren’t any feelable scratches, the music still plays well and the noise can be minimal. I would have taken a shot on that record too for that price!
 
MikeH said:
Damn! Nice find. Wonder if that’s the same guy I got an early pressing of Soultrane from today...everything was make an offer. I think he had it at $30 and I got it for $20...he didn’t even counter offer me!

And yes, some of those old BN pressings play surprisingly well. @Dark Star Boogie and I have both gotten albums that look kinda beat up and as long as there aren’t any feelable scratches, the music still plays well and the noise can be minimal. I would have taken a shot on that record too for that price!
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I completely agree about BN's playing ridiculously well, even with the odd scratch. I have a handful of beat up copies which you would imagine wouldn't play but actually sound great.

I recently picked up a copy of 'Introducing Lee Morgan' on the Savoy label from 1956. It has a fair few surface marks/light scratches and then one deeper looking scratch to one side. Its a fairly short scratch but I was worried about it all the same. When it came to playing it was super quiet and just a small pop when it came to the deep scratch. I couldn't quite believe it. Theres a few Savoy records I am on the hunt for (a lot of Yusef Lateef - Prayer From The East, Jazz For The Thinker, Jazz Moods etc) so I have decided to be more lenient towards lower grades and hopefully im correct in assuming they play well as the Morgan.
 
Selaws said:
I completely agree about BN's playing ridiculously well, even with the odd scratch. I have a handful of beat up copies which you would imagine wouldn't play but actually sound great.

I recently picked up a copy of 'Introducing Lee Morgan' on the Savoy label from 1956. It has a fair few surface marks/light scratches and then one deeper looking scratch to one side. Its a fairly short scratch but I was worried about it all the same. When it came to playing it was super quiet and just a small pop when it came to the deep scratch. I couldn't quite believe it. Theres a few Savoy records I am on the hunt for (a lot of Yusef Lateef - Prayer From The East, Jazz For The Thinker, Jazz Moods etc) so I have decided to be more lenient towards lower grades and hopefully im correct in assuming they play well as the Morgan.
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The Savoy Yusef’s can be tricky to find! I was on the hunt for them for awhile too but good to know that they play well if not perfect too! I wonder why those older records play better?
 
MikeH said:
The Savoy Yusef’s can be tricky to find! I was on the hunt for them for awhile too but good to know that they play well if not perfect too! I wonder why those older records play better?
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Reaaaaally tricky. I've been checking ebay and discogs listings daily for the best part of 3 months now. Not sure why, are the grooves cut deeper? Or maybe the quality of the raw materials are better? Would be an interesting thing to research actually.
 
Selaws said:
Reaaaaally tricky. I've been checking ebay and discogs listings daily for the best part of 3 months now. Not sure why, are the grooves cut deeper? Or maybe the quality of the raw materials are better? Would be an interesting thing to research actually.
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I’m guessing a few things probably affect it. Deeper grooves, the use of virgin vinyl and better materials and just plain old quality control. Deeper grooves would make the most sense about why superficial scratches don’t affect the sound quality it as much.
 
MikeH said:
I’m guessing a few things probably affect it. Deeper grooves, the use of virgin vinyl and better materials and just plain old quality control. Deeper grooves would make the most sense about why superficial scratches don’t affect the sound quality it as much.
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Really makes you question why some modern labels find it so difficult to get right. Theres significantly more technological and material advancements today yet the quality of a 60+ year old record can wipe the floor with them!
 
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