Charlie Mingus* – Tijuana Moods

this pressing is definitely a worthy alternative : This record shows off Living Stereo sound at its best. The full range of instrumental colors are here presented with remarkable clarity, dynamic contrast, spaciousness, sweetness, and timbral accuracy.

Anybody knows why this reissue is named" Tia Juana Moods" instead of "Tijuana Moods"?
Would it be a record label mistake?

This first stereo pressing is extremely impressive. Have not heard any of the audiophile reissues of this, but I can’t imagine it sounding better. Huge soundstage, sounds like it’s right in front of you.

This isn’t a perfect pressing — the volume varies at odd times and a couple tracks have some small crackles — but it’s REALLY good. Truly a great album. I think I paid $16 locally, new, and I have no regrets. I am sure their are more refined versions, but I’d be hard pressed to tell on my setup.

I don’t really care about the red, but it is kinda cool.

Good, but probably not the best press for this wonderfull LP

Firstly, I really love this album. I’ve turned into something of a Mingus nut and, for me, this is right up there with The Black Saint And The Sinner Lady and even Ah Um (though it’s not quite as formidable as the former or as accessible as the latter). As a general comment, the Speakers Corner reissue is well mastered. The SQ is balanced, spacious (where it needs to be), with plenty of dynamics. The swell of those horns, in particular, pack a real punch. The jacket is acceptable - though not up to the standard of Acoustic Sounds or the Tone Poet reissues (which is fine, they are pitching a tier lower).

However, picking this up in early 2023, I do have to say that the quality of the pressing leaves much to be desired. This review is of my third copy, in hand. The first two were peppered with non-fill on Side A and riddled with non-fill on Side B. The third copy has a couple of very brief passages of non-fill on A (lasting a couple of seconds), and one four second burst on Side B. I did take the trouble of contacting Speakers Corner to establish whether this is a known issue. Whilst very courteous, the response was dismissive. Apparently they have had only had two returns across the entire run. Which I assume I’ve now doubled. However, frequenting the SHF, it seems my experience is not unique.

I’ve seen a gradual deterioration in the quality of Speakers Corner which, at the current price point, is just not good enough. I hope they get their act together - it’s a reissue label for which I do have some affection.

My pressing is very clean and the sound is very good. The instruments sound quite present and the soundstage is appropriately wide. You can hear, and make out each of the instruments, even during heavy passages where everyone is playing at once. While the sound is very gocd and smooth, I would put it close to a Tone Poet release but just a hair under. I'm still giving it 5 stars - it is very listenable.

Being a Mingus album, you should know that the music will get complicated and wild. During those times when the whole band is playing at once, the soundstage was not fuzzy or distorted, but rendered perfectly. I don't recall any distortions from the music and my needle accurately tracked every song.

Highly recommended.

Cartridge: AT150Sa

An excellent digital transfer aimed at the vinyl aficionado. Very revealing, although these are excellent recordings, not as revealing as the 2 disc Bluebird first edition.

just got a copy of this fantastic album and the 180 gram pressing sounds really clear,deep and loud. Love it
Don't understand below comments..

There is something very intruiging about this album. It delivers what Charles always does: a deep drilling bass, a lot of sudden tempo changes, the occasional shoutings and angry explosions of instruments. But there is more: the South American touch (a.o. castinets, percussion and Latin tempos) lifts the album up from all the other Mingus records I have. For now this has got to be my favorite Mingus.
As for the Speakers Corner production: the album cover is a bit dull but the record itself is one of the flattest I have recently bought. The sound quality though is phenomenal. There is some tape hiss (on "Los Mariachis"), but no pops, clicks and other disturbances whatsoever. What a stellar record this is! Doesn't get much better.