The Blue Note Thread

Selaws said:
Oh damn, this guys sums up the points made in the video but 4 years earlier. Looks like nothings changed on MM's end then.
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I am sorry for those who spent hundreds on MM records and I have nothing against them, MM, but I hope it will lead BN to reissue those classics with the same quality and price as their TP serie.
 
Skalap said:
I am sorry for those who spent hundreds on MM records and I have nothing against them, MM, but I hope it will lead BN to reissue those classics with the same quality and price as their TP serie.
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Completely agree with you. I think what they have managed to do with the Tone Poets has honestly been a game-changer. The quality is certainly there and the price point is fair IMO. I have picked them all up so far (apart from the latest batch) and there's a lot I wouldn't of if they were priced the same as MM. I certainly have parted with more money overall compared to if they were priced higher, but im happy as its such a great collection.
 
Selaws said:
Hey guys, this might cause a bit of a stir but I wondered what you guys thought about this video. Essentially this guys seems to be a record store owner that has been buying MM since the beginning (both as a listener and distributer) and has basically had enough of their 'limited' pressings and price increases. He does say a TON of positive things about MM, but the gist of it is that he thinks they are drip feeding releases in order to raise the demand, and in turn raising the price themselves.

I dont have any MM pressings as shipping to the UK ect is crazy, but I have seen them go for more than an original pressing which blows my mind. I know a lot of people here love them, so wondered what you though of this guys views?

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They absolutely drip feed their releases, create false scarcity and hike up the pricing. I wasn't very into jazz when the MM series first started coming out so unfortunately I didn't grab many at the original pricing. I have lucked out though in the past two years or so in winning quite a few on eBay for decent prices ($50 and under).

I don't think you can argue with the quality of the pressings. The sleeves are awesome, often with extra new images in the gatefold. The attention to detail on them is great. The mastering is awesome. They are dead quiet with no surface noise. But with all that said, I have never, and will probably never, buy direct from them. Their shipping is something like $10 for 1LP and you have to spend $200 to get free shipping. The fact that they raise the prices of albums as they get closer to selling out is insane to me. As a customer, everything about their business practices seems slimy. They saw that the resale was high on their product so they want to get a piece of it (they might have even said that themselves).

As @Selaws and @Skalap said, the Tone Poets are a way more desirable series to me. No limited pressings. Great quality (I actually think the records themselves are pretty close in quality to MM). The only thing that sucks is that a lot of the albums I want really good quality pressings of are only being released as MM (I desperately want a good pressing of Speak No Evil for example). BN has said they won't be doing those albums on TP. Maybe they will eventually, but I think their relationship with MM has been quite good and profitable, with very limited work from them.

The thing I have noticed though lately, especially after last month's fiasco, is that the MM fans are starting to turn against them. LOTS of people were pissed about the rollout last month. Flippers are getting a lot of the records and the only way around that I think is to increase the pressing size. But even then, you can see things like the MoFi One Steps, which have something like 9k pressed, and still sell for double on the second hand market...
 
MikeH said:
They absolutely drip feed their releases, create false scarcity and hike up the pricing. I wasn't very into jazz when the MM series first started coming out so unfortunately I didn't grab many at the original pricing. I have lucked out though in the past two years or so in winning quite a few on eBay for decent prices ($50 and under).

I don't think you can argue with the quality of the pressings. The sleeves are awesome, often with extra new images in the gatefold. The attention to detail on them is great. The mastering is awesome. They are dead quiet with no surface noise. But with all that said, I have never, and will probably never, buy direct from them. Their shipping is something like $10 for 1LP and you have to spend $200 to get free shipping. The fact that they raise the prices of albums as they get closer to selling out is insane to me. As a customer, everything about their business practices seems slimy. They saw that the resale was high on their product so they want to get a piece of it (they might have even said that themselves).

As @Selaws and @Skalap said, the Tone Poets are a way more desirable series to me. No limited pressings. Great quality (I actually think the records themselves are pretty close in quality to MM). The only thing that sucks is that a lot of the albums I want really good quality pressings of are only being released as MM (I desperately want a good pressing of Speak No Evil for example). BN has said they won't be doing those albums on TP. Maybe they will eventually, but I think their relationship with MM has been quite good and profitable, with very limited work from them.

The thing I have noticed though lately, especially after last month's fiasco, is that the MM fans are starting to turn against them. LOTS of people were pissed about the rollout last month. Flippers are getting a lot of the records and the only way around that I think is to increase the pressing size. But even then, you can see things like the MoFi One Steps, which have something like 9k pressed, and still sell for double on the second hand market...
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I was very lucky to pick up those MMs in 2013/14 for $35 each. Just so happened to coincide with me starting to collect vinyl, and figured they would be a solid foundation for my jazz shelf. I had most of those albums on CD already, so knew they were "worthy" of the investment.

I regret not getting the entire 2nd wave however... missed out on Out to Lunch, several Art Blakey albums, and Speak No Evil as well.
 
jamieanderson1968 said:
It's a shame that so many great BN titles are wrapped up with MM and it seems that is why they have not been reissued elsewhere. I have been lucky that I have found all (4) of my MM titles through the secondary market, all cheaper than if I bought directly from them.
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To be fair, had MM not started, BN would have kept on doing shitty Scorpio pressings from digital and Tone Post would never have come along. Those MM titles are not exclusive to them for much longer.
 
RHANDMJ said:
To be fair, had MM not started, BN would have kept on doing shitty Scorpio pressings from digital and Tone Post would never have come along. Those MM titles are not exclusive to them for much longer.
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I pray you're right. The world needs quality reissues of the most seminal BN records. Following your text from a couple of years ago, the good thing about MM hoarding all the big names is that other lesser known titles have been given their due. There are a bunch of albums I love now, but wouldn't have known about if it weren't for the TP and BN80 reissues. If I could place a quality copy of "Speak No Evil" next to my "Etcetera" I would be super happy, though.
 
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Its a funny one for me as one of the reoccurring 'gripes' I have seen about MM (including those raised by the guy in the video I linked) is that they seem to have a monopoly on reissuing the most successful/biggest-selling records.

As much as I understand this line of thinking, it's actually the more obscure recordings which I want the Tone Poets to address (which for the most part they have been). There's plenty of decent pressings of the big hitters (albeit maybe not to MM level) but there was only a handful of mostly average pressings of, for example, Wayne Shorter ‎– Etcetera, Tina Brooks ‎– Minor Move, Grant Green ‎– Nigeria, etc until Tone Poet came along. Its these which I want to be able to hear in decent quality.
 
Duke's Money Jungle arrived earlier this week and listening to it now for the first time. All I can say is "wow" this is an amazing record. Not at all what I was expecting. I think I streamed a couple of tracks but listening to the total package for the first time. The interplay between Duke and Mingus on African Flower is breathtaking.
 
jamieanderson1968 said:
Duke's Money Jungle arrived earlier this week and listening to it now for the first time. All I can say is "wow" this is an amazing record. Not at all what I was expecting. I think I streamed a couple of tracks but listening to the total package for the first time. The interplay between Duke and Mingus on African Flower is breathtaking.
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This is a coincidence, but I have just finished spinning his 1962 session with Coltrane (recorded the same year as Money Jungle). Around the 1960's Ellington was struggling (the cost of running a big band was too high and the demand just want there anyway) so he began to recording these small group sessions. I actually prefer them to his big band stuff as you get to hear Ellington clearly, without a sea of additional instruments. Worth checking this Ellington & Coltrane session if you like the Money Jungle release.
 
Selaws said:
This is a coincidence, but I have just finished spinning his 1962 session with Coltrane (recorded the same year as Money Jungle). Around the 1960's Ellington was struggling (the cost of running a big band was too high and the demand just want there anyway) so he began to recording these small group sessions. I actually prefer them to his big band stuff as you get to hear Ellington clearly, without a sea of additional instruments. Worth checking this Ellington & Coltrane session if you like the Money Jungle release.
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The rendition of "In a Sentimental Mood" on that album is one of the most beautiful pieces of recorded music to ever be released.
 
So, I want some opinions on this particular Blue Note pressings! If you think it’s worth it!

One of my locals, has an Art Blakey “Moanin” 2LP 45RPM 200g Analogue Productions pressing! It’s brand new, and from looking at the Steve Hoffman forums, it seems to be the best sounding “Moanin” pressing out there. Better than the Music Matters 33RPM pressing! (Which seems to be the second best sounding pressing).

This brand new “Moanin” 2LP 45RPM 200g AP pressing is AUD$160 (around USD$100)! Discogs prices are around there too! I think it seems to be a pretty good deal; going to my local and grabbing this brand new Moanin pressing for that price!

What do you guys think? This is one of, if not, Blue Note’s most significant/signature release of jazz music that came out of the 50’s and 60’s!

Would also love to hear about anyone who has this 2LP 45RPM Analogue Productions pressing?
 
NathanRicaud said:
So, I want some opinions on this particular Blue Note pressings! If you think it’s worth it!

One of my locals, has an Art Blakey “Moanin” 2LP 45RPM 200g Analogue Productions pressing! It’s brand new, and from looking at the Steve Hoffman forums, it seems to be the best sounding “Moanin” pressing out there. Better than the Music Matters 33RPM pressing! (Which seems to be the second best sounding pressing).

This brand new “Moanin” 2LP 45RPM 200g AP pressing is AUD$160 (around USD$100)! Discogs prices are around there too! I think it seems to be a pretty good deal; going to my local and grabbing this brand new Moanin pressing for that price!

What do you guys think? This is one of, if not, Blue Note’s most significant/signature release of jazz music that came out of the 50’s and 60’s!

Would also love to hear about anyone who has this 2LP 45RPM Analogue Productions pressing?
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I don’t have that particular AP pressing but I have others and it will be excellent. “Best” vs a Music Matters/SRX - I’ll leave that to the Hoffman crew. I guarantee you or I would not be able to hear the difference. Price is good. Go get it.
 
marshall said:
I don’t have that particular AP pressing but I have others and it will be excellent. “Best” vs a Music Matters/SRX - I’ll leave that to the Hoffman crew. I guarantee you or I would not be able to hear the difference. Price is good. Go get it.
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Ok, thanks for the response Marshall! I’m going to get it! 🥳🕺

Anyone Have some recommendations on some great jazz Analogue Productions pressings? I’m going to pick up the AP 45RPM 2LP pressing of Charles Mingus’ “Black Saint and The Sinner Lady” soon! 💎

I really like the Analogue Productions pressings I have so far, so would love to get some great jazz AP pressings recommendations! Especially Blue Note titles 🤗
 
NathanRicaud said:
Ok, thanks for the response Marshall! I’m going to get it! 🥳🕺

Anyone Have some recommendations on some great jazz Analogue Productions pressings? I’m going to pick up the AP 45RPM 2LP pressing of Charles Mingus’ “Black Saint and The Sinner Lady” soon! 💎

I really like the Analogue Productions pressings I have so far, so would love to get some great jazz AP pressings recommendations! Especially Blue Note titles 🤗
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I don't think you can go wrong with most of the AP jazz albums. All the ones I have sound great. I'd say just pick titles that you like! They are all at a price point where I think I'd only buy albums I really like or pick one up if I find a good deal on them. You'll love that Moanin pressing from what I've heard.

I also really like the Classic Records pressings of jazz albums but they can be quite pricey too. My copy of Blue Train on Classic Records sounds fantastic though.
 
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