Developing a Thing For European Prestiges
Watching a potpourri of jazz vinyl on eBay now. Here’s another one of those European Esquire Prestiges I’ve never seen before: Sonny Rollins, Saxophone Colossus, Esquire 32-045. This one doesn’t have the classic U.S. Saxophone Colossus cover, but there’s something about the simplicity of this cover that I find quite appealing. I tell you, I’m developing a thing for these records, which is always dangerous. This one looks to be VG++ for both the record and the cover. The auction closes in more than two days and the bidding is in the $160 range.
Here’s another tempting one: Kenny Burrell and Jimmy Raney, Two Guitars, Prestige 7119. This is an original New York yellow label pressing listed in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. The bidding is in the $160 range and the auction closes today. If I could get this for less than $250, hmmm . . . . .
John Coltrane, Giant Steps, Atlantic 1311. This is an original black label pressing listed in VG+ condition for the record and probably M- for the cover. The start price is about $200 and so far there are no bidders. It may come as a surprise to you — it’s certainly a surprise to me — that I, ol’ Jazz Collector himself — don’t own a black-label version of Giant Steps. I have several copies, including the bulls-eye stereo pressing, but no black label. Perhaps if this copy fails to sell, I could strike a trade with the seller, who I know is a reader of Jazz Collector.
Hello,
As always… enjoy the website and content immensely !!! Since European pressings are in the spotlight, can anyone comment about the over-all sound quality regarding European labels ? Are they typically on par with their American cousins ?
Foolishly-regretfully I’ve passed on a number of European and South American records over the years. Simply didn’t have enough knowledge about records/labels outside the USA. I’ve never collected for any other reason than my own pleasure, regardless of dollar value. With so many Jazz records out there I feel I’ve been unnecessarily neglecting many great treasures.
Any advice about where to obtain more info regarding various music labels/companies, mastering, pressing plants, sound quality, etc.. would be sincerely appreciated.
Depends, really – it’s an inexact science just as it is with US pressings.
I’ve had Teldec and Polydor pressings from the late ’60s/early ’70s that sound like crap even if looking M-, and private pressed Dutch LPs that sound wonderful. Some Dutch Fontanas sound great, others not so great. And so it goes…
bullsite2000 always has some interesting bits. That Eje Thelin LP is real nice, musically. Would love the Kühn Bros. LP on CBS but alas, out of my price-range as usual.
Al, I find myself in good company, I don’t have a black label Giants Steps either and I think I will never have.
My first original was on the London/Atlantic label. Thereafter I bought Danish and French first pressings, both with bull’s eye labels, but the latter with alternative cover art.
Giant steps on black label but without deep groove … It must be a later pressing (how old? after 1962?), isn’t it? Labelkunde Vinyl of Frank Wonneberg is listing various variants of Atlantic black labels, but all american pressings (1954-1960)should have deep groove (the same about bull’s eye label that came directly afterwards)…
The black Atlantic label was discontinued in 1960 and while the east coast pressed Atlantics discontinued the deep groove around 1960 the west coast copies retained this feature for quite a few years.
For those into the Esquire pressings that Al is developing a thing for: you really should pay a visit to London Jazz Collector’s blog.
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Plenty of good stuff to read and an incredible amount of superb Esquire pressings. Of course y’all know that LondonJazzCollector on occasion is present in the comment field as “London Calling” 😉