Blue Note issued around 350 titles on 12″LP from 1956 until 1966, when the company was sold to Liberty Records Inc. The last catalogue number allocated by Blue Note was BLP 4250 Horace Silver The Jody Grind, and beyond there, all future release decisions were made by Liberty.
At the time of the sale of Blue Note, however, there were thirty five titles in preparation for release. The full list is shown below. These sessions had been recorded by Van Gelder, and the tape mastered by Van Gelder – Van Gelder metal existed – a Blue Note catalogue number had been allocated, and many if not all had sets of labels with the New York address ready. Possibly covers were already manufactured, or at least a Reid Miles design commissioned, but the record had not yet physically been pressed.
All these assets transferred with the sale to Liberty, who pressed the records mainly during the last half of 1966. None have the Plastylite ear because pressing transferred immediately to the plant that Liberty purchased to complement their expansion plans: All-Disc, Roselle N.J. While the Van Gelder stamp appeared on the master, the ear was applied during pressing in the Plastylite plant: when pressing moved, the ear disappeared.
All-Disc was, to all intents and purposes, an equal of Plastylite in terms of pressing quality, though their pressings are lighter than Plastylite – an average of 147 grams for those pressed with old stock NY labels, compared with Plastylite’s average 166 grams (1962-66) .
Liberty Blue Note titles are found with and without a Van Gelder’s stamp, most often absent on West Coast reissue pressings by Research Craft, who re-mastered the recordings for themselves, and generally present on All-Disc and other East Coast plant pressings. Though the absence of ear is considered a negative for selling prices, it is the reassuring presence of a VAN GELDER stamp that matters most as regards sound quality. The with/without ear business is the bane of collectors lives, because sellers “forget” to mention when it is absent.
In addition to the first release of those thirty five titles in preparation, Liberty also reissued many popular titles from the back-catalogue of Blue Note. In both cases, any labels found in the inventory were used first before printing more. This included not only previously prepared NY labels, but any available labels, going as far back as the 767 Lexington for titles released in 1956-7. Labels printed before 1961 lacked the legal ® trademark protection and incorporation references, so in matching Side 1 and Side 2 pairs, the older label was often matched with a more recent label on the other side, hence it is not uncommon to find mixed pairs of Blue Note addresses.
Though an original Blue Note NY label is considered somehow “original” compared with the “later” Division of Liberty label, there may be no practical difference between a Liberty copy with an NY label and one with Division of Liberty label, both pressed by All-Disc for Liberty at around the same time.
The thirty five previously unreleased titles are a special case: Blue Note recordings whose first “original” pressing was by Liberty, no copies with ear exist.
One added complication collectors should be aware of: some titles were released by Blue Note only in mono (with ear). Liberty went on to issue the first stereo edition (without ear). A Liberty stereo for those titles is technically a first pressing.
The full list of the thirty five titles includes some surprises, with much lower catalogue numbers, whose release had been deferred by Alfred Lion for several years, for commercial reasons.
Both MONO and STEREO first pressed by Liberty; no copies with Plastylite ear exist.
(The year shown in brackets below is the year of recording)
| 4118: Donald Byrd, Free Form (1961) |
| 4171: George Braith, Extension (1964) |
| 4193: Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Indestructible (1964) |
| 4196: Freddie Hubbard, Blue Spirits (1965) |
| 4203: Andrew Hill, Andrew! (1964) |
| 4204: Dexter Gordon, Gettin’ Around (1965) |
| 4206: Sam Rivers, Contours (1965) |
| 4209: Hank Mobley, Dippin’ (1965) |
| 4212: Lee Morgan, The Gigolo (1965) |
| 4213: Bobby Hutcherson, Components (1965) |
| 4215: Jackie McLean, Right Now (1965) |
| 4217: Andrew Hill, Compulsion (1965) |
| 4218: Jackie McLean, Action (1964) |
| 4219: Wayne Shorter, The All-Seeing Eye (1965) |
| 4222: Lee Morgan, Cornbread (1965) |
| 4227: Joe Henderson, Mode for Joe (1966) |
| 4228: Blue Mitchell, Bring it on Home (1966) |
| 4229: John Patton, Got a Good Thing Goin’ (1966) |
| 4230: Hank Mobley, A Caddy for Daddy (1965) |
| 4231: Bobby Hutcherson, Happenings (1966) |
| 4232: Wayne Shorter, Adam’s Apple (1966) |
| 4235: Jimmy Smith, Bucket! (1963) |
| 4237: Cecil Taylor, Unit Structures (1966) |
| 4238: Donald Byrd, Mustang! (1966) |
| 4239: John Patton, Let ‘Em Roll (1965) |
| 4240: Stanley Turrentine, Rough ‘n Tumble (1966) |
| 4242: Larry Young, Of Love and Peace (1966) |
| 4243: Lee Morgan, Delightfulee Morgan (1966) |
| 4244: Bobby Hutcherson, Stick Up! (1966) |
| 4245: Art Blakey, Like Someone in Love (1960) |
| 4246: Ornette Coleman, The Empty Foxhole (1966) |
| 4247: Don Cherry, Symphony for Improvisers (1966) |
| 4248: The Three Sounds, Vibrations (1966) |
| 4249: Sam Rivers, A New Conception (1966) |
| 4250: Horace Silver, The Jody Grind (1966) |
Though it is conventional to list Blue Notes in catalogue number order, this gives a false impression of the sequence of events. More interesting but never before published is Liberty’s 1966 Blue Note release schedule (which Cohen’s Guide does not cover). It shows Liberty methodically releasing 2, 3, or 4 Blue Note first pressing every month. Release dates have been culled from Billboard’s weekly Spotlight sales potential guide and reviews of new LPs for the trade, timed to coincide with release.
Billboard August 13, 1966
Month is linked to the week of Billboard publication. Above snip includes some last minute Blue Note releases .
Below are all the non-Plastylite first editions, by month of release.
| 4229 John Patton Got a Good Thing Goin’ | Jul-66 |
| 4209 Hank Mobley Dippin’ | Jul-66 |
| 4204 Dexter Gordon Gettin’ Around | Jul-66 |
| 4193 Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers Indestructible | Sep-66 |
| 4240 Stanley Turrentine Rough ‘n Tumble | Oct-66 |
| 4237 Cecil Taylor Unit Structures | Oct-66 |
| 4235 Jimmy Smith Bucket! | Oct-66 |
| 4219 Wayne Shorter The All Seeing Eye | Oct-66 |
| 4227 Joe Henderson Mode for Joe | Nov-66 |
| 4215 Jackie McLean Right Now | Nov-66 |
| 4213 Bobby Hutcherson Components | Nov-66 |
| 4248 The Three Sounds Vibrations | Jan-67 |
| 4231 Bobby Hutcherson Happenings | Jan-67 |
| 4222 Lee Morgan Cornbread | Jan-67 |
| 4206 Sam Rivers Contours | Jan-67 |
| 4196 Freddie Hubbard Blue Spirits | Jan-67 |
| 4171 George Braith Extension | Jan-67 |
| 4217 Andrew Hill Compulsion | Feb-67 |
| 4250 Horace Silver The Jody Grind | Mar-67 |
| 4228 Blue Mitchell Bring it on Home | Mar-67 |
| 4246 Ornette Coleman The Empty Foxhole | Apr-67 |
| 4239 John Patton Let ‘Em Roll | Apr-67 |
| 4247 Don Cherry Symphony for Improvisers | Aug-67 |
| 4245 Art Blakey Like Someone in Love | Aug-67 |
| 4242 Larry Young Of Love and Peace | Aug-67 |
| 4230 Hank Mobley A Caddy for Daddy | Sep-67 |
| 4218 Jackie McLean Action | Sep-67 |
| 4238 Donald Byrd Mustang! | Oct-67 |
| 4249 Sam Rivers A New Conception | Nov-67 |
| 4243 Lee Morgan Delightfulee Morgan | Nov-67 |
| 4232 Wayne Shorter Adam’s Apple | Nov-67 |
| 4244 Bobby Hutcherson Stick Up! | Feb-68 |
| 4203 Andrew Hill Andrew! | May-68 |
| 4212 Lee Morgan The Gigolo | Jun-68 |
Each of these titles was paired with the 27 Years second inner sleeve, which was devoted almost exclusively to Liberty Blue Note releases from July 1966 to November 1967.( Last three above likely by 1968 with Liberty inner sleeve)
First STEREO pressed by Liberty : no “ear” expected
There are titles whose mono edition was pressed for Blue Note by Plastylite, with the ear, but whose stereo edition was first pressed by Liberty some time later, hence without ear. (There are also a small number of titles where the sequence is the reverse: the first stereo had been pressed by Plastylite , but the first mono by Liberty)
First STEREO edition pressed by Liberty
| 4001: Sonny Rollins, Newk’s Time (1957) |
| 4002: Jimmy Smith, House Party (1957) |
| 4004: Art Blakey, Holiday for Skins, Volume 1 (1958) |
| 4005: Art Blakey, Holiday for Skins, Volume 2 (1958) |
| 4007: Donald Byrd, Off to the Races (1958) |
| 4009: Bud Powell, The Scene Changes (1958) |
| 4010: Bennie Green, Walkin’ and Talkin’ (1959) |
| 4012: Lou Donaldson, Lou Donaldson with the Three Sounds (1959) |
| 4019: Donald Byrd, Byrd in Hand (1959) |
| 4024: Jackie McLean, Swing, Swang, Swingin’ (1959) |
| 4025: Lou Donaldson, The Time is Right (1959) |
| 4031: Hank Mobley, Soul Station (1960) |
| 4034: Lee Morgan, Leeway (1960) |
| 4036: Lou Donaldson, Sunny Side Up (1960) |
| 4038: Jackie McLean, Capuchin Swing (1960) |
| 4048: Donald Byrd, Byrd in Flight (1960) |
| 4051: Jackie McLean, Jackie’s Bag (1959) |
| 4053: Lou Donaldson, Lightfoot (1958) |
| 4056: Freddie Hubbard, Goin’ Up (1960) |
| 4063: Kenny Dorham, Whistle Stop (1961) |
| 4064: Grant Green, Grant’s First Stand (1961) |
| 4071: Grant Green, Green Street (1961) |
| 4203: Andrew Hill, Andrew! (1964) |
| 4212: Lee Morgan, The Gigolo (1965) |
| 4232: Wayne Shorter, Adam’s Apple (1966) |
| 4243: Lee Morgan, Delightfulee Morgan (1966) |
| 4244: Bobby Hutcherson, Stick Up! (1966) |
In addition to the above first stereo release by Liberty , there are a further twenty four Blue Note titles whose first stereo release was in Japan by King Records or Toshiba-EMI. Whilst King did sometimes remain faithful to the mono format, but not always, and Toshiba tended to issue only a stereo. There are also a number of titles only ever released in Japan. Early Blue Notes recordings made in the late ’50s are not especially recommended in stereo, as they were cut from Van Gelder two-track tapes that were intended to prepare a mono master.
Titles issued by Blue Note in pseudo-stereo
As the home ownership of stereo phonographs increased, from around 1959, a number early Blue Note mono recordings went on to be issued in pseudo-stereo – “electronically reprocessed for stereo” so new stereo record player owners could enjoy them in simulated “stereo”. Whilst these can be “original Blue Note” issues, they are not true stereo as they pre-date Van Gelder’s move to two track tape recording. These can also be found in pseudo-stereo among Liberty “stereo” reissues. Towards the end of the 1500 series, Van Gelder was routinely employing two track tape, so “genuine” stereo could be recreated at a later date, though ill-advised, as never intended for stereo, hard-panning and odd stage placement.
| 1501: Miles Davis, Miles Davis, Volume 1 (1953) |
| 1502: Miles Davis, Miles Davis, Volume 2 (1954) |
| 1503: Bud Powell, The Amazing Bud Powell, Volume 1 (1951) |
| 1504: Bud Powell, The Amazing Bud Powell, Volume 2 (1953) |
| 1505: J.J. Johnson, The Eminent J. J. Johnson, Volume 1 (1954) |
| 1506: J.J. Johnson, The Eminent J. J. Johnson, Volume 2 (1955) |
| 1507: Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Cafe Bohemia, Volume 1 (1955) |
| 1508: Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Cafe Bohemia, Volume 2 (1955) |
| 1509: Milt Jackson, Milt Jackson (1952) |
| 1510: Thelonious Monk, Genius of Modern Music, Volume 1 (1947) |
| 1511: Thelonious Monk, Genius of Modern Music, Volume 2 (1952) |
| 1512: Jimmy Smith, A New Sound, A New Star, Volume 1 (1956) |
| 1514: Jimmy Smith, A New Sound, A New Star, Volume 2 (1956) |
| 1518: Horace Silver, Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers (1955) |
| 1520: Horace Silver and Art Blakey, Sabu (1953) |
| 1521: Art Blakey, A Night at Birdland, Volume 1 (1954) |
| 1522: Art Blakey, A Night at Birdland, Volume 2 (1954) |
| 1523: Kenny Burrell, Introducing Kenny Burrell (1956) |
| 1525: Jimmy Smith, The Incredible Jimmy Smith, Volume 3 (1956) |
| 1526: Clifford Brown, Memorial Album (1953) |
| 1528: Jimmy Smith, At Club Baby Grand, Volume 1 (1956) |
| 1529: Jimmy Smith, At Club Baby Grand, Volume 2 (1956) |
| 1534: Paul Chambers, Whims of Chambers (1956) |
| 1539: Horace Silver, Six Pieces of Silver (1956) |
| 1541: Lee Morgan, Volume 2 (1956) |
| 1542: Sonny Rollins, Sonny Rollins (1956) |
| 1543: Kenny Burrell, Kenny Burrell, Volume 2 (1956) |
| 1544: Hank Mobley, And His All-Stars (1957) |
| 1547: Jimmy Smith, A Date with Jimmy Smith, Volume 1 (1957) |
| 1548: Jimmy Smith, A Date with Jimmy Smith, Volume 2 (1957) |
| 1551: Jimmy Smith, At the Organ, Volume 1 (1957) |
| 1552: Jimmy Smith, At the Organ, Volume 2 (1957) |
| 1556: Jimmy Smith, The Sounds of Jimmy Smith (1957) |
| 1558: Sonny Rollins, Volume 2 (1957) |
| 1581: Sonny Rollins, A Night at the Village Vanguard (1957) |
LJC
LondonJazzCollector 
