this is what I have, any of you tru headz wanna comment on the mastering/sound?
https://www.discogs.com/release/2949550-Duke-Ellington-An-Explosion-Of-Genius-1938-1940
― out-of-print LaserDisc edition (sleeve), Tuesday, 20 June 2023 14:42 (ten months ago) link
Sony/RCA put out a 4CD set in 2008 covering 1932-1939 in what I assume are newer transfers than The Okeh Ellington. The mastering is less aggressive than the RCA Centennial box. I always thought the latter sounded remarkably present but also, as mentioned above, unduly harsh at times with that weird high-pitched noise coming in, usually toward the end of a track.
― eatandoph (Neue Jesse Schule), Tuesday, 20 June 2023 18:50 (ten months ago) link
...but that set doesn't cover the Okeh material, I see. Never mind, carry on!
― eatandoph (Neue Jesse Schule), Tuesday, 20 June 2023 19:50 (ten months ago) link
in my opinion, for pre-war ellington, you need:
The Okeh Ellington 2xCD (Columbia) [1927-1930]The Complete 1936-1940 Variety, Vocalion & Okeh Small Group Sessions 7xCD (Mosaic)The Blanton-Webster Band 3xCD (RCA Bluebird) [1940-1942]
curious what others would add, but this has been enough for me.
― budo jeru, Wednesday, 21 June 2023 01:08 (ten months ago) link
Just now seeing: In Order Volume 1 (1927-1928)---43 songs, 2 hrs. 11 min.--is also on YouTubeMusic; maybe they've got the rest, or will have:https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_l_NlTYi1pu5LbIIUR-eDP6MPfBuUSMJD4
― dow, Thursday, 29 June 2023 23:22 (nine months ago) link