HERBIE HANCOCK "MAIDEN VOYAGE" BLUE NOTE 'VAN GELDER' CLASSIC EARLY '73 UA PRESS

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HERBIE HANCOCK "MAIDEN VOYAGE" BLUE NOTE 'VAN GELDER' CLASSIC EARLY '73 UA PRESS
HERBIE HANCOCK  "MAIDEN VOYAGE" LABEL: BLUE NOTE RECORD COMPANY: BLUE NOTE RECORDS ~ UNITED ARTISTS RECORDS BNST- 84195 PRESSING: 1973 STEREO RE-ISSUE  PRESSED BY ALL DISC RECORDS INC. ('22' IN MATRIX) LABELS: DARK BLUE w/  BLACK 'b' AND WHITE LETTERING (early 70's) RECORDED BY RUDY VAN GELDER ~ MARCH 17, 1965  RECORDED: VAN GELDER STUDIOS ~ ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, NJ 'VAN GELDER' STAMPS IN RUNOUTS ON BOTH SIDES LINER NOTES: HERBIE HANCOCK & NORA KELLY PHOTOGRAPHY: REID MILES MATRIX (SIDE A): BNST-84195 A 22 (Etched) VAN GELDER (Stamped) MATRIX (SIDE A): BNST-84195 B (Etched) VAN GELDER (Stamped)
CONDITION:  VINYL VG++  JACKET: VG++
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I've been going thru my massive vinyl record collection this summer and pulling out some LPs that I thought that someone else would want for their collection. I've been collecting records for over 40 years and it's time to pass some of them on to the next generation of collectors.
This week on EBay I am offering up my nice, clean, early 1973 reissue copy of Herbie Hancock's 1965 classic "Maiden Voyage."
This is my original copy that I purchased way back in the day, and I've taken great care of it for many years.
I purchased this copy 'used' at 'Styx & Stones' in San Diego in the Spring of 1981 for the princely sum of $3.75! Those were the days you could still find great Jazz tucked away in 'Rock' record stores for cheap.  It still has the original dated price sticker in the top right corner, which I never tried removing. It added nostalgia and memory, so I left it alone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ By early 1965, when this session was recorded, Herbie Hancock was working with Miles Davis and brimming with new ideas. Hancock's creative and compositional skills were at their peak but he also wanted to experiment with new sounds, new textures and new themes.
Miles Davis's influence on Hancock is clear and apparent on this album. It has a modal jazz feel, and emphasizes color, tone, melody and lyricism. Hancock learned from Miles that, sometimes, less is more. You can express more with a few select notes, than with big chunks of chords.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This album is a collection of 5 songs that are all named after watery themes. Herbie has said that he wanted to evoke everything about the ocean: the flow of the current; the creatures, great, small and mythical, who live in the water; the response of sailors & voyagers, who experience it for the first time. 
I think he's captured all that perfectly. It shows Hancock's ability to take us on a journey through new landscapes, new soundscapes, and the songs are certainly all 'voyages.' 
The music, all original compositions by Hancock, are perfect examples of creative sound-sculpting, with all the songs having the lure of the Sea as their theme.
Many of the songs start out calm and placid, but then pick up tempo and intensity. The solos kick in adding stormy intensity, and then when things get to hurricane force, Hancock plays a little cluster of notes, adding splashes of sound and color, restating the melody, and gathers everyone back together.
'Maiden Voyage' is truly a musical experience and a voyage. As someone who grew up on the ocean, this album really captures the feel, the calmness, the intensity, and movement of the Sea.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Quintet assembled for this session is just amazing. Some of the very best musicians active at the time. The Quintet of musicians on this recording include:
Herbie Hancock - Piano Ron Carter - Bass Tony Williams - Drums Freddie Hubbard - Trumpet George Coleman - Tenor Sax
All the musicians show off their extraordinary technique and skills.
Trumpeter Freddie Hubbard was arguably at his creative peak during this period. His chops and skills are all over this record. At times he's soft and melodic, like Miles, at other times he's blowing like a swirling hurricane, sounding almost Coltrane-like.
Hancock, Carter and Williams had played together often, with and without Miles, and knew each other's style well. There's almost a telepathic connection between them that can't be faked or created in the studio. It's natural, organic, authentic, and can really be felt and heard on this album. Tony Williams and Ron Carter are in constant motion, like the sea itself.
Bassist Ron Carter is steady and reliable as ever, keeping the groove going. He gets a few moments to shine with some solos, but really, this whole album is one long Ron Carter solo if you listen closely.
Tony Williams hadn't turned 20 yet when this was recorded, yet he was already one of the best percussionists in Jazz. His playing on this album is just fantastic. His ability to create images of the Sea, with brushes, light taps and heavy, thunderous hits, all while keeping the rhythm flowing, is amazing. 
In my opinion, there was no better rhythm section in the mid-60s than these musicians.
Tenor saxophonist George Coleman adds his calm, smooth, focused, lyricism to some tracks, keeping the music from getting too far out, but he gets his chance to let loose and stir the waters as well.
This album really allows room for the individual players to step out and shine. The interplay between musicians on this album is amazing. It's a perfect example of the kind of group interplay and 'conversations' that the best jazz is capable of.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 'Maiden Voyage' has that distinctive, warm, full, classic mid-'60s Blue jNote sound.
All Rudy Van Gelder recordings from the 1950s and 60s have a certain 'period quality' and sound to them. This one is no exception. Hard-panning of the instruments and his instantly recognizable piano sound, which some claim sounds muffled and indistinct. But this album sounds great and Herbie's playing clearly overcomes any of Rudy's recording limitations.
Recent attempts by various companies to re-cut and re-release this classic album have demonstrated that the original master tapes for this session have deteriorated significantly over the years, are barely useable, and sound 'smeared'.
The best way to hear this timeless album is by finding old expensive originals or early 70's re-issues like this pressing. The sound on these early 70's 'Van Gelder' stamped repressings is impressive.
The best version of this timeless record is the Original 1965 Mono Blue Note OG, but this early Van Gelder stamped repressing is right up there in terms of sound quality, and much easier on the wallet.
The soundstage, placement and spacing between the players in the room is amazing on this pressing. The soundstage is wide, open and still has some depth. It's transparent, airy, and dynamic. Herbie's piano sounds as clear as it will ever be for a Van Gelder mastering.
The instruments are all clear and distinct. The Trumpet and Sax sound alive, upfront, and detailed. 
There's some fantastic solos as well as some great two-horn harmonies. Ron Carter's bass has a great thump, feel & tone, and Tony Williams' drums have snap, crackle and pop. His brushwork and cymbals sizzle and shimmer.
"Maiden Voyage" is one of the best jazz albums I've ever heard. My 'Top Ten' list is always changing, but 'Maiden Voyage' is always on the list. It's the high water mark, pardon the pun, of Hancock's Blue Note era.
This album was one of Hancock's last great releases on Blue Note and is arguably the last 100% straight jazz album he did for a long, long time. He would soon embark on the second stage of his long and illustrious career, exploring the fusion of jazz and funk that would come to define his 70s albums.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Maiden Voyage has really stood the test of time, still considered a classic, and is one of Herbie Hancock's masterpieces. The music on this album is beautiful, timeless, and speaks for itself. 
Soothing, peaceful, and hypnotic in some areas, but stormy, intense and furious in others. Subtle yet complex. It really captures the essence of the Ocean. The songs all perfectly blend aspects of tension and calm. Terrific, complex and hard blowing songs, yet also soft and delicate in places.
It's amazing when one really listens deeply to this record how well the compositions demonstrate strong melody, harmony, rhythm, and structure, but also how loose, flowing and spacious the songs feel.
All of the songs on 'Maiden Voyage' are lovely on the surface and provocative and challenging upon deeper, closer listening. A very pleasant listening experience. 
It's really amazing to me that this album was recorded in 1965, nearly 60 years ago. It still sounds, fresh, hip, modern and could be released today and still sell well.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This music can be enjoyed on so many different levels by so many different people. It's one of those Jazz records for people who don't like Jazz.
For anyone who wants to get started listening to Jazz, this would be an excellent place to start. This is an essential album to own and should be part of everyone's jazz collection.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CONDITION: I tried to show good hi-resolution photos of the cover, labels and vinyl in my pictures.
I purchased this copy 'used' back in 1981, over 40 years ago now, and have taken great care of it since. It's still in fantastic condition.
VINYL: The vinyl still looks great. Clean and bright. Maybe a tiny hairline or two, and evidence of light play, but No serious scuffs, palpable scratches, or dings. It looks fantastic and I'm sure you'll be very happy with it.
This is from the early United Artist, Black 'b' era of Blue Note.
The DeadWax has the 'BNST-84195' matrix numbers and the 'Van Gelder' stamp on both sides.
I tried to show some close-up pictures of the vinyl to show how good it looks. I'm sure you'll be happy with it.
LABELS: This has the Dark blue labels with the black 'b' at the top.
• Solid blue with black "b" logo in upper-right. (Style used 1973-1978) • Album title is NOT in all caps in upper-left • Songwriter credits follow after each respective track title • Title, Artist, Stereo, Catalog Number in upper left are all Left justified.
Rim text all in black: "Blue Note Records - A Division of United Artist Records, Inc. ~  Made in USA ~ All Rights Reserved"
This has the faint etched "22" in the runout and a 2.75" pressing ring, which tells that it's an All Disc Records, Inc., pressing.
This is an original early 'Van Gelder' stamped version, not the later Bert Agudelo "Bert" version.
The labels are clean and bright. No marks or damage. The spindle holes are still sharp and clean, suggesting minimal playing and my careful handling over the years.
I haven't messed with it or cleaned it, other than my trusty 'DiscWasher' brush, in 40 years, since Reagan was in office. It could use a good deep cleaning to make it even bettter looking and better sounding. 
JACKET: As you can see, this one still looks great.
The front and back covers are clean. The front has some very mild ringwear at the top, but minimal. The back cover is still bright and white.
The back upper left of the Jacket has the Company Logo: “BLUE NOTE: The Finest In Jazz Since 1939,” A Product of Liberty Records” 
The corners are very mildly 'bumped', but still quite nice. The spine is straight and there are no seam splits or issues. A nice vintage copy.
This comes with its original polylined Blue Note inner sleeve, which is a little 'scrunched' but nice to have. The vinyl has been in a separate white poly-lined sleeve for decades.
This has been sleeved and stored properly for decades, and is still in great condition. You can see from my pictures it's a very nice crisp, clean, early 70s pressing of this classic Herbie Hancock album. 
I'm sure you'll love it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I can clearly remember buying this album at 'Styx & Stones' in San Diego 40 years ago, and it has a funny story. 
I grew up in NJ, not far from Van Gelder's studio, and lived on the shore. I was an early riser and often played my 'softer' Jazz records while watching the sun come up over the Atlantic ocean. It was peaceful, serene and spiritual.
In 1981 I went to San Diego (La Jolla) to spend some time at the Scripp's Oceanography Institute and when I first got there, instead of meeting up with my team, I hit up all the local record shops. Priorities. I was dreaming of finding some nice OG West Coast jazz albums, which I did. I already had a beat-up OG of this classic Herbie Hancock record, but found this nice early 'Van Gelder' stamped reissue for $3.75 and was thrilled.
My plan was to play it the next morning, while the sun came up, like I often did. I felt that it's water/ocean theme would be perfect for a ocean-front sunrise listen.
I got up super early the next morning (nasty time difference), set up the stereo system, got my coffee, got comfy on the deck watching the ocean, and waited for hints of sunrise to drop the needle...and waited...and waited. Wrong coast! No sunrises over the Pacific! 
Boy, I felt stupid. I played the album anyhow and it was perfect music for watching the ocean, but I'll always remember that first morning in San Diego and the role this record played in my visit.  I tell that story often to my record collector buddies.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Add this classic Herbie Hancock Blue Note album to your collection today. It would make a great addition to any jazz or vinyl record collection and belongs in everyone's collection. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ** NOTE: I'm selling this rare 'Collector' record "AS IS" and "NO RETURN". It's rare and as described and I'm sure you'll be very happy with it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I’m recently retired and downsizing and letting go some gems and rarities from nearly 45 years of vinyl record collecting. Check out the many other fantastic 45s and 33s coming soon to my page!
All records have been carefully evaluated and graded by me. I visually inspect all records under bright light, personally gently clean them with a cloth and then, if unsure, play them on a modern high-end turntable to get a true picture of condition. Please look at all the high-resolution pictures I added. They are all my own and are of the actual record being sold. The pictures are part of the description and can show small details, label variations, and condition better than I can put into words. 
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THANK YOU for looking and reading if you got this far.  -- JOHN