Miles Davis – Kind Of Blue

I must say that I don't have dozens of copies with which to make a comparison, but having gone through "standard" versions, let's say, including some very satisfactory ones (RSD 2010), I was looking for something that could give me the body of the first analogue editions and this one, from Classic Records, manages to immerse me in a dense and satisfying sound.
So I feel quite satisfied with this one and I will hardly buy another edition as long as I find some of course!

Very nice sounding press, flat and solid, well mastered and easily worth $30-40.

This is a great pressing. I have a first pressing, as well. Sonically I don't have much preference. I'll lean towards the first press, but that might just be for nostalgia's sake. :)

Specific to my copy version::

US pressing made for export.
Sleeve with black-out markings covering "Columbia" on front & back cover & on label rims.
• KCS 8163 on front cover, spine and back cover
• CS 8163 on label (LHS of spindle hole)
• XSM 47326 (RHS of spindle hole under Side 1/2)
• Featuring alternate catalogue number CL 1355 (on back, lower right)
• Sleeve manufacturing code X598 (on bottom of spine)
• “Columbia (blacked-out) LP [Eye Logo] Marcas Reg. printed in U.S.A. Photo: Jay Maisel” printed on RHS front cover in small font)
• The back cover is pasted on and features a bold letter "S" in the top-right corner under the (blacked-out) "Columbia Guaranteed High-Fidelity" logo indicating a pressing by Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Santa Maria
• Tracks B1 and B2 are printed in the wrong order on the back sleeve. The correct order is on the record label.

• Matrix / Runout (Side A runout): o XSM 47326-1CF 1 A2
• Matrix / Runout (Side B runout): o XSM 47326-1CF 4
Runouts are stamped except 1 A2" on side A and "4" on side B

If you can't afford the UHQR version (or don't want to shell out the bucks ), I highly recommend this Mono version. This release sounds extraordinary! No issues with my copy.

Simply a moving experience to hear on reel tape. It's spiritual to me.

I think this sounds amazing. Mine is dead quiet. No idea who mastered it but top notch!

A beautiful sounding record- crisp and detailed, and a huge soundstage. I don’t feel any desire to seek the UHQR too, I’m completely satisfied with this.
Pressing is also very good, quiet surfaces throughout. Although, I noted some noise in the run-outs, and a few soft clicks on Blue in Green.
Personally, I’m not a fan of this packaging at all. I would have much preferred a gatefold. The discs have plenty of room to move inside the box and thus resulted in a split on the exterior. Once the foam insert that will rot overtime is removed, the box is half empty and the box hardly likes to stay completely closed when sitting on your shelves.
Overall, the sound quality is most important, and it is superb here. Highly recommended.

Sounds great and the color of the vinyl is beautiful.

Bought brand new sealed from an independent seller. Stunning version of this classic album. Without surprise, it blows my cheap stereo version out of water… From all the Miles albums (and other older jazz albums of this era), I prefer the mono over the stereo versions. And this is the case again here. The timbre is far better, the drums and piano is now with the rest of the band (and not separated/buried away like on the stereo version). The cymbals are a lot more natural and enjoyable on this mono version, wow! There is also more depth to the soundstage, it let more space to the studio’s echoes and reverbs. The placement of the instruments is also far more natural (no more panned saxophone at the extreme left and extreme right). The pressing is also near perfect. My only gripe is about the last quarter of A3: the grooves became suddenly too tight, bringing some tics and pops (you can easily see the suddenly tightened grooves on the record)… But, beside of that, the grooves have a lot of space to breathe all along the record. A no brainer if you’re a hard fan of this iconic album. 4.85 / 5