SwingDJs

Hi all,

I searched on the forum, but found no thread subject related to this label out of the U.K.:

http://www.avidgroup.co.uk/

I just received the 10 CD set of Oscar Peterson in various group configurations from the early 1950s.

Didn't know if others have bought sets from the label. Has nice packaging and very compact for a 10 CD set. Smaller than the Proper 4 CD sets. Nice looking liner notes and each CD has a protective cover.

Thoughts from others who have some of the labels titles.

Jerry_Jelinek wrote:Hi all,

I searched on the forum, but found no thread subject related to this label out of the U.K.:

http://www.avidgroup.co.uk/

I just received the 10 CD set of Oscar Peterson in various group configurations from the early 1950s.

Didn't know if others have bought sets from the label. Has nice packaging and very compact for a 10 CD set. Smaller than the Proper 4 CD sets. Nice looking liner notes and each CD has a protective cover.

Thoughts from others who have some of the labels titles.

Hi Jerry,

Yes, I've got a few of these. They have remastered tracks which sound very good. And, yes, they are well presented too. You can buy them direct from Avid, or usually more cheaply via Amazon UK. For this label, Amazon UK beats Amazon US for availabilty and price.

I have the following Count Basie double CD, and it's excellent:

Count Basie & His Orchestra Listen My Children & You Shall Hear
http://www.avidgroup.co.uk/acatalog/Onl ... e_105.html
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=am ... ud6jo271w0
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000050XFS

NB: The other Count Basie CD they do (The Unbeatable Basie Beat) is not worth getting due to poor sound quality

I also like their double CD The Classic Swing Collection. Good selections, excellent quality:
http://www.avidgroup.co.uk/acatalog/Onl ... n__55.html
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=am ... uk6ja17180
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000256X0

One which doesn't have the sound quality, but is still worth getting is their Harlemania collection
http://www.avidgroup.co.uk/acatalog/Onl ... a__65.html
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=am ... azefqk8gfn
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005827U/

I didn't realise they did all these remastered box sets, and I'm going to order some of these as well:
http://www.avidgroup.co.uk/acatalog/Onl ... s_205.html

Thanks Huey,

I've sampled the Oscar Peterson set I bought. I still need to listen to the whole set. The sound quality is very good.

The others you mention sound very interesting. I'll have to add some of them to the collection.

Two years later....

I just got the Kansas City Swing, Blues, Jive & Boogie various artists collection. The reason I ordered it was to get hold of the alternative version of Froggy Bottom by Andy Kirk -- one of the guest djs on Yehoodi Radio played it a few weeks ago (can't remember who it was). I always thought that Avid was just another a crap European pirate label, but I guess I was wrong! Every track sounds really good, including great-sounding dubs of three Harlan Leonard songs (so much better than the Chrono Classics) and many other tracks I previously thought were eternally doomed to lo-fi.

Get it now!

that's simply spooky. i looked at this very thread yesterday evening and thought about ordering that very album.

well, it's clearly a sign from the cosmos that i'd better order it! i like it when the universe tells me to buy cd's. relieves the guilt.

ordered.

Sadly, it has been proven that everyone who buys CDs on the AVID label dies at the end of their life.

Too big a price to pay.

anton wrote:Two years later....

I just got the Kansas City Swing, Blues, Jive & Boogie various artists collection. The reason I ordered it was to get hold of the alternative version of Froggy Bottom by Andy Kirk -- one of the guest djs on Yehoodi Radio played it a few weeks ago (can't remember who it was). I always thought that Avid was just another a crap European pirate label, but I guess I was wrong! Every track sounds really good, including great-sounding dubs of three Harlan Leonard songs (so much better than the Chrono Classics) and many other tracks I previously thought were eternally doomed to lo-fi.

Get it now!

Just wondering if you bought it as a download from amazon or bought the actual CD?

(Btw that version of Froggy Bottom is lovely. I've just bought the Jimmy Witherspoon/Jay McShann Mosaic single which has a fun version I'm quite liking)

dogpossum wrote:I've just bought the Jimmy Witherspoon/Jay McShann Mosaic single which has a fun version I'm quite liking)

I love that whole album. Excellent playing, excellent arrangements, really danceable, stunning sound quality. That Mosaic company isn't a half bad reissue label either, even if the prices can't quite match Avid's.

Never really checked out Avid, btw - thanks for the tip!

Some titles from this label are on eMusic US.

Link to Kansas City: Swing, Blues, Jive & Boogie here:
http://www.emusic.com/search.html?mode= ... +&x=31&y=4

anton wrote:Two years later....

I just got the Kansas City Swing, Blues, Jive & Boogie various artists collection. The reason I ordered it was to get hold of the alternative version of Froggy Bottom by Andy Kirk -- one of the guest djs on Yehoodi Radio played it a few weeks ago (can't remember who it was). I always thought that Avid was just another a crap European pirate label, but I guess I was wrong! Every track sounds really good, including great-sounding dubs of three Harlan Leonard songs (so much better than the Chrono Classics) and many other tracks I previously thought were eternally doomed to lo-fi.

Get it now!

I've just downloaded some of the tracks from this album from eMusic. Very good stuff. Thanks Anton

dogpossum wrote:Just wondering if you bought it as a download from amazon or bought the actual CD?

I actually got the physical CD... forgot to check eMusic this time! But it's always nice to have the booklet with the essential recording information.

Luckily, the mighty $ is at an all-time low (since 1991 compared to the Swedish krona anyway), so this is a great time to buy CDs from the US. Many UK discs are actually cheaper to order from the US!

Unfortunately, downloads from Amazon.com are not permitted in Europe. (Or rather you need an US credit card.)

dogpossum wrote:(Btw that version of Froggy Bottom is lovely. I've just bought the Jimmy Witherspoon/Jay McShann Mosaic single which has a fun version I'm quite liking)

Ordered! While at it ("it" as in Mosaic Singles) I also got
Various - The Jazz Piano (MCD-1012)
Duke Ellington - Newport 1958 (MCD-1014)
Ruby Braff - Hi-Fi Salute To Bunny (MCD-1016)

Support Mosaic Records!!

anton wrote:Ordered! While at it ("it" as in Mosaic Singles) I also got
Various - The Jazz Piano (MCD-1012)
Duke Ellington - Newport 1958 (MCD-1014)
Ruby Braff - Hi-Fi Salute To Bunny (MCD-1016)

Not much for DJing on the Ellington, I'm afraid (except perhaps "Feet Bone", which has Sam Woodyard at his liveliest), but of course it's full of brilliant brilliant music and a must for fans of 1950s Ellington. Someone should reissue the 1959 Newport album - now that is one for them dancers.

anton wrote:Support Mosaic Records!!

Doing my best here. When I get rich I'll get everything they ever issued. Til then I'm looking some more at Avid Records.