The Blue Note Thread

MikeH said:
Joe had said in the past they were going to do some titles from Transition so I've been very excited about those ever since. I've held off on getting a copy of Byrd Blows. I have the Classic pressing of Watkins At Large but there are some others I'd love too. it's a shame it has been so ignored in the past but now we can have some quality pressings to look forward to!
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I have heard him mention it but this time around he seemed to be a bit more enthusiastic about it rather than just including it in a run off list, which makes me think they might have already been collating candidates.

Transition didn't release that many albums so I would imagine we can have a good stab at what they will be (likely one of the 3 Donald Byrds IMO). Really intrigued to see if they include a repro of the accompanying booklet. As far as I am aware none of the reissues to date have done so. Perhaps they could include it as print in the gatefold if they don't have session photos.
 
Selaws said:
I have heard him mention it but this time around he seemed to be a bit more enthusiastic about it rather than just including it in a run off list, which makes me think they might have already been collating candidates.

Transition didn't release that many albums so I would imagine we can have a good stab at what they will be (likely one of the 3 Donald Byrds IMO). Really intrigued to see if they include a repro of the accompanying booklet. As far as I am aware none of the reissues to date have done so. Perhaps they could include it as print in the gatefold if they don't have session photos.
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I think he also mentions in this video that he already has the test pressings done for the batch that hasn't even been announced yet. so you could be right about him being more enthusiastic/the titles being selected already.
 
e.s. said:
Sam Records just did Byrd Jazz in 2020, but it was billed as a one-time pressing. Wound up kicking myself for not getting that, but reading all of this, I'm wondering if it was limited to a single pressing because Blue Note was taking over the Transition catalogue...
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I think it was a single pressing because of how much crazy work went into it with the handmade covers and it allowed them to do an expensive version. i regret passing up on that one too though.
 
e.s. said:
Sam Records just did Byrd Jazz in 2020, but it was billed as a one-time pressing. Wound up kicking myself for not getting that, but reading all of this, I'm wondering if it was limited to a single pressing because Blue Note was taking over the Transition catalogue...
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Yeah I really regret not getting it as well and there's no chance of getting an affordable copy on the resale market. Its the only Sam Record that I dont have.

I think a couple of people here got a copy, I know @Mr Moore did, and I seem to remember it getting good reviews. To be honest, anything Fred at Sam Records puts out is well worth getting. Quality through and through.
 
e.s. said:
That's one of handful I've missed out on, but yes, everything he's done has been fantastic. Hopefully, he'll eventually repress some of the others I'm missing.
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Which are you missing that you are after? He has repressed some in the past so you might get lucky.
 
e.s. said:
That's one of handful I've missed out on, but yes, everything he's done has been fantastic. Hopefully, he'll eventually repress some of the others I'm missing.
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Selaws said:
Which are you missing that you are after? He has repressed some in the past so you might get lucky.
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I'm missing a few as well. Gutted that I didn't buy the DONALD BYRD, but to be fair it was expensive for 1 record. I only got into Sam with the Clark Terry record. I wanted the record, didn't really know about the label at the time, however, I did know the DONALD BYRD would be great.

Still kicking myself for missing out on one of the Bobby Jasper's at half price. I didn't know the album at the time and had overspent some.

Good news is I think all of the back catalogue will probably be repressed. he's re-doing Lester Young shortly, which is one of the few I'm missing.

(not sure why it auto corrects DONALD BYRD in caps)

Lester Young – Le Dernier Message de Lester Young – Barclay – 1959 + Bonus 10” – Sam Records

samrecords.fr samrecords.fr
 
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e.s. said:
Aside from Byrd Jazz, I slept on the two Jef Gilson albums, Barney Wilen, Clark Terry, Ron Jefferson, and the second of his Bobby Jaspar records.
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Barney Wilen and some others are available at Acoustic Sounds and I’m sure some other shops have stock too

Sam Records|Acoustic Sounds

Acoustic Sounds Audiophile Vinyl Records
store.acousticsounds.com
 
MikeH said:
Barney Wilen and some others are available at Acoustic Sounds and I’m sure some other shops have stock too

Sam Records|Acoustic Sounds

Acoustic Sounds Audiophile Vinyl Records
store.acousticsounds.com
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This is the Barney Wilen I slept on. It was available for what seems like ever & then it wasn't.

www.discogs.com

Barney Wilen Quintet - Barney Wilen Quintet

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 2018 Vinyl release of "Barney Wilen Quintet" on Discogs.
www.discogs.com www.discogs.com

I'm also missing both Bobby Jasper's. The Miles Davis, I keep on thinking about buying, but I have an argument with myself each time I put it in the basket; I have the 3 x 10" Phillips version. Do I really need the Sam one as well?

edit - I also missed out on the 2xLp version of Monk, which I'm sure is great.
 
e.s. said:
Aside from Byrd Jazz, I slept on the two Jef Gilson albums, Barney Wilen, Clark Terry, Ron Jefferson, and the second of his Bobby Jaspar records.
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Andy said:
I'm missing a few as well. Gutted that I didn't buy the DONALD BYRD, but to be fair it was expensive for 1 record. I only got into Sam with the Clark Terry record. I wanted the record, didn't really know about the label at the time, however, I did know the DONALD BYRD would be great.

Still kicking myself for missing out on one of the Bobby Jasper's at half price. I didn't know the album at the time and had overspent some.

Good news is I think all of the back catalogue will probably be repressed. he's re-doing Lester Young shortly, which is one of the few I'm missing.

(not sure why it auto corrects DONALD BYRD in caps)

Lester Young – Le Dernier Message de Lester Young – Barclay – 1959 + Bonus 10” – Sam Records

samrecords.fr samrecords.fr
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I cant quite remember when I started getting Sam records but it was quite a while after they had first started. I lucked out by getting in there before they picked up traction amongst the jazz community, so I was able to order most of them direct with a handful of others from record shops here in London (Flashback had a few at one point Andy).

I would mirror what @MikeH said, they do look to be reissuing some when they can. The Lester Young that he linked is particularly good (I picked that up for the original RRP at Flashback) and is quite sought after. Looks to go for around the £75 on discogs.

One release that I really do enjoy but rarely gets mentioned is the Monk - Les Liaisons Dangereuses 1960 box set. Its incredibly well done with a fantastic booklet, and overall sounds amazing. Well worth looking into if they repress or if you see a second hand copy.
 
Selaws said:
I cant quite remember when I started getting Sam records but it was quite a while after they had first started. I lucked out by getting in there before they picked up traction amongst the jazz community, so I was able to order most of them direct with a handful of others from record shops here in London (Flashback had a few at one point Andy).

I would mirror what @MikeH said, they do look to be reissuing some when they can. The Lester Young that he linked is particularly good (I picked that up for the original RRP at Flashback) and is quite sought after. Looks to go for around the £75 on discogs.

One release that I really do enjoy but rarely gets mentioned is the Monk - Les Liaisons Dangereuses 1960 box set. Its incredibly well done with a fantastic booklet, and overall sounds amazing. Well worth looking into if they repress or if you see a second hand copy.
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@Andy is the smart one who mentioned represses :)

But I have seen that most have gotten represses in the last few years which is why I've always seemed to hesitate on buying them at first.

The first one I ever got was that Monk box set on RSD. I agree that it's excellent. I was pretty blown away by it and started following them ever since. I wasn't quite as into jazz then as I am now (and at the time, most releases were only in Europe and they didn't have a ton of distribution over here in the states). So I have missed quite a few releases but pick them up here and there when I can.
 
MikeH said:
@Andy is the smart one who mentioned represses :)

But I have seen that most have gotten represses in the last few years which is why I've always seemed to hesitate on buying them at first.

The first one I ever got was that Monk box set on RSD. I agree that it's excellent. I was pretty blown away by it and started following them ever since. I wasn't quite as into jazz then as I am now (and at the time, most releases were only in Europe and they didn't have a ton of distribution over here in the states). So I have missed quite a few releases but pick them up here and there when I can.
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Oh my bad, apologies @Andy!

Its pretty impressive for me to be able to say that I have only ever had 1 pressing issue from the 20+ records I have from Sam Records. Even then, it was an issue which Fred found out about afterwards (wasn't something that could have been picked up just by looking at the record) and he switched plant straight after. Even when there are issues with the tapes he makes sure there is a sticker on the front of the sleeve to indicate where and why. Really impressive.
 
Selaws said:
Oh my bad, apologies @Andy!

Its pretty impressive for me to be able to say that I have only ever had 1 pressing issue from the 20+ records I have from Sam Records. Even then, it was an issue which Fred found out about afterwards (wasn't something that could have been picked up just by looking at the record) and he switched plant straight after. Even when there are issues with the tapes he makes sure there is a sticker on the front of the sleeve to indicate where and why. Really impressive.
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Yep--they are one of my favorite reissue labels. Great quality control, interesting titles and really nice attention to detail. I'm a little bit more picky about which ones I pick up now because they are all at least $40 in the US, but I do like all the pressings I have.
 
MikeH said:
Yep--they are one of my favorite reissue labels. Great quality control, interesting titles and really nice attention to detail. I'm a little bit more picky about which ones I pick up now because they are all at least $40 in the US, but I do like all the pressings I have.
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If its any consolation they have gone up here as well. Fred issued a statement on the 16th March (I shared on the Jazz thread at the time, think you saw it) that he is raising his prices because of the raise in manufacturing costs. As a result, UK stockist have done the same. Honest Jon's for example have set their price at an eye-watering £40.
 
Selaws said:
If its any consolation they have gone up here as well. Fred issued a statement on the 16th March (I shared on the Jazz thread at the time, think you saw it) that he is raising his prices because of the raise in manufacturing costs. As a result, UK stockist have done the same. Honest Jon's for example have set their price at an eye-watering £40.
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I understand the price hike but it definitely makes me buy less new stuff lately across the board.
 
e.s. said:
Haven’t seen anybody mention Jackie Mclean’s Tippin’ the Scales Tone Poet, but for anyone into his playing or especially Sonny Clark’s, this is wonderful stuff.
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I'm definitely getting it. Love Sonny Clark & Jackie McLean, just not seen yet at the place I normally get my TPs from.
 
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