Vinyl Me Please Anthology

[High Rant District]

I am going to suggest therapy for you.

You aren't the first person, and won't be the last. I just figured you'd either laugh because I was so wrong, or react strongly because I touched a nerve, and start justifying other VMP actions like shutting down their forum.

Toxic attitudes like this are why the forum doesn't exist anymore.

And yeah, I check every record I get as soon as I get it. In my last 5 purchases, I've had to replace Black Fire from the Tone Poet series, Contours from TP, I replaced the new reissue of Apollo by Brian Eno twice before giving up and getting a credit, I had a replacement sent for a severely warped copy of Call Me, and today I had to request a replacent for Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus because it is noisy as hell even after a cleaning.

Maybe those other companies were getting revenge because your company keeps sending them defective records.

The fact that I am being called a shill for even being positive about something coming from them shows as much.

I didn't say you were a shill. I suggested you were a plant.

Telling someone they need therapy and others to grow up, is hardly the way to carry on a non toxic discussion.

To be fair, that was on me for violating the ancient Tibetan tenet "Don't start none, won't be none."

My response was overly vitriolic and I apologize, but I was a little shellshocked by his response.

No need to apologize. You didn't start anything, and to be fair, you should defend your employer.

This will be my last response here, which I am sure most will be pleased with.

Nah, you should hang out. I respect that you stood up for yourself. And your employer. (I can't help myself, I know, I know). You don't know me, but in the future, if you ever think I'm messing with you... it's probably because I'm messing with you.

Welcome to the forum!

 

[RobbieBobby]

You aren't the first person, and won't be the last. I just figured you'd either laugh because I was so wrong, or react strongly because I touched a nerve, and start justifying other VMP actions like shutting down their forum.

People are going to hate what I have to say here too. First, I assure you I do not work for VMP, I work for a very large distribution company with an office here in Denver. So yes, in some ways I can feel their pain. I worked for Netflix before my current employer, and I remember the extremely negative reaction when Netflix removed user reviews from their website. I can tell you from experience that the reason there was likely the reason VMP did it - Google search results. Random crazy user reviews and comments would pop up if you searched, for instance, with a term like, 'Pulp Fiction Netflix'. Sure the first result would be a page where you could watch it streaming or rent a DVD, but after that, people could see user created content that they had no control over. I would venture to guess that the same logic was used with VMP.

Please don't take this as me defending their actions, but rather offering a possible explanation. They have big aspirations, as any entrepreneurs turned executives do. I do believe the shutting down of the forums was a mistake - it took away a big part of the experience/illusion of them being a record club as they evolve into something else entirely. They chose the easy way rather than the right way. We'll see how it goes for them, but I think they are doing fine.

 

[johnpisme]

I have seen so many posts here wondering if Storf and co. are lurking, like some spurned exed lovers or something, and most of the VMP sections here seem reserved for shitting on the company at every opportunity. If people are over it they sure have a funny way of showing it.

The fact that I am being called a shill for even being positive about something coming from them shows as much.

People suspect people are shills at times because VMP are known for a fact to have had shills come onto their forum and talk things up. People wonder if Storf lurks the forum here because they don't wonder, we know he does.

Liking the anthology records is not an unpopular opinion. Pretty much everyone here agreed the records are great and sound great. It's the parts VMP were most responsible for that were most fucked up. You're assertion that the ends justify the means and that now that we are left with great records means somehow the anthology wasn't a shit show are ridiculous.

If it makes you feel better, I know you aren't a VMP shill because it's obvious who you are.

 

[NathanRicaud]

OMG, it’s so serious up in here! I’m such a scaredy-cat that all this “Can I talk to your Manager?”/serious kind of conversation is making me scared! I like that people here are being serious and calling out VMP for the right reasons, but I’m such a baby that it also frightens me as I’m not used to this White-Collar professional talk

I must admit that I’m very happy with the VMP Anthology overall as the records sound amazing and I like the records which were chosen. I think there were definitely things that went wrong (jacket, vinyl label), but VMP corrected them and i think they were sincere with how they went about the issues. I understand why people are disappointed however as there was a bit of a lack of quality control.

I just want to put this out there. The Blue Note Tone Poet Series so far has been excellent and in my opinion, the best reissues Blue Note are involved in! Blue Note Tone Poet is better than VMP Anthology, hands down!

The 80th anniversary series however is the worst thing ever by far in terms of quality control. EVER!!! I got around 8-10 Blue Note 80th Anniversary pressings and all were either severely warped or had so much scratches everywhere. Literally all of them were very faulty and it doesn’t make sense to me because all the exclusive vinyl pressings I’ve been getting from Urban Outfitters have been pristine.....

I just want to put out there that I understand the disappointment in the VMP Blue Note Anthology Series, as there was a lack of quality control. However, this makes me just think of one thing......if VMP Anthology Blue Note series is considered to have lacked quality, the 80th Blue Note reissues are just like 4 Men With Beards quality/no care at all! I’m really shocked with Blue Note’s carelessness with those pressings. Urban Outfitters, I wouldn’t have been shocked, even though their pressings have been great, but Blue Note.....YIKES!

 

[Jan]

The 80th anniversary series however is the worst thing ever by far in terms of quality control. EVER!!! I got around 8-10 Blue Note 80th Anniversary pressings and all were either severely warped or had so much scratches everywhere. Literally all of them were very faulty and it doesn’t make sense to me because all the exclusive vinyl pressings I’ve been getting from Urban Outfitters have been pristine.....

Strange, the 3 bn80 releases i have are perfect.

 

[dhodo]

OMG, it’s so serious up in here! I’m such a scaredy-cat that all this “Can I talk to your Manager?”/serious kind of conversation is making me scared! I like that people here are being serious and calling out VMP for the right reasons, but I’m such a baby that it also frightens me as I’m not used to this White-Collar professional talk

I must admit that I’m very happy with the VMP Anthology overall as the records sound amazing and I like the records which were chosen. I think there were definitely things that went wrong (jacket, vinyl label), but VMP corrected them and i think they were sincere with how they went about the issues. I understand why people are disappointed however as there was a bit of a lack of quality control.

I just want to put this out there. The Blue Note Tone Poet Series so far has been excellent and in my opinion, the best reissues Blue Note are involved in! Blue Note Tone Poet is better than VMP Anthology, hands down!

The 80th anniversary series however is the worst thing ever by far in terms of quality control. EVER!!! I got around 8-10 Blue Note 80th Anniversary pressings and all were either severely warped or had so much scratches everywhere. Literally all of them were very faulty and it doesn’t make sense to me because all the exclusive vinyl pressings I’ve been getting from Urban Outfitters have been pristine.....

I just want to put out there that I understand the disappointment in the VMP Blue Note Anthology Series, as there was a lack of quality control. However, this makes me just think of one thing......if VMP Anthology Blue Note series is considered to have lacked quality, the 80th Blue Note reissues are just like 4 Men With Beards quality/no care at all! I’m really shocked with Blue Note’s carelessness with those pressings. Urban Outfitters, I wouldn’t have been shocked, even though their pressings have been great, but Blue Note.....YIKES!

Really? I've heard nothing but good things about the 80th. I heard what you're saying about the 75th, but not 80. I know at least some are AAA and pressed at Optimal. Are you saying the jackets are trash? I need to pick up Ethiopian Nights!

 

[Nee Lewman]

OMG, it’s so serious up in here! I’m such a scaredy-cat that all this “Can I talk to your Manager?”/serious kind of conversation is making me scared! I like that people here are being serious and calling out VMP for the right reasons, but I’m such a baby that it also frightens me as I’m not used to this White-Collar professional talk

I must admit that I’m very happy with the VMP Anthology overall as the records sound amazing and I like the records which were chosen. I think there were definitely things that went wrong (jacket, vinyl label), but VMP corrected them and i think they were sincere with how they went about the issues. I understand why people are disappointed however as there was a bit of a lack of quality control.

I just want to put this out there. The Blue Note Tone Poet Series so far has been excellent and in my opinion, the best reissues Blue Note are involved in! Blue Note Tone Poet is better than VMP Anthology, hands down!

The 80th anniversary series however is the worst thing ever by far in terms of quality control. EVER!!! I got around 8-10 Blue Note 80th Anniversary pressings and all were either severely warped or had so much scratches everywhere. Literally all of them were very faulty and it doesn’t make sense to me because all the exclusive vinyl pressings I’ve been getting from Urban Outfitters have been pristine.....

I just want to put out there that I understand the disappointment in the VMP Blue Note Anthology Series, as there was a lack of quality control. However, this makes me just think of one thing......if VMP Anthology Blue Note series is considered to have lacked quality, the 80th Blue Note reissues are just like 4 Men With Beards quality/no care at all! I’m really shocked with Blue Note’s carelessness with those pressings. Urban Outfitters, I wouldn’t have been shocked, even though their pressings have been great, but Blue Note.....YIKES!

They were most certainly not sincere on the case of Gordon. They claimed that Blue Note sent and approved the wrong artwork, claimed they had scoured the earth for ogs to scan but were unable to and then within a week of pissing everyone off, magically had a source for the right liner notes and cover. They. Lied. Their. Asses. Off.

My one 80th (Herbie) is better than one of my Tone poets (Gil Evans). The 75th are a crap shoot, sorry you had bad luck.

 

[MikeH]

OMG, it’s so serious up in here! I’m such a scaredy-cat that all this “Can I talk to your Manager?”/serious kind of conversation is making me scared! I like that people here are being serious and calling out VMP for the right reasons, but I’m such a baby that it also frightens me as I’m not used to this White-Collar professional talk

I must admit that I’m very happy with the VMP Anthology overall as the records sound amazing and I like the records which were chosen. I think there were definitely things that went wrong (jacket, vinyl label), but VMP corrected them and i think they were sincere with how they went about the issues. I understand why people are disappointed however as there was a bit of a lack of quality control.

I just want to put this out there. The Blue Note Tone Poet Series so far has been excellent and in my opinion, the best reissues Blue Note are involved in! Blue Note Tone Poet is better than VMP Anthology, hands down!

The 80th anniversary series however is the worst thing ever by far in terms of quality control. EVER!!! I got around 8-10 Blue Note 80th Anniversary pressings and all were either severely warped or had so much scratches everywhere. Literally all of them were very faulty and it doesn’t make sense to me because all the exclusive vinyl pressings I’ve been getting from Urban Outfitters have been pristine.....

I just want to put out there that I understand the disappointment in the VMP Blue Note Anthology Series, as there was a lack of quality control. However, this makes me just think of one thing......if VMP Anthology Blue Note series is considered to have lacked quality, the 80th Blue Note reissues are just like 4 Men With Beards quality/no care at all! I’m really shocked with Blue Note’s carelessness with those pressings. Urban Outfitters, I wouldn’t have been shocked, even though their pressings have been great, but Blue Note.....YIKES!

I only have one BN80 so far (Grant Green) and it was great! Not as nice as the tone poets but really good! I haven’t gotten any others but Jutta Hipp is preordered.

 

[NathanRicaud]

Strange, the 3 bn80 releases i have are perfect.

Really? I've heard nothing but good things about the 80th. I heard what you're saying about the 75th, but not 80. I know at least some are AAA and pressed at Optimal. Are you saying the jackets are trash? I need to pick up Ethiopian Nights!

Ahhhh it is the 75th Anniversary pressings I’m talking about! It’s just because I’ve been buying them when the 80th Anniversary pressings are out, I’ve assumed all of them are 80th Anniversary and that I missed out on the 75th Anniversary reissues!

I’ve looked at the list for the 80th Anniversary and the only one I see there that I got was Robert Glasper’s Canvas. I remember one disc being very warped and the other one was good, but I ended up returning it as I was already returning other vinyl from Amazon! Literally all the other 8-9 records were so faulty, and not even minor defects, they all had big defects.

I think I’m going to try out some of those 80th Anniversary reissues if they are good! I love Ethiopian Knights by Donald Byrd! It’s my favourite album of his! I have to get that one too!

All the Tone Poet records I’ve got so far have been really, really good. And I like the packaging from the baggy outside sleeve to the heavy gatefolds etc.

 

[NathanRicaud]

I’m definitely buying the 80th Blue Note reissues then!!!

I just remember all the other Blue Note reissues (which had to have been the 75th Anniversary reissues), being really cheap! But now I know why they were cheap! And I actually remember Canvas but Robert Glasper being more expensive but I really like that album. I was just hungry for more new Blue Note records and thought I was getting a bargain, but what I got was a load of

 

[NathanRicaud]

They were most certainly not sincere on the case of Gordon. They claimed that Blue Note sent and approved the wrong artwork, claimed they had scoured the earth for ogs to scan but were unable to and then within a week of pissing everyone off, magically had a source for the right liner notes and cover. They. Lied. Their. Asses. Off.

My one 80th (Herbie) is better than one of my Tone poets (Gil Evans). The 75th are a crap shoot, sorry you had bad luck.

Ok, that is definitely not sincere! I just haven’t been paying attention closely then. I thought most people were just really pissed off at the label and faulty jacket we got (which they replaced). But that is bad if they are lying. I hate dishonesty like that.....

 

[AnthonyI]

The 75th are a crap shoot, sorry you had bad luck.

I was gonna say, because I have 2 or 3 and they've been fine. And so far the Tone Poet releases have been stellar.

 

[AnthonyI]

Ok, that is definitely not sincere! I just haven’t been paying attention closely then. I thought most people were just really pissed off at the label and faulty jacket we got (which they replaced). But that is bad if they are lying. I hate dishonesty like that.....

I think you touch on a valid point and one of the reasons some of us have issue with VMP, the assumption that customers don't know any better. And unfortunately, I think that's what drives their business some times, as far back as I can remember, all that VMP subscribers from the forum, past and present, have asked for was transparency, or at least as transparent as possible, I don't think the majority of us are looking for tax returns, but the things they do screw up, they have an automatic knee jerk reaction of "it wasn't our fault" and inevitably end up having to back peddle because of it.

That being said, it seems like everything is becoming a crap shoot, lol

 

[MikeH]

I’m definitely buying the 80th Blue Note reissues then!!!

I just remember all the other Blue Note reissues (which had to have been the 75th Anniversary reissues), being really cheap! But now I know why they were cheap! And I actually remember Canvas but Robert Glasper being more expensive but I really like that album. I was just hungry for more new Blue Note records and thought I was getting a bargain, but what I got was a load of

I refuse to buy any 75th pressings. Just double check the year they were released on amazon if that’s where you are buying from and any cheap blue notes before 2019 release date are probably the 75th pressings. I got 3 or 4 75th pressings and all has to be returned. Warping, scratches, noise etc. I get what they were trying to do with that series— cheap introduction copies of jazz classics to get new vinyl collectors into jazz and BN but the execution was really poor. Even Blue Note admitted it. But glad they tried again with slightly more expensive pressings for 80.

 

[AnthonyI]

I refuse to buy any 75th pressings. Just double check the year they were released on amazon if that’s where you are buying from and any cheap blue notes before 2019 release date are probably the 75th pressings. I got 3 or 4 75th pressings and all has to be returned. Warping, scratches, noise etc. I get what they were trying to do with that series— cheap introduction copies of jazz classics to get new vinyl collectors into jazz and BN but the execution was really poor. Even Blue Note admitted it. But glad they tried again with slightly more expensive pressings for 80.

Hopefully the big labels realize that quality is still important and the "fly by night" enthusiasts always seem to come and go.....then your left with us, and 'Us" don't like crap, lol

 

[MikeH]

I think you touch on a valid point and one of the reasons some of us have issue with VMP, the assumption that customers don't know any better. And unfortunately, I think that's what drives their business some times, as far back as I can remember, all that VMP subscribers from the forum, past and present, have asked for was transparency, or at least as transparent as possible, I don't think the majority of us are looking for tax returns, but the things they do screw up, they have an automatic knee jerk reaction of "it wasn't our fault" and inevitably end up having to back peddle because of it.

That being said, it seems like everything is becoming a crap shoot, lol

I also bought the “we are a new young company just trying to figure it out” for awhile, but if you can’t figure it out in 5 years or so, maybe you’re in the wrong business.

As an anthology owner, at the end of the day, I do like the pressings a lot from it. I don’t think I really got ripped off price-wise. I also didn’t get a bargain. The bigger issues were fixed with Dexter and Shorter. But my view of VMP had been declining and the Dexter jacket put me over the top into probably never buying any VMP products again. @Lee Newman’s description was 100% right. They tried to pull the wool over our eyes while acting like they had somehow rediscovered the original art work for Dexter Calling in a week after scouring the earth for it before it went to print. There are too many good record labels out there for me to spend my money on now that don’t treat their customers as idiots.

 

[MikeH]

Hopefully the big labels realize that quality is still important and the "fly by night" enthusiasts always seem to come and go.....then your left with us, and 'Us" don't like crap, lol

Or at least understand that there are different tiers of collectors! I do know plenty of people who were introduced to jazz through the 75th and ended up upgrading their copies later or buying MM or some other nicer copies as they got more into jazz. Seems like they are understanding that more by having the more expensive TP releases (they seem to be $30-$35 in record stores) and the 80th clocking in at $20-$25. I’m just glad that the 80th are also pressings that I look forward to quality-wise. Obviously they leave something to be desired like the sleeves being thinner and the records being pressed at an okay plant, but I’ll gladly pick up records from either series at this point.

 

[NathanRicaud]

Or at least understand that there are different tiers of collectors! I do know plenty of people who were introduced to jazz through the 75th and ended up upgrading their copies later or buying MM or some other nicer copies as they got more into jazz. Seems like they are understanding that more by having the more expensive TP releases (they seem to be $30-$35 in record stores) and the 80th clocking in at $20-$25. I’m just glad that the 80th are also pressings that I look forward to quality-wise. Obviously they leave something to be desired like the sleeves being thinner and the records being pressed at an okay plant, but I’ll gladly pick up records from either series at this point.

I feel like I only want to start buying jazz on vinyl because it really is the best when you get high quality pressings like the Tone Poet or VMP Blue Note or MOFI releases etc. When 50’s, 60’s and 70’s Jazz, Soul, Funk or Disco albums get a very high quality vinyl reissue, it’s legit the best thing ever!

Like those Chic reissues that Friday Music did (Chic, C’est Chic & Risqué) sound sooooo good and it’s the best spinning it. The amount of joy you get from having classic music like that being brought to life on vinyl like that is priceless.

 

[johnpisme]

I also bought the “we are a new young company just trying to figure it out” for awhile, but if you can’t figure it out in 5 years or so, maybe you’re in the wrong business.

As an anthology owner, at the end of the day, I do like the pressings a lot from it. I don’t think I really got ripped off price-wise. I also didn’t get a bargain. The bigger issues were fixed with Dexter and Shorter. But my view of VMP had been declining and the Dexter jacket put me over the top into probably never buying any VMP products again. @Lee Newman’s description was 100% right. They tried to pull the wool over our eyes while acting like they had somehow rediscovered the original art work for Dexter Calling in a week after scouring the earth for it before it went to print. There are too many good record labels out there for me to spend my money on now that don’t treat their customers as idiots.

Thirding this notion. VMP may put out a good product some of the time, but it's they way they run things that is the major problem. The anthology is a microcosm of it all. Not only did they lie more than once, they denied it and deleted the evidence. The only real moderating of that FB page they did was to make sure no evidence of how bad they looked there remained. A lot of people were rightly outraged at having paid such a premium and then being treated basically like assholes by the company themselves. Everything about how they handled the Gordon jacket was horrendously bad, not least of which was how they allowed a group of people to go around attacking and insulting anyone who expressed any disappointment over it. And now people go around saying how great VMP handled the Anthology because even though there were some mistakes they fixed them, completely forgetting that after the very first mistake they lied multiple times, tried to put the blame on Blue Note, then claimed they tried extremely hard and found it impossible to recreate, then magically were able to fix it after a major outcry that they tried desperately to silence. If we hadn't literally FORCED them to fix that mistake, it seems obvious that it follows they wouldnt have bothered with any of the others.

VMP are bullshit artists who talk a talk they're seemingly incapable of walking. It's totally cool if people dig them still inspite of that because they dig the products, but if anyone is under the illusion they are a good, well-run company, or that they are above using deceptive practices, then that person either has has somehow missed a lot of stuff (which is very easy to do actually) or there must be something wrong with them.

 

[MikeH]

I feel like I only want to start buying jazz on vinyl because it really is the best when you get high quality pressings like the Tone Poet or VMP Blue Note or MOFI releases etc. When 50’s, 60’s and 70’s Jazz, Soul, Funk or Disco albums get a very high quality vinyl reissue, it’s legit the best thing ever!

Like those Chic reissues that Friday Music did (Chic, C’est Chic & Risqué) sound sooooo good and it’s the best spinning it. The amount of joy you get from having classic music like that being brought to life on vinyl like that is priceless.

I totally agree with you right now. But when I first started out collecting and listening to vinyl and jazz, I was a poor college student who couldn't afford to spend $40+ on one record. I went to flea markets and thrift stores and bought records for $10 and under. It made me more adventurous in my music listening because if I was only paying $5-10 on a record and I didn't love it, I wouldn't feel awful for having bought it. I assume this is what they were trying to do with the 75th series. Put out albums you probably have heard of jazz-wise (and some you haven't) but for $10 or so a piece, it was a good way to get into jazz music if you had a record player and didn't want to dive right into the MOFI/Music Matters, etc price point.