Jazz Vinyl Countdown: Benny Golson On Riverside
This is one of our favorite records: Benny Golson, The Modern Touch, Riverside 256. It is a very nice sextet recording from 1957 with an all-star lineup: Kenny Dorham on trumpet; Golson on tenor; JJ Johnson on trombone; Wynton Kelly on piano; Paul Chambers on bass, Max Roach on drums. Love Dorham’s playing on this LP, JJ as well, and the arrangements are solid. It’s also one of those records on which both sides are equally good and listenable. We highly recommend it and we know we are going to keep it in our collection. The issue, however, is this: We have both an original pressing of this record on Riverside as well as a reissue on Jazzland: Reunion, Jazzland 85. The reissue is in a little bit better condition and, to be honest, they both sound about the same to us on our equipment. So which to keep, the one in better condition or the original?
Well, we are Jazz Collector, aren’t we, so the answer is that we are keeping the original and selling the reissue on eBay. There was a thought to keeping both, but the liner notes are the same and it really doesn’t make sense since we also have this record on CD and on our Ipod as well. So, The Modern Touch stays here, and Reunion on Jazzland will, hopefully, find a nice home where it will be treasured and appreciated for the great music that it provides.
this was my first Golson album. I have only got one copy. I never cared for the re-issue, which never appealed to me.
What a wise decision you took.
it just occurred to me there is still aother version of the Jazzland. Some sort of a piano type front, multi colour.
Keep the original !!! not even to think about it… jazzland reissue has no interest..
The CD/ipod thing cancels out the reissue and you should always hang on to the original of “one of our favorite records.” It has nothing to do with ebay value… I tried to figure it out once… something about the time between pulling the record off the shelf and putting the needle down. The magic of a collection is in that half minute.
Well said. It’s also that second or two glimpsing the record and deciding whether to pull it off the shelf. If it doesn’t catch your eye somehow, it doesn’t make it to the turntable.
One of my favorite hardbop LPs. Funny thing is I managed to snag a first mono Riverside pressing of this LP but in the later Jazzland Reunion cover! I have been looking for a Modern Touch cover for 2 years!