Comments on: Back To Reality: Coltrane Time

By: rl1856

rl1856 — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 15:53:25 +0000

I have followed your site for several years, and I am continuously impressed by the content provided by you and fellow collectors. I have a question for you, that may also become a suitable topic for a blog post. I post in this thread because the blog and thread content include opinions regarding differences between mono and stereo pressings. My question is, when did Bluenote, (and Plastilyte and Liberty), Prestige, Impulse, Riverside etc convert mono pressings from 1mil groove width to .7mil groove width ? I ask because I have participated in a discussion on another blog site regarding this issue and which stylus to use for optimal mono playback. Thank you.

By: charlie

charlie — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 08:56:21 +0000

Have both stereo and mono originals and ALS and my stereo copy has no “buzzing” All Impulse monos are fold downs. I prefer my stereo of ALS when i choose to play it. Its more alive too me.

By: Scott Lowrey

Scott Lowrey — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 02:44:40 +0000

Its pretty shameful that I do not have this on mono since it is my favorite jazz album. Also I know Bahia was cut together by his label of whatever was left from various sessions (I believe even A Love Supreme) but that is a really underrated album, Gave the stereo version a spin today and it sound wonderful.

By: Stefano

Stefano — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 18:56:13 +0000

Aaron, I cannot remember if it was a Bell Sound pressing, but I am sure it was not a Capitol Record Club pressing. Anyway, the person who listened to the Black Saint wlp has a Van Gelder both sides mono pressing. I am asking you all if you have any idea about Blues & Abstract wlp mono, it is one of my favorite jazz records. Thanks

By: Bob H

Bob H — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 14:09:54 +0000

I once had a copy of “Blues and the Abstract Truth” where one side had “Van Gelder” in the runout and the other side had “Bell Sound.” The Bell Sound side was actually noticeably more veiled sounding to my ears. I just thought that was pretty interesting though to find an album with “Van Gelder” only in the deadwax on one side.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 01:17:55 +0000

The stereo A Love Supreme has the mild buzzing sound throughout, it’s definitely there but not nearly as noticeable as the internet would have you believe. The mono is free from this and is my preferred choice as Coltrane is front and center vs off to the side on the stereo. I suspect that The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady stock copy that sounded inferior to the WLP was a Bell Sound or Capitol Record Club pressing vs the original Van Gelder cut.

By: Gregory The Fish

Gregory The Fish — Sat, 18 Mar 2017 16:25:33 +0000

scott: the seller knows enough to mention lexington, so he would know enough to price it at 10x that if he thought it was indeed an actual lexington.

reminds me of a certain recently deleted post.

By: Woody

Woody — Sat, 18 Mar 2017 12:37:55 +0000

Scott—The seller says in his description “With certainty, I can say this will be the 1970’s USA issue”. He just sold a different Hipp, 1515, with a Lexington framed cover and didn’t add this to his description so he knows it’s a later press. If you look at the edges of the sealed lp there is no indication of the frame on the front or back. When Blue Note was sold to Liberty they did several pressing runs to use up original covers, back slicks, and labels. They didn’t try to reproduce the process first used to make the Lexington covers. Years ago I bought a Lee Morgan City Lights and the Cooker that both had the original laminated covers and original 63rd st labels but there was no deep groove or “P”. However there was a RVG stamp and sound amazing.

By: Rudolf

Rudolf — Sat, 18 Mar 2017 08:31:20 +0000

Scott/A-B: I think this may be an original which was shop-sealed later, as was often done by retailers.
In the original Blue Note period, before they lost independence, none were ever factory-sealed. A sealed Lex may be a nice surprise, but one does not know what is inside, I mean label and quality wise. The proof is in the eating of the pudding.

By: Andy

Andy — Sat, 18 Mar 2017 06:06:12 +0000

I have read that Impulse! releases were always recorded in stereo and the mono releases are fold downs – i.e. you can hear the mono mix by pressing the mono button on your receiver. Is this incorrect internet info? Has anybody compared stereo copies with mono button engaged to a mono copy?