Tina Brooks – True Blue

Surprisingly great quality, definitely closer to "Tone Poet" series than to the "Classic".

I was a bit overwhelmed by the quality I did not expect from this price. It's one of only a few "75th anniversary" Blue Note records I own, so I tried not to rush into conclusions and get some time for my emotions to ventilate )

During the week I've not just run it through a couple times, but compared it to some other Tone Poet and Classic series records I own and here is what I've come up with:

1. By the character it's almost the same as Moanin Apr 9 2021 Worldwide release of Blue Note Classics or Blue Train of Sep 16 2022 Tone Poet:

- same recording and mixing style
- nice dynamics, clear echoes...
- great separation of instruments
- trumpet and sax sound great together even despite quite radical panning IMO
- deep base, nice drums...

2. Where the limitations are showing up:

- of course cymbals: not as crisp and airy as on the audiophile releases, but not as crappy as on the low-budget ones, he-he...
- instruments are clear, but not overly-realistic "attack-wise" (the drum hits, double-bass strings...)
- piano sounds clear and nice even though it's volume is quite lowered as for all records of that era, however don't expect rich overtones and realistic feel of hammers hitting the strings...
- sax and trumpet sound clear, but the spectrum is not so rich and "noble" as on more expensive releases

Bottom line: it's a really affordable record of a Tone Poet sound, but with the "Classic's" price tag. It's really high fidelity or high definition like full HD, but it's not a 4k I would say.

So, if you like this album, go for it, I think it's the best for this money (around 30$)

Why is this one worth so much ? (: Thanks

File Name | Format | SR | Word Length | Max. TPL | LUFSi | DR (PMF) |

01-01 Good Old Soul | .aiff | 44.1k | 16 | -0.45 | -15.88 | 12 |
01-02 Up Tight's Creek | .aiff | 44.1k | 16 | -0.43 | -15.79 | 12 |
01-03 Theme for Doris | .aiff | 44.1k | 16 | -0.47 | -14.95 | 12 |
01-04 True Blue | .aiff | 44.1k | 16 | -0.02 | -14.96 | 12 |
01-05 Miss Hazel | .aiff | 44.1k | 16 | -0.83 | -15.79 | 12 |
01-06 Nothing Ever Changes my Love for You | .aiff | 44.1k | 16 | -0.52 | -16.42 | 13 |

Number of EP/Album Files: 6
Official EP/Album DR: 12

What an album....my favorite BNC so far. I'm slightly biased, cause this one of my favorite Blue Note albums of all time.

File Name | Format | SR | Word Length | Max. TPL | LUFSi | DR (PMF) |

01-01 Good Old Soul | .aiff | 44.1k | 16 | -0.17 | -16.11 | 12 |
01-02 Up Tight's Creek | .aiff | 44.1k | 16 | -0.85 | -16.12 | 12 |
01-03 Theme For Doris | .aiff | 44.1k | 16 | -0.21 | -14.89 | 12 |
01-04 True Blue | .aiff | 44.1k | 16 | -0.49 | -14.80 | 12 |
01-05 Miss Hazel | .aiff | 44.1k | 16 | -1.47 | -15.93 | 12 |
01-06 Nothing Ever Changes My Love For You | .aiff | 44.1k | 16 | -0.86 | -16.33 | 12 |

Number of EP/Album Files: 6
Official EP/Album DR: 12

Man this version of the album just vaulted Tina into my Top 3 saxo gods. Freddie and Art and Duke and Sam are so tight. Mt. Rushmore. Essential

BNC version is great, but this is a whole different animal.

Ho conosciuto Tina Brooks nel disco di Freddie Hubbard "Open Sesame"; è un musicista con un fraseggio molto personale e creativo.

Brilliant! Can’t help feeling Freddie is on fire here! A++

This one sounds better than the Connaiseur edition. Flawless pressing!

In my opinion the best sounding ”True blue“ ever.
The remastering ist senseful and excellent.

one star less, because of the pressing. I have to wash all my blue note recordings with ultrasound a few times until they are to hear without pops and clicks.