in addition to a stereo MFSL UDCD CD version and the recent excellent AP stereo SACD version, i have 2 Original Blue Note stereo pressings, a Classic Records stereo 33rpm reissue, a couple of the Classic Records single disc 45rpm stereo pressings of Autumn Leaves/Alison's Uncle, the AP Stereo 45rpm reissue, the Classic Records Mono Box (Clarity vinyl) as well as the Classic Records Stereo Box (Clarity vinyl).
as you can tell, i love this album.....but in particular i love the cut 'Autumn Leaves' and since the mid 90's it's maybe been my very favorite thing to play. yes, it has essenially the same group as KOB but the vibe is quite different. KOB was magical and spontanious. Somethin Else is the essential 'Autumn Leaves' and some other cuts.
anyway; i would rank these various viewpoints of the music as follows (i don't yet have a mono cartridge).
Classic Records 45rpm Stereo Box (Clarity vinyl)--best all around. Breathtaking. big and bold. energizes every molecule of the room. run out and buy this right the hell now!
Original Pressings--a touch more top end air and sparkle than any of the reissues but a little higher noise floor. very involving. Tonally slightly more nuanced.
Classic Records 45rpm Mono Box set (Clarity vinyl)--immediate and vivid. who knows with a mono cartridge?
Classic Records 45rpm single disc 'Autumn Leaves'--close to the Clarity vinyl but a touch more noise.
AP 45rpm pressing--a bit rounded and missing vividness compared to the Classic Records or Original Pressing. still wonderful. basically a Hoffman verses Hobson perspective. i almost always prefer Hobson.
Classic Reecords 33rpm reissue--still sealed, never listend to.
SACD--wonderful and highly recommended. a great SACD.
MFSL UDCD--very good, but not in the league of the SACD.
as you can tell, i love this album.....but in particular i love the cut 'Autumn Leaves' and since the mid 90's it's maybe been my very favorite thing to play. yes, it has essenially the same group as KOB but the vibe is quite different. KOB was magical and spontanious. Somethin Else is the essential 'Autumn Leaves' and some other cuts.
anyway; i would rank these various viewpoints of the music as follows (i don't yet have a mono cartridge).
Classic Records 45rpm Stereo Box (Clarity vinyl)--best all around. Breathtaking. big and bold. energizes every molecule of the room. run out and buy this right the hell now!
Original Pressings--a touch more top end air and sparkle than any of the reissues but a little higher noise floor. very involving. Tonally slightly more nuanced.
Classic Records 45rpm Mono Box set (Clarity vinyl)--immediate and vivid. who knows with a mono cartridge?
Classic Records 45rpm single disc 'Autumn Leaves'--close to the Clarity vinyl but a touch more noise.
AP 45rpm pressing--a bit rounded and missing vividness compared to the Classic Records or Original Pressing. still wonderful. basically a Hoffman verses Hobson perspective. i almost always prefer Hobson.
Classic Reecords 33rpm reissue--still sealed, never listend to.
SACD--wonderful and highly recommended. a great SACD.
MFSL UDCD--very good, but not in the league of the SACD.