Tina Brooks' True Blue - Blue Note's Classic VInyl Series release

Рет қаралды 3,720

8 ай бұрын

I had to grab a copy of Tina Brooks' True Blue, as I've never owned a vinyl copy of this title ever. I wanted to take the opportunity to talk about how the release came about, what happened after its release and some thoughts about how it sounds.
True Blue purchase link: amzn.to/3Rsep93
Follow me on instagram: / what_can_brown
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you're new to my channel, what you can expect from me is a vinyl collector's approach to the jazz genre. For years, I've only collected vintage pressings and prioritized originals of Blue Note, Prestige, Savoy, Bethlehem, Riverside, New Jazz, and more classic labels. Lately, with the resurgence of the medium and more collectors coming to the space, the music industry has taken notice and prioritized putting out high quality reissues of some of the best albums ever recorded. Subscribe to my channel to watch me navigate how to rationalize how I used to buy vs. how I buy vinyl records today.
#jazz #jazzmusic #jazzvinyl #jazzrecords #vinylcollector #vinylcollection #jazzcollector #recordcollector #vinylcommunity #bluenote #bluenoterecords #tinabrooks #newvinyl #newrelease #musicreview

Пікірлер: 44

@2WheelsGood 7 ай бұрын

As a collector of both Classic and TP, it's always been frustrating that they don't put out Tone Poets in albums of this caliber, just because they made them for Music Matters. Most of the killer Blue Notes get Classic editions, while a lot of TP get the more fringe. Wish they'd do all TP, and just repeat some titles for the Classic series. Just a rant. Nice video.

@nicolasdoriaadethansen2259 7 ай бұрын

Maybe just bin the session photos and make them tip on jacket single pocket to make it different from Music Matters and more true to the originals.

@je830 7 ай бұрын

Agree wholeheartedly. At most, all I need is a picture insert. If the original was a gatefold, do a gatefold; if not, save the space and extra cost and opt for a quality single sleeve.

@nicolasdoriaadethansen2259 7 ай бұрын

@@je830 Exactly. That's why the Acoustic Sounds Series makes sense because all the original Impulse titles are gatefolds.

@user-uh3uz2fn9s 7 ай бұрын

Mosaic Records also released a vinyl box set back in 1985 called Tina Brooks - The Complete Blue Note Recordings of the Quintets. It was still available for mail order back in 1994, or so, when I ordered it. It was the four albums - Minor Move, True Blue, Back to the Tracks and The Waiting Game. It came with a booklet with a lot of biographical information on Brooks, the sessions and photographs. I played it once in 1995. I'll have to play it again and compare it to this version of True Blue and the Tone Poet version of The Waiting Game. I missed the TP version of Minor Move. I first learned about Tina Brooks through David H. Rosenthal's excellent, and unfortunately, long out of print Hard Bop: Jazz & Black Music 1955-1965. He devoted a good four pages to Brooks. Here's an excerpt: "Brooks was unnoticed by most jazz fans; and were it not for Mosaic producer Michael Cuscuna's belief in his work, he would be even less recognized today. Drug addiction is certainly part of the story. So, apparently, was Tina's personality. He is remembered as a self-effacing man who shied away from the kind of sociable "hanging out" that gets jazz musicians gigs. Tina's survival instincts seem to have been feebler than those of others- including fellow junkies. As McLean put it: "Tina Brooks was a sensitive human being and a brilliant saxophonist, who was crushed under the pressures of this industry. And he took the same route that a lot of guys did: self-destruction"(Rosenthal 126). Outstanding video!

@anianoenrique2115 7 ай бұрын

I love this album.

@johnpearman7790 7 ай бұрын

I found an original in a now closed local record store in their "donation pile". It played with some repetitive skips so I ended up selling it. Happy to have a copy of it back in the collection.

@stijn8588 7 ай бұрын

the classic vinyl series is so good for the price. Here in The Netherlands i can get a lot of titles for not more than 15 euros. I bought almost all my blue note classic vinyl series records for not more than 15. I also dont really lose any money in the situation that i find an older copy, bc i just can get rid of my newer copy for like 10-15 and no one will think its too much to pay for it.

@sensational_cellar8606 7 ай бұрын

Great prices you found there. In the UK I just saw No Room For Squares for £30! 😮 Fortunately, I own True Blue on Music Matters 33rpm but I’m glad this rare record will be available for everyone.

@user-lu5dj8qx1s 7 ай бұрын

I really love this album, and his Back To the Tracks session the most. Glad you finally got a copy and enjoy it.

@bullobca 7 ай бұрын

Thanks for your review! Streaming this I couldn't help thinking it's a shame Mr Brooks didn't live to see this finally being appreciated. Very enjoyable listen. I will definitely be getting a copy, and looking out for an original (yeah..in my dreams...) Cheers

@PieterKleij 7 ай бұрын

Still waiting for this, it is pushed back to 15th December here in Germany. Great video !

@SublimMedia 7 ай бұрын

Great video as always. I watch them all like a podcast so not always commenting. But your work here on YT is incredible. So much knowledge spread. Thanks so much! //Jonas

@jazzvinylcollector 7 ай бұрын

Appreciate the feedback!

@50l12 7 ай бұрын

That review was scathing! I love this album, the heads and melodies are some of my favourites. I hear a lot of gospel in there too. Would have preferred this as a TP just for the jacket and perhaps in mono as in the original form but a great release nonetheless

@joeribt 7 ай бұрын

It's always great to see new content! I love this album (own the Music Matters, so am finally saving some money after a video of yours ;) )

@Valleyplant 7 ай бұрын

Same for me ;).

@GhostFace_OG 7 ай бұрын

I have the blue vinyl 2LP, but its so nice to just put on a 33rpm - I'd argue every bit as good as a Tone Poet.

@Valleyplant 7 ай бұрын

@@GhostFace_OG I would actually argue that the Music Matters is essentially the same as a tone poet other than the RPM. But there are 33 rpm Music Matters. The Classic series has a slightly different mastering direction, and of course the sleeves are very flimsy, although I prefer the non gatefold. I have plenty of Classic series that sound great, but did come across a few that didn’t sound too good, so I don’t buy from that series much anymore

@michaelgallay 7 ай бұрын

do you have any info about the mastering differences? I have been looking into Kevin Gray interviews but could not find anything so far…

@dmcbain44 7 ай бұрын

After you mentioned this album as an upcoming release a while back, I streamed it and after a few weeks decided to preorder it. I’ve got around 20 of the Classic Series releases and this is quickly becoming one of my favorites. I was a little worried when I saw the pressed in Germany sticker. I recently got a copy of Ethiopian Knights by Donald Byrd that was pressed in Germany and the first side was pressed off center (didn’t notice it until the slow song at the end of side one). There are no problems with this one. I can’t believe how many albums from this period that Freddie Hubbard just happens to be on.

@mmattfloyd1 7 ай бұрын

Yes! Freddie Hubbard as side man is worth the money for so many of these albums.

@juliensullerot1111 7 ай бұрын

Hi, thanks for Tina Brooks recording info. Mastering is different between TP and Classic: TP mastering has more bandwidth and more « audiophile » taste. I consider TP is done as a more « high end » record than Classic even if source material is supposed to be the same. Probably due to request by blUe Note and Joe Harley maybe… depending on recording and music content, Classic série records sometimes can sound « nicer » or smoother…

@bmwolverton 7 ай бұрын

Hey man, great video! I look forward to picking this up. Also, I think you should join up with "The Jazz Bums" for Friday evening jazz talk and record reviews. You would be a great added voice to what those guys are doing. They are a conglomerate of jazz reviewers on KZfaq. I have fun tuning in most Fridays, reach out to them! Cheers!

@jazzvinylcollector 7 ай бұрын

I’ve been meaning to for a while actually. My challenge is that I always end up having plans on Friday evenings.

@jazzmister3512 6 ай бұрын

He also led a qroup on blue note. the LP was the waiting game. Tone poet series . Check it out.

@scotthouston6621 7 ай бұрын

Great review! I prefer the Blue Note re-issues, because of the high price for an original in great condition.

@donaldingram9327 6 ай бұрын

I have in my lap a Mosaic boxed set containing three discs under Tina Brooks' name. All Van Gelder engineered. According to the liner notes, Teena is the pronunciation. Due to my age, my vision is limited. I'm happy to provide information, but I don't know how to go about corresponding with interested people. As you are probably aware, the Mosaic pressings are of the highest quality as are the presentations, and in limited numbers.

@donaldingram9327 6 ай бұрын

Correction: the Mosaic is a 4 record set. Your reading from the review made me laugh out loud. I had occasional contacts with reviewers back then. Frequently not objective, and mostly full of shit.

@sjakovics 7 ай бұрын

Wouldn't the actual sound of the pressings between TPs and the Classic Series be mostly similar since they are both AAA and masterd by Kevin Gray?

@jazzvinylcollector 7 ай бұрын

Yes at least in terms of Kevin Gray’s desire to extract what’s on the master tape. So the difference will be how was the original music was recorded, the condition of the master tape, and then what quality issues might come up. The sense that I get is that RTI is more costly compared to Optimal, but what you get is a better quality item. So the manufacturing does seem to matter and impact the sound

@michaelgallay 7 ай бұрын

some blue note have been pressed at RTI for USA and optimal for Europe. Michael45 did some comparisons and could not hear a difference. Maybe the difference is % of defects.

@simonevans1838 Ай бұрын

As one of your many subscribers, I came across your review of Tina Brooks' True Blue album that you did 6 months ago. Great piece by the way and I am a massive Brooks fan. I wanted to know which edition of the Downbeat Jazz reviews book you had. I would love to get hold of that copy just for that True Blue review, if you can call it that. Can you help. Love your channel by the way-honest, informative and straight down the line.

@jazzvinylcollector Ай бұрын

Sure thing! The down beat compilation is Volume 6 from 1962, which means the actual down beat magazine is from 1961. I don’t actually know which specific week it would have been published because all I have is the compilation book

@simonevans1838 Ай бұрын

@@jazzvinylcollector Thanks so much. Would you have any idea where I can get hold of that ‘61 compilation book. I spent most of the early hours trying to track it down. Your copy looks in fine condition and it truly is a ‘bible’ of jazz memories , especially with ‘amusing’ reviews of such great albums. Hope you can be of assistance. Appreciate your time.

@je830 7 ай бұрын

Do you really notice a sonic difference between the Blue Note Classics and Tone Poets?

@jazzvinylcollector 7 ай бұрын

too difficult to say, considering there isn't any overlap. I have a feeling that on my setup, if the same title were available in both series and therefore the only difference being the pressing plant used and obviously the fact that there is a gatefold, that I wouldn't be able to discern the difference in a blind test. I think for those that feel as though there is a difference, what they may really be hearing is that fact that Joe Harley's choices for the Tone Poet series are perhaps particularly deserving of the treatment because they are some of the best sonically, but I really have no idea.

@GhostFace_OG 7 ай бұрын

I have a theory that Tina was under the influence during the session, which makes breathing a bit more shallow. Hence, why it may seem he is not pushing as much.

@davepounds8924 7 ай бұрын

The classic series sounds wonderful Nothing cheap about the series You talk like the classic series is a cheap alternative to the Tone Poets All my classic series is analog and Kevin Gray master Nothing cheap about them!!

@andretraylor7418 7 ай бұрын

Tina Brooks' playing style reminds me of Hank Mobley, but more soulful?

@jazzvinylcollector 7 ай бұрын

I can definitely see that. I wonder if BN’s perspective was that they don’t need another Mobley on the lineup, thus the lack of attention Brooks got

@andretraylor7418 7 ай бұрын

@jazzvinylcollector Perhaps you're right? In the two, there are similarities!

@leonardoiglesias2394 7 ай бұрын

I wont buy any new expensive vinyl anymore…….they are loud and wavy….they cant make them anymore. I am done. Take the double LP Nat King Cole After Midnight by pure pleasure records. Play the end of caravan….and see what happens….I am not doing it anymore. I will stick to cds and streamings.