Comments on: Guest Column: The Blue Note Guide, One More Time

By: London Calling

London Calling — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 14:48:16 +0000

You can never have too much clarity with Blue Note, and the extra words here are definitely beneficial, thank you.

The unwritten chapter for me is the first pressings which followed the sale of Blue Note to Liberty.I have some thirty “Blue Notes” who’s first appearance on vinyl was under the stewardship of Liberty, cataloge 4252 – 4418. Not reissues, their “First Pressing” appears on Division of Liberty labels. Much fine musc among them – Lee Morgan, Wayne Shorter, Grant Green, Hank Mobley, McCoy Tyner – most sporting “VAN GELDER” in the runout.

More than a few of these I have picked up at “reissue prices” as the seller has noted “Division of Liberty” labels and priced it as a reissue by Liberty.

The bane of our lives is the opposite – where Liberty used up old stock Blue Note original labels and covers in an early tsunami of reissues after 1966(NY labels! shout the seller). I even own a record with 47W63rd NY23 labels but no “ear”

You can never know too much about Blue Note!

By: Larry Baldachin

Larry Baldachin — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 12:47:05 +0000

This is a terrific article, and well worth the read. I am a very big fan of Fred and have used his guide many times when bidding on rare jazz records …. I have also called Fred from time to time when I didn’t quite understand the coding from his book or had a particular question about one of his listings. Fred has always been extremely helpful and patient with me and his advice is invaluable.

There are few, if any, sellers that I have more confidence in than Fred and a number of his recent listings have made their way up to “The Great White North”.

He has also helped me to catch the occasional dud on eBay and avoid duplicates or reissues …. And yes, like you, I discovered a few “seconds” in my collection after reading his book (Blue Train was one, Something Else was another) but I also discovered a few “firsts” that I didn’t know I had so in the end the balance was all good.

By: Erich Schultz

Erich Schultz — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 03:19:46 +0000

Bill, what a great article! For us folks who don’t really understand Blue Note sequencing, your article was great! It sounds like you have mastered the Blue Note Ninja training, with a blue belt! The interesting thing (maybe just to me) is the overall complexity of identification. Although, this makes the hunt for first pressings even more fun! Thanks again……

By: Mattyman

Mattyman — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 19:47:18 +0000

Well, Bill, thanks for your great column. And I agree with your side notes about the label transitions and the deep groove. Recently I delved into the subject of matrix numbers and shape of the trail out groove with some of the other regulars here at Jazzcollector; all aimed to see to what extent it can lead us to a true 1st pressing. So far it has been a joy to email to and fro with the other Jazzcollector members about it. My statement is that a true 1st pressing must have a matrix number extension that either ends with -A for side 1 and with -B for side 2. As soon as we see a -A1, -B1, -A2, -B2 or higher, than it can’t be a first pressing. Whether I’m correct, I don’t know, but still I think it’s interesting enough to give it more thought. Maybe once it’ll become an extra chapter in the future 😉 Oh and you’re right: at the end of the day it’s the music that counts. And sifting through these details is just fun!