森山威男カルテット* – Smile = スマイル

Amazing release. Great to hear the studio recordings in conjunction with the At Lovely live release, (later by the BBE label).
Exchange and Watarase are stand-out tracks. The sky blue translucent vinyl is not getting in the way.
Top notch sounding, well pressed album thus highly recommended.

A super quality LP and cover, and a great album!

Weak recording, Sounds thin and lacks warmth. Avoid if you can afford the original pressing. Its not up to the other HMV Re:Vinyl releases.

I hesitated. Figured I’d wait for a 1st press in good condition for a reasonable price. Then this came up at a decent price brand new from a UK retailer so took a chance and glad I did. Quality of vinyl is excellent and a really good reproduction of jacket and label (maybe the label colours are not quite at saturated as the original). Main thing is though is the sound and it is certainly enjoyable to these ears. Highly recommended.

This is getting a vinyl reissue again on 10th Aug 2022.

As fun as this album is, it doesn’t sound as full and rich as the digital streaming version. The mids and bass are overpowered by thin higher tones. Some might say it’s because I’m playing it on a this or that system with this or that cartridge, but I don’t believe that’s the reason. Sure it could be a cultural preference but there are other pressings from Japan that sound better. So… someone please tell me why this pressing doesn’t sound as great as it did when I streamed it.

Need badly. Repress, repress, repress, repress, repress, repress, repress. Do it.

Would rather have this than East Plants. It cooks with serious heat. Both need reissued. The drum solo on Exchange is just wow. Puhleeeeazzzz repress this.

What a gem! Another gorgeous pressing in a great series (Deep Jazz Reality).