Sam Records’ Artisan Series Big Bill Broonzy Diptych

[@jeantousignant9509]

Bill Bill is amazing guitar player, very unique touch and influenced a lot of guitar players and espacially Eric Clapton , in his young formative years.

[@carlmorin5518]

I received mine about the same time of this video and it was quite an audition; the vinyl is excellent and the sound is so pure. The music is fantastic. I had known Big Bill Broonzy from a VMP compilation, which was really enjoyable as well. Artisan is expensive, but it will fit nicely with my Josh White, Muddy Waters and other Blues luminaries of those times. Very happy to have acquired these.

[@twofromthetrunk9932]

Very interesting music. Thanks for showing.

[@jasonarsenault3791]

I need that album. This was fantastic Mazzy.

[@Onteo1]

Big Bill was friends with Alvin Lee’s father who was a musician and when touring England stayed at his home. He was a big influence on a young Alvin.

[@mazzysmusic]

Cool. Did not know this 🎸

[@Andy-rc9db]

We both reviewed this on the website infernal SH forum and I totally agree with you. This is really top quality stuff. It ain’t cheap, but for the UK/EU based customer, the two records land at a similar price point to a UHQR. And, imo, this is how premium records should be presented: no stupid box, high quality jackets, great performance, immaculate pressing. The jackets, in particular, are a real work of art: akin to what you might expect from, say, an Olly Moss print. Top job again, and thank you to Fred.

[@mazzysmusic]

Thank. I’m enjoying these intensely. I rarely go for the very limited or artisan releases , but this was special for me.

[@noblesavage23]

Lovin the shallow depth of field, niiice!

[@andysmusicden]

Damned! I thought I had convinced myself not to buy these. I failed after watching your video. 😅

[@Monterey_Tom]

Thanks for the heads up Mazzy. Just ordered both copies. Sam Records is top notch quality through and through. Never a disappointment.

[@winstonmcgill6667]

I've bought a number of records from Sam Records. Great to deal with, very high quality recordings.

[@scullybyrne]

Thanks Mazzi, I has missed this release and I am a massive Big Bill fan so I am delighted

[@TRamone01]

I think Ray Davis mentioned Big Bill Broonzy as an influence. I picked up a lot of blues albums from the dollar bin but nothing by Broonzy. Thanks. The records look incredibly well done.

[@cheapcheerfulrecordcollect8071]

I have a Big Bill album “Hollern’ And Cryin’ The Blues” French pressing on Vogue. Face A (love that) recorded Feb 5, 1952 in Paris. 5 songs. Face B recorded in Studio no dates given. Probably not the same recordings and definitely not as good a pressing as a SAM. Originally released in 1967. Great stuff for sure.

[@chriss6302]

Thanks for the review, can't wait to receive my copies. Since you mention his influence on Muddy Waters, there is of course the great tribute album to Broonzy after his death 'Sings Big Bill'.

[@Lundy3112]

Thank you for this review , you did a great job here , I've placed an order for both from Brisbane Australia . I follow your channel and I like the depth of knowledge you bring to your reviews. .Regards , Bruce Milner.

[@jazzbumsmike]

So jealous. It’s really cool to see these. Thanks for sharing - Mike

[@mazzysmusic]

Don’t be jealous. Just enjoy the music 😎

[@David-Ellis]

Looks great - many thanks Mazzy - I’ll check em out.

[@mikeburns7102]

I love watching your shows I’m big blues fan. I know big bill was a guy that muddy was crazy about. I have a lot of big bills reissues. Do you have any Astrud gilberto you can show she passed away this past June and no on KZbin seems to talk about her. A lot of her 60s stuff was recorded by Rudy Van Gelder.

[@ianemery4355]

I have some dodgy cds of Big Bill Bronzy most enjoyable! Vinyls rare over here so its the dreaded cd compilation! Great one Mazzy!

[@dagonstudios2452]

I didn’t know much about Sam records. This was interesting

[@flamingroove]

Thanks, cost me 292 = $323.03 for Big Bill, Clark Terry & Art Blakey.

[@mazzysmusic]

Yikes

[@Stuck_in_the_70s]

Fantastic! Mazzy you have almost certainly cost me money here - if they’re still available. EDIT: They are still available - I’ve ordered both volumes cheers!

[@EdKazO-Vision]

Great report Mazzy. I noticed an improvement in your video quality. Great depth of field. New lens? Different camera?

[@mazzysmusic]

Just got an iPhone 15 (previously had a 12). The Cinematic video portion allows for changes in fstops. Still experimenting with it. Also, this room (unlike my record room) has some beautiful natural light. Thanks for watching!

[@Andy-rc9db]

@@mazzysmusicThat should feel a significant upgrade, camera-wise, over the 12. It’s really impressive what they are now able to do with that combination of hardware and computational photography.

[@beatnikpeaceandlove]

I don't think this is digital. From my understanding, and from the notes on the various releases on the webiste, Sam Records are generally all analog, AAA, (sometimes for tape copies), but it looks like most are from masters. The site says this release is; "Mastered from the original mono tapes." Amazing label, and all the titles that I have purchased from Fred sound really great btw. 🙂

[@andysmusicden]

I don’t think you can assume they are AAA based on this wording. Nevertheless, all their releases are great. You need them all.

[@Andy-rc9db]

Looking at the liner notes, pretty confident it is digital. This is how it reads: ‘Audio restoration and mastering by Francois Le Xuan. Lacquers cut by Kevin Gray.’ Pretty sure Francois is in Paris, Kevin is not.

[@beatnikpeaceandlove]

Good point, if there is audio restoration on this release, then yes, pretty certain there is a digital step. I don't believe there is an audio restoration step in all the other releases, but I guess that I should now double check that. Thanks, and cheers @@Andy-rc9db

[@Andy-rc9db]

@@beatnikpeaceandlove I’d expect a digital step where there is restoration, I suspect that there is a digital step where lacquers are cut by Kevin Gray, and I wouldn’t be shocked were there a digital step across other releases. It is speculation on my part, but I can’t see companies allowing tapes to be shipped overseas these days. I suspect they send a digital file, taken from the master, and Kevin cuts it a Coherent. More generally, the wording on the hype stickers tend to avoid phrases like, ‘Cut directly from the original master’. But again, speculation on my part. Personally, I’m easy going simply because, as a total package, it represents value for money. Their general releases, for the European customer, are very competitively priced. And, whilst the Artesian series is priced at a premium, I can absolutely see where the money went.

[@andysmusicden]

@@beatnikpeaceandlove why do you need to check? Does it matter? Their releases sound fantastic regardless.