Ray Charles...

[boreas]

I also have a 78 by 'the Maxin Trio' in my collection:

Ooooh, tasty!

John

 

[beatcomber]

No "RVG" in the deadwax, AS-2-A-1, AS-2-B-1. It does have "Bell Sound" stamped in the deadwax.

My understanding is, for whatever reason, Impulse would sometimes have both Rudy and Bell Sound cut lacquers simultaneously.

A notorious example is the stereo pressing of John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme." The RVG cut is mastered from the 1st generation tape (which Rudy recorded). That's a good thing - except there was a loose connection in the mastering chain and both sides have a 60 cycle hum audible throughout both sides.

The Bell Sound cut of ALS was done from a tape copy - Bell always copied tapes before cutting the lacquer because it gave them another charge to add to the invoice (sleazy!) - so while it isn't cut from a 1st gen tape, it also doesn't have the 60 cycle hum problem.

When it comes to early stereo pressings of ALS, unfortunately ya gotta pick your poison. :thumbsdn:

 

[beatcomber]

My copy of this LP just came today and I have to say your recommendation is spot on. What a great album! I now have to move on to finding the others recommended in this thread.

Jeff

Fantastic!

Pretty much every vinyl reissue I've heard that Rhino has put out in the past few years has been superb. They hire the best guys in the business to master them (Bellman, Sax, Grundman, etc.) - all analog too! - and press them at RTI on nice thick vinyl.

 

[Ilikevinyl]

My understanding is, for whatever reason, Impulse would sometimes have both Rudy and Bell Sound cut lacquers simultaneously.

A notorious example is the stereo pressing of John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme." The RVG cut is mastered from the 1st generation tape (which Rudy recorded). That's a good thing - except there was a loose connection in the mastering chain and both sides have a 60 cycle hum audible throughout both sides.

The Bell Sound cut of ALS was done from a tape copy - Bell always copied tapes before cutting the lacquer because it gave them another charge to add to the invoice (sleazy!) - so while it isn't cut from a 1st gen tape, it also doesn't have the 60 cycle hum problem.

When it comes to early stereo pressings of ALS, unfortunately ya gotta pick your poison. :thumbsdn:

Thank You for that info!:thmbsp:

 

[Ilikevinyl]

I have the same copy as you Steve. Stereo AS-2.

On Impulse, gate fold cover with waxy coating.

Nice sound and great performance.



Bob

That's right, I remember now. It was one of my many many album suggestions.

 

[Ilikevinyl]

I have another Ray Charles album set that's kind of rare. I have it around here somewhere. I'll post it if I find it.

 

[bobins08]

That's right, I remember now. It was one of my many many album suggestions.

Yes, it was highly recommended by you. :thmbsp:

You are da' man Steve! :yes:

 

[SwingModern]

If you like Ray Charles' jazz albums, the recent Rhino 100% analog pressing of "The Great Ray Charles" sounds amazing, truly a reference quality LP, and it's only about $25. It was expertly cut by Doug Sax IIRC, and pressed at RTI on nice thick, quiet vinyl.

I have that one, but I think mine's OG. It's Atlantic 1259.

 

[Montycat]

If you like Ray Charles' jazz albums, the recent Rhino 100% analog pressing of "The Great Ray Charles" sounds amazing, truly a reference quality LP, and it's only about $25. It was expertly cut by Doug Sax IIRC, and pressed at RTI on nice thick, quiet vinyl.

Got it today! And you are right it has great sound. :thmbsp:

I'm listening to Genius + Soul = Genius right now and while it doesn't have the same SQ it also has a much different feel. I love the Hammond sound and the swing of this disc. 2 different sides of the master. :yes:

 

[4Play]

I saw that on Amazon... Is that a legit licensed release or a European PD issue? :scratch2:

According to SSD the label is Vinyl Passion. I've never heard of them before and there is no information regarding the album or label company. That is one thing I like about Acoustic Sounds. So far, this album is not available on AS.

 

[skandl]

Just in a pic of the unopened Rhino cut of "The Great Ray Charles" via acousticsounds tomorrow it will be cleaned and played!

 

[beatcomber]

Just in a pic of the unopened Rhino cut of "The Great Ray Charles" via acousticsounds tomorrow it will be cleaned and played!

Let us know how you like it!

FWIW, I have never bothered pre-cleaning any of my RTI-pressed Rhino LPs. They're usually perfect right out of the wrapper.

 

[myergin]

I agree with the comment about the earlier stuff being much "grittier" and less "uptown" but I still think Modern Sounds in Country and Western is my favorite and one his best. It is far more heavily produced than his other stuff, but absolutely great none the less.

 

[boreas]

Yup, the stuff Ray recorded for SwingTime/DownBeat was endlessly recycled by the 'supermarket' labels.

I have supermarket labels (and drug store labels and five & dime labels) to thank for some of my musical education. Back in the day I used to surf the bins at Acme Supermarkets, Read's Drug and S.S. Kresges for treasures and would often find them. Here's one of my finds from that time.

John

 

[beatcomber]

I agree with the comment about the earlier stuff being much "grittier" and less "uptown" but I still think Modern Sounds in Country and Western is my favorite and one his best. It is far more heavily produced than his other stuff, but absolutely great none the less.

That album is often cited as a ground-breaking classic, one that crossed genres, etc., and I can appreciate it on that level, but I just can't embrace the music. I'm not saying it's not good or bad, I'd just rather listen to one of his Atlantic albums.

I kind of feel the same way about the Beatles; I like their post-1967 albums just fine, they never made a bad record, but I still hold "With the Beatles" and "A Hard Day's Night" over "Abbey Road." I guess it's just a personal preference.

I have supermarket labels (and drug store labels and five & dime labels) to thank for some of my musical education. Back in the day I used to surf the bins at Acme Supermarkets, Read's Drug and S.S. Kresges for treasures and would often find them. Here's one of my finds from that time.

John

I wouldn't consider Herald a 'supermarket label,' although it's entirely likely that you found it at one back in the day. It was probably 'cut out' by the label - or more likely specifically intended as a budget release - and re-distributed to supermarkets by a rack jobber. Herald is best known as a '50s NYC indie label specializing in vocal group/doo wop 45s. Its biggest hit was "Stay" by Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs.

I was not aware that they released an album by Lightnin' Hopkins! It would not surprise me if that album was valuable. Great score! I hope you've taken good care of it over the years! :thmbsp: Judging by the text on the cover referencing 'American folk lore,' I'm guessing that album was issued in the early '60s to capitalize on the big folk revival. Awesome cover graphics!

But your main point is very much correct! The supermarket labels like Crown, Diplomat, Pickwick, Coronet, etc. would often license (very cheaply) singles masters from small regional labels and put out their own budget LPs, some of which have some amazing and rare R&B and rockabilly sides. Without those labels, Ray Charles' early SwingTime 78s would have disappeared from the marketplace (which he probably wouldn't have minded).

Some of these budget albums are quite desirable. I have one such early '60s budget LP that is all '50s west coast R&B recordings from the highly collectible Dooto/Dootone label. Not a bad thrift shop score for a buck! The vinyl is kinda hissy but the mastering is not bad at all, and it's real mono.

There was a legendary Los Angeles R&B label during the '40s and '50s called Modern/RPM Records, owned by the Bihari brothers. In the early '60s, they transitioned away from 45s into a supermarket LP label called United Records, and began issuing budget LPs containing their old R&B sides, including BB King's earliest (and best) work.

 

[boreas]

I wouldn't consider Herald a 'supermarket label,' although it's entirely likely that you found it at one back in the day. It was probably 'cut out' by the label - or more likely specifically intended as a budget release - and re-distributed to supermarkets by a rack jobber. Herald is best known as a '50s NYC indie label specializing in vocal group/doo wop 45s. Its biggest hit was "Stay" by Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs.

I was not aware that they released an album by Lightnin' Hopkins! It would not surprise me if that album was valuable. Great score! I hope you've taken good care of it over the years! :thmbsp: Judging by the text on the cover referencing 'American folk lore,' I'm guessing that album was issued in the early '60s to capitalize on the big folk revival. Awesome cover graphics!

Yes, I'm pretty sure it was a cutout, just like the Jimmy Reed VeeJay LP I got at the same place(s) at about the same time. According to Discogs, Lightnin' Hopkins and the Blues was released in 1955. I would have probably bought my copy in the 1958 to 1961 time frame. It's long gone now. NOTHING could have survived the record player I had then.

As to value, I'd expect that to be the case. Maybe it is..... but I just got a sealed copy on Discogs for $15.00. I'm happy.

Also, in the mid '40s to the mid '50s there was an earlier folk revival. People like Richard Dyer Bennet, John Jacob Niles, Ewan MacColl, Ed McCurdy and even The Weavers and Burl Ives were the "big names" during this period. They typically performed traditional songs, sung "straight" - the exception being The Weavers - rather than the homogenized pap of the Kingston Trio, the Limelighters and New Christie Minstrels. Many of these earlier performers were driven underground by The Red Scare and HUAC.

John

 

[beatcomber]

Yes, I'm pretty sure it was a cutout, just like the Jimmy Reed VeeJay LP I got at the same place(s) at about the same time. According to Discogs, Lightnin' Hopkins and the Blues was released in 1955. I would have probably bought my copy in the 1958 to 1961 time frame. It's long gone now. NOTHING could have survived the record player I had then.

A Vee Jay Jimmy Reed album as a cut-out.... wow, those were the days.

As to value, I'd expect that to be the case. Maybe it is..... but I just got a sealed copy on Discogs for $15.00. I'm happy.

SCORE!!!!!

Also, in the mid '40s to the mid '50s there was an earlier folk revival. People like Richard Dyer Bennet, John Jacob Niles, Ewan MacColl, Ed McCurdy and even The Weavers and Burl Ives were the "big names" during this period. They typically performed traditional songs, sung "straight" - the exception being The Weavers - rather than the homogenized pap of the Kingston Trio, the Limelighters and New Christie Minstrels. Many of these earlier performers were driven underground by The Red Scare and HUAC.

I found this dead mint 1952 'commie pinko' anti-HUAC 78 for free on Haight Street in SF about 12 years ago. It was in a carton on the sidewalk outside Amoeba along with a bunch of other 78s; I guess the store didn't want to buy them. It's a pretty incredible record; the lyrics even include the word "bastard," which was extremely edgy for that time. My understanding is this record has a Brooklyn origin.
http://www.folkarchive.de/talkunam.html


Hear it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Snvidt4veiE

 

[boreas]

A Vee Jay Jimmy Reed album as a cut-out.... wow, those were the days.

Yeah, well you have to remember that this was "race music" at the time. It hadn't moved upscale the way earlier blues players and singers had. (I'm thinking here of people like Big Bill Broonzy, Bessie Smith, Leadbelly and all those people that Alan Lomax and the Hammonds had "discovered".

The British "rockers" discovered these guys (probably in their cutout bins)long before we did.

John

 

[skandl]

Let us know how you like it!

FWIW, I have never bothered pre-cleaning any of my RTI-pressed Rhino LPs. They're usually perfect right out of the wrapper.

Took your word did not clean dry brushed and played. Fantasic album very clean and dynamic. Thanks great suggestion and for 14.00 I think I killed it with this one.

 

[beatcomber]

Took your word did not clean dry brushed and played. Fantasic album very clean and dynamic. Thanks great suggestion and for 14.00 I think I killed it with this one.

:thmbsp: