Coltrane - sound difference between Atlantic and Prestige labels

[aussievintage]

I was just playing some Coltrane this morning - prompted by hearing some on ABC Jazz, whilst out in the car earlier.

 

I played My Favourite Things and Giant Steps,  then just now I put on Settin' The Pace.  The first two on Atlantic, and the last on Prestige, all rereleases from Rhino and OJC.    I was startled by how much clearer and bright Coltrane's sax is, on the Prestige label.  In fact, in comparison it sounds kind of muddy on My Favourite things, and the bass is muddier too, on both Atlantic albums.

 

Never noticed it before.  I will probably play Black Pearls next (on Prestige) to see if it is also clearer.

[snavedivad]

Setting the pace is a van gelder?

[aussievintage]

  On 08/12/2024 at 2:23 AM, snavedivad said:

Setting the pace is a van gelder?

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It is, and so is Black Pearl - which also sounds nice and bright and clear (playing now)

 

So, that's the difference.  I much prefer Van Gelder's.

[marcusD]

  On 08/12/2024 at 2:33 AM, aussievintage said:

 

 

It is, and so is Black Pearl - which also sounds nice and bright and clear (playing now)

 

So, that's the difference.  I much prefer Van Gelder's.

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Analogue Productions prestige pressings are pretty stellar 

[aussievintage]

  On 08/12/2024 at 2:42 AM, marcusD said:

Analogue Productions prestige pressings are pretty stellar 

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OK, these records have the Prestige label, with OJC in the record number, and are credited to Fantasy Inc.   But I see by googling that seems to be related to Analog.  So, yeah,  I like them too 

[marcusD]

OJC is original jazz classics, all analogue mastered ad mostly pressed at RTI ( rti press great records)

analogue productions did a prestige series of van Gelder recordings, including a few Coltrane and lots with Coltrane in the performance. Well worth checking out 

[troika]

The Atlantic Coltrane sides are often said to be of poorer than average audio quality. I haven't noticed that personally, but there are labels that stand out as remarkably good to me, given a clean copy and a good pressing.

 

For me, Prestige is kind of hit and miss on audio quality. I think my best stereo image is from a 2nd pressing (first reissue) of Bobby Timmins Workin' Out on Prestige. Other Prestige records sound "fine" to me. I have the same experience with Verve.

 

I'll have to listen to my Atlantic sides and see if I can notice a house sound.

 

Contemporary - Always excellent.

Blue Note - If it's a good pressing is "the sound" to me. Of course that was RVG (as was the above mentioned Bobby Timmons record).

[Gandra]

My experience with OJC records bought in the 90s is very good. Have hundreds of them and can't think of any with poor SQ. Totally agree with the Atlantic issues of the same era, can't compare at all with the OJCs

[troika]

Just because things like this get into my head, I spun Giant Steps today. My copy is a 1975 reissue. I avoided it on vinyl for years because the reputation of poor sound and because anything Coltrane is usually marked up by a lot. This was a clean and affordable reissue and a very important record to me

 

I don't seem to have Coltrane on Prestige on wax and didn't make a comparison to CD because it doesn't seem relevant. I did listen to a few Blue Note records with 'Trane and then some other Atlantic sides (Phineas Newborn, MJQ)

 

I wouldn't go on about how great Atlantic's house sound was, but I didn't hear anything unpleasant. Sometimes the music is good enough to make a clean, but unremarkable recording worth it.

 

The MJQ sides were a little warmer and richer, but I can't really complain about The SQ in Giant Steps.