Mail-Order Jazz (Dragon, Blue Moon,...)
Culbert B. Laney
The list has grown quite long. Recently people have requested
sources for Dragon --- try Pintail. People have also requested
sources for Blue Moon --- try World, Mail-Order Jazz, Stash, etc.
Good luck.
Bert
la...@coltrane.colorado.edu
--------------------------------------------------------------
What follows is a list of companies which specialize in mail-order jazz.
To help compare cost and selection, I have chosen three labels as
follows:
Blue Note (U.S.)--- relatively easy to find and relatively cheap,
carried by many stores (the local Mediaplay store
carries a good selection of Blue Note for $9.99)
Steeplechase (Swedish) --- medium hard to find and medium expensive,
carried by some stores (my local Mediaplay
store carries a very limited selection of
Steeplechase for $11.99)
JSP (British) --- relatively hard to find and relatively expensive,
carried by few stores (my local Mediaplay store
does not carry any JSP; a local independent
store carries JSP for $14.99-$17.99)
Also, typical shipping costs are described (as you can see, shipping
costs vary all over the place). Before the list, a few comments:
*Mail-order retailers do not charge sales tax except for orders in
their home state.
*Most mail-order companies are strictly special order; in other words,
they carry little or no inventory. The few companies which stock
inventory can usually fill orders at least a week faster than those
that don't; this is indicated where known, and otherwise you can
judge from the response time, also indicated where known.
*The companies are sorted according to their product line as follows:
some imports, many imports, all imports, and specific labels and
distributors. "Imports" here means any sort of hard-to-find or
exotic product, not widely distributed, whether or not it is
actually imported.
*If you order direct from the label, you will usually pay straight
list price. You may be able to find a lower price elsewhere.
*To some extent, the more CDs available from a given retailer the
higher the price. In other words, price and selection are often
inversely proportional, especially when the selection in question
is not widely available.
*Please buy from local retailers when possible. There is no substitute
for examining the product you intend to buy. In addition to the cover
art, the backside of the CD often describes the CD contents in
more detail than any mail-order catalog. Also, some retailers
will let you listen to CDs before buying. Finally, there is the
instant gratification factor; mail-order usually takes at least
two weeks. Mail-order is for those who don't live near a decent
store, or for items not stocked at the local stores.
*This list was originally compiled for my own use from postings on
rec.music.bluenote. It is constantly changing and expanding as
I learn more. I welcome comments, additions, corrections, etc.
Also, feel free to use this list as the starting point for your own
list, if you think you can do a better job; just make sure to post
your list from time to time and then I'm off the hook.
Some Imports
^^^^^^^^^^^^
These sources tend to be the least expensive, but also tend to
have a more limited selection of import and small domestic
labels.
CD CONNECTION
1030 East El Camino, #322
Sunnyvale, CA 94087
408-985-7905
fax: 408-985-0464
modem: 408-985-8982
telnet: cdconnection.com
ftp: ftp.cdconnection.com (login as `anonymous')
www: http://ftp.cdconnection.com
types of music: all genres
selection: over 100,000 CDs
costs of typical CDs: Blue Note = $10.72, Steeplechase = $15.02
JSP = not carried
shipping costs: $3.50 for orders less than $100
free for orders over $100
printed catalog: none (catalog is available on diskette for $5.00)
response time: 1-3 weeks depending on location (least for
Northern California, most for the East Coast)
(their claim)
comments: The `www' server is in primitive form; it's
really just a conduit to the telnet server. Expect long
waits accessing the on-line catalog at certain times.
Ratings from the All-Music guide, as well as from the
general public, available.
CD NOW
1440 Joel Dr.
Amber, PA 19002
e-mail: manager.cdnow.com
telnet: cdnow.com
www: http://cdnow.com
types of music: all genres
selection: over 140,000 CDs in all genres.
costs of typical CDs: Blue Note = $11.77, Steeplechase = $16.76
JSP = not carried
shipping costs: $4.95 or less.
printed catalog: none --- this is exclusively an on-line service
response time: delivery in 3-6 business days (their claim)
comments: All-Music Guide ratings and reviews available for many
items.
"DOUBLE-TIME" JAZZ
P.O. Box 1244
New Albany, IN 47151-1244
1-800-293-8528 (answering machine)
fax: 812-949-2006
www: available soon through Jazz On Line
(http://www.jazzonln.com/JAZZ/)
types of music: jazz only
selection: over 5000 CDs and 300 LPs (my estimate)
costs of typical CDs: Blue Note = $9.95, Steeplechase = $13.95
JSP = not carried
shipping costs: 4th Class shipping is $5.00 or less for all orders;
UPS shipping is $6.25 or less for all orders.
printed catalog: free
response time: In my experience, orders take 3-4 weeks.
comments: In addition to the ordinary catalog, "Double-Time" also
produces occasional catalogs in-house for specific labels such
as Blue Note, Savoy, and Fantasy/O.J.C.
NOTEWORTHY
17 Airport Rd.
Nashua, NH 03063
1-800-648-7972 (orders)
603-883-9551 (orders)
603-883-1914 (new release hotline)
fax: 603-883-9220
telnet: netmarket.com
www: http://www.netmarket.com
types of music: all
selection: 18,000 CDs in all genres
costs of typical CDs: Blue Note = $9.21 (for the few available)
Steeplechase = not carried
JSP = not carred
shipping costs: $2.65 and up, variable according to number of CDs
printed catalog: $2.50 (cost can be applied to first order)
response time: ??? (should be fast; they stock inventory)
comments: Some very low prices but extremely limited selection.
Many Imports
^^^^^^^^^^^^
These sources tend to have a good selection of unusual
items; prices tend to be slightly higher.
3rd STREET JAZZ
20 N. 3rd. St.
Philadelphia, PA 19106 - 2199
1-800-48-MUSIK
comments: No catalog --- call and ask for what you want.
No other information available at this time.
ACOUSTIC SOUNDS
P.O. Box 1905
Salina, KS 67402-1905
1-800-716-3553 (orders only)
913-825-8609
fax: 913-825-0156
types of music: mainly classical and jazz
selection: ??? (moderate)
costs of typical CDs: Blue Note (U.S. CD ) = $15.00
Blue Note (Japanese LP) = $35.00
Steeplechase = $20.00
JSP = not carried
Analog Productions = $30 (their own line
of audiophile LPs and CDs)
shipping costs: $4.95 for all orders
printed catalog: $5.00
response time: ??? (should be fast; they stock inventory)
comments: Acoustic Sounds specializes in audiophile quality recordings,
especially hard-to-find LPs. For example, the entire Blue Note 1500
series is available on Japanese LP (although at $35 each, an original
Blue Note pressing might be cheaper in many cases!). Also, they have
their own line of gold CDs and audiophile LPs, including over a dozen
titles from the Fantasy catalog including Benny Carter "Jazz Giant",
Art Pepper "Smack Up," "Meets the Rhythm Section," "Plus Eleven,"
Bill Evans "Waltz for Debbie," Ben Webster "At the Renaissance,"
Chet Baker "Chet," Sonny Rollins "Way Out West" (two different
masterings!), Duke Ellington and Ray Brown "This One's for Blanton,"
Charlie Byrd "The Guitar Artistry of," Count Basie Big Band
"Farmers Market Barbecue," and so on. Their catalog is one of the
nicest I've ever seen --- 300 pages printed on glossy paper with
high-quality B&W cover shots and full descriptions of many of the
albums. Their selection isn't that large and their prices are about
as high as you'll see, but they really do a good job of describing
and providing what they carry.
CADENCE
Cadence Building
Redwood, NY 13679
315-287-2852
fax: 315-287-2860
www: http://www.acns.nwu.edu/jazz/cadence/cadence.html
types of music: jazz, blues
selection: 10,000
costs of typical CDs: Blue Note = ??? (not listed in catalog but
available by special order),
Steeplechase = $16.00
JSP = not carried
shipping costs: ???
printed catalog: $3.00 (One issue of Cadence magazine which, as
always, has a full catalog in the center.)
response time: 2-4 weeks
comments: The mail-order service is strongly associated with Cadence
magazine. Cadence publishes monthly and each issue contains a
catalog in the center. Subscriptions are $30/year. Be forewarned
--- the catalog uses the smallest possible type, with almost no
spacing between lines, and provides only as much information as can
be fit in one half-page column (60 letters or so including artist,
album title, label number, and price code). The `www' site is
maintained by fans and not by Cadence, i.e., no orders accepted
through the `www' site, and the site may not be totally up-to-date.
On the other hand, the www site is much better than the printed
catalog for window shopping and browsing. Cadence specializes in
small and hard-to-find labels, and their catalog does not even list
larger labels like Blue Note, Fantasy, Verve, and so on. However,
Cadence can obtain almost any item not listed in the catalog via the
"Cadence Record Ordering Service." Cadence owns North Country Audio,
an audiophile stereo retailer --- the magazine has a short monthly
column devoted to stereo written by Vladimir, the North Country
manager, and also includes occasional listings of some of the
products sold by North Country. If you've currently got a
mass-market Japanese stereo, and you want to find out how much
better stereo can sound for not much more money, North Country
might be the place to start learning.
GHB Jazz Foundation Collectors Record Club
1206 Decatur St.
New Orleans, LA 70116
504-525-1776
fax: 504-523-2629
types of music: jazz and Blues
selection: ???
cost of typical CDs: $13/CD
printed catalog: free
shippings costs: $2.00 for 4th class, $3.00 for UPS
response time:
comments: A club specializing in "trad" jazz and blues. Membership
is $5 for a lifetime, provided that you order at least once a year,
and provides a discount price on items in their catalog. The catalog
includes labels such as Jazzology, GHB, Audiophile, Circle,
Progressive, etc.
H&B RECORDINGS DIRECT, JAZZ
12037 Starcrest Dr.
San Antonio, TX 78247
1-800-222-6872
210-545-0940
fax: 210-545-3968
types of music: jazz only (separate classical catalog available)
selection: over 45,000 CDs
(their claim ... unclear whether this number is just jazz)
costs of typical CDs: Blue Note = ???
Steeplechase = $15.80 ($14.83 for members)
JSP = ???
shipping costs: $3.50 and up, variable according to the number of CDs
printed catalog: free
response time: about 3 weeks (their claim)
comments: A membership costs $8.00; members typically save about $1.00
per item except on sale items.
IAJRC (International Association of Jazz Record Collectors)
Murray Slochover
P.O. Box 855
Tanafry, NJ 07670
comments: This is more of an organization than a mail-order service.
Membership is $30/year which gets you: a subscription to the
IAJRC journal published quaterly; the IAJRC jazz catalog; use of the
lending library; notice of the annual convention; a membership
directory; and a free album from the catalog. They will send
a free sample of the IAJRC journal upon request. (Info taken
off an old promo sheet; details may have changed.)
MAIL ORDER JAZZ
601 Virginia Ave.
Tifton, GA 31794
1-800-667-5277
fax: 912-302-1110
types of music: jazz only
selection: around 1000 (my estimate)
cost of typical CDs: Blue Note = not carried
Steeplechase = not carried
JSP = $15.00
shipping costs: priority mail is $4.00, 4th class is $2.00,
and UPS is $4.50 for all orders
printed catalog: free (computer printout---see comments)
response time: ??? (should be fast; they stock inventory)
comments: Mainly pre-1950 jazz. The catalog is a computer
print-out of current inventory sorted by label. They stock
a nearly complete selection of some labels, but just a sampling
of others. They can special order what's not currently in stock.
STASH MAIL ORDER (previously Daybreak Express)
140 W. 22nd St.
12th Floor Front
New York, NY 10011
1-800-666-5277
fax: 212-243-4483
types of music: jazz only
selection: ??? (huge)
costs of typical CDs: Blue Note = $12.98, Steeplechase = $16.98
JSP = $18.98
shipping costs: 4th class mail is $6.95 or less; add $1 for UPS
printed catalog: free (must order something to stay on mailing list)
response time: In my experience, 2-3 weeks.
comments: "...Stash is the largest jazz Mail Order service in the
world, and we do from six to eight catalogs a year. We make a
point of offering our customers items that you would never find
available through ordinary channels, such as independently
manufactured items, imports, and specialty jazz lines from all
parts of the world. You should also be aware that each catalogue
mostly lists new releases. A complete catalogue would require
several thousand pages! ... If you would like to request any jazz
CD that isn't listed in the catalogue, give us a try." Catalog is
sorted by label. Stash will often include label catalogs with
orders --- my last order contained the official GRP/Impulse catalog,
the Rhino/Atlantic catalog, and various other interesting promo sheets.
Besides their mail-order business, Stash is also a record label.
The label is best known for its Charlie Parker on Dial reissues
(the Dial material is leased from the British Spotline label,
which has now released its own version of the Parker set as well
as other Dial CDs; see Pintail Records below).
TOWER RECORDS
1-800-648-4844
comments: no further information available at this time.
WORLDS RECORDS
P.O. Box 1922
Novato, CA 94948
1-800-742-6663 (orders)
415-898-1609 (customer service)
fax: 415-898-6348
types of music: jazz only
selection: over 3500 CDs (my estimate)
costs of typical CDs: Blue Note = $12.00, Steeplechase = $15.50
JSP = $15.50
shippings costs: 1st class shipping is $4.00 for all orders;
UPS is $4.50 for all orders.
printed catalog: free
response time: ???
comments: "Worlds Records can supply just about any compact disc
on any label. In addition to the items described in our catalog we can
obtain many other discs and cassettes--- just ask by letter or phone
(415-898-1609)." Full catalog is published once a year with quarterly
supplements. Catalog is sorted by label with an artist index.
Exclusively Imports
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
These companies specialize in CDs generally available *only*
overseas. In many cases, there is no other way to obtain these
titles, but its up to you to make sure first. Expect to pay a lot,
wait a lot, and many times you'll find out that what you wanted is
not available after all. THIS IS NOT THE FAULT OF THESE COMPANIES.
This is nature of this niche business. Some items they order
often, have reliable sources of, and maybe even limited stock
of; but many items are strictly special order from an overseas
distributor, which can be an unpredictable process.
CD EUROPE
P.O. Box 8561
Deerfield Beach, FL 33443
305-481-8984 (orders)
305-481-1724 (customer service)
fax: 305-481-8817
modem: 408-730-8318
telnet: cdeurope.com
types of music: all genres
selection: over 220,000 CDs
costs of typical CDs: Blue Note (Germany) = $17.95
Blue Note (Holland) = $18.95
Blue Note (Japan) = $33.95
Steeplechase (German) = $21.95
JSP = ???
shipping costs: $3.50 for all orders.
printed catalog: $15.00
response time: most orders filled in 5-6 weeks (their claim)
comments: The catalog often lists the same or similar items
from several different countries and at several different prices.
If it is available anywhere in the world, this is probably your
best shot of finding it, but it may also entail the biggest waits,
costs, and hassles. Expect long waits accessing the on-line catalog
at certain times.
MUSIC BY MAIL
Box 368
Palm City, FL 34990
1-800-233-3000
fax: 407-286-4543
e-mail: music...@delphi.com
types of music: all genres (jazz is a specialty)
selection: ??? (large)
costs of typical CDs: Blue Note (Europe) = $15.56
Blue Note (Japan) = $26.56
Steeplechase = $19.55
JSP = ???
shipping costs: 1-2 CDs = $3.75, 3-4 CDs = $4.95, free for 5 or more CDs
printed catalog: $10 each for Japanese (all genres including much jazz,
over 29,000 CDs) and European (jazz only, over 12,000 CDs)
response time: In my experience, 4 weeks or so.
comments: Music-by-Mail is run by jazz fans, and they maintain a
presence on rec.music.bluenote through postings and responses to
postings.
Labels and Distributors
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
CHIAROSCURO
830 Broadway
New York, NY 10003-4827
1-800-528-2582
types of music: jazz only
selection: ???
costs of typical CDs: $14.95
shipping costs: 1 CD = $3.00, 2 CD = $4.00, 3 CD = $5.00,
4 or more is free
printed catalog: free
response time: ???
comments: You can join the "Chairoscuro Club." I think this just
means that you're on the mailing list.
CONCORD
P. O. Box 845
Concord, CA 94522
510-682-6770
fax: 510-682-3508
types of music: jazz only
selection: ???
costs of typical CDs: $14.98/CD (great sales twice a year)
printed catalog: free
response time: ???
comments: No further information available at this time.
DISCOVERY
2052 Broadway
Santa Monica CA 90404
800-377-9620
310-828-1033
fax: 310-828-1584
types of music: jazz only
selection: ??? (small)
costs of typical CDs: $11.95/$15.95/CD
printed catalog: ???
response time: ???
comments: This label has albums by artists sucy as Broadbent, Fischer,
Tedesco, etc. No further information available at this time.
FANTASY
10th & Parker
Berkeley CA 94710
types of music: jazz, R&B, rock
selection: over 1000 albums (my estimate)
costs of typical CDs: O.J.C = $11.98
shipping costs: ???
printed catalog: free
response time: ???
comments: Fantasy is the company responsible for many wonderful reissues
from the labels they now own such as Prestige, Riverside, Contemporary,
Specialty, Milestone, Debut, Specialty, Pablo, etc. They are best known
for their Original Jazz Classics (O.J.C.) series, which includes
original cover art and liners, and their lavish box sets. They publish
a complete catalog annually, including B&W cover shots of all available
CDs, personnel, track titles, etc. This catalog is a model for other
labels; most other label catalogs include little else besides artist,
album title, and catalog number, which isn't very helpful for practical
buying decisions. I personally consult the Fantasy catalog on a
regular basis.
MOSAIC
35 Melrose Place
Stamford, CT 06902
203-327-7111
fax: 203-323-3526
types of music: jazz (some R&B)
selection: 30 or so boxed sets
costs: $15.00/CD, $10.00/LP, $13.00/Q-LP
shipping costs: $4 for first set, $1.50 for each additional set
printed catalog: free
reponse time: In my experience, 1-3 weeks
comments: Mosaic offers high-quality boxed sets of material leased from
other labels. Mosaic is exclusively mail-order, although occasionally
stores will buy sets from Mosaic and re-sell them at a slight profit,
as a customer service. An associated enterprise, TRUE BLUE, offers a
limited selection of CDs including the entire domestic Blue Note
catalog; TRUE BLUE can be reached at the same address and phone number
as MOSAIC, and can provide a Blue Note catalog as well as promo sheets
on the few other items they carry, mainly Polygram boxed sets and label
discographies, such as the Michael Ruppli discography of the Blue Note
label.
PINTAIL RECORDS
185-9040 Blundell Road
Suite # 321
Richmond, BC
Canada V6Y 1K3
fax: 604-244-7260
email: r...@mda.ca
types of music: jazz and classical
selection: Caprice, Collectables, Dragon, Hep, LJ, Phono Suecia,
Spotlite, etc. Some 20 labels in all tho' some are quite small.
costs: Dragon = $16.74, CAN Hep = $16.17-$18.17 CAN,
Spotlite = $16.74 CAN (in most cases, add $10 CAN for each
extra CD in multi-CD sets)
shipping costs: $4.25 CAN for first CD
$1.25 CAN for each additional CD
catalog: can be sent via e-mail
response time: 2-6 weeks
comments: Distributor for the European labels listed above.
"Will sell direct by mail where product isn't readily available
in Canada and USA." Notice that all prices are given in Canadian
dollars, and one Canadian dollar is worth roughly 3/4 American dollars,
e.g., $16 CAN = $12 US. In U.S., payment must be via money order
in Canadian dollars. Some interesting titles include:
DRAGON: Art Blakey and the Jazz Messenger, In Stockholm 1959
Miles Davis (w/ Coltrane, Stitt), In Stockholm 1960 (4 CD)
Lars Gullin (w/ Chet Baker, Richard Twardzik), 1955/6
Sonny Rollins, St. Thomas (live in 59?)
Swedish Jazz Orchestra (w/ Bob Brookmeyer) (60's?)
HEP: Count Basie, The Jubilee Alternatives and vol. 1-3
Woody Herman, The V-Disc Years, vol. 1-2
Teddy Wilson, vol. 1-5
SPOTLITE: Dexter Gordon, The Complete Dial Recordings
Charlie Parker, The Complete Dial Recordings
(4 CD set for $38 CAN)
QUALITON IMPORTS
24-02 40th Ave.
Long Island, NY 11101
718-937-8515-6-7
fax: 718-729-3239
types of music: jazz
selection: Classics, EPM Musique, Jazz Archives, etc.
costs: Classics = $14.25
(prices fluctuate, discounts for large purchases)
shipping costs: $5.00 for all orders
printed catalog: free
response time: ???
comments: U.S. distributor for several European labels as listed above.
The Classics label has an amazing range of 78 transfers, over 250
different CDs at last count, typically each over 70 minutes long. Most
of these are multi-CD sets, each CD covering almost all recordings on
almost all labels by a given artist during a given period of time
(e.g. Complete Fletcher Henderson, 1931-1932). Apparently, unlike
domestic U.S. companies, Classics can freely use recordings originally
made for many different labels due to different copyright laws in
France, their country of origin. While there is huge quantity, the
sound quality is variable and the liner notes are neglible, although
each session is thoroughly documented and everything is in English.
RHINO RECORDS (ATLANTIC)
10635 Santa Monica Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90025-4906
1-800-546-3670
818-587-6085
fax: 310-441-6580
www: http://www.w2.com/rhinocatalog.html
types of music: all genres
printed catalog: free
comments: No further information available at this time
VERGE MUSIC DISTRIBUTION (previously Marginal Distribution)
215 Stewart St.
Peterborough, Ontario
Canada K9J 3M6
705-742-1173
types of music: jazz, classical, ambient, enthnic, folk, etc.
selection: Leo, Hat Hut, Knitting Factory, and many much more
obscure labels
costs: Leo = CAN $17.00, Hat Hut = CAN $26.00,
Knitting Factory = CAN $17.00
shipping costs: CAN $3.00 and up
printed catalog: free
response time: 2-3 weeks for North American labels,
5-7 weeks for overseas labels
comments: Specialize in "alternative, unique, and unusual
recordings." They encourage back-ordering, and offer a
discount on back-orders; the above response time is based on
back-orders.