BN Collectors Edition

[David Ayers]

What do we know about this very limited 24-bit vinyl-feel reissue series?

 

No info here and sorry if I missed it elsewhere.

 

Here is one:

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Let-Freedom-Ring-Jackie-Mclean/dp/B07VJWY95F/ref=sr_1_232?fst=as%3Aoff&qid=1567885456&refinements=p_n_date%3A182239031&rnid=182236031&s=music&sr=1-232

[mjzee]

The label is Culture Factory (?).

[David Ayers]

In fact a search came up with this:

 

https://www.fnac.com/e62672/CULTURE-FACTORY

[Brad]

Culture Factory has released a line of what they call CD Mini LPs but on their site (which loads very slowly) they are only non jazz. People on the Hoffman Forum have discussed their releases and the opinion is mixed. 

[David Ayers]

I see on the Fnac site that they also did Don Wilkerson Preach Brother! Plus a few jazz vinyls. And thats it. 

 

Emergency over. 

[jazzbo]

I see they have released a late Donald Byrd on LP. I have their Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna and Quicksilver Messenger Service LP facsimile releases. I like the sound but they are loud, compressed. Works for these rock acts on my system. Not sure how they would work with jazz titles.

[Bill Nelson]

'Culture Factory' appears to be a French label -- located a mere stone's throw north of Andorra.

Their chutzpah in using the tag 'Blue Note Collectors Edition' is perfect for pulling punters.

[David Ayers]

The credits on the CD ‘label’ of the McLean release seem strongly to indicate that this is licensed. 

 

 

 

 

But who knows?

Edited September 9, 2019 by David Ayers

[Brad]

Whether it’s licensed or not, their CDs are supposed to be extremely loud, as Lon noted. See this thread on the Hoffman Forum, which universally pans them, https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/culture-factory-usa-audiophile-cds-what-are-these.318072/

It’s relatively short for a Hoffman thread, only three pages. 

[jazzbo]

I believe they are licensed. The sound works for rock music imo. Would be interesting to see what they did with jazz.

[Brad]

  On 9/9/2019 at 7:19 PM, jazzbo said:

I believe they are licensed. The sound works for rock music imo. Would be interesting to see what they did with jazz.

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From that Hoffman thread, it doesn’t sound like the rock fans are happy with CF. 

[jazzbo]

Well, I don't experience things the same way as many there do. I honestly think some of them look at a waveform and form an opinion that tells them what they hear rather than experiencing what they hear. You're right, many there are dismissive of these. I and a few others have enjoyed them. To me I can get them at certain volume level and they really come alive and they sound to me the way that I remember hearing these (Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna, Quicksilver Messenger Service) in the 'seventies at parties and at a friend's house who had big JBL speakers and a really good turntable and reel-to-reel. Really brings back "that" sound to me on my system. So I enjoy them. . . I tried one or two and then bought the complete series of those three artists. We're all different, all our rooms and systems and tastes are different, and I don't just take what Hoffmanites say for the s'truth.

[Brad]

  On 9/9/2019 at 8:44 PM, jazzbo said:

Well, I don't experience things the same way as many there do. I honestly think some of them look at a waveform and form an opinion that tells them what they hear rather than experiencing what they hear. You're right, many there are dismissive of these. I and a few others have enjoyed them. To me I can get them at certain volume level and they really come alive and they sound to me the way that I remember hearing these (Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna, Quicksilver Messenger Service) in the 'seventies at parties and at a friend's house who had big JBL speakers and a really good turntable and reel-to-reel. Really brings back "that" sound to me on my system. So I enjoy them. . . I tried one or two and then bought the complete series of those three artists. We're all different, all our rooms and systems and tastes are different, and I don't just take what Hoffmanites say for the s'truth.

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I was thinking about buying one of those JA titles. Maybe I will give one a try. 

[jazzbo]

Gee, ya think?

[Brad]

Can you blame them?

[Brad]

  On 9/10/2019 at 11:37 AM, Captain Howdy said:

Well, compression does have the advantage of making every little thing audible. I can see its appeal to non-audiophiles.

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True. 

[David Ayers]

Helpful for in-car listening too. That’s the only place I get to play CDs any more. And weekdays now I cycle. So...

[jazzbo]

  On 9/10/2019 at 12:47 PM, Brad said:

True. 

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Should appeal, when used properly, to audiophiles as well.

[RPF1990]

The label on the actual CD (linked to above) states that this is a Universal Records Special Markets release, Manufactured by Universal Music; Copy-write Capital 2019. So the CD must be an official BN release.

US site: http://www.culturefactoryusa.com/  lots of major labels noted here 

 

Edited September 13, 2019 by RPF1990
Additional

[CJ Shearn]

  On 9/10/2019 at 1:14 PM, jazzbo said:

Should appeal, when used properly, to audiophiles as well.

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Lon, very true.  I was messaging this morning with Jamie Saft, because I had questions about the mastering of his last two recordings. Blue Dream and Hidden Shadows musically are very good, but the mastering is horrendous and brickwalled, Hidden Shadows a bit less so.  The latter is in the vein of 70's Impulse! with Dave Liebman and Hamid Drake, but the mastering engineer, primarily has experience with dance and pop music and applies that approach to jazz--which for an acoustic jazz record of recent vintage is unacceptable.  For something like Saft's Sunshine Seas that approach would be fine.  Jamie was very understanding of my concern surprisingly and said the mastering engineer who did Strength and Power with Roswell Rudd (quite a dynamic, natural recording) is doing the next two albums.