Hank Mobley

[mixedupfiles]

Is the Hank Mobley set that's currently available on Mosaic's website the same one that was released quite a while back? If so, it's hard to believe that it hasn't been sold out for years.

[J.A.W.]

Mosaic only released one Hank Mobley set, in 1998, and that's the one currently available on their site.

The LP version sold out years ago, but the CD set seems to be a very poor seller.

[happy the clown]

they must have some kind of special licensing agreement for this to have lasted so long, maybe?

[Dan Gould]

I am not sure that there have been time limits + unit limits on all sets. I would assume that there is only a unit limit that applies to this licensing agreement.

Sad though that even with the sea-change in attitudes about Hank's artistry, the 50s stuff just doesn't sell. I don't know how many units sold of the 60s reissues but in better days, BN put out pretty much all of it. I do recall MC saying something about the problem that 50s sessions have in the marketplace but I'd still think that there would be more interest. Its great music, and I'd have the Mosaic set if I hadn't bought all of the sessions as TOCJs.

[J.A.W.]

Its great music, and I'd have the Mosaic set if I hadn't bought all of the sessions as TOCJs.

I agree, and I'd also have the Mosaic if I didn't have the Japanese "Blue Note Works" TOCJs of all the sessions.

[mixedupfiles]

Thanks for the info, everyone. I have several Hank Mobley's blue note CDs, but I think most of what I own were recorded in the 60s. Since I don't have any of the sessions that are included in the 50s set, $96 was an excellent price. I placed my order and I'm looking forward to it.

[sidewinder]

$96 was an excellent price. I placed my order and I'm looking forward to it.

I won't hesitate to say that it will probably be the best $96 you ever spend in your life in terms of musical enjoyment.

Congrats !

[mixedupfiles]

I won't hesitate to say that it will probably be the best $96 you ever spend in your life in terms of musical enjoyment.

Congrats !

Thanks, Sidewinder. Now I'm anticipating the delivery even more.

(I should mention, though, that I once found a used copy of Dexter Gordon's complete 60's blue note sessions (also 6 discs) for $23.99. That's easily the best money I've ever spent on CDs and it's going to be hard to beat.)

[mikeweil]

Only two of the albums included in the Mosaic were released in the US as single CDs:

[clifford_thornton]

I have most of it on CD or LP, save Poppin'. Great deal for anybody who doesn't have the material (duh).

[Chuck Nessa]

This was released in the US too.

[jeffcrom]

Even though I have some of this material, I decided months ago that this Mosaic set would be my retirement present to myself in May. Looking forward to it.

[J.A.W.]

Even though I have some of this material, I decided months ago that this Mosaic set would be my retirement present to myself in May. Looking forward to it.

I hope it'll last that long

[Ed S]

The Mobley set remains one of my all time favorite Mosaic sets. Happy listening

[jlhoots]

The Mobley set remains one of my all time favorite Mosaic sets. Happy listening

Mine too.

[mikeweil]

This was released in the US too.

Really? Never saw that one, otherwise I would have grabbed a copy before I went for the Box.

[sidewinder]

This was released in the US too.

Really? Never saw that one, otherwise I would have grabbed a copy before I went for the Box.

Yep, I still have a copy of that issue - picked up in Canada. Possibly Collectors Choice - will have to check.

[shaft]

Grab the box before i goes OOP and will fetch mucho $$$ on eBay overnight.

/Shaft

[David Ayers]

This was released in the US too.

Really? Never saw that one, otherwise I would have grabbed a copy before I went for the Box.

Yep, I still have a copy of that issue - picked up in Canada. Possibly Collectors Choice - will have to check.

This wasn't one of the CCs according to the list I kept. I've seen it, it's rare, but I only saw it after I got the TOCJ. Which means I didn't buy it so can't confirm the date of issue. The cat. no. is CDP 7243 8 37668 2 6. I thought it might be a title that was issued in the late 80s as part of the glut then (unusually) not reissued as a CC, but the date of issue I find on the interweb is 1996, which is weird - how would we have missed it?

Edited April 28, 2010 by David Ayers

[jazzbo]

That was around a while til the end of the nineties and beyond. I've had a copy or two.

[BillF]

Bought it used (on CD) last year from Vinyl Exchange, Manchester for about £6. There are lots of them, new and used, on Amazon.uk at the moment. It goes without saying that it's a very fine album!

[Dan Gould]

Definitely not a late 80s release. '96 sounds just about right. I wonder if the sales were unexpectedly weak and that's what led MC to realize that if he wanted to get Hank's 50s recordings out, Mosaic was the way to go. And two years later ...

[Tom 1960]

Never understood the lack of enthusiasm for this set. Without a doubt one of my favorite Mosaic sets.

[Son-of-a-Weizen]

Grab the box before i goes OOP and will fetch mucho $$$ on eBay overnight.

/Shaft

Would it though? The vinyl, for sure...but the cd set? We all know that there are numerous oop sets that command high prices......but is this the case with every single oop set? Don't know.

[mellowT]

Grab the box before i goes OOP and will fetch mucho $$$ on eBay overnight.

/Shaft

Would it though? The vinyl, for sure...but the cd set? We all know that there are numerous oop sets that command high prices......but is this the case with every single oop set? Don't know.

Mosaic has sold at least 5,000 CD sets. I know because my set is numbered in that range and I bought it 4 years ago.

The fact that Mosaic has had such trouble getting to the 7,500 mark indicates to me the market for this set is tapped out. Since it's been for sale for so long, I doubt it will command premium prices once it finally goes OOP. It will probably mimic the J.J. Johnson set, which also was available for an extended period of time and seldom fetches more than 50% beyond its original price.

Edited April 29, 2010 by mellowT