Randy Weston
Blue Moses
US Original

This is a gorgeous 1972 CTI Original Pressing (VAN GELDER stamps in the dead wax) with excellent sound and quiet vinyl. I pick these up whenever I see them as it's a favorite album of mine to turn friends on to --I think it absolutely smokes from start to finish. This is one of the nicer copies I've seen -- cover and vinyl are gorgeous -- and it sounds so incredible that I figured I'd throw it up here and see if someone wanted to take it for a spin. It's lively and dynamic, the drums and percussion sound especially great. Weston is joined here by a killer line-up that includes Ron Carter, Billy Cobham, Freddie Hubbard, Hubert Laws, Grover Washington. If you enjoy the funky CTI vibe with big brassy lineups and extended jams, I imagine you might fall hard for this one. It's a ton of fun and even more so when the sound is this powerful.

4 stars Allmusic: "This date succeeds on all levels. Creating a commercially viable recording from the elements presented must not have been easy, but [Creed] Taylor rose to the occasion and delivered a grooving beauty of an album without compromising Weston's genius."

Vinyl: EX (one superficial mark that does not play)
Cover: VG+ (corner ding, nick on spine, small 3 written on back cover)
Play notes: Excellent sound and quiet vinyl

We prefer to overdeliver and therefore grade conservatively. Our scale runs Near Mint (NM), Excellent (EX), Very Good Plus (VG+), Very Good (VG), Good Plus (G+), Good (G).