THIS ISSUE: That moment in the early 1970s when Donald Byrd flew in a new direction, documented by a vinyl issue from Blue Note.
At this point in the vinyl revival, it’s hard to believe there are many undiscovered masterpieces left that are worth discovering. Record Store Day (RSD), a much-ballyhooed source of unique and unreleased music on vinyl, has been a major spur in the drive to plumb the vaults, but even though it has an excellent reputation, most RSD unearthings have turned out to be less than essential.
The increasingly rare exceptions are to be celebrated. Here’s one. Just is a perfect example of why hope burns eternal among the musically obsessed and why that hope is justified. It’s why fans who already have everything that’s been officially released, plus a few bootlegs, still slaver for the hidden, the unknown—anything that will get them closer to a favorite musician’s heart and soul.
