Music Matters Definitive Blue Note 45 RPM and 33 & 1/3 RPM vinyl series (pt7)

My "Blue Train" copy is from the Connoisseurs reissue in the (I think) late 90's. I'd like to get a better copy, and I see this AP release at AS. Any insights into this?

John Coltrane-Blue Train-45 RPM Vinyl Record|Acoustic Sounds

I've got a bunch of MMJ titles, but no AP titles for Blue Notes...

 

I think the album is worth it for his take on Scrapple from the Apple, and I really like his take on Willow Weep for Me, feels like a crime drama.

 

Agreed, Blue Train and Idle Moments were my first buys, and convinced me to invest in more titles. Both are miles above the BN75s I had first and are flawless pressings, lifelike sound that puts me in the room.

 

wow, your collection on the shelf is impressive!!!!

 

The jacket reproduction from AP do not look anywhere as good as the Music Matters version, plus the jacket cardboard material is not as good either.

Don't know how good they sounded though but the consensus says that the MM 33RPM is the best sounding (other than the original pressing?) and is also a proper mono sound to boot!

 

This was the only AAA stereo version available in the past years, mastered by Steve Hoffman and Kevin Gray. It's sounds better than the (mono) MM in my opinion. It's OOP since a few months and very expensive now.

 

I've been onboard with Music Matters from Day 1. Thankful to have all the titles.

 

Spinning my copy of Our Man In Paris for the first time right now. Side 1 was great, but...

Does anyone have some distortion at the beginning of side 2? For the first few bars of 'Broadway', right before it transitions from the drum intro into the full band, I think I'm getting some distortion on the last few drum hits. Anyone hear of or notice anything like this before?

 

I’ll check it out tonight as it’s on the evening playlist and will let you know.

 

Just listened - sounds perfect on my end. Hi hat is nice and crisp, you hear the open-close of the hi hat specifically, and then the snare roll comes in and on my end is clean clear and crisp.

 

Alright thanks. I've reached out to the seller and MM directly. I'm definitely hearing some distortion right when that snare roll comes in.

 

Just finished listening to my new copy of MM Blue Train, s/t track, and I am impressed, even at $75. I've never heard a mono recording with so much air and space between the instruments. My AP Prestige and MoFi Davis monos are good, but they aren't this good. Do I wish I was buying vinyl when these where $40? Yes. Do I regret buying these at the current inflated prices? No.

 

Help me spend my money. Give me some feedback on these albums please.
Donald Byrd - Royal Flush
Lee Morgan - The Gigolo
Horace Parlan - Happy State of Mind
Sonny Rollins- Newk's Time

 

The 1st 2 on that list are my faves of that bunch although I don't have them on MM. Gigolo probably a bit of an edge

 

Happy Frame of Mind is one of my favorite MMs. It’s somewhat different than the other Parlan albums on MM as it is the most “out” album (though not too far out). The backing band is also stellar, including Johnny Coles and Booker Ervin (Ervin deserves special praise here).

Beyond the music, the sound on this one really glimmers. I can’t recommend this album enough. I like the other three on your list, but, for me, Happy Frame of Mind is a cut above.

 

Why? In what ways?

 

Agreed - "Happy Frame of Mind" is a great album. I actually just received the MM incarnation in the mail but know it pretty well from previous digital versions, etc. Haven't even had a chance to clean and enjoy...

But I would highly recommend it too. Excited to hear that it sounds great as well!

 

I got Royal Flush after I bought The Cat Walk, a bit bouncier than Cat Walk but very enjoyable. I currently Have Newk's Time on order along with two Dexter Gordon 45s and Byrd In Hand, should be here in a week or so..

 

I have The Gigolo and love it.

 

When you guys need customer service, do you just email Lori directly? Emailed her a while ago and haven't heard back.

 

Yeah that's what I normally do. Seems like the response time has got longer recently. I just chalked it up to summer vacations.

 

Thanks, actually just heard back from her after I made that post.

 

AS customer says that they are planning a re-press. No ETA.

 

They're putting in the time in the office. I placed an order on Saturday and received a pre shipment notification last night at 11:33pm my time which would have been 8:33pm theirs.

 

That's great. I'm going to order an archive copy. Listened to both the MM mono and stereo yesterday and I prefer the stereo. More open, wider soundstage. More depth. It's apples and oranges - mono/stereo AND 33/45.