Comments on: Back In Business: Bird, Blue Notes and More

By: geoffrey wheeler

geoffrey wheeler — Tue, 13 Dec 2016 23:31:23 +0000

Correction: the Ellington is on L-16006.

By: geoffrey wheeler

geoffrey wheeler — Tue, 13 Dec 2016 23:29:54 +0000

No. Neither Dial 1 nor Dial 901 were the first 12-inch vinyl records. In 1931, RCA Victor issued a series of 33-1/3 RPM Program Transcription records pressed in a material dubbed “Vitrolac,” an early form of PVC. They had gold-and-black labels and came in their own sleeves. The records were issued in a variety of series: Samplers, Classical L-1000, L-4500, L-7000, L-11600, L-15000, L-16000 single-sided discs (Duke Ellington is on L-160016 from 1932), L-24000 double-sided series, and LR-1 10-inch double-sided series. Columbia Records attempted to introduce 33-1/3 RPM records in 1932, but, like the RCA records, they were soon withdrawn from the market because of poor sales. The first 12-inch 33/-13 RPM record as we know it was introduced at a press conference Monday, June 21, 1948 by Columbia Records at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. The first 12-inch vinyl LP was issued on the Columbia Masterworks label. This was the label originally used to issue the Benny Goodman Carnegie Hall Concert in boxed set SL-160 in 1950. This was the first-ever double album (Wiki). Ross Russell advertised his first 12-inch lp in Down Beat (I have the issue but it is stored.) Ross told me that in all its iterations between 1949 and 1955, the first Dial 12-inch lp didn’t even sell 500 copies.

By: lennib

lennib — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 10:36:41 +0000

I always have thought that also Mr. Rudolf. One of the Kings I had came with that glassine type inner sleeve. And Kings were in most case definitely not a sonic delight. Though somehow those James Brown lps always grooved.

By: Rudolf

Rudolf — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 08:22:04 +0000

Lennib, the version you have is the best one possible. King hi fi was dubious and I think they originally came without inners. So Bethlehem was an improvement.

By: Rudolf

Rudolf — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 08:15:44 +0000

I owned an original re-issue on Bethlehem. BCP 6064. I guess this one was issued ard 1959.

By: lennib

lennib — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 02:43:23 +0000

I have owned the King label pressing, somewhat in grim shape. Currently I have the Bethlehem/King issue, Third Dimension, which I believe consists of the same material, issued BCP 6064. Back cover is seemingly same as King issue, with Cincinnati address.
Never really run across this record on King or Bethlehem in decent shape. Good stuff, though.

By: Joe L

Joe L — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 21:15:05 +0000

While I’d obviously like an original of that King record, it never made sense to me to chase it for high $$$ when his many other wonderful records are readily available for very reasonable prices.

By: Bill W.

Bill W. — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 20:52:56 +0000

A quick check on popsike for the Kirk lp shows that the copy that Marvin referred to sold for $6885.00 in March of 2015. The second highest price was $2878, and that was back in 2007. Both of these lps looked to be in similar condition with the edge going to the one that sold for $7K. The lowest price was just $62.00 for a copy that looked like it went thru a flood, a fire and a few other disasters.

By: GST

GST — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 19:27:14 +0000

I’m surprised someone hasn’t reissued the Kirk albums with the original title/cover art…or at least i didn’t see any on discogs:

https://www.discogs.com/Roland-Kirk-Triple-Threat/master/404012

I don’t remind reissues, but at the very least it should use the original cover art.

By: K.deKat

K.deKat — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 17:47:20 +0000

PS
I think Rudolf owned an original copy of the record.