Blue Note vinyl: the 9M etching

(Last updated: November 22, 2016)

The 9M etching found in the run-out of 10″ Blue Notes, many of the 1500 series pressings and a handful of the early 4000 series title.

The 9M

The variety 9M is uniquely found on Blue Note and not any other alpha-numeric permutation.

Blue Note wasn’t the only label Plastylite pressed. In the early days they also pressed for a number of record labels including Prestige, early copies of which also bear an additional etching which follows the same numeric/alpha pattern. Each code is likewise uniquely associated with that record label and found on no other label.

Plastylite, (or a supplier to Plastylite) is the common connection with these codes, which are additional to and do not form part of the matrix code of that record

UPDATE November 22, 2016

Eagle-eyed reader Jesse P has spotted more custom-codes:

 Photos courtesy of Jesse P

An 8J seen on New Jazz ( 8J has been seen before on Prestige titles, usually with the tail of the J facing the wrong way, here it is seen facing the correct way. Prestige is associated with the 7E custom-code, so the significance of the 8J is unclear).  4Y found on the Circle Sound (of NY) label, and 5H on the Vox label

Including those pictured above, and Riverside 14 capital I, that gives us a total of 9 distinct custom-codes.

Plastylite/ Prestige: 7E

Below, an early Prestige title with “ear”  and code, 7E

Interesting variation on Prestige 7E, appearing on Esquire pressed in UK with the same metal as PRLP 7001. Whilst the RVG and matrix are very small and faint, the 7E is in a different hand, large and well formed, probably not applied at the time of mastering.

Plastylite/Dial: 3R

Plastylite /ESOTERIC: 10Z.

Plastylite/Debut: 19H

 Riverside: 14 i (capital i as in Indigo) added Jan 2015.

Found on a 2nd pressing of RLP 12-223 Bill Evans New Jazz Conceptions (1956) utilising original master metalwork. “14 I” noted on both sides in the familiar “9M” format, number on top, alpha below, in an open hand. The “I” has a bold seriph top and bottom. There is no Plastylite “ear” since the ear was added at pressing, and this Riverside second press from early ’60s was not pressed by Plastylite, however carries the code from its 1956 original acetate.

Further confirmation that the 9M found on Blue Note  was but one of a number of “customer codes” assigned uniquely to a number of record labels, now known to include very early Riverside.

ABC Paramount (Am Par era) 1 I as in (Indigo)

Despite  the 14 I  (Riverside) this ABC Paramount has a 1 I on both sides, deep groove with a raised profile,  laminated frame-type cover mid to late ’50s.

Folkways – 3T

 

9M was one of a range of numeric/alpha codes identified with metalwork destined for various labels pressed by Plastylite, possibly others, applied at some point in the chain of manufacture either by a metal-plating department of Plastylite or a supplier to Plastylite if plating was done externally, to them and maybe others.

9M etching ceases as a fairly continuous run at the beginning of 1959 at BN 4001 Sonny Rollins Newk’s Time, though there are a dozen or so titles beyond this beyond this point as high as BLP 4106 (Jackie McLean Let Freedom Ring, released April 1963).

BN 4001 Rollins, Newks Time.

BNST 84057

9M appears on both sides of this RVG STEREO master, discovered on a United Artists re-issue dating from 1975 (legacy RVG metal used for pressing by United Artists, )

The last 9M (or so I at first thought, wrongly)

BLP 4067 Jackie McLean’s Bluesnik, released in 1961

UPDATE April 24,  2016: eagle-eyed reader Jim R finds 9M on another, later McLean title, BLP 4106 Let Freedom Ring. Is this just coincidence, both these outliers are McLean titles?

Latest Discovery: BLP 4106 highest catalogue number with 9M

It’s a stretch to figure how this appeared as late as April 1963. My thanks to JimR for his discovery.

The 9M found on some later reissues of early Blue Note titles

Unlike the Plastylite “ear”, which disappeared in 1966 when pressing was moved from Plastylite to new Blue Note owner Liberty’s plant All-Disc, the 9M continued to pop up occasionally on Liberty reissues of Blue Note 1500 series, an exact matching copy of all etchings and stamps to the earlier pressing (apart from the Plastylite factory-applied ear) It seems Liberty had access to legacy metalware (acetates, mothers, stampers)  which of course bear all the original etchings ie matrix codes, RVG/ VAN GELDER stamp, and 9M. It’s great when you find these things, because you know you are listening to vinyl pressed from the original Van Gelder master.

LJC  hypothesis on the meaning of “9M”

The numeric/alpha additional hand- etching “9M” s found on around two thirds of Blue Note pressings in the 1500 series and a handful of 4000 series, all  manufactured between 1956 – 61. It uniquely identifies Blue Note, and  a number of similar unique codes (one number one letter) are found on other similar specialist record labels of the period.

The most plausible explanation is that the etching is a custom identifier on metalware, in an  early stage of the vinyl manufacturing process. “9M” means client “Blue Note”, in a setting where a range of similar looking metal circular plates needed identification at client-level, be it for routing, accounting or some unknown other purpose.

The common format of all these codes – Numeric/Alpha – also eliminates another alternative hypothesis, that the Blue Note etching might be read upside down as “W6”.

The latest information from collectors identifies that around a third of Blue Notes from this period do not carry a 9M etching. There are also conflicting cases, albeit rare, where a specific title and format (mono or stereo) is found both with and without a 9M. This raises the possibility of 1st and 2nd cutting second masters, and different consumable item (acetate) suppliers.

The link between Blue Note, 9M, Plastlite, and Van Gelder mastering remains tantilisingly close. But we do not yet have all the pieces, though we have a lot more than when the enquiry set out.

Credit for research into these etchings is attributed to  LJC readers, including felixstrange, Aaron, Dottorjazz, Rudolf Flinterman, Jim R and Peter A

UPDATE November 17, 2015

LJC reader and Blue Note collector Jim R has kindly contributed a most comprehensive  listing from his own collection, which confirms the presence or absence of a “9M” etching  in the run-out.  In 75 titles between 1500 – 4001 for which we have sight  (not all titles have been validated and remain to be classified – data blank)) around 50 titles are known to bear 9M and around 25 are known to have no 9M etching at all. Thee titles have 9M on only one side.

The longest straight run of titles with 9M ends with 4001, Rollins Newk’s Time, exceptionally it appears on 4025 and 4026.The last sighting of 9M is BLP 4067 Mclean’s Bluesnik and there is a  cluster around that release time in 1961, between 4057 and 4067 .

UPDATE November 22, 2016: highest catalogue number with 9M increases to 4108, Lou Donaldson Natural Soul (hat-tip Jesse P)

Last updated: November 22, 2016

CATNO	ARTIST	TITLE	Side 1 9M	Side 2 9M
1501	Miles Davis	Miles Davis Vol. 1	9M	9M
1502	Miles Davis	Miles Davis Vol. 2	9M	9M
1503	Bud Powell	The amazing B. Powell Vol. 1	9M	9M
1504	Bud Powell	The amazing B. Powell Vol. 2	9M	9M
1505	Jay Jay Johnson	The eminent Vol. 1	9M	9M
1506	Jay Jay Johnson	The eminent Vol. 2	9M	9M
1507	The Jazz Messengers	At the Cafè Bohemia Vol. 1	no	no
1508	The Jazz Messengers	At the Cafè Bohemia Vol. 2	no	no
1509	Milt Jackson	With the T. Monk quintet	9M	9M
1510	Thelonious Monk	Genius of modern music Vol. 1	9M	9M
1511	Thelonious Monk	Genius of modern music Vol. 2	9M	9M
1512	Jimmy Smith	A new sound- a new star Vol. 1	9M	9M
1513	Thad Jones	Detroit-New York junction	9M	9M
1514	Jimmy Smith	A new sound- a new star	9M	9M
1515	Jutta Hipp	At the Hickory House Vol. 1	9M	9M
1516	Jutta Hipp	At the Hickory House Vol. 2	9M	9M
1517	Gil Melle	Patterns in jazz	9M	9M
1518	Horace Silver	And the Jazz Messengers	9M	9M
1519	Herbie Nichols	Trio	9M	9M
1520	Horace Silver	Trio	no	no
1521	Art Blakey	A night at Birdland Vol. 1	9M	9M
1522	Art Blakey	A night at Birdland Vol. 2	9M	9M
1523	Kenny Burrell	Introducing	9M	9M
1524	Kenny Dorham	‘Round about midnight at the Cafè Bohemia	no	no
1525	Jimmy Smith	At the organ Vol. 3	9M	9M
1526	Clifford Brown	Memorial album	9M	9M
1527	Thad Jones	The magnificent T. Jones	9M	9M
1528	Jimmy Smith	At club Baby Grand Vol. 1	9M	9M
1529	Jimmy Smith	At club Baby Grand Vol. 2	9M	9M
1530	Jutta Hipp	With Zoot Sims	no	no
1531	Fats Navarro	The fabulous Vol. 1	9M	9M
1532	Fats Navarro	The fabulous Vol. 2	no	no
1533	Johnny Griffin	Introducing	no	no
1534	Paul Chambers	Whims of Chambers	no	no
1535	Kenny Dorham	Afro Cuban	no	no
1536	J. R. Monterose	J. R. Monterose	no	no
1537	Lou Donaldson	Quartet Quintet Sextet
1538	Lee Morgan	Indeed	9M	no
1539	Horace Silver	6 pieces of silver	9M	9M
1540	Hank Mobley	Featuring D. Byrd and L. Morgan	9M	9M
1541	Lee Morgan	Sextet	no	no
1542	Sonny Rollins	Sonny Rollins	no	no
1543	Kenny Burrell	Kenny Burrell	9M	9M
1544	Hank Mobley	And his all stars	9M	no
1545	Lou Donaldson	Wailing with Lou	9M	9M
1546	Thad Jones	Vol. 3	9M	9M
1547	Jimmy Smith	A date with J. S. Vol. 1	9M	9M
1548	Jimmy Smith	A date with J. S. Vol. 2	9M	9M
1549	Cliff Jordan- John Gilmore	Blowin’ in from Chicago	no	no
1550	Hank Mobley	Quintet	9M	9M
1551	Jimmy Smith	At the organ Vol. 1	no	no
1552	Jimmy Smith	At the organ Vol. 2	no	no
1554	Art Blakey	Orgy in rhythm Vol. 1	9M	9M
1555	Art Blakey	Orgy in rhythm Vol. 2	9M	9M
1556	Jimmy Smith	The sounds of J. S.	9M	9M
1557	Lee Morgan	Vol. 3	no	no
1558	Sonny Rollins	Vol. 2	no	no
1559	Johnny Griffin	A blowin’ session	no	no
1560	Hank Mobley	Sextet	9M	9M
1561	Sabu Martinez	Palo Congo	9M	9M
1562	Horace Silver	The stylings of Silver	9M	9M
1563	Jimmy Smith	Plays pretty just for you	no	no
1564	Paul Chambers	Quintet	9M	9M
1565	Cliff Jordan	Cliff Jordan	no	no
1566	Lou Donaldson	Swing and soul	9M	9M
1567	Curtis Fuller	The opener	no	no
1568	Hank Mobley	Hank Mobley	9M	9M
1569	Paul Chambers	Bass on top	no	no
1570	Sonny Clark	Dial “S” for Sonny	no	no
1571	Bud Powell	Bud !	9M	9M
1572	Curtis Fuller	Bone & bari	9M	9M
1573	John Jenkins	John Jenkins	no	no
1574	Hank Mobley	Peckin’ time	no	no
1575	Lee Morgan	City lights	no	no
1576	Sonny Clark	Sonny’ s crib	9M	9M
1577	John Coltrane	Blue Train	9M	9M
1578	Lee Morgan	The cooker	9M	9M
1579	Sonny Clark	Trio	9M	9M
1580	Johnny Griffin	The congregation	no	no
1581	Sonny Rollins	A night at the Village Vanguard	no	no
1582	Cliff Jordan	Cliff craft	no	no
1583	Curtis Fuller	Vol. 3	no	no
1584	Louis Smith	Here comes Louis Smith	no	no
1585	Jimmy Smith	Groovin’ at Smalls’ Paradise Vol. 1	no	no
1586	Jimmy Smith	Groovin’ at Smalls’ Paradise Vol. 2	no	no
1587	Bennie Green	Back on the scene	9M	9M
1588	Sonny Clark	Cool struttin’	9M	9M
1589	Horace Silver	Further explorations	9M	9M
1590	Lee Morgan	Candy	9M	9M
1591	Lou Donaldson	Lou takes off	9M	9M
1593	Lou Donaldson	Blues walk	9M	no
1594	Louis Smith	Smithville	no	no
1595	Cannonball Adderley	Somethin’ else	9M	9M
1596	Kenny Burrell	Blue lights Vol. 1	9M	9M
1597	Kenny Burrell	Blue lights Vol. 2	9M	9M
1598	Bud Powell	Time waits	9M	9M
1599	Bennie Green	Soul stirrin’	9M	9M
4001	Sonny Rollins	Newk’s Time	9M	9M
4002	Jimmy Smith	House Party	no	no
4003	Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers	Moanin’	no/ +9M	no
4004	Art Blakey	Holiday for Skins, Volume 1	9M	9M
4005	Art Blakey	Holiday for Skins, Volume 2	no	no
4006	Dizzy Reece	Blues in Trinity
4007	Donald Byrd	Off to the Races
4008	Horace Silver Quintet	Finger Poppin’	no	no
4009	Bud Powell	Volume 5 The Scene Changes	no	no
4010	Bennie Green	Walkin’ and Talkin’	no	no
4011	Jimmy Smith	The Sermon	no	no
4012	Lou Donaldson	Lou Donaldson with the Three Sounds	no	no
4013	Jackie McLean	New Soil	no	no
4014	The Three Sounds	Bottoms Up
4015	Art Blakey	At the Jazz Corner of the World, Volume 1	no	no
4016	Art Blakey	At the Jazz Corner of the World, Volume 2	no	no
4017	Horace Silver	Blowin’ the Blues Away	no	no
4018	Walter Davis	Davis Cup
4019	Donald Byrd	Byrd in Hand	no	no
4020	The Three Sounds	Good Deal
4021	Kenny Burrell	At the Five Spot
4022	Duke Pearson	Profile
4023	Dizzy Reece	Star Bright
4024	Jackie McLean	Swing, Swang, Swingin’	9M	9M
4025	Lou Donaldson	The Time is Right	9M	9M
4026	Donald Byrd	Fuego	9M	no
4027	Freddie Redd	Music from “The Connection”	no	no
4028	Horace Parlan	Movin’ and Groovin’
4029	Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers	The Big Beat	no	no
4030	Jimmy Smith	Crazy Baby	no	no
4031	Hank Mobley	Soul Station	no	no
4032	Sonny Red	Out of the Blue	9M	9M
4033	Dizzy Reece	Soundin’ Off	no	no
4034	Lee Morgan	Leeway	no	no
4035	Duke Pearson	Tender Feelin’s
4036	Lou Donaldson	Sunny Side Up
4037	Horace Parlan	Us Three
4038	Jackie McLean	Capuchin Swing
4039	Stanley Turrentine	Look Out!
4040	Freddie Hubbard	Open Sesame
4041	Tina Brooks	True Blue
4042	Horace Silver Quintet	Horace Scope	no	no
4043	Horace Parlan	Speakin’ My Piece
4044	The Three Sounds	Moods
4045	Freddie Redd	Shades of Redd	no	no
4046	Duke Jordan	Flight to Jordan
4047	Art Taylor	A. T.’s Delight	no	no
4048	Donald Byrd	Byrd in Flight
4049	Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers	A Night in Tunisia	no	no
4050	Jimmy Smith	Home Cookin’
4051	Jackie McLean	Jackie’s Bag	no	no
4052	Tina Brooks	Back to the Tracks [unissued]
4053	Lou Donaldson	Lightfoot
4054	Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers	Meet You…, Volume 1	no	no
4055	Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers	Meet You…, Volume 2	no	no
4056	Freddie Hubbard	Goin’ Up	no	no
4057	Stanley Turrentine with the Three Sounds	Blue Hour	9M	9M
4058	Hank Mobley	Roll Call	9M	9M
4059	Kenny Drew	Undercurrent	9M	9M
4060	Donald Byrd	At the Half Note Cafe, Volume 1	9M	9M
4061	Donald Byrd	At the Half Note Cafe, Volume 2	9M	9M
4062	Horace Parlan	Headin’ South	9M	9M
4063	Kenny Dorham	Whistle Stop	9M	9M
4064	Grant Green	Grant’s First Stand	9M	9M
4066	Lou Donaldson	Here ‘Tis	9M	9M
4067	Jackie McLean	Bluesnik	9M	9M
4106	Jackie McLean	Let Freedom Ring	9M	9M
4108	Lou Donaldson	Natural Soul	9M	9M

At 2nd March 2016 , only one remaining mono 1500 series not verified – 1537 (Lou Donaldson 4tet 5tet 6tet)

If you can fill in information on the missing titles in the 1500 series, or have something different to add, mail me or add to comments.

.UPDATE – Folkways – 3T