paul secor Posted May 19, 2003 Report Posted May 19, 2003 Can anyone recommend (or not) the remastering on any of the following: Columbia C2K 46177 - The Okeh Ellington 1927-30 Columbia C2K 46995 - The Duke's Men Vol. 1 Columbia C2K 48835 - The Duke's Men Vol. 2 I have some of this material on other lps and cds and am wondering how the sound is on these. Thanks in advance for any responses. Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted May 19, 2003 Report Posted May 19, 2003 These are "reasonable" big label transfers, but since I want more material I have gone elsewhere. For the time being, I have settled on the Classics and Neatworks (for the alternates). These give decent transfers and all the material. Quote
jazzbo Posted May 19, 2003 Report Posted May 19, 2003 Get the material however you can. The Columbia sets have very decent notes, something Classics and Neatworks definitely DON'T. And I don't think the Classics and Neatworks better sonicwise by much either. The Columbias are from real source material, though scrubbed a little too clean. The others are from collectors 78s, of pretty decent quality. It's amazing music though and be sure to get it. Quote
Roger Hiles Posted May 20, 2003 Report Posted May 20, 2003 (edited) I've been holding off on going the Classics/Neatwork route in the hope that Sony or Mosaic or someone puts together a decent and comprehensive box. Meanwhile, I'll cast one more vote for the Columbias with their better notes. Edited May 20, 2003 by Roger Hiles Quote
BruceH Posted May 20, 2003 Report Posted May 20, 2003 we can only hope that Mosaic will eventually get their hands on this material. Cuscuna, from what I understand, has urged Sony to do right by their pre-WWII Duke holdings. Amen to that. Quote
AfricaBrass Posted May 20, 2003 Report Posted May 20, 2003 I only have the three Columbia volumes, so I don't know how the other versions fare, but I love these sets. This is amazing music. I'm kicking myself because I held off picking up the old RCA Blanton Webster cd set because I heard the remastering was bad. Now I hear the remastering on the new version is even worse. Aaaargh! I don't know what to do. Quote
jazzbo Posted May 20, 2003 Report Posted May 20, 2003 IF it is true as I've read that the remastering on the new Blanton-Webster set is identical to that of the RCA Complete box set, then it is NOT worse than the first Blanton-Webster set by any means. It may have its faults, but it's better than the earlier set by far by my ears. Quote
AfricaBrass Posted May 20, 2003 Report Posted May 20, 2003 Thanks Lon! I highly respect your opinion. I believe it is the same remaster as the box. Now I can finally get my Blanton Webster fix!!!! Quote
jazzbo Posted May 20, 2003 Report Posted May 20, 2003 Well, yes, it's a necessary thing. If I were hesitant to call a body of jazz work "essential" (and I get more and more hesitant to do so as time goes by) I still would call this body of work "Essential Ellington." Amazing material! Quote
sal Posted May 20, 2003 Report Posted May 20, 2003 Hey AfricaBrass, Like you, I was anxiously awaiting a reissue of the Blanton-Webster band material. With the bad sound on the old set and the high price of the Centennial set, I was just hoping that they would re-release it. But when the new reissue came out, I heard all kinds of mixed opinions on it. So I just decided to go out and get it, and I'm really, really glad I did! I had never heard most of this material before, and I must say it is great. I guess I don't have anything to compare it to, but the sound seems fine to me. True, a few of the tracks have some distortion in the upper register, but I don't think that this can be eliminated without comprimising the overall sound. The majority of the set is quite listenable IMO. I have been listening to my copy quite frequently since I bought it a few weeks ago. Here's a link to a review of it at AAJ: http://www.allaboutjazz.com/reviews/r0503_154.htm If you do get it, let us know what you think! Quote
Roger Hiles Posted May 20, 2003 Report Posted May 20, 2003 The new Blanton Webster discs are not perfect, but a very big improvement on the 80s set. Quote
AfricaBrass Posted May 20, 2003 Report Posted May 20, 2003 Thanks guys! I was going to buy the new reissue the day it came out, but was warned away from it. I appreciate your recommendations. Now I just have to find some cash. Quote
paul secor Posted May 21, 2003 Author Report Posted May 21, 2003 Thanks to everyone for your input. I'll probably go for the Columbias and hope for Mosaic to do it right. Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted May 21, 2003 Report Posted May 21, 2003 If you do this, you miss the band from 1931 to 1940. Not a little bit of the history. Quote
paul secor Posted May 21, 2003 Author Report Posted May 21, 2003 Then again, maybe I'll sleep on it and rethink that. Quote
paul secor Posted May 22, 2003 Author Report Posted May 22, 2003 If you do this, you miss the band from 1931 to 1940. Not a little bit of the history. You're a good salesman, Chuck - at least you made me think about this. I'll be picking up the Classics and Neatworks cds bit by bit and be able to hear the 30's Ellington recordings I don't already have and hear them now. Who knows when or if Sony will allow Mosaic to do an Ellington box? Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted May 22, 2003 Report Posted May 22, 2003 Got no reason to sell the discs, but am an advocate for the music. Quote
paul secor Posted May 22, 2003 Author Report Posted May 22, 2003 Okay, then - You're a good advocate. Quote
Guest Mnytime Posted May 22, 2003 Report Posted May 22, 2003 When my fiancée was still working for Sony Music she told me that they where talking about putting out a box for both Duke and Basie. For whatever reason it never got past the discussion stage. Quote
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