Columbia Six Eyes

R

resound

Super Member
Playing thru my jazz albums I once again come by this album of Miles Davis' and once again wonder "whats up with this?" Is this the Canadian 6 eye version? Its a made in Canada LP. (far right)

Anybody know how many different versions of the 6 eye there are?
Here are the three I picked out right off hand and it seems to me I have another variation too but cant remember which album its on. I think its a Columbia Special products compilation album but its illuding me right now.



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They're all great...I have some Columbia Six Eyes that I value very much, including a Mono of Miles' Kind of Blue, and Dave Brubeck's Time Out.

There is also a Columbia Six Eye promo LP with a white label and black type/logos; those are really nice.
 
I've seen a few including the two US versions that Resound attached here.

I don't know how many different versions but I've seen discussion on the SHF site that Columbia switched over from the 6 eyes labels to the 2 eyes "guaranteed high fidelity" labels in 1962.

Those are some mighty fine jazz records that you have to play through, Mike. :tresbon::music:
 
Puma Cat said:
They're all great...I have some Columbia Six Eyes that I value very much, including a Mono of Miles' Kind of Blue, and Dave Brubeck's Time Out.

There is also a Columbia Six Eye promo LP with a white label and black type/logos; those are really nice.
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:yes: The six-eye brubeck albums are probably the best cut you can get. The two-eye labels aren't bad, I have a couple, but the six-eyes really shine in my opinion. I put them in the same boat as mercury's "blue label" releases. While my stereo copy is beat up, my mono copy of "time out" is excellent, as well as the six-eye (mono, I belive), copy of "brubeck live with jay and kai"...a very good live recording.

Generally, if I find a record like that, especially six-eyes, in playable condition I pick it up. Wish I could find more around here. Actually, what really amazes me is that most of these albums on the label are at least around 45+years old, and they still sound excellent.
 
resound said:
Playing thru my jazz albums I once again come by this album of Miles Davis' and once again wonder "whats up with this?" Is this the Canadian 6 eye version? Its a made in Canada LP. (far right)

Anybody know how many different versions of the 6 eye there are?
Here are the three I picked out right off hand and it seems to me I have another variation too but cant remember which album its on. I think its a Columbia Special products compilation album but its illuding me right now.



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I think the first two versions co-existed - one was for mono and one stereo. I'm not sure about the white eye box label - I thought Columbia's promos used full white background labels.
 
Could they have used different versions of the "eyes" for foreign pressings, to distinguish them from domestic pressings? Just speculating. I often see simplified graphics on copied or counterfeit records, too, although piracy/counterfeiting was less common back then (when six-eye records were being made).

I buy nearly every six-eye recording I find, as long as they aren't all scratched up. They often need a pretty good cleaning first, but once they are clean, they have pretty consistently good sound. :music: Just wish there were more of them around to be found (esp. for cheap prices :D).
 
The Maroon and silver Six Eye label is a Canadian pressing. Usually originated from New York cut stampers. Should sound very excellent.
 
I have a silver-on-black six-eye label on a Columbia Record Club only release; looks mostly like the middle label above, except it says "Limited Edition" above the arrows at the top of the label.
 
Very cool topic.

I have at least one Six-Eye in my approx. 1,400 collection- a Miles Davis stereo copy of Kind of Blue.
 
I've got a gold/black six eyes. It's a special series Classical disc. Also, nobody has yet mentioned the Masterworks (Classical) series, grey/black labels.
 
SA-708 said:
I have a silver-on-black six-eye label on a Columbia Record Club only release; looks mostly like the middle label above, except it says "Limited Edition" above the arrows at the top of the label.
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Yes! Ive seen that one. It was at HPB but was too far gone to buy.

I agree that Brubeck on 6 eye is great. Ive got a Brubeck/Rushing album that is crazy good. Ive also got a Brubeck/Desmond six eye that is real noisy but I keep it cause the album cover is very nice and vibrant. Kills me the album is no good though.

Id sure like to run into a promo 6 eye in good condition.

cactuscowboy said:
I've got a gold/black six eyes. It's a special series Classical disc. Also, nobody has yet mentioned the Masterworks (Classical) series, grey/black labels.
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Youre right, now that you mention it Ive seen and have had a few of those too. I remember two versions of the black/white classical label. Any Pics? Masterworks was primarily CBS though wasnt it. I mean CBS and Columbia are the same company so to speak but the labels were independant of each other with CBS being the parent company right?

What year did CBS add their letters to the label? Ive got a couple 6 eyes that look the same as the left two pics but have "CBS" center top betwwen the arrows or under "Columbia"

Im glad you guys are liking this topic. Ive got questions on Mercury label Vs. quality also......


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Cactus Cowboy got me looking some more and I found a couple Classical versions and thought Id add a Pic of the cool Brubeck cover. Laminated style cover and the colors are like candy. I think I may frame this one for the wall. Did I mention Im bummed that the disc is crap? yeah dammit



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six eye

Just popped on my six eye "Warm and Wonderful" Les Paul, Mary Ford, before I sat down and read this thread.
 
Saratoga48 said:
Just popped on my six eye "Warm and Wonderful" Les Paul, Mary Ford, before I sat down and read this thread.
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I love Les Paul (RIP). Not a big fan of his earlier music but I am a big fan of his life. AMAZING GUY.
Ive got the DVD/CD set "Chasing sound" and am amazed at his accomplishments.

There are a few of his LP's I wouldnt mind on 6 eye for sure.
Was Columbia his regular label?

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