How to identify original Blue Note jazz records: A Quick and Easy Way

This video highlights what to look for to determine an original Blue Note pressing and how to help prevent costly mistakes buying Blue Note records in person or online.
Link to book from Jazz Record Center: tinyurl.com/5x...
#recordcollecting.#jazzvinyl #bluenote

[@sparker931]

Very informative, in live in london and funny enough I was at a record fair and heard a buyer telling a seller off for labeling a blue note record as a first issue. The buyer was an American as well 😅😅😂😂

[@TheJazzBasement]

We can be a feisty bunch when it comes to deep grooves and P/ear I guess??

[@therealdonelaitis]

Great video! When I first started collecting Blue Notes I had to figure all this information out by scouring the London Jazz Collector site - this video is a nice one-stop-shop alternate.

[@TheJazzBasement]

Thanks for the note! LJC is a great resource that I frequent too. Very thoughout and well researched. I have a fraction of his knowledge. But I am still going to try to keep it simple and to the point with my videos. ~Jason

[@boydsargeant7496]

Thanks Jason, great info! First vid I’ve watched of yours, so just subd and will start looking at the rest of yours!

[@TheJazzBasement]

Awesome, thank you! Need to get more videos up ~Jason

[@Terribleathletes]

The United Artists repressings from the early 70s sound fantastic, a good option for collectors on a budget!

[@TheJazzBasement]

Yup! Agree 100%

[@Permitmon]

Super interesting. Thank you.

[@TheJazzBasement]

You are welcome! Hope it was helpful. ~Jason

[@bobmclaughlin3851]

Awsome vid! Thanks Jason!

[@TheJazzBasement]

You bet!

[@robertjosephkeil]

What great info. Thanks!

[@TheJazzBasement]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Mr512austintexas]

I'm not an investor or collector, but this is really great information. Very interesting!

[@TheJazzBasement]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@iconix21]

Thank you for sharing the knowledge! 👊

[@TheJazzBasement]

My pleasure- glad you found it helpful. ~Jason

[@mr.k5828]

Very informative, thank you. Great attitude and eloquence. Keep up the good work, my friend!

[@TheJazzBasement]

Thanks for the feedback, I really appreciate the comment. I'm glad you found it informative, too! Hope you can use the information to your advantage. Plenty more to come!

[@ronniemoore2138]

Thank you very helpful

[@TheJazzBasement]

Glad it helped!

[@rufus_the_cat]

Love this channel

[@TheJazzBasement]

Thank you! ~Jason

[@dickati]

Thanks for the info

[@TheJazzBasement]

No problem 👍

[@ZZXZZY118]

Thank you!

[@TheJazzBasement]

Hope it helps!

[@1962jet]

very helpful, streamlined and concise. thank you very much.

[@TheJazzBasement]

Thank you and glad you found it helpful. Tried to be it as concise as I could. ~Jason

[@nicholastolson1699]

Super useful info, Jason. Having worked at one, I think people need to pay more attention to the pressing plant than they tend to.

[@TheJazzBasement]

Hi Nicholas, thanks for watching and the kind words. Pressing plants matter! ~Jason

[@Theomite]

It's kind of hard to find out the chain of possession without the actual disc in hand, even with the internet. I can find charts on labels and what years they were used, but rounout stuff still has a level of cryptic stuff in it that's hard to get glossaries for.

[@adrianruiz5188]

Great info

[@TheJazzBasement]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jazzhead6775]

A clear and concise guide. Thank you.

[@TheJazzBasement]

Thanks for watching and commenting. Glad you found it helpful. ~Jason

[@greghawkins229]

Thanks for video

[@TheJazzBasement]

Hi Greg - happy to help and glad you enjoyed it. ~Jason

[@tonyharrison2542]

Wow, who knew! Excellent advice and guidance.

[@TheJazzBasement]

Thanks for the comment. Glad it was helpful! ~Jason

[@frogville]

thanks for the "P" info that's very helpful.

[@TheJazzBasement]

No problem! Glad you enjoyed the video. ~Jason

[@leon9021]

The Lexington adress is more relevant since later pressings often use the same metalwork. You wont find any Liberty Lexington pressings.

[@TheJazzBasement]

Leon - thanks for the note! ~Jason

[@sidvicious3129]

Very good info and I’m a Bluenote collector and I have the book as well. Are you an original collector only? While I love originals, I will buy a repress as well, if I love the music until I come across an original. I love doing listening comparisons between the pressings. Bluenote is one of the most interesting record labels on the planet as you go through the Lexington era without and with the trademark R, the New York labels, the miss labels on one side, the Liberty area 70s-the Liberty white and blue, the Liberty purple and Black B, the Blue with the white B and the two-fors with the White B. The new Tone Poet and Classic series is really opening up Bluenote to a new audience and exciting it’s older base. I own all of the Tone poets and most of the Classic series. The pressings when available are all Analog and sound almost as good or in some cases better than the originals. The Music Matters stuff is just ridiculously expensive and if one is considered it, I would rather have the originals even though the SRX stuff sounds great and is climbing considerably in value. I also collect other labels like Columbia, Savoy, Impulse-who also have an interesting history, Black Jazz Records and others.

[@TheJazzBasement]

Hi - I am happy to get my hands on either OG or re-issues. I usually grab a lot of the Liberty presses and when I can go for the early stuff. For me, its getting the music in my collection and worry about pressings later. I don't have any Classic Series yet, most of those I have from Music Matters. I was lucky to get all the SRX's at the listing price and not have to pay out the nose aftermarket. I do have some Tone Poets which are great, too. I have a mix of other labels too....but half of my collection is BN. Thanks for watching and the comment, Sid. ~Jason

[@happyhippythevinylguy]

Very very informative video man thank you for sharing this with us! Peace

[@TheJazzBasement]

Thanks so much! Lots of info, just trying to keep it simple. ~Jason

[@jakemcinturff7298]

Very helpful video!

[@TheJazzBasement]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. Going to do one on the Liberty presses from Blue Note too. ~Jason

[@ActionCutter]

great stuff, thank you very much! subscribed

[@TheJazzBasement]

Thanks! Glad you found it useful.~Jason

[@elisavirdborg9231]

ok now i’m sad because i thought i snatched a original :( thank you for the tips, will come to use in the future :)

[@TheJazzBasement]

Hi Elisa - what record are referencing? Glad I could help! ~Jason

[@elisavirdborg9231]

@@TheJazzBasement Blue train by Coltrane! I thought it was from around 1965/1966 but turns out it’s from 1977. Still a very cool album!

[@carlaarden5891]

Great video,. as well as mono I think blue note very early on perfected stereo recordings. Also, please correct me if I’m wrong, I find original releases between late 65 - 67 becomes a little muddied as both press plants got used.

[@TheJazzBasement]

Hi Carla - my understanding is that Plastylite was the sole pressing plant used by BN until they were sold to Liberty in mid 1966. At that time, I believe All Disc did the pressing (they were owned by Liberty too) from late 66 until Liberty was acquired by United Artists in 68(?). There shouldn’t be much overlap if any between Plastylite and All Disc pressings. ~Jason

[@dlove2830]

We need to talk...I'm in the DMV, and I'm sure we have the same tastes when it comes to record purchases. I go to HR Records about once a month to purchase hard-bop jazz...I'll leave my contact info with the owner so that you can reach me...

[@TheJazzBasement]

Darryl - sounds good. Charvis has my contact info, if you want to get my number from him . ~Jason

[@razorback-mark]

This was great!

[@TheJazzBasement]

Thanks! I appreciate the feedback and thanks for watching. ~Jason

[@MrPompanoman]

Thanks that was interesting

[@TheJazzBasement]

Jon - thanks for watching and subscribing! ~Jason

[@Tascam82]

Hey Jason, thanks for the video, super helpful. Follow your channel and you got an impressive collection. Wanted to ask you if in your experience/expertise you have found/know about an original Blue Note without the “ear”. I live in a part of Europe where to find an original Blue Note is almost impossible, however I own a copy from Blue Note 4177 Some other stuff from Gracham Moncour, and everything indicate that it is a first press, however no ear on the dead wax. Thanks!

[@TheJazzBasement]

Hi! Yes it is totally possible for a first press not to have the Ear, if it were released in 1966. It could have NY USA labels without an Ear in 1966 and be a first press. All Blue Notes had the Ear until mid 1966. Not all first presses will have the Ear, but anything pressed before mid 1966 will have the Ear. It looks like the first press of 4177 was in 1965, and would need to have the Ear to be a true first press. Hope this helps! ~Jason

[@Tascam82]

@@TheJazzBasement many thanks for the answer Jason. Cheers and keep it up!

[@MyNameJim]

Thanks! I’m starting to get into record collecting as well. Are there any tips or resources you might point toward for ECM records as well?

[@TheJazzBasement]

Hi Jim - I only have a few ECM records in my collection and don’t know too much about the ins and outs of their pressings. They can usually be found for very reasonable prices relative to Blue Notes. ~Jason

[@sjakovics]

When do flat edge records and the framed front covers matter? I have an early Jutta Hipp with all characteristics you mention with the additional characteristic of a framed front cover but lacks the flat edge so it very likely isn't a first press.

[@TheJazzBasement]

Flat edge and framed covers were only found on the early 1500 series, presses between 1956-1957. Framed covers do not have the artist or album title printed on the spine. Depending on what Jutta Hipp you have, it’s very possible it’s a first press. The flat edge would be very noticeable, the edge of the vinyl would be trimmed to an almost 90 angle, versus a beaded rim which would have a slightly raised edge. Hope this helps? ~Jason

[@sjakovics]

@@TheJazzBasement it definitely isn't a flat edge. Interestingly though, I've seen the same Hipp album have the flat edge BUT not the frame cover. Then there are copies with all of the characteristics including the flat edge and frame cover. Does the book you referenced discuss the Jutta Hipp album BLP-1515?

[@TheJazzBasement]

@@sjakovics The book has every blue note listed. 1515 was first released in May 1956. According to the book, a true first press would have: Lex labels, RVG engraved, P, with a flat edge. The cover would be framed with a Lex address on back, blank spine, and non laminated. Congrats on a killer copy of a rare Jutta Hipp!

[@Theomite]

*furiously writing down notes to out-scam record stores with small jazz sections*

[@TheJazzBasement]

The more you know! ~Jason

[@mortenfriis4688]

Good stuff.. thanks! Can you do the same for Verve, Clef, Norgran? Or is that different?

[@TheJazzBasement]

Hi Morten - this video is very specific to Blue Notes. I am sure there are similar tell-tale signs for Verve, Clef, etc. but I don't have many of them -- I'll look into it though. ~Jason

[@adrianblaze]

Thank you!

[@TheJazzBasement]

Glad it was helpful! ~Jason