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VMP ANTHOLOGY

The Story of Blue Note Records

Five years after we launched VMP Anthology with our first box set, The Story of Blue Note Records is back in print for the first time since 2019. Telling the story of Blue Note’s six eras via a 6-album, 7LP set, the second edition of The Story of Blue Note Records has a brand new box design, and will be pressed at (RTI) Record Technology Incorporated. Blue Note was one of the first labels to recognize the power of jazz, and as such, their catalog runs from the beginnings of jazz to the modern era. Our 2nd Edition was remastered AAA (with the exception of the modern album) by Kevin Gray at Cohearant Audio and are pressed on 180g black vinyl.

NOTE: Please purchase this product individually, as it cannot be combined with other products in our store.
Orders are expected to ship January 2025. Timeline is subject to change.
We will notify you of any shipping updates.
Hear The Story of Blue Note From Don Was
Every one of the Blue Note VMP Anthology records shows artists in transition, moving to something different than what they did the album before and, in retrospect, you can see where it aims into where they were going next. But they are all beautiful snapshots of a significant moment of pushing the envelope and that’s what ties them all together,
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Don Was
President of Blue Note

Get The Whole Story...

VMP Anthology goes beyond the six albums included in your box. Alongside your box and the albums within it, we provide in-depth, original Listening Notes written by Ben Ratliff, and a digestible multi-episode podcast to serve as your definitive guide though these records. VMP Anthology isn’t just a box set that’s supposed to gather dust on your shelves — it’s an immersive and transformative story that comes alive for you to spend weeks (or longer!) inside of. We can’t wait for you to dive deeper into Blue Note Records history and the albums in this box.

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Horace Silver
Horace Silver Trio (1956)
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Dexter Gordon
Dexter Calling (1962)
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Lou Donaldson
The Natural Soul (1962)
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Wayne Shorter
Schizophrenia (1969)
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Bobby Hutcherson
Montara (1975)
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Ambrose Akinmusire
When The Heart Emerges Glistening (2011)

What's Included?

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Hear From The Label's Mastermind
Our box was created in close concert with Blue Note president Don Was, who was the guest on the first season of the VMP Anthology Podcast.
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(Mostly) AAA Masterpieces
This repress edition is limited to 1000 on 180g black vinyl. The first 5 albums have been remastered AAA by Kevin Gray at Cohearant Audio. The sixth was recorded digitally, so is cut by Gray from the highest quality digital master.
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A Jazz Historian On The Most Historic Jazz Label
Read the story of these six albums in a very special 20-page Listening Notes and photo booklet written by Ben Ratliff.
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Premium Commemorative Box
Designed in-house at VMP, these records are housed in an original box that’s inspired by the instantly recognizable design of Blue Note Records.
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Podcast and Listening Notes

Get the full story of Blue Note Records through our podcast and Listening Notes booklet. The booklet — 20 pages long — found in your box covers the story of Blue Note from its start to its modern era via Ben Ratliff. Our podcast offers a discussion of all the albums and their histories with Don Was.

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How was the audio sourced?

ONLY THE BEST FOR BLUE NOTE RECORDS

Lacquers for the first five titles are AAA remastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearant audio. The final title is also mastered by Kevin Gray, but is lacquered ADA as it was recorded digitally.

FAQs

Got a question?

VMP Anthology is the vinyl box set, reinvented. It aims to use music to tell a story, and gives space for lots of listening, learning, and conversation along the way.
VMP started as a record of the month club in 2013 and has expanded into an online record store and magazine.
Domestic Shipping is Free. International orders will have shipping calculated at checkout. Records will be sent in one shipment. Orders are expected to ship in January 2025. Timeline is subject to change due. We will notify you of any shipping updates.
We created VMP Anthology for people who recognize that every album has a deep story to tell. By breaking up the albums into 4 weeks, we give you space to truly listen and absorb each individual recording, listen to the podcast and soak it in. Of course, this is just a suggested cadence!
Nope! We built VMP Anthology as a way for all fans to experience music more deeply, and VMP membership is not required.
Yes, shipping is available in 22 countries in addition to the U.S. (view all FAQs for more details). Due to the box value and carrier constraints, international customers are responsible for customs and duties. When shipping to a country that is subject to VAT, this will also be due upon receipt.
Afterpay is an interest-free financing option that allows you to make four bi-weekly (every two weeks) installment payments rather than one upfront payment. If you choose Afterpay at checkout, you will be redirected to the Afterpay site to create an account and to complete your payment. You won’t be charged any interest or fees, as long as your payments are made on time. At this time, Afterpay is only available for customers in the United States.
To get the Member Price, you must be an active VMP Member for our monthly record subscription (and make sure you are logged in).

The Story of Blue Note Records 2nd Edition

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