Record Collector Geekery: An Audiophile Folk Classic.... from Japan?
This may be a 40+ year old Japanese pressing! This is one of two original Japanese pressings of vintage Peter Paul & Mary albums I picked up yesterday (in a trade!) at Recycled Records here in SF. If you didn't know, PP&M LPs are revered by many audiophiles for their high quality recordings. I grew up with this stuff as little kid, listening to my older brother's records, so I love the music too. Thus my quest for finding as perfect sounding pressings as I can find. The records are common as dirt but finding them in good shape is the challenge. Most were played to death.
But i never considered that folk music might have gotten popular in places like Japan in the 60s too. Apparently there is even a live PP&M recorded in Japan for the Japanese market only. Who knew?
These Japanese blood red clear vinyl pressings are remarkably clear sounding, come on with full lyrics and an "Obi" to wrap around the glossy laminated cover. Which is best? Well, its a toss up with my original stereo US pressing which may have a bit more bass warmth going on, but also a tad more surface noise -- the Japanese pressing is remarkably quiet, especially for a 1966-era pressing. Oh, and of course, the MONO US pressing probably trounces both in term of fullness of sound, but the stereo version is really nice to hear the spread of their three voices and guitars unfold before your ears.
Anyhow, I said this post would be about record collecting geekery and I know I didn't disappoint on that front. ;-P