Edward

Thanks for the feedback. I shall be initiating a return/exchange with Amazon tomorrow.

You are all very welcome. It shows that it pays to maintain (and regularly check) a wishlist on Amazon. By the way, do any of you have any complaint regarding the condition of the Nat Cole set that you received? In regard to the one that was delivered to me, the heavy paper slipcover sleeve was torn on the spine and the first and third discs were scratched. I realize that the boxed set design of the Hip-O Select sets leave a lot to be desired, but I did not face these problems with the other four sets that I have purchased. Nevertheless, I do not want to spend the time returning the set only to receive a similarly defective one.

Amazon is presently (April 5, 2011) offering the Nat Cole Hip-O Select 3-CD boxed set for $14.60. Riffin': The Decca, JATP, Keynote, and Mercury Recordings

Most Bear Family boxed sets and single CD's are currently on sale at Amazon. Of course, Amazon's non-sale prices on many of these sets are inflated, but there are a few great deals (if Amazon honors its pricing on out of stock sets). The trouble is that most of the sets identified below (which comprise most of the truly good deals - I conducted an extensive search) are out of stock, and I have no experience as far as Amazon's commitment in filling orders for such items. Please note further: 1) For whatever reason, Amazon lists many of its Bear Family sets twice or even three times, typically with one more attractively priced than the others - be careful how you conduct your searches as the listing of the Jim Reeves set that is on sale is NOT identified as a "boxed set" if you attempt to narrow the search to "box sets"; 2) some of these sets (such as the Jerry Lee Lewis and the Eddy Arnold) are featured in Amazon's current boxed set sale (which may mean that Amazon is more likely to honor the listed sale price even if the set is out of stock), 3) I am quite sure that my description of the contents (i.e, the number of CD's) of the sets below is accurate, but you might like to verify this information before pulling the trigger, and 4) I placed an order for the out of stock Jerry Lee Lewis "Classic" set yesterday, and my order history now shows that it will arrive after December 25th. Here are the best deals with inventory levels as of the time of this posting: Eddy Arnold - There's Been a Change in Me (7 CD's) - $60.99 (out of stock) Doris Day - It's Magic (6 CD's) - $79.99 (out of stock) Lester Flatt - Flatt on Victor Plus More (6 CD's) - $79.99 (out of stock) Flatt & Scruggs - 1964-1969, Plus! (6 CD's) - $97.99 (out of stock) Waylon Jennings - Journey-Six Strings Away (6 CD's) - $64.99 (out of stock) Jerry Lee Lewis - Classic (8 CD's) - $64.99 (out of stock) Roy Orbison - Orbison (7 CD's) - $117.99 (out of stock) The Platters - Four Platters & One Lovely Dish (9 CD's) - $141.99 (out of stock) Ray Price - The Honky Tonk Years, 1950-1966 (10 CD's) - $138.99 (out of stock) Jim Reeves - Welcome to My World (16 CD's) - $179.99 (only two in stock) Jimmie Rodgers - Singing Brakeman (6 CD's) - $80.99 (out of stock) Hank Snow - Singing Ranger (4 CD's) - $69.43 (only one in stock) Hank Snow - Singing Ranger, Vol.4 (9 CD's) - $113.99 (out of stock) Sons of the Pioneers - Way Out There: Complete Commercial Recordings, 1934-1943 (6 CD's) - $62.99 (four in stock) Ernest Tubb - Vol.4, Waltz Across Texas (6 CD's) - $80.99 (out of stock) Ernest Tubb - Another Story (6 CD's) - $97.99 (out of stock) John Wayne's West (10 CD's, 1 DVD, and 464-page hardcover book) - $131.99 (out of stock) Good luck!

Stupid Rams! I keep falling further and further behind.

Happy Birthday, Hans! I hope that you had a great day and find continued pleasure in the last few hours of the evening.

NFL PLAY-OFFS 100 POINTS POSSIBLE WILD CARD ROUND (5 POINTS PER GAME) DAL over PHI GB over ARI CIN over NYJ NE over BAL 2ND ROUND (5 POINTS PER GAME) NO over GB MIN over DAL IND over CIN SD over NE AFC / NFC CHAMPIONSHIP (10 POINTS PER GAME) MIN @ NO - New Orleans Wins SD @ IND - San Diego Wins SUPER BOWL (10 POINTS) _____________________________________________________________________ SUPER BOWL PREDICTION (10 POINTS EACH SD vs. NO SUPER BOWL CHAMPION (10 POINTS) San Diego TIE BREAKER SUPER BOWL GAME TOTAL COMBINED POINTS 59 points

I placed a second order today, although my first order (from 6/14) has not yet been shipped. Some more titles sale-priced at $5.98 each that have not yet been mentioned include: Charlie Byrd - The Guitar Artistry of Charlie Byrd Rev. Gary Davis - Say No to the Devil Vince Guaraldi Trio - Charlie Brown's Holiday Hits George Lewis - Jazz in the Classic New Orleans Tradition Phil Woods Septet - Pairing Off

Other titles available at $5.98 each that have not yet been mentioned on this thread include: Dave Brubeck Quartet - Jazz at the College of the Pacific (K-2) Dave Brubeck - Private Brubeck Remembers (SACD) Miles Davis - Blue Haze Miles Davis, Stan Getz, Gerry Mulligan, etc. - Conception Howard McGhee - Maggie's Back in Town! Mongo Santamaria - Mongo at the Village Gate George Shearing & The Montgomery Brothers Clark Terry - Duke with a Difference Muddy Waters - Norman Granz, Jazz at the Philharmonic: Paris, 1972

This may have been commented upon elsewhere, but it seems that the Lester Young Mosaic set has been a strong seller. I purchased my copy when I placed an order for the Art Farmer/Benny Golson set, and, when it arrived yesterday, I was suprised to see that it was numbered 3,126 of an edition of 5,000 sets maximum. The set was released last spring. Now, I realize that Mosaic sets are not shipped in strict sequential order, but, nevertheless, there is a strong correlation between an individual set's number and how many copies of the set have actually sold. Although there is obviously reason to doubt that the Lester Young set will continue to sell at this same torrid pace, anyone intending to acquire this set would probably do well to consider purchasing it with his/her next Mosaic order. If the set continues to sell at one-half the present rate, it appears that it will sell out (not time out) before the end of next year.

Edward, that's what I did. We'll see if they get back to me. I apologize for suggesting the obvious. The situation stinks, and I am interested to hear what response (if any) you receive.

No. I notice that they use the word "manipulation" as if I did something in addition to simply using the code. And I have no idea what they are referring to when they speak of "the required qualifying selection". Why not write to them and ask for clarification of what it is that you allegedly did? It probably will not change anything, but you have nothing to lose.

I received this email today: I am writing to share some information with you. We are writing to inform you that we have canceled your membership. As stated in our Membership Agreement, we reserve the right to terminate an account at any time. Your account was canceled because of the manipulation of sales promo code to receive free product without purchasing the required qualifying selection. Please let us know if we may be of further assistance. Your Friends at BMG Jazz Club Wow, that is an odd communication, and, quite simply, it stinks. Hopefully, we are not all walking in your footsteps. On a related matter, I just used the code, J9E1, to order three 2-CD sets for the price of shipping and handling.

A great set for a crazy price I had the K2 set and sold it. The highs sounded boosted, too "sharp/edgy" to my ears. The regular set is a bit better in that respect. Thanks for your feedback, Hans.

On the right-hand side of the page, there is a link for "More Buying Choices" showing independent sellers offering used and new copies of this set on Amazon. Strange that it's listed as used-like new if it is brand new factory sealed... Newbury Comics lists items in this manner when they are selling cut-outs.

On the right-hand side of the page, there is a link for "More Buying Choices" showing independent sellers offering used and new copies of this set on Amazon.

I have not seen this posted elsewhere, so I would just like all of you to know that Newbury Comics is presently offering the Art Pepper Village Vanguard 9-CD set ("brand new, factory sealed") for $29.99 on Amazon.com. I realize that SecondSpin and Wherehouse have been offering this set for slightly less for quite some time now, but I feel much more comfortable purchasing from Newbury Comics. On a related note, has anyone on this board had an opportunity to listen to the K-2 version of this set? If so, what are your thoughts of the sound quality as opposed to that of the standard set? Thanks for your insight.

Yes, it is strange how little Ella Fitzgerald there is here. I think that Ella Fitzgerald's best album might be the 3-CD set, Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book. One can still purchase four of Ella's 2-CD song book sets (Sings the Cole Porter Song Book, Sings the Rodgers and Hart Song Book, Sings the Harold Arlen Song Book, and Sings the Irving Berlin Song Book - I am partial to the Cole Porter and Rodgers and Hart sets) from BMG Music Club for good prices. As noted in the BMG Music Club thread, one can presently get three 2-CD sets for the price of only shipping and handling by using the code D8E1, and this code can be used multiple times.

I would also like to recommend the following five albums: 1) Tony Bennett - The Tony Bennett Bill Evans Album 2) Hoagy Carmichael - Hoagy Sings Carmichael (Pacific Jazz) 3) Helen Carr - The Complete Bethlehem Collection 4) Bing Crosby - Bing with a Beat 5) Billy Eckstine - Billy's Best!

Nat "King" Cole Trio - perhaps the old Capitol single CD compilation comprising the "best" of the vocal performances Billie Holiday - the Columbia 2-disc set culled from the Columbia boxed set Mel Torme - Swings Shubert Alley Sarah Vaughan - Sarah Vaughan with Clifford Brown Joe Williams - Count Basie Swings, Joe Williams Sings Ella Fitzgerald is conspicuously absent from this list, but I am not sure which single CD of hers I would recommend to the uninitiated.

1) The Complete Capitol Recordings of the Nat King Cole Trio (my first Mosaic set) 2) The Complete Verve Recordings of the Buddy DeFranco Quartet/Quintet with Sonny Clark 3) a toss-up between the Art Hodes, Amos Milburn, and Shorty Rogers sets The Art Hodes set was the second Mosaic that I ever purchased (second-hand LP set). It is a terrible shame that his wonderful recordings for Blue Note are not more widely available.

Two of my all-time favorites by the NKC Trio are "It Only Happens Once" (April 13, 1945) and "It Is Better To Be By Yourself" (October 11, 1945).

I am offering for purchase the four Bear Family Blowing the Fuse series CD's listed below. Shipping costs for one CD are $2.50 for U.S. address - this amount approximates U.S. postage fees and packaging costs. Shipping costs for two or more CD's or for overseas destinations are to be determined. I will gladly ship to most non-U.S. destinations. I will accept payment via PayPal, money order, or cashier’s check. Please send a PM if you are interested in any of these titles. Thanks! Bear Family – Blowing the Fuse series: 1) Blowing the Fuse, 1945 – (near mint condition) - $17.50 SOLD 2) Blowing the Fuse, 1947 – (there are three very small, very light scratches on the CD that do not affect playback) - $16.00 SOLD 3) Blowing the Fuse, 1948 – (near mint condition) - $17.50 SOLD 4) Blowing the Fuse, 1960 – (there is one small area of very light scuffing that does not affect playback) – $16.00

I am offering the following set for purchase. All CD’s, CD inserts, and booklets for each set are in near mint condition unless otherwise indicated. All of the boxes in which the Mosaic sets are housed are in very good condition (i.e., minimal wear is evident) unless otherwise indicated. (PLEASE NOTE that I grade very conservatively and any imperfections are meticulously described as I, like most of you, have more than once purchased a CD or LP reputed to be in “near mint condition” only to find it otherwise.) Mosaic sets shipped within the United States will be delivered via USPS Media Mail. Shipping costs for one set for U.S. destinations are $3.00, which approximate U.S. postage fees. Those who purchase more than one set will pay actual shipping charges to be determined. I will gladly ship to most non-U.S. destinations. I will accept payment via PayPal, money order, or cashier’s check. Please send a PM if interested. Thanks! MOSAIC SETS: (1) Byrd, Donald & Pepper Adams – The Complete Blue Note Donald Byrd/Pepper Adams Studio Sessions, MD4-194 – (everything, including the box, is in near mint condition) – $130.00 (2) Condon, Eddie – The Complete CBS Recordings of Eddie Condon and His All Stars, MD5-152 – $150.00 (3) Johnson, J.J. – The Complete Columbia J.J. Johnson Small-Group Sessions, MD7-169 – $210.00 (4) Kenton, Stan – The Complete Recordings of the Holman and Russo Charts, MD4-136 – (there is one very small, very light scratch on CD-1 that does not affect playback; there are approximately four very small, very light scratches and two very small areas of scuffing (none of which affects playback) on CD-2; there are four very small, very light scratches on CD-3, none of which affects playback, and there is one very small, very light scratch on CD-4 that does not affect playback; there is a good amount of wear (mostly in the form of creases and light scratches) to the front and back covers of the 36-page LP-sized booklet, but the pages within are in near mint condition) – $125.00 (5) Kenton, Stan – The Complete Capitol Studio Recordings of Stan Kenton 1943-47, MD7-163 – (There is some very light scuffing in one very small area of CD-1 that does not affect playback; there are approximately two very small, light scratches and some light scuffing all along the outer edge of CD-2, none of which affects play; there are two very light scratches and some very light scuffing on CD-3, none of which affects play; and there is some very light scuffing in one very small area of CD-4 that does not affect play; $105.00 SOLD (6) Shank, Bud – The Pacific Jazz Bud Shank Studio Sessions (1956-1961), MD5-180 – $150.00 (7) Teagarden, Jack – The Complete Capitol Fifties Jack Teagarden Sessions, MD4-168 – (there is one tiny, light scratch/scuff mark on CD-1 that does not affect playback) – $125.00 SOLD (8) Tristano, Lennie, Lee Konitz & Warne Marsh – The Complete Atlantic Recordings of Lennie Tristano, Lee Konitz & Warne Marsh, MD6-174 – $180.00 (9) Ventura, Charlie & Flip Phillips – The Complete Verve/Clef Charlie Ventura & Flip Phillips Studio Sessions, MD6-182 – (there is one small area of light scuffing on CD-1 that does not affect playback; there is one small, very light scratch on CD-4 that does not affect playback; there is one short series of small, parallel, light scratches on CD-5 that does not affect playback; and there are approximately eight small areas of very light scratches and/or scuffs on CD-6, none of which affect playback)– $150.00 SOLD (10) Woods, Phil – The Phil Woods Quartet/Quintet 20th Anniversary Set – (there is one small, very light scratch on CD-3 that does not affect playback) – $150.00

For those of you who are still looking to acquire one or more of these reissues, Amazon is presently selling the Gillespie-Moody-Fuller, Smith, and Turrentine titles for $9.97 each, the Bobby Hutcherson for $11.99, and the Art Farmer for $12.99. It would be hard to beat the prices on the first three titles mentioned considering that Amazon offers free shipping for orders totaling $25.00 or greater and Amazon does not levy a sales tax on the residents of most states.