Written by Claude Lemaire
For Part-3: http://soundevaluations.blogspot.com/2023/06/treasures-from-vinyl-vault-part-3.html
22- Elvis Presley – 24 Karat Hits!. Analogue Productions, RCA Victor – APP-2040 (tracks A1 to B5, mono; C1 to F4, stereo) (2010), 3x45 rpm. Genre: rockabilly, rock and roll, blues, rhythm and blues, ballads, gospel, country.
In my teens I used to dislike everything Elvis, finding The King–kitsch–especially so in his later years, packing pounds under tight white jumpsuits. Later on I better understood his place in history and the immense impact he had on many rock artists I respect. If like me, you occasionally enjoy and appreciate him but are not a die-hard fan, then this 24 hit compilation is unbeatable, and may be sufficient for your needs. Presented mostly in chronological order on one tripple-45 rpm LP set–and spanning his RCA Victor period starting from January 1956 with "Heartbreak Hotel" through "Suspicious Minds" from August 1969–24 Karat Hits! is perfect if one wishes strictly the top hit singles delivered in outstanding sound. Remastered and cut by George Marino at Sterling Sound in New York for Analogue Productions. To maximize sound quality and fidelity, Marino–like Kevin Gray and Steve Hoffman in 1997 [DCC LPZ(2)-2040]– went to great lengths to use the true mono, two, and three-track tapes, instead of cutting from second or third generation tape copies. Many music lovers may be astonished to hear how well recorded the King can sound when well transferred and played on a good audio rig. In addition to Elvis' commanding vocal presence, and near-surrealistic imaging, what really strikes the senses is the rendering of the back vocal quartet The Jordanaires–almost spooky-sounding such is their realism. Along with guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black, the trio formed The Blue Moon Boys in 1954 at Sam Phillips' Sun Studios, soon joined by drummer D.J. Fontana, making rock and roll history. Renowned engineer Bill Porter and Thorne Nogar share most of the recording credits via several studios including RCA-Victor Studio B, Nashville, TN; RCA-Victor East 24th Street Studio, NYC; Radio Recorders Studio B, Hollywood, CA; American Sound Studio, Memphis, TN, and MGM Scoring Stage, Culver City, CA. With the exception of the first two tracks, the tonal balance is spot on and reaches down deep as well as high up, plus incredible transparency, and instrument and vocal presence. Already owning the earlier excellent DCC double-33 rpm version, this 2010 AP remastering easily surpasses it on all fronts.
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23- Rosemary Clooney and Duke Ellington and His Orchestra – Blue Rose. Columbia – CL872 (mono) (1956, May), 33 1/3 rpm. Genre: traditional pop, ballad, big band, vocal jazz, swing.
The first time Rosemary rang a bell was through my Dad, who was fond of big band, traditional pop, and jazz. He'd often watch The Lawrence Welk Show on weekends where some of these music styles he appreciated mingled along side with what he called the boring corny stuff. This was Clooney's debut album and Duke's return to Columbia after a three year stint at Capitol. It is a fine album featuring eleven tracks alternating between sultry ballads, and a few more swingin' numbers. Duke and Billy Strayhorn's signature writing and arrangements are a perfect fit for Clooney's vocals. I don't have the original 'six-eye' but a first-press Canadian mono instead which sounds quite good. Interestingly, while the orchestra was recorded in New York in January 1956, she sang her parts two weeks later in Los Angeles, effectively overdubbing as that technique became the norm in the following decades.
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24- Stan Kenton – Kenton in Hi-Fi. Capitol Records – W-724 (mono) (1956), SW 724 (stereo) (1959), 33 1/3 rpm. Genre: progressive jazz, big band, swing.
American bandleader, pianist, composer, and arranger Stan Kenton was definitely my dad's favorite music artist. Much less commercial than big band counterparts Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, and Harry James; Kenton prioritized progressive forms of jazz over popular dance-oriented big band. He was closer in form to Duke Ellington, and navigated third stream currents, often incorporating atonality with afro-cuban influences when composer and arranger Pete Rugolo joined forces in 1945. You could say Kenton was the King Crimson for that period, pushing dissonance and dynamics to the forefront–creating a Wagnerian wall of sound with the brass section. Recorded in February 1956, Kenton in Hi-Fi is considered one of his best albums, and one of my favorites as well. Interestingly it was recorded both in mono and stereo simultaneously on separate machines with supposedly one song–"Intermission Riff"–having a shorter duration on the stereo LP, as well as missing the string bass in the mix while the mono tape does feature it. I have Canadian first-pressings of both vinyl versions, and appreciate the two despite their differences in tonal balance and soundstage presentation.
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25- Johnny Griffin – Introducing Johnny Griffin. Blue Note – BLP 1533 (mono) (1957, Feb.), Classic Records – BLP 1533 (2002), 33 1/3 rpm, 200g. Genre: jazz, bebop, hard bop, ballads.
This is tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin's debut album recorded in April 1956, and released in February 1957, one month prior to joining Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. From the first notes on the opening track "Mil Dew", you sense Griffin is a forceful fiery player, drawing fuel from his bebop heritage. He's also versatile to calm things down by interspersing ballads between bop tunes. Three of the seven tracks are from his pen. Wynton Kelly is on piano, Curly Russell on bass, and Max Roach on drums. RVG gets a good blend in Hakensack, New Jersey. I don't have an original but do have the fine Bernie Grundman remastering for Classic Records in 2002, as part of their 200g, flat edge, deep groove, mono cut, Quiex SV-P series.
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26- Miles Davis – 'Round About Midnight. Columbia – CL949 (mono) (1957, Mar.), 33 1/3 rpm. Genre: cool jazz, bebop, hard bop.
After fulfilling his contract with Prestige, this album marks Miles' debut on Columbia, an alliance which would endure for nearly three decades before moving to Warner Bros. I came across a fine condition pre-owned first press Canadian copy some thirty or so years ago, and was probably my second or third Davis LP in my collection. It starts smooth and romantic with the title track which was a Thelonious Monk composition from 1943, soon becoming a jazz standard. "Ah-Leu-Cha" changes gears with a fast pace Parker bebop track, here pitting Coltrane against Miles. Cole Porter's "All of You" is typical Miles with the muted horn with Pilly Jo Jones keeping time on the brushes. "Bye Bye Blackbird" sways the same way in a cool vibe. Tad Dameron's "Tadd's Delight" delights us with an uptempo hard bop track featuring solos by Miles, Trane, and Red Garland on the ivories. Finally bassist Paul Chambers gets his chance to solo in the traditional "Dear Old Stockholm", which Davis had recorded for Blue Note on the 1953 ten-inch Young Man with a Horn–and reissued by Classic Records in 2002. Track two was recorded in October 1955 with the remaining five in June and September 1956 at Columbia's 30th Street Studio. Engineer Frank Laico does a fantastic job capturing in mono Miles and the others in a very intimate upfront dry and warm sound. A must for Miles and jazz aficionados.
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Reference List (Singles, albums, and labels):
Elvis Presley – 24 Karat Hits!. Analogue Productions, RCA Victor – APP-2040 (tracks A1 to B5, mono; C1 to F4, stereo) (2010), 3x45 rpm. Genre: rockabilly, rock and roll, blues, rhythm and blues, ballads, gospel, country.
Rosemary Clooney and Duke Ellington and His Orchestra – Blue Rose. Columbia – CL872 (mono) (1956, May), 33 1/3 rpm. Genre: traditional pop, ballad, big band, vocal jazz, swing.
Stan Kenton – Kenton in Hi-Fi. Capitol Records – W-724 (mono) (1956), SW 724 (stereo) (1959), 33 1/3 rpm. Genre: progressive jazz, big band, swing.
Johnny Griffin – Introducing Johnny Griffin. Blue Note – BLP 1533 (mono) (1957, Feb.), Classic Records – BLP 1533 (2002), 33 1/3 rpm, 200g. Genre: jazz, bebop, hard bop, ballads.
Miles Davis – 'Round About Midnight. Columbia – CL949 (mono) (1957, Mar.), 33 1/3 rpm. Genre: cool jazz, bebop, hard bop.
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