Frank Wess/Oliver Nelson--Southern Comfort, 1st Press Mono Prestige PR 7231. Frank Wess (ts, flute), Oliver Nelson (ts, arranger), Albert Aarons (t), George Barrow (bs) Tommy Flanagan (p), George Duvivier (b), Osie Johnson (d), Ray Barretto (conga). Recorded March, 1962.
On the dead wax: (A-Side) Van Gelder stamp, inscribed 'AB,' 'N' and 'A1' (B-Side) Van Gelder stamp, inscribed 'N' and 'A1.'
Note: An under-appreciated album but a great one, with a stellar group of musicians. Frank Wess is a major talent but not that well known, probably because of his long stints with big bands (Basie 1953-64), Clark Terry (1967-75), his work on TV programs, etc. He was, however, winner of the Down Beat Critics Poll  for flute from 1959-64. Bassist George Duvivier was an early collaborator of Bud Powell (he plays as well does arrangements, on Blue Note's Amazing BP Vol. 2). Ray Barretto is just a great conga player, the man who introduced the instrument into jazz, and great on this album. (When Charlie Parker heard him, Parker asked him to join his band, the story goes.) Tommy Flanagan needs no introduction, nor does Oliver Nelson, but it should be pointed that this is at least as much an Oliver Nelson album as it is a Frank Wess one. Exactly one year after Blues and Abstract Truth had come out, Nelson was pretty much overwhelmed with work but does a great job here (as well as playing the tenor sax).

Vinyl: Excellent... A series of clicks at the end of the first side is the only significant defect. A couple of very low-volume ticks. Mostly plays 'NM' but downgraded to 'Exc' because the vinyl has marks, including hairlines, which however, (with the exception noted) are superficial and don't affect the play at all.

Sound Quality: NM+... The sound quality is just stupendous... a real revelation to me... some of the best sound on a jazz record I've heard... really fully comparable to a top-notch early Blue Note... Of course it is a first press and it was engineered by Rudy van Gelder so perhaps I shouldn't have been so surprised.

Covers: Excellent... Thick cardboard covers. A touch of fraying on two corners, some age-related yellowing on the back cover. Otherwise quite fine with no splits, no ring-wear, very clean and a fresh, glossy cover graphic.

Combined shipping is always available with no mark-up--you just pay for what it costs to ship (and of course the more disks the less per record). Packaging includes new audiophile inner sleeve, new outer sleeve, cardboard padding, bubble-wrap and a thick cardboard record box.
You may also want to look at some of the following (shipping is $4.00): (Revised 8/12/12)
Some new auctions...

Cannonball Adderley--Self Titled, Original Mono EmArcy...starting at $12.00. (auction)

Tadd Dameron--The Magic Touch, NM Riverside 9419 Reprint w/Evans, Griffin...starting at $8.00. (auction)

Joe Farrell--Moon Germs, Exc 1st Press Stereo CTI 6023...starting at $8.00.(auction)

Frank Wess Oliver Nelson--Southern Comfort, Exc 1st Press Mono Prestige...starting at $14.00. (auction)

More from the Great Arrangers--Dameron, Gil Evans, Oliver Nelson, George Russell Dameron & Coltrane--Mating Call, NM+ Mono Prestige 7070 Reprint...$24.00.

Gil Evans--Out of the Cool, New & Factory-Sealed! Rare Original Stereo A-4...$49.00

Oliver Nelson/Dolphy--Blues & Abstract Truth, Exc Reprint Edition w/ Dolphy, Bill Evans...$17.00.

George Russell/ Dolphy--Ezz-thetics, Original Stereo Riverside 9375...starting at $6.95. (auction)

Frank Wess & Oliver Nelson--Southern Comfort, Exc 1st Press Mono Prestige...$32.00.

More Dolphy... Eric Dolphy--Out to Lunch, Exc+ Original Mono Blue Note 4163...starting at $12.00. (auction begins 8/13) Coltrane/Dolphy--Impressions, NM Stereo Impulse A-42 Later Pressing...$14.00. Ornette/ Dolphy--Free Jazz, 2LPs Original Atlantic stereo & mono versions...starting at $14.00. (auction)
Thelonious Monk

Monk--w/Sonny Rollins, Brilliant Corners, Original Mono Riverside 226...starting at $6.00. (auction)

Monk--w/Rollins, Brilliant Corners+5 by Monk by 5, NM- Double-LP Milestone Reissue...$22.00.

Monk--at the Five Spot, 2LP Reissue of Riverside 262 and 279...$19.00.

Monk--Monk, S/T Self-Titled, 1964 Columbia Stereo CS 9091...$12.00.

Monk--With Rollins & Foster, Warhol Cover 1st Press Mono Prestige 7053...starting at $24.00. (auction begins 8/13)

Coltrane 1961-1966 Coltrane/Dolphy--Impressions, NM Stereo Impulse A-42 Later Pressing...$14.00. Coltrane--Live at Birdland, NM MCA/Impulse Reissue...$12.00. Coltrane--Live at the Village Vanguard Again, NM- MCA/Impulse Reissue...$12.00.
Coltrane (& Garland, Chambers) on Prestige 

Coltrane--Soultrane & Traneing In, NM Double-LP Prestige Re-issue...$21.00.

Coltrane--Lush Life, NM+ Mono Prestige 7188 Reprint...$15.00.

Coltrane--NM+ Black Pearls & The Believer Double LP Prestige Reissue...$13.00.

Coltrane--The Last Trane, NM- Prestige 7378 Re-Issue...$8.00.

Coltrane--Plays For Lovers, NM- Prestige PR 7426...$11.00.

Red Garland & John Coltrane--Jazz Junction, NM+ Prestige PR 24023 Double-LP...$15.00.

Miles 

Miles Davis--Complete Birth of the Cool, New & Factory-Sealed Capitol Mono...$17.00.

Miles Davis--Self-Titled, Vol. 2 Exc Blue Note Reprint...$14.00.

Miles Davis--Circle in the Round, Exc 2LPs 1st Press Stereo CBS 88471...$16.00.

plus... Ornette Coleman

Ornette--Friends Neighbors, Factory-Sealed 1st Press Flying Dutchman LP...$19.00. Ornette--Shape of Jazz to Come, Factory-Sealed Original Mono Atlantic1317...starting at $18.00. (auction) Ornette/Eric Dolphy--Free Jazz, 2LPs Original Atlantic stereo & mono versions...starting at $14.00. (auction) Ornette Coleman Trio--Golden Circle Vol 1 Exc+ 1st Press Mono Blue Note 4224...starting at $35.00.  (auction) Ornette Coleman Trio--Golden Circle Vol 2 New & SS Original Mono Blue Note 4225...starting at $1.95.  (auction)
Free Jazz...

Albert Ayler--New York Eye and Ear Control, New & Factory Sealed ESP-Disk...starting at $17.00.   (auction)

Art Ensemble of Chicago--Live at Mandel Hall, NM Double-LP, Delmark...$23.00.

Jaki Byard--Experience, with Roland Kirk Original Prestige Stereo...$18.00.

Jaki Byard--Freedom Together, 1st Press Stereo Prestige 7463...$15.00. Mal Waldron--With the Steve Lacy Quintet, Exc. 1st Press (French) America-label Stereo...$19.00.