The Blue Note Thread

[MikeH]

Are they an actual new (back then) mono mix?

So there seems to be very little information I can find. But looks like Kevin Gray remastered from the original mono tapes at Cohearant Audio. I wish I had early mono versions to A/B test. These sound really great though. Very quiet like other Japanese pressings I have. Listened to the Sonny Clark so far and it’s awesome. The packaging is also extremely nice—has that textured sleeve that a lot of old BNs have. Will try to listen to the Shorter record later.

@Speedracer —I really like the sound of these and the packaging is awesome. As far as quality compared to MM, I’m not sure I can tell. They seem close to me and sound better than my King pressings which I quite like. If you can find any at a decent price, I’d say test one out! I got Afro Cuban coming to me from discogs and it was $50.

 

[jamieanderson1968]

Argh, another Tina Brooks eBay auction lost. I think I have been out bid on True Blue 10 times the last few months.

I have been looking for a good pressing at a decent price to replace my BN 75 for awhile but keep losing. I have my eye on another auction but might just breakdown and by a new MM copy. Which means I might as well buy a copy of Back To The Tracks as well.

 

[MikeH]

Argh, another Tina Brooks eBay auction lost. I think I have been out bid on True Blue 10 times the last few months.

I have been looking for a good pressing at a decent price to replace my BN 75 for awhile but keep losing. I have my eye on another auction but might just breakdown and by a new MM copy. Which means I might as well buy a copy of Back To The Tracks as well.

The MM Back To The Tracks sounds fantastic. Won that in an eBay auction a few months back.

 

[kafunis]

‘I,ve got about 5 of these, Tina Brooks, Afro-Cuban, Lee Morgan Candy ..they are really well done, sound great.

What pressings are these? I don't recognize the blue stripe at the top.

 

[btf1980]

What pressings are these? I don't recognize the blue stripe at the top.

These are the DBLP Series done by EMI Japan and distributed by Disk Union. It was remastered by Kevin Gray and pressed at QRP. I have about 30 of them. They are universally excellent.

Here is a news video on them.



Additionally, some non Blue Note titles under the Universal umbrella are part of the series. Like my personal favorite, Byrd Blows on Beacon Hill below.

Here's a list of the 62 DBLP Blue Note titles.

1524 DBLP-001 Kenny Dorham 'Round About Midnight At The Cafe Bohemia ‎
1538 DBLP-002 Lee Morgan Indeed! ‎
1577 DBLP-003 John Coltrane Blue Train ‎
4032 DBLP-004 Hank Mobley Soul Station ‎
4195 DBLP-005 Herbie Hancock Maiden Voyage ‎
1526 DBLP-006 Clifford Brown Memorial Album ‎
1588 DBLP-007 Sonny Clark Cool Struttin' ‎
4009 DBLP-008 Amazing Bud Powell, The* The Scene Changes ‎
4024 DBLP-009 Jackie McLean Swing, Swang, Swingin' ‎
4182 DBLP-010 Wayne Shorter Juju ‎
1530 DBLP-011 Jutta Hipp With Zoot Sims Jutta Hipp With Zoot Sims ‎
1593 DBLP-012 Lou Donaldson Blues Walk ‎
4001 DBLP-013 Sonny Rollins Newk's Time ‎
4059 DBLP-014 Kenny Drew Undercurrent ‎
4166 DBLP-015 Joe Henderson In 'N Out ‎
1513 DBLP-016 Thad Jones Detroit-New York Junction ‎
1568 DBLP-017 Hank Mobley Hank Mobley ‎
4003 DBLP-018 Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers* Moanin' ‎
4022 DBLP-019 Duke Pearson Profile ‎
4154 DBLP-020 Grant Green Idle Moments ‎
1533 DBLP-021 Johnny Griffin Introducing Johnny Griffin ‎
1595 DBLP-022 Cannonball Adderley Somethin' Else ‎
4007 DBLP-023 Donald Byrd Off To The Races ‎
4028 DBLP-024 Horace Parlan Movin' & Groovin' ‎
4123 DBLP-025 Kenny Burrell Midnight Blue ‎
1535 DBLP-026 Kenny Dorham Afro-Cuban ‎
1541 DBLP-027 Lee Morgan Lee Morgan Vol. 2
1579 DBLP-028 Sonny Clark Trio Sonny Clark Trio ‎
4032 DBLP-029 Sonny Red Out Of The Blue ‎
4209 DBLP-030 Hank Mobley Dippin' ‎
1501 DBLP-031 Miles Davis Miles Davis Vol. 1
1502 DBLP-032 Miles Davis Miles Davis Vol. 2 ‎
1503 DBLP-033 Bud Powell The Amazing Bud Powell, Volume 1 ‎
1504 DBLP-034 Bud Powell The Amazing Bud Powell, Volume 2 ‎
1521 DBLP-035 Art Blakey A Night At Birdland, Volume 1 ‎
1522 DBLP-036 Art Blakey A Night At Birdland Volume 2 ‎
1527 DBLP-037 Thad Jones The Magnificent Thad Jones ‎
1542 DBLP-038 Sonny Rollins Sonny Rollins Volume 1 ‎
4018 DBLP-039 Walter Davis Jr. Davis Cup ‎
4041 DBLP-040 Tina Brooks True Blue ‎
4140 DBLP-041 Joe Henderson Page One ‎
1536 DBLP-042 J.R. Monterose J.R. Monterose ‎
1557 DBLP-043 Lee Morgan Volume 3 ‎
1574 DBLP-044 Hank Mobley - Lee Morgan Peckin' Time ‎
4040 DBLP-045 Freddie Hubbard Open Sesame ‎
4163 DBLP-046 Eric Dolphy - Out to Lunch! ‎
1592 DBLP-047 Sonny Clark Cool Struttin' Volume 2 ‎
4052 DBLP-048 Tina Brooks Back To The Tracks ‎
4173 DBLP-049 Wayne Shorter Night Dreamer ‎
4194 DBLP-050 Wayne Shorter Speak No Evil ‎
4232 DBLP-051 Wayne Shorter Adam's Apple ‎
1550 DBLP-052 Hank Mobley Quintet Hank Mobley Quintet
1581 DBLP-053 Sonny Rollins Live at The Village Vanguard
1590 DBLP-054 Lee Morgan Candy
4046 DBLP-055 Duke Jordan Flight to Jordan
4146 DBLP-056 Dexter Gordon Our Man in Paris
1515 DBLP-057 Jutta Hipp At The Hickory House Vol. 1
1516 DBLP-058 Jutta Hipp At The Hickory House Vol. 2
1539 DBLP-059 Horace Silver - 6 Pieces of Silver
1569 DBLP-060 Paul Chambers Bass on Top
4037 DBLP-061 Horace Parlan Us Three
4058 DBLP-062 Hank Mobley Roll Call ‎

A list of the 8 non Blue Note titles in the series.

DELP-001 Doug Watkins, Watkins At Large
DELP-002 Donald Byrd, Byrd Blows On Beacon Hill
DELP-003 John Windhurst, Jazz at Columbus Ave
DELP-004 Art Pepper, Modern Art
DELP-005 Chet Baker, Chet Baker Sings
DELP-006 Lawrence Marable, Tenorman
DELP-007 Serge Chaloff, Blue Serge
DELP-008 Sonny Criss, Go Man!

Brochure

 

[MikeH]

These are the DBLP Series done by EMI Japan and distributed by Disk Union. It was remastered by Kevin Gray and pressed at QRP. I have about 30 of them. They are universally excellent.

Here is a news video on them.



Additionally, some non Blue Note titles under the Universal umbrella are part of the series. Like my personal favorite, Byrd Blows on Beacon Hill below.

Here's a list of the 62 DBLP Blue Note titles.

1524 DBLP-001 Kenny Dorham 'Round About Midnight At The Cafe Bohemia ‎
1538 DBLP-002 Lee Morgan Indeed! ‎
1577 DBLP-003 John Coltrane Blue Train ‎
4032 DBLP-004 Hank Mobley Soul Station ‎
4195 DBLP-005 Herbie Hancock Maiden Voyage ‎
1526 DBLP-006 Clifford Brown Memorial Album ‎
1588 DBLP-007 Sonny Clark Cool Struttin' ‎
4009 DBLP-008 Amazing Bud Powell, The* The Scene Changes ‎
4024 DBLP-009 Jackie McLean Swing, Swang, Swingin' ‎
4182 DBLP-010 Wayne Shorter Juju ‎
1530 DBLP-011 Jutta Hipp With Zoot Sims Jutta Hipp With Zoot Sims ‎
1593 DBLP-012 Lou Donaldson Blues Walk ‎
4001 DBLP-013 Sonny Rollins Newk's Time ‎
4059 DBLP-014 Kenny Drew Undercurrent ‎
4166 DBLP-015 Joe Henderson In 'N Out ‎
1513 DBLP-016 Thad Jones Detroit-New York Junction ‎
1568 DBLP-017 Hank Mobley Hank Mobley ‎
4003 DBLP-018 Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers* Moanin' ‎
4022 DBLP-019 Duke Pearson Profile ‎
4154 DBLP-020 Grant Green Idle Moments ‎
1533 DBLP-021 Johnny Griffin Introducing Johnny Griffin ‎
1595 DBLP-022 Cannonball Adderley Somethin' Else ‎
4007 DBLP-023 Donald Byrd Off To The Races ‎
4028 DBLP-024 Horace Parlan Movin' & Groovin' ‎
4123 DBLP-025 Kenny Burrell Midnight Blue ‎
1535 DBLP-026 Kenny Dorham Afro-Cuban ‎
1541 DBLP-027 Lee Morgan Lee Morgan Vol. 2
1579 DBLP-028 Sonny Clark Trio Sonny Clark Trio ‎
4032 DBLP-029 Sonny Red Out Of The Blue ‎
4209 DBLP-030 Hank Mobley Dippin' ‎
1501 DBLP-031 Miles Davis Miles Davis Vol. 1
1502 DBLP-032 Miles Davis Miles Davis Vol. 2 ‎
1503 DBLP-033 Bud Powell The Amazing Bud Powell, Volume 1 ‎
1504 DBLP-034 Bud Powell The Amazing Bud Powell, Volume 2 ‎
1521 DBLP-035 Art Blakey A Night At Birdland, Volume 1 ‎
1522 DBLP-036 Art Blakey A Night At Birdland Volume 2 ‎
1527 DBLP-037 Thad Jones The Magnificent Thad Jones ‎
1542 DBLP-038 Sonny Rollins Sonny Rollins Volume 1 ‎
4018 DBLP-039 Walter Davis Jr. Davis Cup ‎
4041 DBLP-040 Tina Brooks True Blue ‎
4140 DBLP-041 Joe Henderson Page One ‎
1536 DBLP-042 J.R. Monterose J.R. Monterose ‎
1557 DBLP-043 Lee Morgan Volume 3 ‎
1574 DBLP-044 Hank Mobley - Lee Morgan Peckin' Time ‎
4040 DBLP-045 Freddie Hubbard Open Sesame ‎
4163 DBLP-046 Eric Dolphy - Out to Lunch! ‎
1592 DBLP-047 Sonny Clark Cool Struttin' Volume 2 ‎
4052 DBLP-048 Tina Brooks Back To The Tracks ‎
4173 DBLP-049 Wayne Shorter Night Dreamer ‎
4194 DBLP-050 Wayne Shorter Speak No Evil ‎
4232 DBLP-051 Wayne Shorter Adam's Apple ‎
1550 DBLP-052 Hank Mobley Quintet Hank Mobley Quintet
1581 DBLP-053 Sonny Rollins Live at The Village Vanguard
1590 DBLP-054 Lee Morgan Candy
4046 DBLP-055 Duke Jordan Flight to Jordan
4146 DBLP-056 Dexter Gordon Our Man in Paris
1515 DBLP-057 Jutta Hipp At The Hickory House Vol. 1
1516 DBLP-058 Jutta Hipp At The Hickory House Vol. 2
1539 DBLP-059 Horace Silver - 6 Pieces of Silver
1569 DBLP-060 Paul Chambers Bass on Top
4037 DBLP-061 Horace Parlan Us Three
4058 DBLP-062 Hank Mobley Roll Call ‎

A list of the 8 non Blue Note titles in the series.

DELP-001 Doug Watkins, Watkins At Large
DELP-002 Donald Byrd, Byrd Blows On Beacon Hill
DELP-003 John Windhurst, Jazz at Columbus Ave
DELP-004 Art Pepper, Modern Art
DELP-005 Chet Baker, Chet Baker Sings
DELP-006 Lawrence Marable, Tenorman
DELP-007 Serge Chaloff, Blue Serge
DELP-008 Sonny Criss, Go Man!

Brochure

I just missed out on that Byrd record recently on eBay and I’m really bummed. They seem somewhat hard to find in the US.

 

[btf1980]

I just missed out on that Byrd record recently on eBay and I’m really bummed. They seem somewhat hard to find in the US.

Just keep at it. You’ll grab it eventually I’m sure.

 

[Speedracer]

So there seems to be very little information I can find. But looks like Kevin Gray remastered from the original mono tapes at Cohearant Audio. I wish I had early mono versions to A/B test. These sound really great though. Very quiet like other Japanese pressings I have. Listened to the Sonny Clark so far and it’s awesome. The packaging is also extremely nice—has that textured sleeve that a lot of old BNs have. Will try to listen to the Shorter record later.

@Speedracer —I really like the sound of these and the packaging is awesome. As far as quality compared to MM, I’m not sure I can tell. They seem close to me and sound better than my King pressings which I quite like. If you can find any at a decent price, I’d say test one out! I got Afro Cuban coming to me from discogs and it was $50.

Yeah, the problem is that the titles I'm interested in are all rarer or more popular, so they are all priced above $100 on discogs. But based on your review I'll definitely keep my eyes open for these.

The only thing that I'm wondering about, in regards to this series, is where these mono masters come from for the albums recorded after 1958. RVG started to only record in Stereo somewhere in 1958, so that means that any albums in the series recorded after that date would be using a fold down as a mono master. I'm not knowledgable enough on the subject to know how much that matters, but to me it seems logical that any album recorded in stereo, should be bought in stereo.

 

[johnpisme]

Yeah, the problem is that the titles I'm interested in are all rarer or more popular, so they are all priced above $100 on discogs. But based on your review I'll definitely keep my eyes open for these.

The only thing that I'm wondering about, in regards to this series, is where these mono masters come from for the albums recorded after 1958. RVG started to only record in Stereo somewhere in 1958, so that means that any albums in the series recorded after that date would be using a fold down as a mono master. I'm not knowledgable enough on the subject to know how much that matters, but to me it seems logical that any album recorded in stereo, should be bought in stereo.

Rudy kept mixing it with an ear towards the mono sound for a while even after Moanin', the last session that used both recording methods. I have a mono OG Free For All that sounds amazing.

 

[Speedracer]

Rudy kept mixing it with an ear towards the mono sound for a while even after Moanin', the last session that used both recording methods. I have a mono OG Free For All that sounds amazing.

Hhmm interesting. Have you ever compared your FFA mono to a stereo copy? I would be interested to hear which sounds better. I recently bought a few AP Blue Notes and they had this insert explaining how everyone involved was surprised by much better the stereo master tapes sounded than the mono tapes for sessions recorded after '58. They all assumed that the mono's would sound better, because it was always what most collectors seemed to be after.

In other news, I've already located a few "reasonably" (€60-70) priced options in Europe. Now I just need to talk myself out of it.

 

[MikeH]

Hhmm interesting. Have you ever compared your FFA mono to a stereo copy? I would be interested to hear which sounds better. I recently bought a few AP Blue Notes and they had this insert explaining how everyone involved was surprised by much better the stereo master tapes sounded than the mono tapes for sessions recorded after '58. They all assumed that the mono's would sound better, because it was always what most collectors seemed to be after.

In other news, I've already located a few "reasonably" (€60-70) priced options in Europe. Now I just need to talk myself out of it.

You can also just look on discogs for everything released on that label and sort by lowest price. They had quite a few good records on there for the price you mentioned. From what I’ve seen in the US, they sell for as little as $50 and most are $60-$70 +

 

[Speedracer]

You can also just look on discogs for everything released on that label and sort by lowest price. They had quite a few good records on there for the price you mentioned. From what I’ve seen in the US, they sell for as little as $50 and most are $60-$70 +

On today's episode of 'advice my wallet can't handle'...

 

[mitchwagz]

Argh, another Tina Brooks eBay auction lost. I think I have been out bid on True Blue 10 times the last few months.

I have been looking for a good pressing at a decent price to replace my BN 75 for awhile but keep losing. I have my eye on another auction but might just breakdown and by a new MM copy. Which means I might as well buy a copy of Back To The Tracks as well.

I’ve been happy with my 90’s pressing of True Blue from the Connoisseur series: Tina Brooks - True Blue
Pretty affordable and sounds great.

 

[Selaws]

These are the DBLP Series done by EMI Japan and distributed by Disk Union. It was remastered by Kevin Gray and pressed at QRP. I have about 30 of them. They are universally excellent.

Here is a news video on them.



Additionally, some non Blue Note titles under the Universal umbrella are part of the series. Like my personal favorite, Byrd Blows on Beacon Hill below.

Here's a list of the 62 DBLP Blue Note titles.

1524 DBLP-001 Kenny Dorham 'Round About Midnight At The Cafe Bohemia ‎
1538 DBLP-002 Lee Morgan Indeed! ‎
1577 DBLP-003 John Coltrane Blue Train ‎
4032 DBLP-004 Hank Mobley Soul Station ‎
4195 DBLP-005 Herbie Hancock Maiden Voyage ‎
1526 DBLP-006 Clifford Brown Memorial Album ‎
1588 DBLP-007 Sonny Clark Cool Struttin' ‎
4009 DBLP-008 Amazing Bud Powell, The* The Scene Changes ‎
4024 DBLP-009 Jackie McLean Swing, Swang, Swingin' ‎
4182 DBLP-010 Wayne Shorter Juju ‎
1530 DBLP-011 Jutta Hipp With Zoot Sims Jutta Hipp With Zoot Sims ‎
1593 DBLP-012 Lou Donaldson Blues Walk ‎
4001 DBLP-013 Sonny Rollins Newk's Time ‎
4059 DBLP-014 Kenny Drew Undercurrent ‎
4166 DBLP-015 Joe Henderson In 'N Out ‎
1513 DBLP-016 Thad Jones Detroit-New York Junction ‎
1568 DBLP-017 Hank Mobley Hank Mobley ‎
4003 DBLP-018 Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers* Moanin' ‎
4022 DBLP-019 Duke Pearson Profile ‎
4154 DBLP-020 Grant Green Idle Moments ‎
1533 DBLP-021 Johnny Griffin Introducing Johnny Griffin ‎
1595 DBLP-022 Cannonball Adderley Somethin' Else ‎
4007 DBLP-023 Donald Byrd Off To The Races ‎
4028 DBLP-024 Horace Parlan Movin' & Groovin' ‎
4123 DBLP-025 Kenny Burrell Midnight Blue ‎
1535 DBLP-026 Kenny Dorham Afro-Cuban ‎
1541 DBLP-027 Lee Morgan Lee Morgan Vol. 2
1579 DBLP-028 Sonny Clark Trio Sonny Clark Trio ‎
4032 DBLP-029 Sonny Red Out Of The Blue ‎
4209 DBLP-030 Hank Mobley Dippin' ‎
1501 DBLP-031 Miles Davis Miles Davis Vol. 1
1502 DBLP-032 Miles Davis Miles Davis Vol. 2 ‎
1503 DBLP-033 Bud Powell The Amazing Bud Powell, Volume 1 ‎
1504 DBLP-034 Bud Powell The Amazing Bud Powell, Volume 2 ‎
1521 DBLP-035 Art Blakey A Night At Birdland, Volume 1 ‎
1522 DBLP-036 Art Blakey A Night At Birdland Volume 2 ‎
1527 DBLP-037 Thad Jones The Magnificent Thad Jones ‎
1542 DBLP-038 Sonny Rollins Sonny Rollins Volume 1 ‎
4018 DBLP-039 Walter Davis Jr. Davis Cup ‎
4041 DBLP-040 Tina Brooks True Blue ‎
4140 DBLP-041 Joe Henderson Page One ‎
1536 DBLP-042 J.R. Monterose J.R. Monterose ‎
1557 DBLP-043 Lee Morgan Volume 3 ‎
1574 DBLP-044 Hank Mobley - Lee Morgan Peckin' Time ‎
4040 DBLP-045 Freddie Hubbard Open Sesame ‎
4163 DBLP-046 Eric Dolphy - Out to Lunch! ‎
1592 DBLP-047 Sonny Clark Cool Struttin' Volume 2 ‎
4052 DBLP-048 Tina Brooks Back To The Tracks ‎
4173 DBLP-049 Wayne Shorter Night Dreamer ‎
4194 DBLP-050 Wayne Shorter Speak No Evil ‎
4232 DBLP-051 Wayne Shorter Adam's Apple ‎
1550 DBLP-052 Hank Mobley Quintet Hank Mobley Quintet
1581 DBLP-053 Sonny Rollins Live at The Village Vanguard
1590 DBLP-054 Lee Morgan Candy
4046 DBLP-055 Duke Jordan Flight to Jordan
4146 DBLP-056 Dexter Gordon Our Man in Paris
1515 DBLP-057 Jutta Hipp At The Hickory House Vol. 1
1516 DBLP-058 Jutta Hipp At The Hickory House Vol. 2
1539 DBLP-059 Horace Silver - 6 Pieces of Silver
1569 DBLP-060 Paul Chambers Bass on Top
4037 DBLP-061 Horace Parlan Us Three
4058 DBLP-062 Hank Mobley Roll Call ‎

A list of the 8 non Blue Note titles in the series.

DELP-001 Doug Watkins, Watkins At Large
DELP-002 Donald Byrd, Byrd Blows On Beacon Hill
DELP-003 John Windhurst, Jazz at Columbus Ave
DELP-004 Art Pepper, Modern Art
DELP-005 Chet Baker, Chet Baker Sings
DELP-006 Lawrence Marable, Tenorman
DELP-007 Serge Chaloff, Blue Serge
DELP-008 Sonny Criss, Go Man!

Brochure

I just missed out on that Byrd record recently on eBay and I’m really bummed. They seem somewhat hard to find in the US.

I almost bought the Byrd record last week. The shop I was in is a high end - as in they have rare records.....but priced at the high end of their value, so everything has to be in top shape to warrant buying it. I put it on the listening table and unfortunately it had a fair bit of surface noise with a few pops as well. If it was cheaper it may have been worth the purchase and a deep clean, but it was really expensive.

 

[Selaws]

Also, taking about that Japanese series and I see this on my Facebook feed....one lucky guy!!

 

[jamieanderson1968]

I’ve been happy with my 90’s pressing of True Blue from the Connoisseur series: Tina Brooks - True Blue
Pretty affordable and sounds great

Thats one of the versions I have been chasing. On eBay auctions they all start edging into Music Matters price territory. I will poke around discogs a bit more

 

[bother]

Also, taking about that Japanese series and I see this on my Facebook feed....one lucky guy!!

View attachment 17724

Must really love that series to drop 2k on it... not that I'm jealous or anything.

 

[Selaws]

This is such a crazy coincidence. I rarely go on Facebook nowadays and the one day I do they’re all talking about those Japanese pressings. Worth checking this page for more info:

 

[MikeH]

This is such a crazy coincidence. I rarely go on Facebook nowadays and the one day I do they’re all talking about those Japanese pressings. Worth checking this page for more info:

View attachment 17728

I feel like such a trendsetter! I paid $70 each for two of them and got another for $50. So they are quite pricey...but the sound quality is quite nice IMO and I wanted to give them a shot.

 

[MikeH]

Must really love that series to drop 2k on it... not that I'm jealous or anything.

Somebody on eBay was selling their entire matching number MM set on eBay 6 months ago or so and it was so tempting to even just think about going for it. It had every MM album and some duplicates on 33 and 45. The guy was willing to deliver it in person anywhere on the east coast. It was something like 130 MM albums for $5k.