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I have the Analogue Production pressing of this album. It is probably one of the best sounding pressings I have ever heard. It will be tough to improve on it.

...silly quantity and price.

Michael,

Do you know if they will be adjusting for the pre-emphasis that was employed in the original issue? It is my understanding that the original recording had the highs boosted several dB only to have them cut at the time of mastering. I had read somewhere (maybe here) that previous reissues weren't able to get this tweaking correct. Anybody that is considering spending this kind of money would like to know if ERC is going to get this right. Thanks,/d

was adjusted for the ERC mono version of this album title according to a very very authoritative source.
That was the condition for my purchase.

Admittedly an ambiguous sentence, but my reading was that the "only" applied to the number of copies being pressed (300) and not to the price. Ultimately, not a big deal either way.

Is Michael going to review the mono release?

however it seems that ERC has quickened the pace of their releases quite a bit here lately. Once and awhile offerings at their 300 quantity release price could be rationalized because it was after all only once and awhile.

But at this pace with classical, jazz, and now classic rock in the catalog, my common sense is saying 'slow down you're going too fast, you need to make your record buying money last'.

Apologies to Paul Simon.

I completely agree. i tell michael that a lot, that a lot of these pressings and equipment can't have the word "only" attached to it even if jokingly.

I also hope this company goes out of business fast. Ridiculous price. Spend $35 and get it somewhere else.

Why artificially limit the pressing number and charge such a crazy price? I'm thinking that most of their expenses are in research, preparing the tape, and mastering, not the actual pressing and packaging. 3,000 copies at $50 each would make it easier to for more people to justify the cost. In the meanwhile, I'll stick with my $7.98 OJC pressing.

If we're only interested in the performers, performances, and sound of the ERC reissues, how important is it that the covers are produced via letterpress or silk is used for the packaging? In other words, how much is ERC's admittedly extraordinary packaging adding to the cost? And would the reissues be more affordable--and more available--if a more mundane packaging approach was pursued? Inquiring minds want to know...

Michael- Thanks for including the link to the ERC site. Seeing photos of the EMT 140 echo plates is a pretty cool sight.

Only $300.. for a record.
To some folks who make $300 in a minute, that’s pretty cheap. My question to the author is..does that apply to you, or is it ONLY to others who comply to my point?

A mint copy of the original Stereo records pressing would set you back $500- and may not actually sound as good as this product. The Craft records box set was disappointing, digitally sourced and we will likely never see the Analogue Productions version. If this is one of your favorite albums, it costs the price of two expensive seats on Broadway, a concert or even a visit to an expensive restaurant. Let’s face it – none of us are going to any shows, concerts or Michelin star restaurants anytime soon! The tapes are deteriorating and this may be the last opportunity to obtain a well remastered AAA copy of this recording. However, 300 copies in mono and then another 300 in stereo seems a little cheeky. Staggeringly expensive, but it will never lose its value. There are people who would spend multiples of this amount on shoes or handbags......

Only (pun)questioning the comment 'ONLY' such and such a price.
Everything is relative in regards to value. Stating something is 'ONLY' a certain price is usually a little disingenuous. IMHO.

I feel like over the past century music was increasingly devalued. Imagine what it must have taken someone to hear any music, let alone something of their own choosing, before the radio came out? Fast forward to today and anything is available, for free or very little, at anytime, anywhere. Even just 20 years ago such access was unimaginable.

Quality matters aside, it seems to me exclusive publishers like ERC, with all their silken finery, are trying to bring back a sense of value. It will work for some people, for others the cat has long been out of the bag.

Blame Napster as the start of the slippery slide both in quality & devaluation of returns on music for many of the labels, esp the pop & rock markets which are the whales in the industry. Crappy mp3s for free!

A whole generation of teens discovered they could get all their music for free so why question the quality of it? To think it's only been 20 years since it was first launched. The labels discovered they could peddle 'em that stuff and the hardware makers jumped on board. However much to their chagrin it basically began the death knell of digital physical sales.

:...so it that is :-) or :-( depending on your POV of course

gone in only a few days. i guess 300 folks don't agree that it was over priced, suckers or not.

Does anyone know where these are pressed?

or even a higher end Android and you're complaining, you should probably STFU. You can buy a smartphone for almost nothing and a really good smartphone for a 1/3 of the price of an iPhone. In a 2-3 years, you'll buy another iPhone. In 10 years you'll have spent thousands of dollars on obsolete tech. You need that iPad that'll be crawling to its grave in a few years? Not to mention, the poor labor practices that went into all your tech. That's something to complain about, not a piece of wax made by a small outfit driven by a labor of love.

The complaining about price is weird. Especially since no one really knows the costs that go into the production of a set of 300 (e.g. amortized costs for finding and refurbing ancient machinery scattered across the globe, labor and maintenance for said machinery, licensing fees, transport of master tapes, printing, raw materials, misc. overhead, etc.). They're providing a a good that people clearly want. Is it expensive? Yep! But everyone's complaints are totally rooted in envy. Ask people who own these records if they feel ripped off. If they don't, then all parties involved have a right to trade their coin/goods for a top of the line heirloom without getting shamed for it.

Let's close up the comments cause nothing more needs to be said.

It really is a terrific album. But the album cover is also kinda interesting. Sonny is in the middle of the desert in western garb, with his saxophone, yet purposely showing there's no gun in his holster. The look on his face is classic and so is the cover.

I hear a lot of negative comments about the Electric Recording Company but do any of you actually own any of these recordings?

I do.

When you put this in the line of buying mint very rare jazz, rock and especially classic records - it is comparable.

Here is an in-depth insightful article from the New York Times

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/28/arts/music/electric-recording-co-viny...

Like you I struggled with whether to buy one or not. The price being the biggest factor. Only 30 printed, immediately sold out and a huge resale market another. Key motivator - to enjoy the music.

I still kick myself because I missed out on the Berlin Philharmonic DG Brahms direct to disc lp - at the time - don't bother, I have that on cd and how often would I really play it?

I bought the Elgar LPO Jacqueline Dupre cello concerto, Dame Janet Baker Sea Pictures lp. I as not really into Soprano opera singers but Baker's performance leaves goosebumps. The record is stellar in every way.

I enjoy it to the hilt.

The passion really comes through.

The original first pressing of this goes for well over $600.
The ERC easily has reached $500 in just a short time.

I will never sell it but my kids will be made aware of it's monetary value.

That said would I buy another release?

Probably not for the same reasons many stated her. There are nice audiophile copies out there for the more popular titles. I don't begrudged them for producing limited run pressings to cover their licensing arrangements and costs.

I think ERC has created a nice niche - I hope they do well and are able to bring some real rare gems back into the world.

sorry
only 300 printed

can somebody change that

I know people in The Tape Project who are committed to music they don't even like at $400 a pop. Is this outrageous?

I am not offended just don't choose to go there.

At least Chad at Acoustic Sounds let's them buy "the same old "nice enough already sounding" audiophile records" on reel to reel for $400.

I would never pay $20k for a reel to reel setup and then have to build up a music collection with very limited and expensive musical selections of limited personal appeal.

That sounds a lot more ridiculous than buying one $375 pristine rare record.

That said - some people get bored with tinkering with turntables, some honestly get involved in the one ups man-ship and justify taking the dive into tape. To each their own.

... what percentage of this $375 will Mr. Rollins receive? Thirty cents an album?