Duke Ellington – Masterpieces (AP 45rpm Vinyl 2LP)

Analogue Productions, 200g 45RPM 2LP-Set

Remastered from the Original Analog Tapes by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound

Masterpieces By Ellington shines from an astonishingly brief period of history that gave the recording industry two of its greatest achievements – the introduction of magnetic tape recording and the 33 1/3 LP, or long-playing record. Now with Analogue Productions 45 RPM release, the best-sounding version of this historic album gives listeners an even richer sonic experience. The dead-quiet double-LP, with the music spread over four sides of vinyl, reduces distortion and high frequency loss as the wider-spaced grooves let your stereo cartridge track more accurately.

“Among the first recordings arranged and produced to take advantage of the LP’s longer playing time…Freed from the 78rpm single’s three-minute constraint, Ellington could score and record concert-length arrangements similar to those enjoyed by his concert audiences. Three of the four selections, including ‘Mood Indigo’ and ‘Sophisticated Lady,’ are familiar Ellington classics stretched and elasticized to luxurious effect. The harmonically saturated, transparent mono sound is astonishing for any era of recording.” – Michael Fremer, Stereophile

Musicians:
Duke Ellington / Billy Strayhorn, piano
Mercer Ellington, flugelhorn
Cat Anderson / Andrew Ford / Harold Baker / Nelson Williams / Ray Nance, trumpet
Quentin Jackson / Tyree Glenn / Lawrence Brown, trombone
Johnny Hodges / Paul Gonsalves, alto saxophone
Jimmy Hamilton, clarinet
Russell Procope, clarinet & alto saxophone
Wendell Marshall, bass
Sonny Greer, drums
Yvonne, vocals

Features:
• 200g 45rpm 2LP-set from Analogue Productions
• Remastered from the original analog tapes by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound
• Plated & pressed at Quality Record Pressings
• Gatefold old-school “tip-on” on jacket by Stoughton Printing

Tracklist:

1. Mood Indigo
2. Sophisticated Lady
3. The Tattooed Bride
4. Solitude