Last Updated: May 9, 2018
LJC brings you the unofficial guide to Blue Note first pressings. Created a year before Fred Cohens Guide was published, it represents this enthusiasts attempt to fill the knowledge gap that existed then. Its free! However it contains some (unintentional) errors and ommissions
In particular, collector Alan Songer has written, oft repeated, that 4059 Kenny Drew Undercurrent was the last title on which Deep Groove dies were used on first pressings. However there are around ten titles beyond that where some collectors consider the possibility that the transition to non-Deep Groove dies for first pressings was not so clear cut. You decide.
| First Pressing Guide | flat edge | DG | ear | RVGh/m VANGELD | Label address | -® | no “inc” | cover address | cvr no INC | frame cvr | |
| 1501: Miles Davis, Miles Davis | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1502: Miles Davis, Miles Davis | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1503: Bud Powell, The Amazing | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1504: Bud Powell, The Amazing | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1505: J.J. Johnson, The Eminen | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1506: J.J. Johnson, The Eminen | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1507: Art Blakey and the Jazz | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1508: Art Blakey and the Jazz | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1509: Milt Jackson, Milt Jacks | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1510: Thelonious Monk, Genius | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1511: Thelonious Monk, Genius | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1512: Jimmy Smith, A New Sound | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1513: Thad Jones, Detroit-New | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1514: Jimmy Smith, A New Sound | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1515: Jutta Hipp, At the Hicko | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1516: Jutta Hipp, At the Hicko | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | ||
| 1517: Gil Melle, Patterns in J | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1518: Horace Silver, Horace Si | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1519: Herbie Nichols, The Herb | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1520: Horace Silver and Art Bl | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1521: Art Blakey, A Night at B | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1522: Art Blakey, A Night at B | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1523: Kenny Burrell, Introduci | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1524: Kenny Dorham, ‘Round Mid | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1525: Jimmy Smith, The Incredi | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1526: Clifford Brown, Memorial | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1527: Thad Jones, The Magnificent | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1528: Jimmy Smith, At Club Bab | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1529: Jimmy Smith, At Club Bab | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1530: Jutta Hipp, With Zoot Sims | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1531: Fats Navarro, The Fabulo | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1532: Fats Navarro, The Fabulo | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1533: Johnny Griffin, Introduc | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1534: Paul Chambers, Whims of | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1535: Kenny Dorham, Afro-Cuban | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1536: J. R. Monterose, J. R. M | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1537: Lou Donaldson, Quartet/Q | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1538: Lee Morgan, Lee Morgan I | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1539: Horace Silver, Six Piece | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1540: Hank Mobley, With Donald | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1541: Lee Morgan, Volume 2 (1 | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1542: Sonny Rollins, Sonny Rol | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | Lex | – inc | K | |
| 1543: Kenny Burrell, Kenny Bur | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | LEX | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | K | |
| 1544: Hank Mobley, And His All | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | NY 23 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | ||
| 1545: Lou Donaldson, Wailing w | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | NY 23 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | ||
| 1546: Thad Jones, The Magnific | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | NY 23 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | ||
| 1547: Jimmy Smith, A Date with | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | NY 23 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | ||
| 1548: Jimmy Smith, A Date with | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | NY 23 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | ||
| 1549: Cliff Jordan/John Gilmor | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | NY 23 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | ||
| 1550: Hank Mobley, With Farmer | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | NY 23 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | ||
| 1551: Jimmy Smith, At the Orga | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | NY 23 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | ||
| 1552: Jimmy Smith, At the Orga | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | NY 23 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | ||
| 1553: (not issued) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | — | – | ||
| 1554: Art Blakey, Orgy in Rhyt | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | NY 23 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | ||
| 1555: Art Blakey, Orgy in Rhyt | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | NY 23 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | ||
| 1556: Jimmy Smith, The Sounds | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | NY 23 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | ||
| 1557: Lee Morgan, Volume 3 (1 | +FE | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | NY 23 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | ||
| 1558: Sonny Rollins, Volume 2 | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | NY 23 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 1559: Johnny Griffin, A Blowin | DGx2 | ear | RVGh | NY 23 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 1560: Hank Mobley, Hank (1957 | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | NY 23 | -R | – inc | 47W63 | – inc | |||
| 1561: Sabu Martinez, Palo Cong | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | NY 23 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 1562: Horace Silver, The Styli | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | LEX | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | K | ||
| 1563: Jimmy Smith, Plays Prett | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | NY 23 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 1564: Paul Chambers, Quintet | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | NY 23 | -R | – inc | 47W63 | – inc | |||
| 1565: Cliff Jordan, Cliff Jord | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | NY 23 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 1566: Lou Donaldson, Swing and | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | 47W63 | – inc | |||
| 1567: Curtis Fuller, The Opene | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | 47W63 | – inc | |||
| 1568: Hank Mobley, Hank Mobley | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | NY23/47W | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 1569: Paul Chambers, Bass on T | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 1570: Sonny Clark, Dial “S” fo | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 1571: Bud Powell, Bud! [= The | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 1572: Curtis Fuller, Bone and | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 1573: John Jenkins, With Kenny | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 1574: Hank Mobley, Peckin’ Tim | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 1575: Lee Morgan, City Lights | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | NY 23 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 1576: Sonny Clark, Sonny’s Cri | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | NY 23 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 1577: John Coltrane, Blue Trai | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | NY23/47 W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 1578: Lee Morgan, The Cooker | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 1579: Sonny Clark, Trio (1957 | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 1580: Johnny Griffin, The Cong | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 1581: Sonny Rollins, A Night a | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 1582: Cliff Jordan, Cliff Craf | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 1583: Curtis Fuller/Art Farmer | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 1584: Louis Smith, Here Comes | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 1585: Jimmy Smith, Groovin’ at | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 1586: Jimmy Smith, Groovin’ at | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 1587: Bennie Green, Back on th | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 1588: Sonny Clark, Cool Strutt | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 1589: Horace Silver, Further E | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 1590: Lee Morgan, Candy (1958 | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 1591: Lou Donaldson, Lou Takes | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 1592: Sonny Clark, [unissued] | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 1593: Lou Donaldson, Blues Wal | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 1594: Louis Smith, Smithville | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 1595: Cannonball Adderley, Som | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 1596: Kenny Burrell, Blue Ligh | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 1597: Kenny Burrell, Blue Ligh | -DG 0 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 1598: Bud Powell, Time Waits [ | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 1599: Bennie Green, Soul Stirr | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 4001: Sonny Rollins, Newk’s Ti | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 4002: Jimmy Smith, House Party | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 4003: Art Blakey and the Jazz | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 4004: Art Blakey, Holiday for | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 4005: Art Blakey, Holiday for | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 4006: Dizzy Reece, Blues in Tr | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 4007: Donald Byrd, Off to the | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 4008: Horace Silver Quintet, F | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 4009: Bud Powell, The Scene Ch | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 4010: Bennie Green, Walkin’ an | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 4011: Jimmy Smith, The Sermon | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 4012: Lou Donaldson, Lou Donal | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | – inc | |||
| 4013: Jackie McLean, New Soil | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | +inc | |||
| 4014: The Three Sounds, Bottom | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | NY 23 | +inc | |||
| 4015: Art Blakey, At the Jazz | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | -inc | none | ||||
| 4016: Art Blakey, At the Jazz | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -R | – inc | none | ||||
| 4017: Horace Silver, Blowin’ t | DGx2 | ear | RVG m |
|
INC + ® | NY 23 | +inc | ||||
| 4018: Walter Davis, Davis Cup | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | -inc | NY 23 | – inc | ||||
| 4019: Donald Byrd, Byrd in Han | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | NY 23 | +inc | |||||
| 4020: The Three Sounds, Good D | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | NY 23 | +inc | |||||
| 4021: Kenny Burrell, At the Fi | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | NY 23 | +inc | |||||
| 4022: Duke Pearson, Profile ( | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4023: Dizzy Reece, Star Bright | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4024: Jackie McLean, Swing, Sw | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4025: Lou Donaldson, The Time | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4026: Donald Byrd, Fuego (195 | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4027: Freddie Redd, Music from | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4028: Horace Parlan, Movin’ an | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4029: Art Blakey and the Jazz | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4030: Jimmy Smith, Crazy Baby | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4031: Hank Mobley, Soul Statio | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4032: Sonny Red, Out of the Bl | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4033: Dizzy Reece, Soundin’ Of | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4034: Lee Morgan, Leeway (196 | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4035: Duke Pearson, Tender Fee | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4036: Lou Donaldson, Sunny Sid | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4037: Horace Parlan, Us Three | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4038: Jackie McLean, Capuchin | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4039: Stanley Turrentine, Look | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4040: Freddie Hubbard, Open Se | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4041: Tina Brooks, True Blue | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4042: Horace Silver, Horace-Sc | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4043: Horace Parlan, Speakin’ | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4044: The Three Sounds, Moods | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4045: Freddie Redd, Shades of | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4046: Duke Jordan, Flight to J | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4047: Art Taylor, A. T.’s Deli | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4048: Donald Byrd, Byrd in Fli | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4049: Art Blakey and the Jazz | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4050: Jimmy Smith, Home Cookin | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4051: Jackie McLean, Jackie’s | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4052: Tina Brooks, Back to the | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4053: Lou Donaldson, Lightfoot | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4054: Vol 1 Art Blakey and the | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4055: Vol2 Art Blakey and the | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4056: Freddie Hubbard, Goin’ U | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4057: Stanley Turrentine, Blue | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4058: Hank Mobley, Roll Call | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4059: Kenny Drew, Undercurrent | DGx1 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4060: Vol1 Donald Byrd, At the | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4061: Vol2 onald Byrd, At the | DG 0 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4062: Horace Parlan, Headin’ S | DGx1 | ear | RVG m | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4063: Kenny Dorham, Whistle St | DGx2 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4064: Grant Green, Grant’s Fir | DG 0 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4065: Stanley Turrentine, Coming Your Way | unissued | ||||||||||
| 4066: Lou Donaldson, Here ‘Tis | DG 0 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4067: Jackie McLean, Bluesnik | DG | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4068: Baby Face Willette, Face | DG | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4069: Vol1 Stanley Turrentine, | DG | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4070: Vol2 Stanley Turrentine, | DG | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4071: Grant Green, Green Stree | DG | ear | RVG m | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4072: The Three Sounds, Feelin | DG 0 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4073: Freddie Hubbard, Hub Cap | DG 0 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4074: Horace Parlan, On the Sp | DG | ear | RVG m | 47W s1 /NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4075: Donald Byrd, The Cat Wal | DG 0 | ear | RVG m | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4076: Horace Silver, Doin’ the | DGs1 | ear | RVG m | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4077: Dexter Gordon, Doin’ All | DG 0 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4078: Jimmy Smith, Midnight Sp | DG s1 or s2 | ear | RVG m | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4079: Lou Donaldson, Gravy Tra | DG s1 | ear | RVG m | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4080: Hank Mobley, Workout (1 | DG 0 | ear | RVG m | 47W63 | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4081: Stanley Turrentine, Dear | DG 0 | ear | RVG m | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4082: Horace Parlan, Up and Do | DG 0 | ear | RVG m | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4083: Dexter Gordon, Dexter Ca | DG 0 | ear | RVG m | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4084: Baby-Face Willette, Stop | DG 0 | ear | RVG m | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4085: Freddie Hubbard, Ready f | DG 0 | ear | RVG m | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4086: Grant Green, Grantstand | DG s1 | ear | RVG m | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4087: Leo Parker, Let Me Tell | DG 0 | ear | RVG m | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4088: The Three Sounds, Here W | DG s1 | ear | RVG m | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4089: Jackie McLean, A Fickle | DG 0 | ear | RVG m | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4090: Art Blakey and the Jazz | DG | ear | RVG m | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4091: Sonny Clark, Leapin’ and | DG 0 | ear | RVG m | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4092: Kenny Clarke, The Golden | DG 0 | ear | RVG m | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4093: Ike Quebec, Heavy Soul | DG 0 | ear | RVG m | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4094: Fred Jackson, Hootin’ ‘n | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4095: Leo Parker, Rollin’ with | DG 0 | ear | ? | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4096: Stanley Turrentine, That | DG s2 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4097: Art Blakey, The African | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4098: Ike Quebec, Blue and Sen | DG 0 | ear | RVG m | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4099: Grant Green, Sunday Morn | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4100: Jimmy Smith, Plays Fats | DG s2 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4101: Donald Byrd, Royal Flush | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4102: The Three Sounds, Hey Th | DGs1 or s2 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4103: Ike Quebec, Congo Lament | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4104: Art Blakey, Buhaina’s De | DG | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4105: Ike Quebec, It Might as | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4106: Jackie McLean, Let Freed | DG | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4107: Don Wilkerson, Preach Br | DG s2 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4108: Lou Donaldson, The Natur | DG | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4109: Herbie Hancock, Takin’ O | DG s2 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4110: Horace Silver, The Tokyo | DG s1 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4111: Grant Green, The Latin B | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4112: Dexter Gordon, Go (1962 | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4113: Freddie Roach, Down to E | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4114: Ike Quebec, Bossa Nova S | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4115: Freddie Hubbard, Hub-Ton | DG s2 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4116: Jackie McLean, The Jacki | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4117: Jimmy Smith, Back at the | DG s1 or s2 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4118: Donald Byrd, Free Form | DG 0 | – | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4119: Charlie Rouse, Bossa Nov | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4120: The Three Sounds, It Jus | DG s2 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4121: Don Wilkerson, Elder Don | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4122: Stanley Turrentine, Jubi | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4123: Kenny Burrell, Midnight | DG | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4124: Donald Byrd, A New Persp | DG s1 or s2 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4125: Lou Donaldson, Good Grac | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4126: Herbie Hancock, My Point | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4127: Kenny Dorham, Una Mas ( | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4128: Freddie Roach, Mo’ Green | DG | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4129: Stanley Turrentine, Neve | DG | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4130: John Patton, Along Came | DG s1 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4131: Horace Silver, Silver’s | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4132: Grant Green, Feelin’ the | DG s1 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4133: Dexter Gordon, A Swingin | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4134: Horace Parlan, Happy Fra | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4135: Freddie Hubbard, Here to | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4136: Solomon Ilori, African H | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4137: Jackie McLean, One Step | DG s1 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4138: Harold Vick, Steppin’ Ou | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4139: Grant Green, Am I Blue | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4140: Joe Henderson, Page One | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4141: Jimmy Smith, Rockin’ the | DG | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4142: Blue Mitchell, Step Ligh | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4143: John Patton, Blue John | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4144: Johnny Coles, Little Joh | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4145: Don Wilkerson, Shoutin’ | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4146: Dexter Gordon, Our Man i | DG | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4147: Herbie Hancock, Inventio | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4148: George Braith, Two Souls | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4149: Hank Mobley, No Room for | DG s2 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4150: Stanley Turrentine, A Ch | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4151: Andrew Hill, Black Fire | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4152: Joe Henderson, Our Thing | DG | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4153: Grachan Moncur III, Evol | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4154: Grant Green, Idle Moment | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4155: The Three Sounds, Black | DG s1 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4156: Art Blakey and the Jazz | DG s1 or s2 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4157: Lee Morgan, The Sidewind | DG | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4158: Freddie Roach, Good Move | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4159: Andrew Hill, Judgment! | DG s1 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4160: Andrew Hill, Smoke Stack | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4161: George Braith, Soul Stre | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4162: Stanley Turrentine, Hust | DG | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4163: Eric Dolphy, Out To Lunc | DG s1 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4164: Jimmy Smith, Prayer Meet | DG | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4165: Jackie McLean, Destinati | DG s2 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4166: Joe Henderson, In ‘n Out | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4167: Andrew Hill, Point of De | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4168: Freddie Roach, Brown Sug | DG | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4169: Lee Morgan, Search for t | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4170: Art Blakey and the Jazz | DG | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4171: George Braith, Extension | DG 0 | no ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4172: Freddie Hubbard, Breakin | DG s1 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4173: Wayne Shorter, Night Dre | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4174: John Patton, The Way I F | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4175: Herbie Hancock, Empyrean | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4176: Dexter Gordon, One Fligh | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4177: Grachan Moncur III, Some | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4178: Blue Mitchell, The Thing | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4179: Jackie McLean, It’s Time | DG or DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4180: Anthony Williams, Life T | DG s1 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4181: Kenny Dorham, Trompeta T | DG s2 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4182: Wayne Shorter, Juju (19 | DG s1 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4183: Grant Green, Talkin’ Abo | DG s1 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4184: Sam Rivers, Fuchsia Swin | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4185: Horace Silver, Song for | DG | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4186: Hank Mobley, The Turnaro | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4187: Larry Young, Into Someth | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4188: Donald Byrd, I’m Tryin’ | DG s1 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4189: Joe Henderson, Inner Urg | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4190: Freddie Roach, All That’ | DG s1 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4191: Duke Pearson, Wahoo! (1 | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4192: John Patton, Oh Baby! ( | DG s1 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4193: Art Blakey and the Jazz | DG 0 | -no ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4194: Wayne Shorter, Speak No | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4195: Herbie Hancock, Maiden V | DG s1 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4196: Freddie Hubbard, Blue Sp | DG 0 | -no ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4197: The Three Sounds, Out of | DG s1 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4198: Bobby Hutcherson, Dialog | DG | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4199: Lee Morgan, The Rumproll | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4200: Jimmy Smith, Softly as a | DG s2 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4201: Stanley Turrentine, Joyr | DG | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4202: Grant Green, I Want to H | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4203: Andrew Hill, Andrew! (1 | DG 0 | no ear | VG | DivLIB | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4204: Dexter Gordon, Gettin’ A | DG 0 | no ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4205: Pete LaRoca, Basra (196 | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4206: Sam Rivers, Contours (1 | DG 0 | no ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4207: Freddie Hubbard, The Nig | DG | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4208: Freddie Hubbard, The Nig | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4209: Hank Mobley, Dippin’ (1 | DG 0 | no ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4210: Ornette Coleman, Town Ha | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4211: Ornette Coleman, Town Ha | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4212: Lee Morgan, The Gigolo | DG 0 | no ear | VG | DivLIB | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4213: Bobby Hutcherson, Compon | DG 0 | no ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4214: Blue Mitchell, Down with | DG 2 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4215: Jackie McLean, Right Now | DG 0 | no ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4216: Anthony Williams, Spring | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4217: Andrew Hill, Compulsion | DG 0 | no ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4218: Jackie McLean, Action ( | DG 0 | no ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4219: Wayne Shorter, The All-S | DG 0 | no ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4220: Horace Silver, The Cape | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4221: Larry Young, Unity (196 | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4222: Lee Morgan, Cornbread ( | DG 0 | no ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4223: Jackie McLean, Jacknife | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4224: Ornette Coleman, At the | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4225: Ornette Coleman, At the | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4226: Don Cherry, Complete Com | DG 0 | ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4227: Joe Henderson, Mode for | DG 0 | no ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4228: Blue Mitchell, Bring it | DG 0 | no ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4229: John Patton, Got a Good | DG 0 | no ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4230: Hank Mobley, A Caddy for | DG 0 | no ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4231: Bobby Hutcherson, Happen | DG 0 | no ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4232: Wayne Shorter, Adam’s Ap | DG 0 | no ear | VG | DivLIB | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4233: Andrew Hill, Involution | unissued | ||||||||||
| 4234: Stanley Turrentine, In M | unissued | ||||||||||
| 4235: Jimmy Smith, Bucket! (1 | DG 0 | no ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4236: Jackie McLean, High Freq | unissued | ||||||||||
| 4237: Cecil Taylor, Unit Struc | DG 0 | no ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4238: Donald Byrd, Mustang! ( | DG 0 | no ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4239: John Patton, Let ‘Em Rol | DG 0 | no ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4240: Stanley Turrentine, Roug | DG 0 | no ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4241: Hank Mobley, A Slice of | umissued | ||||||||||
| 4242: Larry Young, Of Love and | DG 0 | no ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4243: Lee Morgan, Delightfulee | DG 0 | no ear | VG | DivLIB | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4244: Bobby Hutcherson, Stick | DG 0 | no ear | VG | DivLIB | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4245: Art Blakey, Like Someone | DG 0 | no ear | VG | NY/DivLIB | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4246: Ornette Coleman, The Emp | DG 0 | no ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4247: Don Cherry, Symphony for | DG 0 | no ear | VG | NY | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4248: The Three Sounds, Vibrat | DG 0 | no ear | VG | DivLIB | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4249: Sam Rivers, A New Concep | DG 0 | no ear | VG | DivLIB | 43 W | +inc | |||||
| 4250: Horace Silver, The Jody | DG 0 | no ear | VG | DivLIB | 43 W | +inc |
LondonJazzCollector 
Hey there!
I’m curious. What happens when you have a Lexington with all the usual bells and whistles but it only has the ‘P’ on one side of the record runout. Is this usual? And what does it mean when it’s commonly on both sides?
Cheers
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It means one side of the record was pressed by Plastylite, the other…who knows where! ; )
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I don’t think anyone has been able to identify the mechanics of Plastylite stamp application. We know it was applied during the stamping process, as it is not on any of the metal. Lets check what we know, may be fill the blanks with guesses.
Where I have duplicate pressings, the position and angle of the stamp, relative to the position of the catalogue number and Rudy’s etching, is identical on the same side of each record. This looks like a batch process, so all the records pressed in that batch have the same P stamp position and angle, (though a different position on each side)
The “P” stamp can be at any angle of rotation, so it was probably mounted on a rotatable metal stem that was movable or at least removable, if and when it wore out. It had to be adjustable within the radius of the run-off area each side so as not to accidentally stamp in the grooves, and remained stable during pressing.
At which exact time during pressing it was applied is hard to imagine. Immediately after the stampers separated from the still hot vinyl? It definitely looks like it was a stamp – impact – and not drilled. But had to be applied to both sides, and was not not symmetrical on each side, so there had to be two “P” stamps, mounted on adjustable stems, one for each side.
The upshot of this speculation is that it is entirely possible for a batch of records to be pressed where the stem which applied the stamp was faulty or missing on one side.
Anyone has any other ideas, put your hand up. Yes, you, you at the back…
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I’m pretty sure the “P” stamp is in relief on the vinyl (more noticeable on earlier pressings) so I’d imagine it was pressed into each metal stamper.
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Possibly, though that wouldn’t explain why Van Gelder metal stampers continued in use right through to the United Artists years in some cases, but the “ear” never appears. It’s a mystery. I have no explanation.
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Multiple stampers are pulled from the metal positive matrices, or “mothers”. If Plastylite stamped the “P” into each new stamper they used, it explains three things:
1) Why the “P” is in relief.
2) Why Liberty pressings can be from the original lacquer but have no “P”. It also explains why the marks, like “114”, Liberty added to the deadwax are so faint as they were etched on the metal stampers they pulled from the mother.
3) Why the “P” can found in different locations when all the other etchings remain the same on pre-’66 Blue Notes.
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My guess is that Van Gelder’s lacquers and/or the metal “master” disks made from the nickel-plating process were used into the ’70s because they didn’t wear out as fast as the stampers and mothers. The idea, I think, is that when Blue Note got sold to Liberty, Liberty took possession of all the lacquers and/or metal master disks and continued to use them to make mothers and stampers at the new pressing plants. What Aaron is saying makes sense, that the “P” would have been included at the stage where the stamper was created; I may not be remembering this exactly right but I believe I have seen “P’s” in different locations on “originals” i.e. first editions, which would mean that more than one stamper may have been used in a first pressing run…that would make sense to me, but who knows.
(PS: I think this original question is in response to a copy of BLP 1527 I sold recently on eBay that only had the “P” on one side. Expert Blue Note collector jrock1675 has confirmed that copies with the “P” on one side should be considered first pressings, as they have all the other indicators of a first pressing.)
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Hello LJC,
If you could, what does DG by itself mean? I am asking because there are also included ‘DGx1’ and ‘DG s1 or s2’.
Also, my original stereo Jody Grind has NY labels – does the first mono issue really have Liberty “address”?
Thank you!
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In my syntax, DG on it’s own means, by default, DG on both sides. DG on only one side or other = DGs1 or DG s2, or no DG either side = DG0
Silver’s Jody Grind is the definitive Blue Note to Liberty Records Inc handover title 1966. A stock of NY labels from the BN inventory accompanied the first Liberty pressing. Liberty would at some point have run out of the inherited stock and printed their own label for more copies. I don’t think there is any significance in the label change – the same recording, the same metalware.
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Thanks for getting back to me.
Ahh, okay. DGx2 is also included, hence my confusion. I was under the impression, though, that for post-Undercurrent titles, DG on one side only was thought to be indicative of a first pressing. Can you shed any light on this?
Re: Jody Grind, that means I passed up a perfectly good first mono issue believing it was second pressing. Oh well, that’ll teach me for not consulting your guide.
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There is a lot of folklore built up over many years by mainly US buyers/sellers in search of certainty about what is “original”. I don’t think much of it holds water, and I have seen many records described as “original pressing” which are probably not.
During the transition from the old “deep groove” dies starting in 1961 and the final replacement by all non-DG dies in the mid-sixties, there was a random use of dies, they just came out of the box, you see every permutation. One of our readers who worked at Plastylite as a press operator in the ’60s confirmed it was of no importance, and pressing runs were short, always changing stampers and dies, multiple machines.
However, sentiment rules. Cohen’s guide is as good as information gets.
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Hello, firstly THANK YOU for the titanic job you’ve done with this site.
Just in case… got a copy of BST 84252 with not “liberty” label but with older “New York” one. Can make a photo if you need it.
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“Titanic”? Didn’t that sink with all hands? No matter, its the thought that counts, thanks.
Pearson’s Sweet Honey Bee with an NY label – that’s interesting. Recorded December 7, 1966, puts it way into Liberty ownership, so it is not like a deferred release prepped some time previously.
Shoot me a piccie and email it to me (address in CONTACT LJC in the banner) see if there are any other clues, like ink colour, clues as to origin.
4252 definitely shouldn’t be on NY labels unless the studio date is recorded incorrectly (possible), or Pearson knew the track names, order, track lengths, and someone commissioned the label print run before it had been recorded (most unlikely)
Ho hum, another mystery
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I also have a copy of Duke Pearson sweet honey bee 84252 with NY USA labels
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Great if you could shoot me a picture, best you can. I believe Liberty continued to use the same printer as Blue Note – Keystone Printed Specialties, Scranton, PA – for a year or may be two. Keystone would have had all the BN logo/artwork and typesetting already set up, the ink colours and paper stock all matched, so it makes sense. Could be they had not yet set up “A Division of Liberty” template or someone just used an older NY template by mistake, corrected with the following batch of labels. Could be a number of explanations, but an interesting anomaly.
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Thank you for a superb and informative site! I have a Fats Navarro (The Fabulous FN Vol. 2, BLP 1532). Lexington on cover, cvr frame K. Vinyl: both record labels Lexington etc, RVG hand etched on both sides wax, BN-LP-1532 – A and BN-LP-1532 – B also hand etched, flat edge, DG both sides, but… no Ear!… Seems like they forgot to etch it, but is this possible? Thanks for any possible answer, Nicholas.
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No original (pre-1966) 1500 series Blue Note has been seen without Plastylite ear. It was applied in the NJ pressing plant, it’s not present on the master matrix, and therefore one cannot rule out the possibility that somehow part of a pressing run slipped by without it applied, but what is more likely is a Liberty press using up old stock of labels, covers, everything,
I would suggest you get out the kitchen scales – if it’s a genuine Lexington we should be looking at close to 200gm of bare vinyl, maybe more. If its around 160 gram or less its a Liberty. Tell us what you find, I am curious. Though there are exceptions, vinyl weight is an insightful diagnostic. The norm for vinyl weight shifted down a lot in the decade between mid ’50s and mid ’60s.
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Thanks for answering, I will! N.
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It weights 160gm! But, surprise, I do have another Lex copy of Navarro 2, with the Ear, and it weights just 175-180gm! My Navarro volume 1 Lex copy weights 200gm. Thank you once more and I’m looking forward to reading your comments. Nicholas
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160 grams, no ear, Liberty, bullseye!
I have an LJC theory not read elsewhere. I think there were a number of Blue Note titles, of which Navarro is one, where the label print order and cover stock order was way over-optimistic as regards sales. Sales were not high as Lion expected, resulting in surplus stocks of print. As a result, this excess stock went on to be used for many years on repressings/ reissues, including by Liberty, there being no need to print more labels.
In this category I include Freddie Redd’s Music from The Connection, and for different reasons, Horace Silver’s Six Pieces of Silver. These are titles that I have found with very early labels but much later vinyl weight and no ear.
The Lex and 200gm syncs for me as right. The others, other explanations welcome.
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Hello LJC, so every new release (Not re-issue) after Horace Silver’s The Jody Grind (4250) and up to Hank Mobley’s Straight no Filter (4435) is a pre LA original pressing on Liberty?
You also mention the left over New York labels that appear on releases from this period.
Is that all correct?
Thank you,
Diego
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Not exactly. A lot of the higher BN catalogue numbers were recorded as late as 1972 – well into the United Artists years, several years after the move to LA.
BLP 4321 Herbie Hancock’s The Prisoner was I think among the last of the Liberty releases while still under Transamerica ownership, late 1969/early 1970. Original NY labels were long gone, that was Division of Liberty as I recall. Around 1973 I believe UA abandoned the long-running BLP 4000 series numbering and invented their own, BN-LA. The last BLP 4435 Mobley Straight No Filter is I believe 1966 recordings from the vaults curated by Michael Cuscuna for United Artists around 1973, (I’m not entirely sure as my copy is a cheapo ’80s pressing)
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Very informative; this page and the whole site is a labour (sp. nod to the Brits) of love.
an appreciative Yank.
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We gave you the Beatles, then we gave you the Rolling Stones, The Pink Floyd, The Kinks, The Who, Gerry and the Pacemakers – OK there were a few mistakes – but you gave us Modern Jazz, a very fair exchange. Here’s to the microgroove long playing record – cheers!
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