Looking at the track listings it seems the songs on "Listen My Children..." are mostly from the Decca Recordings. So there is probably some overlap with the Proper Box Set since it also includes some of the Decca Recordings.huey wrote:
It's not the same exact version, as they are from different CDs. It seems to me that the tracks on 'Listen My Children You Shall Hear'
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00005 ... 14-8984832
sound much better than those on 'The Count Basie Story' [BOX SET] on Proper Records
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00005 ... 14-8984832
Huey, a question about your listening comparison, did you compare them on headphones or out loud on your dj equipment? I've noticed that songs can sound differently under various circumstances.
I agree that it's a pity that most on-line stores don't give you a higher quality recording. Too bad they don't follow the Smithsonian practice of using flac for their downloads. But i don't think that getting the cd is always the more cost effective option. If a cd (or multi-cd set) only a has one good song, why buy the entire set for one song? Also, although buying a Proper or JSP box set might be the optimal situation, only a limited number of artists and recordings exist on those sets.