monkboughtlunch Posted February 13, 2005 Report Posted February 13, 2005 Montgomery's classic 1965 date with the Wynton Kelly Trio gets the Verve deluxe Master Edition treatment on Feb. 15. 1. No Blues 2. If You Could See Me Now 3. Unit 7 4. Four On Six 5. What's New 6. Willow Weep For Me 7. Portrait Of Jennie 8. Surrey With The Fringe On Top 9. Oh, You Crazy Moon 10. Misty 11. Impressions At first glance, it looks as though it's just a reissue of the original LP with the 1968 posthumus "Willow Weep For Me" as bonus tracks. But, the question is, will the bonus material feature the posthumous orchestral overdubs? In 1995, the 2cd Verve set "Impressions: The Verve Jazz Sides" collected this material--but sound quality and sources were not always consistent. So, just what are we getting here? No strings overdubs? Better tape sources and mastering? Or just a repackage job? Quote
BFrank Posted February 13, 2005 Report Posted February 13, 2005 Whatever it is, it sounds good. B-) Quote
etherbored Posted February 17, 2005 Report Posted February 17, 2005 So, just what are we getting here? No strings overdubs? Better tape sources and mastering? Or just a repackage job? a remastering and repackaging...as well as six tracks not on the prior issue (previously available in japon as the complete somkin' at the half note). no doubt a vast improvement over previously available domestics. this was excellent straight ahead wes - to overdub it with strings would be like drawing a mustache on the mona lisa. if you're reading this and don't own it, don't hesitate! -e- Quote
etherbored Posted February 17, 2005 Report Posted February 17, 2005 somkin'? sounds like a hebrew record... , -e- Quote
Big Wheel Posted February 17, 2005 Report Posted February 17, 2005 With all the extra tracks this may be the first time I go the upgrade route. My '80s copy has another quirk: it's the thinnest cut CD in my collection. The edge of that thing is sharp! Quote
Alexander Posted February 17, 2005 Report Posted February 17, 2005 I'll probably upgrade, but I'll keep my copy of "Willow" with the overdubs. I actually kind of like it. It'll be cool to compare them... Quote
jazzbo Posted February 17, 2005 Report Posted February 17, 2005 I actually like the Ogerman string overdubs as well. And man, PC rarely sounds better than on that Willow Weep for Me remastering! Quote
Big Al Posted February 17, 2005 Report Posted February 17, 2005 I normally love anything Claus Ogerman does, and the arrangements in and of themselves aren’t bad; still, to these ears, they sound so intrusive. I’ll be interested to see if there’s any improvement on this issue over the same tracks on the collection Impressions: The Verve Jazz Sides. Quote
robviti Posted February 17, 2005 Report Posted February 17, 2005 (edited) there seems to be an omission on this new reissue. the original smokin' included three tracks recorded at rudy's studio in nj on 9/22, one of which was four on six. the compilation impressions: the verve jazz sides features this track, along with a live version of the tune recorded at the half note sometime between the 22nd and the 27th. looking at the track listing for the new reissue, i see only one four on six. i'm sure this track was excluded due to time constraints - all 12 tracks won't fit on a single cd, especially if they're using the reconstructed version of surrey with the fringe on top. it's worth noting that the import complete smokin' at the half note featured only 9 tracks, leaving out the three studio tracks included on the original lp/cd. so if you want all the live material and the 3 studio tracks, the verve compilation is still the way to go. btw, the live material was recorded on four separate occasions over a four-month period. the inconsistency in the sound quality among the various tracks is more likely to to be due to differences in equipment, environmental conditions, etc., than the mastering, don't you think? who knows, maybe they were able to pull off some studio magic and clean up the whole thing. if so, i might be tempted to buy the new reissue after all! Edited February 17, 2005 by jazzshrink Quote
Joe G Posted February 17, 2005 Report Posted February 17, 2005 I'm happy with the verve compilation. Quote
Brad Posted February 17, 2005 Report Posted February 17, 2005 I'll be buying the new one today. The sound from what I remember seemed ok but not spectacular. Quote
etherbored Posted February 17, 2005 Report Posted February 17, 2005 I’ll be interested to see if there’s any improvement on this issue over the same tracks on the collection Impressions: The Verve Jazz Sides. i *guarantee* you there's going to be a huge improvement. that collection was, IMHO, bunko in terms of fidelity... so this is out today (or yesterday)? -e- Quote
Ragu Posted February 17, 2005 Report Posted February 17, 2005 I will have to get back with a detailed view when I have the time to compare in depth. But on the basis of just a few minutes comparing, I noticed the remaster is hotter (louder)-not necessarily a bad thing unless compression was used and killed the dynamics. The Four On Six is the studio cut. On Willow the channels are reversed from Impressions. The remaster was done by Bob Irwin, who I really respect, he has done some great work at least in the rock field. His Jefferson Airplane and Paul Butterfield remasters are quite good. Quote
monkboughtlunch Posted February 18, 2005 Author Report Posted February 18, 2005 How's the bass on the remaster? Previous CD releases seemed to lack bass on this title... Quote
Big Al Posted February 18, 2005 Report Posted February 18, 2005 (edited) What follows is a mere assessment based on the track listing I saw on the Verve website as well as the sessionography from the Impressions: The Verve Jazz Sides compilation. I am by no means an expert on any of these things. The first three tracks from the original Smokin’ LP were actually recorded at the RVG studios sometime after the original Half Note dates. The last two are from the Half Note dates. The bonus tracks on the VME, while also recorded at the Half Note, had some string overdubs, and were originally posthumously released on Willow Weep for Me. However, not every one of the tracks from that album are on the current VME. The missing track, ironically, is the version of “Four on Six” that was actually recorded at the Half Note (unlike its studio counterpart, which was actually included on the original Smokin’ LP). And has also been previously discussed, the string overdubs have been removed for this issue. In other words, if you bought the Willow LPR and think that this VME replaces it, hang onto it, cuz the version of “Four on Six” on Willow is the grittier version of the two. And in the end, the Impressions comp is still the way to go, unless the VME is that much of an improvement in sound (and also if sound improvement is one of the determining factors for you). Edited February 18, 2005 by Big Al Quote
jazzbo Posted February 18, 2005 Report Posted February 18, 2005 And the two cd compilation may not be the way to go . . . if you dig the overdubs! (Okay, when you're one of the few you have to speak up now and then!) Quote
Big Al Posted February 18, 2005 Report Posted February 18, 2005 True dat! If you dig the string overdubs, by all means hang onto Willow! Quote
RDK Posted February 18, 2005 Report Posted February 18, 2005 Christ, can Verve not get anything right? This should have been released as a 2-disc set with all versions (dubbed and undubbed) of the original tracks. Quote
Bluerein Posted February 18, 2005 Report Posted February 18, 2005 Not right RDK: they should have included the live Four on Six and then it would be OK. For overdubs you can still get the remastered LPR so no need to duplicate those too. Quote
Man with the Golden Arm Posted February 18, 2005 Report Posted February 18, 2005 Neophyte here wondering why all the intros and overtalk by Alan Grant on this re-release. It would be fine for the starts but he's 'all over' the music. Not really my cup of tea as for historical value to have the emcee being quite so present. I had heard that twofer a while back and did not recall any of that being on the cuts. Was it?? Quote
Big Al Posted February 18, 2005 Report Posted February 18, 2005 Neophyte here wondering why all the intros and overtalk by Alan Grant on this re-release. It would be fine for the starts but he's 'all over' the music. Not really my cup of tea as for historical value to have the emcee being quite so present. I had heard that twofer a while back and did not recall any of that being on the cuts. Was it?? Only on "Surrey with the Fringe on Top." Is he on more than one track on the VME? Quote
Man with the Golden Arm Posted February 18, 2005 Report Posted February 18, 2005 as the teenage neighbor girl would say: "uh, like, yeah!" Quote
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