[Dixielandjazz] VMP Blue Steele'ism: A Tale of Digital 2002.

[M J [Mike] Logsdon]

I've finally gotten around to listening to at least some tracks from the Vintage Music Productions Blue Steele CD.

First, yes, it's not all "hot".  And only those not familiar with his waltz-time "heat" can be forgiven for being surprised.  Those already informed knew better.

Second, I like his sound.  I can't say more than that.  And, along with Billsy Haesler-ness, I have to say that those who complain about the remastering (see next paragraph) do, in absolute fact, need to appreciate that we have at least this CD (see paragraph beyond next).

Third, sigh, the crappy sound.  I will sum it up now with the numbers "2002".  I have MANY CDs in my library from that long-ago era when remastering meant, mainly, GET RID OF NOISE!  And even when real noise was retained, the process often created "noise" of its own, as a by-product.  Point blank, if you take nearly all noise out, you're going to do harm to what remains as music, quite often.  Mr Hebden (is that the name? it's out in the car right now) is no Lord Davies, to be sure.  But what constituted "clean-up" for him and his team, for me is nothing less than crap.  (Give me a TRUE railroad spike any day.)  (The on-again, off-again high-pitched squeal in track 8 is more than instructive in how not to do it.)

Fourth, in relation to why I am glad this CD exists, pitiful though it be, involves a personal reason.  Whilst a child, my father would take me to the Red Barn Flea Market just north of Salinas, back when the barn itself was full of dingy dealers of non-important stuff.  Often, that involved piles (forget stacks) of 78s.  One of those 78s I bought back in my wee-ness was the 1929 Mistakes / Rock Me To Sleep In Your Arms, by a fellow named Blue Steele.  I still have that very same 78, as well as a cleaner replacement recently obtained via eBay.  That sound has always been with me, and now I've read something of "Blue"'s weirdness via the CD liner notes, I would like to learn more, or at least hear more of his recorded output.  Sadly, I doubt that will happen.  But, at least, I have this CD.  And, thankfully, a cleaner, if still hairline-cracked (what were the odds?) 78, of a sound from my childhood, which is now approx 45 years in the past.

So, please dear friends, let's put Blue to sleep.  I'm almost sorry I brought him up, if only for VMP's 2002 sake.