
These records just came in today. The Anita O'Day album is a huge personal find for me. I have bought more scratched up copies on eBay than you can shake a stick at, and at high prices to boot. This also came from an eBay seller, but for only $14 I was willing to take a small risk and it paid off. This record is in lovely shape considering its age. The sound quality is absolutely terrific and only two tracks have a
wee bit of surface noise. Otherwise it plays NM.
The Fletcher Henderson Columbia boxed set was issued in 1961. For 78 era material I generally prefer CDs or good quality 78s if I can find them. The Fletcher Henderson Orchestra is pretty well documented by the Classics Label in France, but most of these CDs have been discontinued and are out of print. I found this 4 LP 33 1/3 vinyl boxed set on eBay for $15. I'm listening to the first record now and the sound quality is pretty darned good. It was sourced from metal masters and NM 78s, and given that it was issued in the early 1960s there is some source noise and a few clicks here...but all of the music is here too. So I consider this to be a very worthwhile set for anyone who likes jazz from the 1920s and 1930s. This LP set probably sounds better than any of the CDs that are available of the same material.
--Jerome