Vinyl releases on pre order

Jaki Byard - Blues for Smoke, Candid (2025)

Should be a belter cut by BG and relatively good value at £28.

Release date: 21 March, 2025

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Venus and Mars, this special vinyl edition was cut at half speed using a high-resolution transfer of the original master tapes from 1975 by Miles Showell at the legendary Abbey Road Studios. The album is presented as a meticulous reproduction of the original UK pressing, with recreations of the original “Venus and Mars are alright tonight” circular sticker and “comparative sizes of sun and planets” bookmark sticker, and comes with two posters with photography by Aubrey Powell and Sylvia de Swaan. The iconic album artwork by Hipgnosis has been meticulously recreated and presented in a gatefold sleeve.

Tracklist

Side A

Venus and Mars

Rock Show

Love in Song

You Gave Me the Answer

Magneto and Titanium Man

Letting Go

Side B

Venus and Mars (Reprise)

Spirits of Ancient Egypt

Medicine Jar

Call Me Back Again

Listen to What the Man Said

Treat Her Gently – Lonely Old People

Crossroads

2 Likes

J.J.Johnson & Kai Wilding - The Great Kai & J.J., Impulse/Acoustic (2025)

In 1961 for the first release on his new Impulse label Creed Taylor chose to revive the double Trombone sound of Kai Wilding and J.J.Johnson along with the biggest stars of the day Bill Evans, Paul Chambers, Roy Haynes and Art Taylor.

It is one Impulse release that first presses in mono and stereo can still be bought in really nice condition for less than the cost of this AS reissue.

1 Like

Matthew Lutthans said when he put up the tapes to master this they sounded so good all he had to do was “get out of the way.”

1 Like

Anouar Brahem - After the Last Sky, ECM (2025)

Whenever Anouar Brahem releases new music it is almost always something very special and if the title track is anything to go by this new record is no exception. Again Dave Holland accompanies on Bass with fellow Brit Django Bates on piano and rounding off the quartet from Germany Anja Lechner on Cello.

Anouar is touring the album throughout Europe though unfortunately no British dates as yet.

5 Likes

Roy Haynes - Hip Ensemble, WeWantSounds, (2025)

1 Like

Stanley Cowell - MUSA, Ancestral Streams, Strata East/Mack Avenue (2025)

As well as this vinyl reissue remastered by KG and pressed at RTI it will also be available for the first time ever on CD and download, Virtuosic solo Jazz piano first released in 1974 on the Strata East label.

1 Like

Scientist - At The Controls Of Dub - Rare Dubs 1979 - 1980, Jamaican Recordings (2025)

Excellent music not so great label so I’d wait for reviews before buying.

This is a GREAT album. I have the Pure Pleasure reissue from a few years ago but I’m all over a KPG release pressed at RTI. This is dream-come-true kind of stuff. :slight_smile:

Now give me Glass Bead Games too.

1 Like

Ebba Åsman - When You Know, Dorado Records (2025)

Her first (that I’ve been able to find) on vinyl release which is a shame because I much preferred the Swedish Trombonist’s Zoom Out (2019) and Be Free (2023) this record is veering into pop/r&b music a bit more but I’ve only heard two tracks from it perhaps I’ll change my mind when I hear it all.

JDP, you may well already know this, but just in case not, Pure Pleasure have an excellent all analogue reissue of Glass Bead Games that should still be available. It was mastered by Ray Staff at Air and pressed by Pallas.

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Thanks. I have that one. It sounds pretty good, but if the tapes are in good shape a Kevin Gray remaster would be wonderful. That’s why I brought it up.

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It will be interesting to see what the sources are for these Strata-East reissues and if they are any different from what Pure Pleasure were provided with.

My understanding is that source tapes remained under the ownership of each artist and were returned back to them.

Pure Pleasure did a very good job indeed with their vinyl reissues and I for one won’t be in any rush to duplicate any of the ones already bought. If there are additional titles not already covered such as the Mtume ‘Land of the Blacks’ then I might be interested.

Jo Armon Jones - All the Quiet Pt 1 & 2, Aquaril Records (2025)

Unusual in as much as both parts 1 & 2 are separate double albums and both released for pre order but Part 1 will come out in March then Part 2 in June each part is £35 so I’ll probably stick with the stream unless much cheaper used copies appear later.

Would like to know if anyone has this or has listened to it. I have 15 different pressings of this LP including the 2 LP Mobile Fidelity.

A bit rich for my blood.

John Lee Hooker - The Standard School Broadcast Recordings, BMG (2025)

Recorded live direct to tape in 1973 looks like this could well be worth a punt.

1 Like

Paul Weller Presents - That Sweet Sweet Music, ACE (2025)

Curated by Paul Weller some excellent and rare soul tracks on this compilation.