Dexter Gordon's A Swingin' Affair Original Blue Note LP

$

110

I am auctioning off selected items from my personal collection of top-drawer LPs. Here we have Dexter Gordon’s wonderful quartet date, A Swingin’ Affair, an all-original copy of Blue Note 4133, recorded Aug. 29, 1962 at Rudy Van Gelder’s studio in Englewood Cliffs, NJ. A great band: Dex on tenor; Sonny Clark, piano; Butch Warren, bass; and Billy Higgins, drums. The playing throughout is simply dynamic; one of Dex’s famed sessions, along with its sister session GO, recorded Aug. 27 with same band. There is a real fire to these performances, as all hands seem to be feeling the mood of the title. The romping Soy Califa and the warm ballad Don’t Explain are just two of the gems. If you dig Dex, you should have this classic in your collection.

The record has been cleaned on a VPI Record cleaner and is graded after being played and visually inspected as follows:

Vinyl: VG+/VG: This is a split rating as three of the tracks – all of Side 1 -- play VG+, and two – cuts 1&2 on Side 2 -- play VG. The third track on side 2 starts VG then quiets down, so a mix of VG/VG+. Now I want to describe what the various tracks sound like, so there’s no confusion.  On the VG+ tracks, there is some occasional surface crackle, and some pops, but mostly these are reasonably soft and will not disturb most listeners. On the two VG tracks, pops and crackles are more evident and a bit louder; still not too intrusive, in my opinion. So if you want a completely quiet record, this is not it. But if you can put up with a bit of noise, then you are fine. Rudy’s sonics offer a very vibrant Dexter sound with the rest of the band robustly supporting him. Higgins’ drum sound is very much ‘in the room’.

    The vinyl has retained much of its original luster, though on side 2 there are quite visible scratches which cause the pops.

Cover: VG++: Except for some slight ring wear and a few small scuffings, the front cover, top and bottom are like new. Spine is M-, with no abrasions. Rear cover has some very slight aging and ring wear, but is otherwise fine, so VG++.

This is an original copy of Blue Note 4133. Labels have New York USA address with Inc. in Blue Note name, no deep groove (Blue Notes no longer had deep grooves by the time of this pressing), but there is a Plastylite ‘p’ or ‘ear’ in dead wax, along with Rudy Van Gelder’s stamped name ‘Van Gelder’.

All is all, a quality copy of this ace album.

(All aspects of cover notation and LP markings are stated as being original by Fred Cohen, in his landmark book on Blue Note original pressings, “Blue Note Records: A Guide to Identifying Original Pressings –Jazz Record Center Books.)

The album is guaranteed to be as depicted above. Return within seven days of arrival for refund less shipping, but if you feel you might not want a copy as depicted, perhaps better not to bid. Thanks.

Payment accepted through Pay Pal, and with personal check, which must clear the bank before LP can be shipped. Please do not send cash.

Shipping is via USPS Priority mail with insurance and delivery confirmation, approximately $12 US.. International shipping price on request, approx. $50 US.

Thanks for bidding, good luck, and best wishes for good days.