This is one of my favorite jazz albums and I've had the AP45 for 7 or so years. I thought I would try the Classic Series just because the 45 is so expensive that I almost don't want to play it. I A/B'd the title track. The new one was good, but I'm going to trade it to a friend. I'll just keep the 45RPM as it was more detailed. In the 33 version the really fast notes have no space between them. On the 45RPM I hear that millisecond of space between each note. If you don't have the 45RPM I highly recommend the Classic Series just like Michael did. Thanks again for your videos, Michael!
Very nice Micheal....I bought my copy this pass weekend at Jazz record Center here in New York city....the best place for Jazz records....great record....I have a copy from the mid 90s which is excellent and all analog....keep them coming....Ed in New York.....😎🎵🎶🎵🗽🌁
Maiden Voyage is one of those albums that I didn't like too much initially and over the years kept checking back in on... nope, still didn't like it....still didn't like it... then one day out of the blue, it finally clicked and I was really into it. This has happened with many other albums too and is a lot of what I love about jazz. It takes some concentration, but in the end, can be so rewarding.
I just sat down and listened to it again. I am amazed. Deep center piano, left wide trumpet, right of midline bass, right back tenor saxophone and right sided drums percussion. Very engaging theme and at some point explosive dynamics. Dolphin dance brings you to the calm after the storm. Wow. So finally I am enjoying this. 😎
@@skrads Cool : ) I first listened to it back in high school and I think the problem was that everyone said it was modal jazz so I thought it would sound like Kind of Blue. Now I have come to appreciate it in it's own right and have a little more nuanced understanding of modal (like, just sounding more "open" in general). I streamed it on Spotify again last night, but I really need to pick up the BN Classics. I can't pick up all the separation you are referring to with crappy digital streaming.
I think it is fair to say this is Herbie’s best and most complete hard bop jazz album from his discography. Glad to hear these last couple of Classic Series are standing up with other audiophile releases. I loved the Out to Lunch release. Great video Michael. 🤙🏼
I always have a small problem when someone speaks of „the best“ of something. It all comes down to taste at the end. Btw: checked out „Sextant“ already from H.H. ? Hammer album…different style
@@bikemike1118 yes me too…that is why I specified it’s his best “hard bop”. Coleman and Hubbard just add so much to these songs/compositions on Maiden Voyage, as every song was written by Herbie. Lots of depth and greatness in each song. Yes I have heard Sextant. Not my fave…like you said “style” matters to the individual. That said, I LOVE Head Hunters as much as any of his Blue Notes!
@@NextPlayRecords yeah, Sextant is special …at best you‘re in the according mood e.g. after listening to Bitches Brew … then you don’t need magic mushrooms any more 😎
Been waiting for your review. Yes, added detail is not fatiguing. As you nicely state, it allows us to get closer to what the artist is trying to convey. I think what they really should say is *distorted details* are fatiguing. This is why a great playback system is so important. Great observations and just ordered the classic edition. Hope I get a nice copy!
@@Michael45RPM Just received my copy of Maiden Voyage. OK, so obviously the music is stellar. As for the pressing, my copy avoids the egregious issues like no fill or imbedded paper, but the level of surface noise is a little disappointing. I would say about in line with my poorer quality BN80s. IOW, a clear step down from what either Pallas or RTI is releasing. Honestly, between the pressing quality and the upcoming titles, I think I won't be investing in the Classic series until next summer at the earliest.
I love the Blue Note Classic Series. Maiden Voyage and Out To Lunch sound marvellous. I fortunately haven't had any issues so far and will continue buying the ones I'm interested in. The sound is clear, dynamic, rich in details and the lp's have no background noise, at least my copies. Excellent value for the price range!
My copy is out for delivery now. It’s not my favorite Herbie album but I still enjoy it. My favorite is Head Hunters. The AP 45rpm 2LP is just so good. And detail is not fatiguing. Music can have an amazing amount of detail without being shrill or sibilant if done right.
George Coleman was in Miles' group and was replaced by Wayne Shorter. IMHO, Coleman was the weak link in that group and, I think, Miles thought so, too.
@@geoffnelson4777 Weak in comparison to Wayne Shorter, sure (it's very tough to be compared to one of the top handful of jazz geniuses of all time). But George Coleman was a phenomenal player, and I'm not sure how anyone could listen to My Funny Valentine and Four & More and say otherwise. And remember Miles Davis also fired Hank Mobley from his band, so I don't think we should put too much stock into what Miles' decisions mean about someone as a player. It seemed to have more to do with a clash of personalities and styles.
Good news about Herbie Hancocks - Maiden Voyage. My local record store called on Feb 09 2022 and asked if I still wanted this album on the Classic Series and I said yes He did say that they are reissuing this album again so is the old batch or a new and improved batch.
The quality issues of the classic series that some are experiencing is what is preventing me from buying more. I do not want to play the return game and I have an expectation that when I purchase a record, I won’t have to cross my fingers. I will say of the six of the classic series that I currently own, only one has had some slight non-Fill issues. Perhaps I am expecting too much, but I’m not even willing to deal with a one in six issue rate. Where as only 1 of my 25 tone poets had issues which were cosmetic scuffs that did not appear to impact the sound quality.
Wise words, good sir! Really enjoy your reviews. Perhaps, somewhere in past videos, you give details on your setup? If it's anything like your collection, I'll be incredibly envious...
Detail is great, and does not equal "too bright" (which is different and very fatiguing). Also...yet again...my copy was awesome. No quality control issues at all. I now have 4 or 5 from the Classic Series that are flawless. Thanks for the great videos!
Either those aren't the session photos or Music Matters got the date wrong, and I noticed that on my SRX. Album was recorded 17 March 1965. They also botched the fonts on the cover art, with the Classic series actually getting that right.
@@Michael45RPM Hi Mike it was close but in the end the AP45 won out. Tony Williams drums had more heft on the AP, and the horns had a little more definition I think. But the classic series was still very close, of course the 33rpm means less interruption to the listening.
As always, really enjoy your videos. Music is a nice escape from the world. Just curious.... do you ever feel like sometimes it's too much? Or when to say when? Between records, CD's/ digital copies & streaming I have multiple editions of my favorites in various formats, but I gotta admit I'm pretty much at the point where I am so selective in what I buy. I tell myself I have more music than any one person can enjoy. It's nice to know a large portion of my collection is currently valuable, but it's appreciation of the music I value. Some days it's great and others a burden. Perhaps a topic for conversation. Really the only thing that I could get excited over buying is some AAA releases of the Stones, Zep, etc..... the chance of that seems bleek.
I agree. I have lots of copies of Kind Of Blue and as a result, almost passed on the UHQR. I guess my feeling is, if it’s a record you really, really love, and a new pressing seems to offer something in the way of sound quality that your existing copies don’t have, then treat yourself. Especially at the BN Classics price. It’s hard to say no when it’s so affordable.
I recently bought a copy at Underworld Records in Chemnitz whilst there on a business trip and it's perfect 👌 Paid €23.99, which is a fair price at a record shop!!
Michael, please double check, but I believe Joe Harley is only involved with TP releases, if I correctly remember from his three part interview with Ken
@@Michael45RPM Hi Michael, no need to be sorry, just a detail. Those interviews were quite good, I didn't even know they could eventually choose engineers other than Gray for future TPs. But I think MM is still the golden standard... I believe you're getting the Let it Be box as well, looking forward to seeing what you think. Mine comes tomorrow. Lastly, I highly recommend the third man records vault... check it out...
Just bought a beautiful ‘66 Liberty pressing for $10. Surprised there’s no OG or early version in your shootout. Still good though. I enjoyed it, although I have none of those new pressings.
Yep, I have the 2008 Blue Note and it is quite good. Kevin Gray I believe, right? I have a LOT of Herbie's stuff, almost all of his albums. I was fortunate to snag the Analog Productions 2-45LP of Head Hunters from a fellow member at the Steve Hoffman Forums for about $45, and of course that sounds bloody amazing! Most of my Herbie are early pressings. Recently, I was able to get a few of his older ones that I was missing in my collection, The Prisoner & Thrust. Very nice early 1970's Liberty analog pressings which sound quite good. Of course I bought Future Shock and Sound System when they came out, but that is another story... : )
Thank you for a really beautiful commentary and perspective. I just now did a shootout between the BN Classics version and the BN 75th Anniversary version from 2015. The BN75 sounds dull and the pressing is mediocre. The BN Classics version is gorgeous sounding. I haven’t heard the AP 2x45 or the MMSRX, I’m sure they’re great. But as you say, it is a gift that we all can now have a terrific sounding pressing of this wonderful music for such a good price. The BN80 & Classic series has really been a boon for jazz vinyl. Thank you for the video. Warm regards Ron C Kenosha WI USA
I have a 70s van gelder and the AP, passed on the classic series. With many years in the field of hearing research, what most likely makes people tired is digital, on a cell stimulus level
Michael, thanks for this shootout.. Can you share your preference between the SRX and the AP .. if they both have positive qualities, please do share.. I realize the 45 takes more effort.
I love the SRX Versions cause of the almost non existing noise floor. But the 45 has also a fantastic sound and soundstage so difficult to decide between them
Thanks for a relevant and good "shoot out"/comparison, Michael. It nice to hear your comments on the music and the experience of what the musicians want to express too - it adds to the value of the video. This (the experience of the work) could maybe lead to reflections of the difference between having the music on 2 vs 4 record sides. Even if the 4 sides/45 rpm is technically better, one might get a better musical experience from 2 sides/33 rpm since there are fewer interruptions when changing records. Where is the cross over between technical-acoustical "good enough" vs. less/un-interrupted musical experience? Maybe worth considering - though I know you channel is called "45 RPM Audiophile" :)
Thanks for the great video! Just want to say the sound/pressing quality of the Classic series has been improving a lot. Yes, the recordings were different but the Classic series and the BN80 are all K Gray/Optimal/180 gm. Dexter Gordon GO is better than Swingin’ Affair/Doin’ Alright; and Art Blakey Moanin’ is over Buhaina’s Delight/Indestructible. Hope you’ll agree.
I have all Classics BN and only one from the 80ies BN I do not have. I have had 2 issues. One I sent back and got a Top Copy the other one is a millisecond non fill issue on one track, like a zisch. And I kept it. OPTIMAL is the 4th best pressing plant worldwide imo. Maybe I got lucky, maybe some people do have some bad luck. Who knows? they sell this stuff to a lot of audiophile people. maybe this is the reason, why they do expect a Pallas or QRP/RTI press...but hands down, the QRPs and RTIs are not all good ones. The best pressing plant worldwide is Pallas. Pallas output is stunning. I have mostly the whole catalog of PP/SC and these were all pressed at Pallas and I had only a few issues with my few hundred releases from this both label. QRP and RTI I do have way more. That is what I have to say to this OPTIMAL "hate speech" on different forums.
Hello, I have a 1973 version of this album in very good condition. Would you think the new blue note classic vinyl series would be a better sounding version?
I have the new Classic , all great except track 1 side 1 which is full of loud clicks and pops, a few of their other issues have problems with non-fill, this is a very important record and I personally would be prepared to pay Tone Poet prices for more quality control. JH as stated that he is not going over old ground with Tone Poet (MM) so perhaps this is the best we are going to get.
I've had 3 copies of the Blue Note Classic Series Maiden Voyage. The first had terrible non-fill distortion during the first and second tracks on Side B, the second had a huge 4cm gash across the first track (and more) on Side A (how this left the factory, I'll never know) and the third copy had more of the same non-fill distortion as per the first copy. I'm not going for a fourth. It's such a shame that such great music and mastering by Kevin Gray is being ruined by terrible pressings. I'm not going to buy any more of these until the modern-day plants know how to press records (and handle them) properly. It's just an exercise in frustration.
@@Michael45RPM Yes and sadly not the only title with which I've had trouble. From 7 BN80/Classic titles purchased, only 3 have been good at the first attempt, with another ok after a replacement, two more still bad after trying 2 copies and then Maiden Voyage with 3 duff copies. Such a shame that such landmark titles are receiving such bad pressings when the mastering is all analogue and so well done by Kevin Gray.
The Classic pressing is the fourth copy of the album I've owned and the first one that I actually thought sounded good! The others were pressed in the 80s which were ok & the 75th which was awful sounding.
I'm a big fan of your channel Michael but I don't believe we should have to accept poor QC just because the record is 'only' £20/€20. This series has been *terrible* for QC and they can't just say "oh well, they're only paying €20!"
Just keep returning them until they get it straightened out. Eventually something will have to give. I sent Don Was & the Dir Ops @ Optimal emails voicing my frustration.
@@playbackamusicloversjourne8620 yep, I've returned plenty of them! Also directed some 'tweets' to Blue Note out of of pure frustration, eventually they replied to one saying they'd spoken to Optimal about the QC issues.
I found the classic series maiden voyage to be a little thin and light sounding and yes a little bit fatiguing. I don't have any other versions to compare to but sounds this way just a bit to me. I'm not gonna cry about it and will listen to it many time but that is my take. I'll try and listen with the details being so important in mind next time.
