I’ve been revisiting an “oldie but goodie” over the past few days. Several years ago, I found the Joe Sample Collection CD on GRP, which had highlights of all of his solo recordings for MCA Jazz. Since then, I have picked up a handful of his albums on CD, as well as a couple on vinyl. Prior to that, I owned a CD from the early 90s, Spellbound, which featured guest vocalists Al Jarreau, Michael Franks and Take 6 on three separate tracks. And, I have the landmark Crusaders recording featuring Randy Crawford on “Street Life”, one of my favorite tunes of that era (even in its extended 11 minute version, which passes in the blink of an eye), along with a few other Crusaders albums dating back into the 70s. I’ve recently just pulled out another favorite of mine and am giving it another spin right now.

Originally released in 1979, Joe Sample’s Carmel is a concept album, inspired by Carmel-By-The-Sea and the Monterey Bay area in California. All of the songs on the album evoke a warm, breezy feeling to the listener, such as the album’s title track and the perky “Sunrise” that opens side two of the LP. “A Rainy Day in Monterey” reminds me of the misty, rainy mornings I encountered in Monterey myself several years ago, sort of dark, quiet and subdued. “Cannery Row” is set to a walking tempo, as though taking a trip up Monterey’s main street past all of the old canning factories. “More Beautiful Every Day” is one of those easygoing seaside songs, very reflective and reminiscent. Normally, concept albums are built around lyrics, but Joe Sample evokes feelings with this all-instrumental recording, and it makes the album a very nice listen with plenty of Sample’s piano stylings to keep it interesting throughout. Definitely a high point of my Crusaders and Joe Sample collections.

What’s interesting right now is the version of the album I’m playing. I have three copies of it: a used MCA LP that I picked up several years ago when the CD was out of print. In 1996, the CD was reissued in MCA’s (actually GRP’s) budget line, with a blue-tinted jewel case and a blue CD tray. A couple of years ago, while looking through the used audiophile vinyl, I came across an interesting version of this LP. I don’t even think I can scan it to post it here: rather than being on white paperboard stock, the album jacket is printed on that silver foil, which makes it look different but, ultimately, hard to read. The top of the cover reads “Extended Range Processing”, and upon further investigation, it turns out this LP was half-speed mastered at IAM Studios (Irvine, CA) by Bruce Leek, and pressed at KM Records (Burbank) on Teldec virgin vinyl.

How does it sound? The used vinyl has a couple of pops to it (I really need to give it a better cleaning), but it’s the best sounding version of the album I own. It has a more full-bodied and rich sound on the turntable than the CD does. And of course, it lacks the digital “hardness” that the CD version has. Not that the CD is bad by any means (it’s not compressed or equalized with elevated top and bottom ends), but this version of the LP has just that extra bit of analog warmth and smoothness that makes it worthwhile.

This half-speed version won’t be easy to find, but I recommend picking it up if you see it. But don’t miss out on the album, either: find a clean early pressing of the LP, or pick up the reissued CD as it still sounds quite nice. The music makes it worthwhile.