The Dave Brubeck Quartet Time Out  by Classic Records

 Mastering engineer: Bernie Grundman

 SOUND 5/5

 PACKAGING 5/5

 VALUE 5/5

 Miles Davis Kind Of Blue  by Classic Records

 Mastering engineer: Bernie Grundman

 SOUND 5/5

 PACKAGING 5/5

 VALUE 5/5

REVIEW IN PROGRESS...

 Sonny Rollins Saxophone Colossus  by Analogue Productions/DCC

 Mastering engineers: Steve Hoffman & Kevin Gray

 SOUND 5/5

 PACKAGING 4/5

 VALUE 5/5

  Sonny Rollins' legendary Prestige recording, Saxophone Colossus, is an album that deserves a high-quality vinyl reissue.  This 180g Analogue Productions copy was compared to a gold label (2nd cover) RVG cut record and a Japanese issue (SMJ-6501), but first a little background.  Steve Hoffman and Kevin Gray were commissioned by DCC to remaster this title for release in 1995 but a few years later it went out of print and DCC closed it's doors, driving the price to around $100.  Fortunately for music lovers the metal parts for the DCC copy were used to press this great sounding reissue that sells for only $20.  The Japanese copy was pressed on immaculate vinyl yet was lacking in the tonality department with Sonny's sax sound nasally and small.  The later RVG cut was quite the opposite in that it had great tonality but was pressed on noisy, grainy sounding vinyl.  A M- original W.50th pressing might grab the top spot but as those can fetch over $2000 most will be happy spending 1/100th for this pressing that might even be better anyway.

 Miles Davis Birth Of The Cool  by Classic Records

 Mastering engineer: Bernie Grundman

 SOUND 4/5

 PACKAGING 5/5

 VALUE 5/5

  I've compared this Classic Records reissue to a first 1956 teal label Capitol pressing and an early 1960's pressing with the black colorband label.  Both of the Capitol pressings suffered from rolled off upper frequencies resulting in a muted sound lacking sparkle and life.  Since these sessions were recorded in 1949 & 1950 I wasn't expecting miracles, and while there weren't any, Classic was able to restore a much more full range sound to these recordings.  There is audible tape hiss, which is to be expected from this era, but along with that comes much of the music previously missing on other issues.  A nice touch by Classic is the beautiful heavy cardboard, tip-on style jacket.  Considering the sound quality is improved upon (yet not "audiophile" by any means) and sells for about half the price of on original pressing if you're lucky, I can easily recommend this reissue.