The Ramsey Lewis Trio – Ramsey Lewis And His Gentlemen Of Swing

This is a 1966 Cadet reissue of a session recorded in 1956 and released as RAMSEY LEWIS AND HIS GENTLE-MEN OF SWING on Argo Records, Cadet's predecessor. It was the debut album for Ramsey Lewis, and is indeed a swinging set of tunes, a mix of standards with a few originals sprinkled in. Highlights include "I'll Remember April", "Dee's New Blues" and "Limelite". This is a mono pressing with thumping bass, clear percussion, and a full-bodied piano sound. My copy is in mighty fine shape, playing nice and clean with very faint surface noise occasionally.

Godawful fake stereo sound. Keep your hands off it.
Discogs has many great sellers, but in vain did I try to get anyone to check if a suspicious LP — recording date too long ago but claimed to be stereo — really is true stereo and not fake stereo. So I had to buy the LP to see for myself. Well, a major disappointment. All fake stereo. Ray Charles: The Genius after Hours, MJQ: Fontessa, Chico Hamilton with Paul Horn to name just a few duds.
SWINGIN' is a case in point. Offered by Canadian seller FuzzyMusik as stereo but as it turned out ELECTRONIC STEREO. Ugh! Ugly!
(By the way, all sellers accepted my complaint and I got a refund. But not from FuzzyMusik.)

This seems to be a reissue of Argo LP 611 from 1956

This has some modal vibes going on and I love it. I have to admit, I pass on listening to it much because the cover is pretty ehhh but I remember being surprised by it now.
This came out right before Wade in the Water and couldn't sound more different. It has some uptempo moments but it is still darker. I believe this was the last lp that Young and Holt played on so it's a bit bitter sweet.

Picture of outer sleeve with "STEREO" at top right seems inconsistent with label as "MONOPHONIC." Is this the correct picture? Did someone possibly swap sleeves?