Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series

Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series

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The Blue Note Classic Vinyl Reissue Series is a continuation of the acclaimed Blue Note 80 Vinyl Reissue Series which was launched in celebration of the Blue Note 80th anniversary in 2019. The Classic Series will once again feature all-analog 180g vinyl pressings in standard packaging that are mastered by Kevin Gray directly from the original master tapes and manufactured at Optimal Media GmbH in Germany.

While the first 16 titles of the series focused on the best-known Blue Note classics from the 1950s and 60s, the new run of titles curated by Don Was and Cem Kurosman broadens its scope to include more eras and styles of the legendary label’s eight-decade history.

The Classic Series will be on-going, running alongside the Blue Note Tone Poet Series which is produced by Joe Harley.
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Releases

Status Catalog Number  Image Artist Title ( Format) Label Catalog Number  Country Year Actions
0743884 McCoy Tyner - The Real McCoy McCoy Tyner The Real McCoy(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note 0743884 Worldwide 2020 Sell This Version
0743886 Lee Morgan - The Sidewinder Lee Morgan The Sidewinder(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note 0743886 Worldwide 2020 Sell This Version
0744042 Wayne Shorter - Speak No Evil Wayne Shorter Speak No Evil(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note 0744042 Worldwide 2021 Sell This Version
0744043 The Horace Silver Quintet - Song For My Father (Cantiga Para Meu Pai) The Horace Silver Quintet Song For My Father (Cantiga Para Meu Pai)(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note 0744043 Worldwide 2021 Sell This Version
0746554 Hank Mobley - Soul Station Hank Mobley Soul Station(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note, UMe 0746554 Worldwide 2021 Sell This Version
0746555 Cannonball Adderley - Somethin' Else Cannonball Adderley Somethin' Else(LP, Album, RE, 180) UMe, Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note 0746555 Worldwide 2021 Sell This Version
0746563 Joe Henderson - Page One Joe Henderson Page One(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note 0746563 Worldwide 2021 Sell This Version
0746568 Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - Moanin' Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers Moanin'(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note, UMe 0746568 Worldwide 2021 Sell This Version
3579051 The Incredible Jimmy Smith* - Back At The Chicken Shack The Incredible Jimmy Smith* Back At The Chicken Shack(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note, UMe 3579051 Worldwide 2021 Sell This Version
3579178 Sonny Clark - Cool Struttin' Sonny Clark Cool Struttin'(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, UMe 3579178 Worldwide 2021 Sell This Version
3579907 Dexter Gordon - Go! Dexter Gordon Go!(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, UMe 3579907 Worldwide 2021 Sell This Version
3579908 Kenny Burrell - Midnight Blue Kenny Burrell Midnight Blue(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, UMe 3579908 Worldwide 2021 Sell This Version
3579910 Grant Green - Idle Moments Grant Green Idle Moments(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note, UMe 3579910 Worldwide 2021 Sell This Version
3587502 Eric Dolphy - Out To Lunch! Eric Dolphy Out To Lunch!(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note 3587502 Worldwide 2021 Sell This Version
3593196 Herbie Hancock - Maiden Voyage Herbie Hancock Maiden Voyage(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note 3593196 Worldwide 2021 Sell This Version
3596791 Freddie Hubbard - Ready For Freddie Freddie Hubbard Ready For Freddie(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note, UMe 3596791 Worldwide 2021 Sell This Version
3596800 Donald Byrd - Places And Spaces Donald Byrd Places And Spaces(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note 3596800 Worldwide 2021 Sell This Version
3596803 Bobbi Humphrey - Fancy Dancer Bobbi Humphrey Fancy Dancer(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, UMe 3596803 Worldwide 2021 Sell This Version
3808954 Duke Pearson - Merry Ole Soul Duke Pearson Merry Ole Soul(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note 3808954 Worldwide 2021 Sell This Version
3817611 Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - The Big Beat Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers The Big Beat(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note 3817611 Worldwide 2021 Sell This Version
3817618 Horace Silver Quintet* - 6 Pieces Of Silver Horace Silver Quintet* 6 Pieces Of Silver(LP, Album, Mono, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, UMe 3817618 Worldwide 2021 Sell This Version
3829300 Reuben Wilson - Love Bug Reuben Wilson Love Bug(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note, UMe 3829300 Worldwide 2021 Sell This Version
3829304 The Incredible Jimmy Smith* - Home Cookin' The Incredible Jimmy Smith* Home Cookin'(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note, UMe 3829304 Worldwide 2021 Sell This Version
3829360 Kenny Cox And The Contemporary Jazz Quintet (2) - Introducing Kenny Cox And The Contemporary Jazz Quintet Kenny Cox And The Contemporary Jazz Quintet (2) Kenny Cox And The Contemporary Jazz Quintet (2) - Introducing Kenny Cox And The Contemporary Jazz Quintet(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note 3829360 Worldwide 2021 Sell This Version
3829365 Herbie Nichols - The Prophetic Herbie Nichols Vol. 1 & 2 Herbie Nichols The Prophetic Herbie Nichols Vol. 1 & 2(LP, Album, Comp, Mono, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note 3829365 Worldwide 2021 Sell This Version
3876157 Jackie McLean - Destination... Out! Jackie McLean Destination... Out!(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note 3876157 Worldwide 2022 Sell This Version
3876171 Don Cherry - Where Is Brooklyn? Don Cherry Where Is Brooklyn?(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note 3876171 Worldwide 2022 Sell This Version
3876183 Joe Henderson - Inner Urge Joe Henderson Inner Urge(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note, UMe 3876183 Worldwide 2022 Sell This Version
3876185 Lee Morgan - ¡Caramba! Lee Morgan ¡Caramba!(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note, UMe 3876185 Worldwide 2022 Sell This Version
3876188 Geri Allen Trio With Ron Carter, Tony Williams* - Twenty One Geri Allen Trio With Ron Carter, Tony Williams* Geri Allen Trio With Ron Carter, Tony Williams* - Twenty One(2xLP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, Blue Note, UMe, UMe 3876188 Worldwide 2022 Sell This Version
3876190 Cassandra Wilson - Blue Light 'Til Dawn Cassandra Wilson Blue Light 'Til Dawn(2xLP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note, UMe, UMe 3876190 Worldwide 2022 Sell This Version
4508216 Bud Powell - Time Waits (The Amazing Bud Powell) Bud Powell Time Waits (The Amazing Bud Powell)(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note 4508216 Worldwide 2022 Sell This Version
4508227 Milt Jackson With John Lewis (2), Percy Heath, Kenny Clarke, Lou Donaldson And The Thelonious Monk Quintet - Milt Jackson With John Lewis, Percy Heath, Kenny Clarke, Lou Donaldson And The Thelonious Monk Quintet Milt Jackson With John Lewis (2), Percy Heath, Kenny Clarke, Lou Donaldson And The Thelonious Monk Quintet Milt Jackson With John Lewis (2), Percy Heath, Kenny Clarke, Lou Donaldson And The Thelonious Monk Quintet - Milt Jackson With John Lewis, Percy Heath, Kenny Clarke, Lou Donaldson And The Thelonious Monk Quintet(LP, Comp, Mono, RE, RM, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note, UMe 4508227 Worldwide 2022 Sell This Version
4535203 Ronnie Foster - Two Headed Freap Ronnie Foster Two Headed Freap(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note, UMe 4535203 Worldwide 2022 Sell This Version
4535205 Brother Jack McDuff - Moon Rappin' Brother Jack McDuff Moon Rappin'(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note, UMe 4535205 Worldwide 2022 Sell This Version
4535208 Lou Donaldson - Blues Walk Lou Donaldson Blues Walk(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note, UMe 4535208 Worldwide 2022 Sell This Version
4535210 Sonny Clark - Dial Sonny Clark Dial "S" For Sonny(LP, Album, Mono, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note 4535210 Worldwide 2022 Sell This Version
4535287 Don Wilkerson - Preach Brother! Don Wilkerson Preach Brother!(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note, UMe 4535287 Worldwide 2022 Sell This Version
4535294 George Braith - Extension George Braith Extension(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note, UMe 4535294 Worldwide 2022 Sell This Version
4535305 Charlie Hunter Trio - Bing, Bing, Bing! Charlie Hunter Trio Bing, Bing, Bing!(2xLP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, UMe 4535305 Worldwide 2022 Sell This Version
4535306 Joe Lovano - I'm All For You Joe Lovano I'm All For You(2xLP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, UMe 4535306 Worldwide 2022 Sell This Version
4535307 Big John Patton* - Oh Baby! Big John Patton* Oh Baby!(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note 4535307 Worldwide 2022 Sell This Version
4535327 Stanley Turrentine Featuring Shirley Scott - Common Touch Stanley Turrentine Featuring Shirley Scott Stanley Turrentine Featuring Shirley Scott - Common Touch(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note, UMe 4535327 Worldwide 2022 Sell This Version
4535330 Andrew Hill - Point Of Departure Andrew Hill Point Of Departure(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note 4535330 Worldwide 2022 Sell This Version
4535335 Grachan Moncur III - Evolution Grachan Moncur III Evolution(LP, Album, RE, 180) UMe, Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note 4535335 Worldwide 2022 Sell This Version
4535336 Thelonious Monk - Genius Of Modern Music (Volume One) Thelonious Monk Genius Of Modern Music (Volume One)(LP, Comp, Mono, RE, RM, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note 4535336 Worldwide 2022 Sell This Version
4535351 Jay Jay Johnson* - The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Vol. 1 Jay Jay Johnson* The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Vol. 1(LP, Comp, Mono, RE, RM, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note 4535351 Worldwide 2022 Sell This Version
4579754 Larry Young - Unity Larry Young Unity(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note, UMe 4579754 Worldwide 2022 Sell This Version
4579756 Wayne Shorter - Adam's Apple Wayne Shorter Adam's Apple(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, UMe, UMe 4579756 Worldwide 2022 Sell This Version
4859545 Grant Green - Green Is Beautiful Grant Green Green Is Beautiful(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note 4859545 Worldwide 2023 Sell This Version
4859548 Bobby Hutcherson Featuring Harold Land - San Francisco Bobby Hutcherson Featuring Harold Land Bobby Hutcherson Featuring Harold Land - San Francisco(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note 4859548 Worldwide 2023 Sell This Version
4859549 Jackie McLean - Bluesnik Jackie McLean Bluesnik(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note 4859549 Worldwide 2023 Sell This Version
4859550 Horace Parlan Quintet - Speakin' My Piece Horace Parlan Quintet Speakin' My Piece(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note 4859550 Worldwide 2023 Sell This Version
4859562 Herbie Hancock - Empyrean Isles Herbie Hancock Empyrean Isles(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note 4859562 Worldwide 2023 Sell This Version
4859563 Sam Rivers - Fuchsia Swing Song Sam Rivers Fuchsia Swing Song(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note 4859563 Worldwide 2023 Sell This Version
5504143 Dizzy Reece - Star Bright Dizzy Reece Star Bright(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, Blue Note, UMe, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note 5504143 Worldwide 2023 Sell This Version
5504144 Johnny Coles - Little Johnny C Johnny Coles Little Johnny C(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, Blue Note, UMe, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note 5504144 Worldwide 2023 Sell This Version
5507705 Miles Davis - Volume 1 Miles Davis Volume 1(LP, Comp, Mono, RE, RM, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note 5507705 Worldwide 2023 Sell This Version
5507712 Fats Navarro - The Fabulous Fats Navarro Volume 1 Fats Navarro The Fabulous Fats Navarro Volume 1(LP, Album, Mono, RE, RM, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note 5507712 Worldwide 2023 Sell This Version
5507716 Robert Glasper - In My Element Robert Glasper In My Element(2xLP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, UMe 5507716 Worldwide 2023 Sell This Version
5507723 Madlib - Shades Of Blue (Madlib Invades Blue Note) Madlib Shades Of Blue (Madlib Invades Blue Note)(2xLP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, UMe 5507723 Worldwide 2023 Sell This Version
5523396 Ike Quebec - Heavy Soul Ike Quebec Heavy Soul(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, Blue Note, UMe, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note 5523396 Worldwide 2023 Sell This Version
5523404 Lonnie Smith - Turning Point Lonnie Smith Turning Point(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, Blue Note, UMe, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note 5523404 Worldwide 2023 Sell This Version
5523656 Anthony Williams - Spring Anthony Williams Spring(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note 5523656 Worldwide 2023 Sell This Version
5523657 Cecil Taylor - Unit Structures Cecil Taylor Unit Structures(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note 5523657 Worldwide 2023 Sell This Version
5523658 The Horace Silver Quintet & Trio* - Blowin' The Blues Away The Horace Silver Quintet & Trio* The Horace Silver Quintet & Trio* - Blowin' The Blues Away(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note 5523658 Worldwide 2023 Sell This Version
5523659 The Incredible Jimmy Smith* - Midnight Special The Incredible Jimmy Smith* Midnight Special(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note 5523659 Worldwide 2023 Sell This Version
5524252 Hank Mobley - No Room For Squares Hank Mobley No Room For Squares(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note 5524252 Worldwide 2023 Sell This Version
5524253 Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - Mosaic Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers Mosaic(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note 5524253 Worldwide 2023 Sell This Version
5524255 Tina Brooks - True Blue Tina Brooks True Blue(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note 5524255 Worldwide 2023 Sell This Version
5552940 Wayne Shorter - Night Dreamer Wayne Shorter Night Dreamer(LP, Album, RE, 180) Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, UMe, Blue Note, Blue Note, Blue Note 5552940 Worldwide 2023 Sell This Version

Reviews

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m.wilding

m.wilding

August 19, 2023
I have been collecting the Blue Note Classic and 80 Series pressed at optimal. The strike rate for non fill on over 40 records is worse than 1 in every 8 records. I just do not understand why Blue Note would go to the trouble of pulling out the original tapes, have Kevin Gray cut the lacquers and then have this shit show press them? It makes no sense, it dishonours the music, makes a mockery of the remastering work and kills any pleasure there was in collecting these records.
Monsieur_Renard

Monsieur_Renard

February 18, 2023
Uptill now I have no complaint about this series. I have collected a total of 40+ from this series combined with the Tone Poet and Classic 80-series. All of them are just perfect. No pressing-errors, no cracks, pops or warped records. The price is great, the sound is great, the (re-)mastering is great and the artwork and design are flawless.

In all cases I bought my reissues at JPC and are therefor European pressings. Everytime when I take a peek at the list of albums that have a future re-release I get excited.
There are over 1000 Blue Notes to be re-released and until now some were hit-records (Moanin', Sidewinder etc.) and some more obscure (to me). The balance between well-known and lesser-known albums is just fine. I keep an eye open to buying albums I already know and 'have to have' on vinyl and albums I don't know and am curious about.

Thank you people at Blue Note, and thank you all the people at pressing plants and JPC for all the trouble and love you put in all this.
Mtache1212

Mtache1212

February 13, 2023
I’ve got 5 copies from this Blue Note series and they have all sounded excellent. For $25, this is the best find you could hope for. Big boy records for big boy systems!!
m.wilding

m.wilding

March 19, 2022
edited about 1 year ago
Up to this point I have bought about 15 Classic/80 series records. Only one (Rumprolller) affected by non-fill. A ratio that is nothing to be proud of, but acceptable.
However, the order I just received that included 8 Classic/80 series ( 6 for me and 2 for a friend which are hopefully ok) . A shipment that cost me about $80 to ship to the other side of the world . 2 of the 5 records I have listened to so far have severe non-fill. I am almost afraid to open the 6th. With the cost of shipping it is not practical to return them and I do not have money to roll the dice and re-order replacements, so that willl be my last blue note classic order. Do Optimal give a damn about pressing records at all? They are ruining the vinyl experience for many. I cannot understand the thinking behind getting Kevin Gray to master form the original tape and then sending them off to an outfit like Optimal to press. I would gladly pay the extra $10 for RTI pressings of these records.
patientot

patientot

February 28, 2022
edited about 1 year ago
There are so many great titles in this series and KG's mastering is on point. The problem I have had with this series is pressing defects. I've had copies that were pressed off-center and factory dish warped. While I haven't had any major problems with non-fill on this series lately, it does affect these records sometimes if you are unlucky.

I'm not suggesting anyone avoid this series, just realize that Optimal's QC/QA is hit or miss and you may end up returning some of these. Better hope you buy them from a place that will take returns without hassle. I won't buy them from local record stores because they won't take them back and the chances of defects are too high. Sadly this is affecting a lot of pressing plants right now, not just Optimal. Getting to the point where I will seldom take a chance on new vinyl at shops anymore...quality is slipping everywhere over the last 3-4 years.

If Optimal is reading this the first thing you can do is get rid of the ultra-tight shrink wrap and put these in loose bags like RTI do. Then let the records cool all the way before jamming them into jackets for assembly.
johnaangus

johnaangus

February 21, 2022
I have a few of these reissues. Not had any problems, always received beautiful clean flat vinyl. The latest Lee Morgan, Caramba! is stunning
vinylfergus

vinylfergus

February 4, 2022
edited about 1 year ago
I own 22 out of 27 BNC's up to 2/4/2022. Only QC problems I have had is with the covers. Something Else, Go, and The Big Beat all had creases or split edges. Vinyl on all has been excellent. Ordered all but 1 from Blue Note. What's next for this summer Blue Note???
kapervisser

kapervisser

January 9, 2022
edited about 1 year ago
My first copy of this series was in bad shape but the other three copies are very good. Maybe parts of some batches suffer from productionflaws or some titles in general but i am satisfied.
edit;problems with 'Idle moments' (three copies)
revellidrum

revellidrum

January 7, 2022
McCoy Tyner's "The Real McCoy", Art Blakey's "The Big Beat", Horace Silver's "6 Pieces of Silver" and Jimmy Smith's "Back At The Chicken Shack" are my first forays into this series. I found them all to be excellent. I have no issues whatsoever with the sound (which to my ear is very present), and all the pressings were quiet and flat. I did buy them all directly from the Blue Note website if that makes any difference.
AlbertHofstein

AlbertHofstein

December 14, 2021
edited about 1 year ago
It really hurts how good these reissues sound. Absolutely amazing. This series shines next to any other absolutely ridiculous overpriced and limited audiophile reissue label. And vinyl collecting can be fun again.