Comments on: And The Bidding Is . . . . WHAT?

By: Seth Katz

Seth Katz — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 07:06:12 +0000

For those who like Coltrane, the Mosaic Sunship Box Set has the best sound quality I’ve ever heard on any of his recordings. No, he is not piercing. I realize now, that the piercing sound was the way his previous records were engineered. Is it possible that Van Gelder went too far with the mid range to make Coltrane stand out? Perhaps the recording equipment in the 60s was limited? Who am I to judge? Van Gelder was a brilliant jazz engineer and aficionado. Without him, we might not have jazz as we know it.

But the sound on this box set is remarkably balanced. Every instrument can be heard clearly. (Assuming one has a good audio system.)

I subsequently found out that this pressing was engineered by one of the finest talents in the world. My son knows of all the major audio engineers. As soon as he saw that Kevin Gray was the sound engineer, he said I’d be in for a pleasant surprise. He was right.

The set contains some conversations, as it shows the evolution of the Sunship album in the studio. But I welcome it. I never realized how difficult it is to get a good take. Some of what I thought was fine, the original engineer didn’t. Yes, I do wish there was more music. But only because it’s so good. When Coltrane’s group is in their groove, it’s truly a Dionysian frenzy. One can see that Van Gelder knew exactly when they were there. That became the take. The set ends with someone saying, “Thank you.” Well, I say in response, “No, thank you!”

By: zarabeth47

zarabeth47 — Fri, 16 Aug 2013 20:01:06 +0000

Al, the reason could be called shill bidding. It’s not too hard to figure out that some sellers that u kick and a lot of others (a LOT) use this highly illegal method that is so hard to trace/prove, especially now that eBad has hidden bidders user names to the public. Doesn’t THAT POLICY right there help promote the act? And what are you gonna do – take nothing to the authorities? And WHO ARE THE AUTHORITIES? lol! Ebay doesn’t do anything. The local police? They would just laugh! Do they get paid on commission? LOL! Seems like it. Anyway, I bring this topic up occasionally on this blog but no one seems to reply or tell their stories. Turning of the head. It’s there people!

On a different note –
Why do people bid on such obfuscated crap:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SAM-RIVERS-FUCHSIA-SWING-SONG-ULTRA-RARE-ORIG-64-BLUE-NOTE-STEREO-LP-NY-RVG-/350850157216?pt=Music_on_Vinyl&hash=item51b04c8aa0&nma=true&si=%252BeN5lmz2aQVCxPYDyP2bdbRJmbo%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

ORIGINAL – No! There is no ear! VG+(+)cover? NO – not with 2 seam splits! It doesn’t even appear nice to look at. A STEREO press no less! $25 tops for a stereo lp w/ no ear and in that condition (seller says VG+ but his VG++ cover is VG-) PEOPLE WHO BUY JAZZ LPS- – Don’t be stupid. Sellers aren’t going to make it easy for you! Eventually it’s up to you to put in that final price when you bid but use some sense! Even if money is no object. $93 for that? C’mon! I picked up a Mono “ear” press of this title with a dg to one side in very nice true + condition for $75.00 w/ a decent VG to VG+ cover. You just need to learn to wait people.

Back to the subject … I’ve never seen the Jazz West press of the Chambers and I have a VG- Score press. It works for the $6.00 I paid and not the $100.00+. I listen to it every now and then. It’s a fine session but I don’t know if I would go the extra $75-100 bucks for the original. It’s not in the league of say NEWK’S TIME on BN !!!!!!!!! I would go $40-50 for one perhaps but I stay careful these days because of the practices mentioned above. Others should heed the knowledge as well or at least wake up and see it. Ever wonder why jazz prices keep goin up and up and up? ‘Cause sellers are smarter smarter smarter!!!!!!!!

By: Dan Axelrod

Dan Axelrod — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 20:04:51 +0000

The music happenes to be nice early Trane. He doesn’t quite have that piercing tone yet. But it was good enough for saxophonist Steve Grossman to hide under his coat and steal from my friend’s basement in’71!

By: Mattyman

Mattyman — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 14:51:57 +0000

Sorry, never mind my question. I didn’t read very well, my bad. The Jazz West is the original pressing and the Score release is a reissue. Mea maxima culpa 😉

By: Mattyman

Mattyman — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 14:49:17 +0000

And one more thing about the Paul Chambers, given Al's previous post about the same album: what would be the difference apart from the fact that we're talking two different labels? And the colours of the front cover differ considerably as well.

By: Jay Jay

Jay Jay — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 12:43:23 +0000

Makes me think all those beat up records I left in the thrift store bins was a mistake, looks like there is a market for unplayable garbage, who knew?

By: Aaron

Aaron — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 07:22:07 +0000

Seth – Blame Goldmine, good = http://www.goldminemag.com/collector-resources/record-grading-101/2

By: Chewy

Chewy — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 02:34:58 +0000

my chambers music is a European press, mint cond.- yet exteremly fragile vinyl, i dont know what its made of, but it is like glass, prob. the most fragile lp in my collection. one of the best 5-dollar lps ive ever got

By: Seth Katz

Seth Katz — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 02:17:28 +0000

I think I’m missing something. How can can a record be graded good that’s in rough shape? I’m thinking about, snap, crackle and pop throughout and the stylus possibly getting stuck in spots. Talk about an oxymoron: Shouldn’t there be a grade of poor? And because…Well, why the Dutch tulip mania, the Florida land bubble of the 1920s and the recent housing bubble? These irrational collective emotions have no explanation.

By: Clifford Allen

Clifford Allen — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 19:59:15 +0000

Ugh.

That obliterated copy of “Three Trombones” is going there too.