High quality, highly recommended OUT OF PRINT vinyl

[jazznut]

Not sure if this is a good idea but I thought about separating in print and out of print vinyl recommendations.

Reason is, that most vinyl folks just like to know what they can order and not spend weeks or years searching for such a release.

So here‘s the hard work, the easy work is in the other thread.

I start with a classic. Except for a clean original I think I have the best reissues available of this one (also several on digital Media incl. the MFSL SACD, but you don’t want them in comparison).

The Stereo 180g and 200g Classic Records Grundman masterings in Blue and black Quiex vinyl.

The MFSL 45 RPM

The Stereo remastered by Kevin Gray for Sony Legacy done on his old mastering chain and the one done on his new one.

The very appreciated and essential mono remastering done by Ryan K Smith (analog sourced due to latest user info on the analogplanet site from a Communication with R.K. Smith)

I don’t bore you with the sequence I like them, so here’s the best by quite a margin for me:

The 45 RPM 4 single sided Classic Records Grundman remastering. If you can get it for less than 400$ today and have the money to spend, get it. It’s by quite a step from its 33RPM release the most tubey and airy with most ambience sounding release of all the great ones. Others have their merit, too and I don’t want to miss them, as treble sound of the Grundman releases is not optimal on any setup, but this one leads imo.

Here I add the production info of the time those Classic records releases came. In case you don’t find this one or its too expensive, get one of the 33RPM versions, they are close enough to please you.

Production Info:
Yes, that’s right, “Kind of Blue”, the most successful Jazz album of all time was reissued by Classic Records in 1997. The transfer was made “for the first time ever” directly from the original 3-track 1/2" analog session tapes without any EQ, directly to the lathe. The release was cut on Classic’s “ALL TUBE” cutting system by Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman Mastering in Hollywood. This Classic reissue has been hailed by many as the definitive version of KOB on vinyl. According to Michael Hobson, founder of Classic Records, who was at the mastering session that fateful day " Cutting from the session master tapes which Classic was famous for, gives a more vivid picture in sound of what happened in the studio than the production master tapes (copied from the session masters) that were used to cut the original releases because the session tapes are a generation earlier and have more information. As an example of the level of detail you can get from the use of the session tapes: On “So What”, the first tune on side A, you can hear the spit in both Coltrane’s and Cannonball’s horns on the Classic version which is nearly inaudible on a pristine original 6-eye Columbia pressing. The amount of low level (ambient) detail that is captured in the grooves of the Classic release is astonishing and further enhances that feeling of “being there” at the sessions in March and April of 1959 at Columbia’s famed 30th Street Studios in New York City."

[RedRiver]

I am currently listening this Birthday Party by Illinois Jacquet; This 1975 recording was discovered by audiophile and the 1/4 inch 15 ips original tape was used by Bernie Grundman in 1999 on all tube custom modified Sculley lathe for remastering; CD was mastered on 24 bit equipments from Apogee and Pacific; the LP has 33 and a bonus 45 RPM disc, which sounds even better than 33; It is out of print and I surely hope it will be more available; Musics are very melodic and moving; a great jazz time capsule;

[1cdfoley]

Mr Jazznut,
As a newbie to vinyl, I greatly appreciate your discussion not only for the recommendations, but emphatically for my learning experience. I appreciate all contributors who share in this manner and look forward to more learning.
Thank you,
Chas

[1cdfoley]

At the time of the original recordings, what were the reasons for issuing both a 33 and a 45rpm? Were tapes also issued at the same time. Can you offer some insights to the economic considerations involved.

Thank you,
Chas

[RedRiver]

Hi 1cdfoley, thanks for your inquiry about this record and glad to find folks with same passion for music / vinyl; I believe it was recorded after Jacquet finished a concert in Tokyo, recorded late in studio with Kenny Burrell, Jimmie Smith and Gerry Mulligan, etc.; The bonus disc has only two tracks, Birthday Party Blues and the Shadow of Your Smile, just added as different flavor, given that this producer is an audiophile; 45 normally sounds better, more extensions and details than 33; the main 33 discs has total 5 tracks; same tapes were used for mastering both 33 and 45 cheers!

[jazznut]

If you go to the Stevehoffman forum you can read from him how he appreciates mastering like that (Scully) and how it makes the vinyl releases often sound more magical than the masters themselves. I guess only diehard „neutralists“ would pass on that and usually would also be happy if it’s mastered to a digital release.

SH Spotlight - VINYL record collecting: Question to Steve: sound quality,...

[jazznut]

33 and 45rpm often also is a question of licensing. I partly have both releases, 45 for best possible sound and 33 for playing an album through in the background.

[jazznut]

Of all the great Mosaic releases, the following two 10 LP boxes are my dearest recommendations. Michael Cuscuna is worth being supported for any newer release anyway, but unfortunately he doesn’t produce vinyl boxes anymore. Many of the releases were made for vinyl or CD (as those two afaik), others in both formats.

The Bill Evans is his great last trio and I don’t know if this music was issued on other releases at all. At least this one will be the one with the best sound. Fantastic music to play through.

The Jimme Guiffre box is marvelous, too. I compared e.g. the great „Western Suite“ album with the original I have and with the „Pure Pleasure“ Label reissue. It beats both clearly and the normal CD certainly, too.

Both boxes are mastered by „The master cutting room“ (NY) and sound great.

Probably those two boxes go for many hundred $ each, but in case you’re lucky and see one cheaper…buy it!

[RedRiver]

Sheffield Labs’s direct to disc is magic; the converted CD has never reach the same level as original direct to disc vinyls released in 70s and 80s; Given it’s direct to disc nature, it won’t be easy to re-issue these wonderful releases; The good news is, there are quite a few on ebay to snatch; some of them still in excellent conditions;

[jeffstarr]

I started out with the basic CD of “Kind Of Blue”, then got the Columbia/Legacy SBM version.
Then I bought the Classic Records 200g 33rpm. The Classic LP I should have returned. It is loaded with pops and ticks, very disappointing.

As to out of print, the original LP of Jennifer Warne’s “Famous Blue Raincoat” is so much better than the 20th anniversary CD release. Our local dealer uses “Ballad Of A Runaway Horse” for speaker set up. My friend played the version on Rob Wasserman’s “Duets”, the Prestige XRCD, it sounded great. I found the article on speaker setup, and they listed the 20th anniversary edition as a source. It was terrible, my friend’s system is better than mine but not that much better. He brought over the XRCD, the difference in those two releases was huge. I also got to hear one song from the 45rpm version, although not a familiar system, I could hear how good it was.
I was also going to recommend “It’s A Beautiful Day”, album title and band, as it was hard to find in the '70s due to legal issues, but I checked on Discogs, and there are now numerous versions. I do have one I bought when it was first released.

[jazznut]

I love all the non D2D releases of Sheffield I have…just yesterday I heard a Wagner release.

I actually didn’t buy the D2D releases for music reasons at the time, but have some of them digitally.

I guess the music rating is the reason why so many D2D records are still available

Later I will post the few D2D I personally could accept music wise

[jazznut]

Regarding Jennifer Warnes: I always wanted to listen to that hifi show warhorse…guess I have to do it…didn’t expect much music wise, but really never heard it…have to do it these days to see if I need it

Regarding Classic Records vinyl:
Indeed unfortunately many of their pressings were noisy quality catastrophes from RTI. Plants couldn’t yet handle the heavy vinyl and pressed too quickly to serve the demand. Even today US pressing plants (and some others) are far from the pressing quality of the 80’s and the early and later japanese pressings (vinyl quality also being a reason). The US releases were always great in mastering, but often weak in manufacturing.

[jazznut]

I was wrong, I still have two Sheffield D2D I like.

I pictured all my D2D discs here. Only did so because it’s manageable and because those are the ones I kept and they are either really recommendable or at least ok. This can’t be said for many D2D imo. I’m happily taking recommendations.

[jeffstarr]

I never heard the Warnes LP at a show, but I did see it mentioned. I bought my original issue used, probably paid $2 for it. Just don’t buy or base your opinion of “Famous Blue Raincoat” on the 20th anniversary CD, the quality is terrible compared to the LP. If you find the content online, and like it, the 45rpm is good.
Vinyl quality went to hell in the '70s, during the oil crisis. I remember King Crimson’s LPs, starting around “Starless and Bible Black”. King Crimson always had long sides, 22+ minutes a side. We were returning albums regularly. One friend had two copies of “Red”, one for each side.

[lonson]

The Evans has been on cd, but not from Mosaic. I’ve never heard the LP version, at the time I had foresworn vinyl (and even now I don’t play vinyl as often as cd). The cds sound very good.

[RedRiver]

I have the “Duets” SACD released by AP which has pretty decent sound quality; I recently sit down and spent some time compared RCA living stereo CD vs. AP’s SACD and AP’s vinyl releases; AP’s SACD does sound noticeably better than RCA living stereo CDs; presented with more balanced and less grainy representation; however, AP’s vinyl releases of RCA living stereo titles sounded best with fuller mids and more extended high and lows;

; Speaking of backgrounds, some of older vinyls pressed in 70s and 80s that I bought used have very quiet backgrounds, even quieter that AP’s pressings;

[RedRiver]

This is my favorite D2D; Not just the sound but the music is so good, never get enough of it and always grab my full attention; Hate to play too many times, I found the 24K gold CD re-issue, done by Mr. Kreisel in 1995 with latest digital mastering; Volume was low and need to crank up the volume; it gets pretty close to the original LP; The Fatha’s piano and Tuba are very exciting; as if Mr. Earl Hines are in front of you in listening room; BTW this CD is out of print as well;

[jazznut]

Ah great, I remember those…I sold them but I don’t remember why…I also had all the classical ones…Dukas etc. but sold them, too…

[1cdfoley]

I had 2 gold CDs, and after 30 years, gave 1 MJQ at Music Inn to a friend who would treasure it. I kept the Christmas one which has a 1 inch crack and a 2nd small crack running from the center out. It does play well. Now that I have ripped it in Flac, I would like to give it to a good home for free, I will even pay the $2 shipping (unless you want to send me the 2). I am offering because I recently saw one in mint condition on ebay for $350. And hoped someone could repair it for themselves.
It is a “Original Master Recordings”, Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab, Gold CD A Very Special Christmas. dated 1987. It says Made in Japan on the CD.
Chas

[jazznut]

Just to complete one forgotten D2D:

A Bernie Grundman mastered 45 RPM Direct Disk recording of Supertramp”s Cannonball. Quite rare I guess in the meantime. Maybe one of the more desirable D2D made.

A guy in Grundman”s Studio mentioned it in an interview posted here recently, that’s why I remembered it and pulled it out.