¡Caramba! - Lee Morgan (1LP Vinyl) [Classic Vinyl Series]

¡Caramba! by Lee Morgan.

There is a particular kind of exclamation in the title of "¡Caramba!" that sets the tone before the needle even drops. Lee Morgan brings that spirit to this Blue Note session, a record that captures the trumpeter in an expressive, exploratory mood. Originally released in 1968, it stands as one of the many statements Morgan made during his fertile years with the label, a period when his playing balanced fire and finesse in equal measure.

The A-side opens with the title track, "Caramba," a piece that carries the celebratory energy its name suggests. It rolls straight into "Suicide City," a title that hints at the tension and drama Morgan was so skilled at conjuring, moving between the bright and the brooding with an ease that few of his contemporaries could match.

Flip the record over and you get three more cuts that round out the program. "Cunning Lee" plays on the leader's own name, a wink of a title that suggests the sly, sharp lines you would expect from Morgan's horn. "Soulita" follows, its title carrying a warmth and lyricism, before "Helen's Ritual" closes the set with a sense of ceremony and structure, a fitting way to bring the session to rest.

This is a Blue Note Records release, reissued in 2022 under UMG Recordings Inc., with Universal International Music B.V. handling the pressing. Blue Note remains a registered trademark of Capitol Records LLC, and this edition was made in the EU, keeping one of the great American jazz catalogs alive for a new generation of listeners.

For collectors who appreciate the details, the matrices and runouts are etched on both sides, and the pressing plant's plating marks, such as "=2," "2=," or "1X," appear mirrored in the deadwax. These small touches are part of the pleasure of holding a physical record, the kind of information that connects the object in your hands to the industrial craft that brought the music into the world.

As part of the Blue Note story, "¡Caramba!" belongs on the shelf of anyone drawn to Lee Morgan's distinctive voice on the trumpet. From the punch of the title track to the closing statement of "Helen's Ritual," it is a session that rewards repeated spins, an artifact of an era when the label was setting the standard for jazz on vinyl. Here at Miles Waxey, we are glad to offer it to those who know that a Morgan record is never just background music; it is an invitation to lean in and listen.

Pressing Details:
A Blue Note Records Release; Originally released in 1968 on Blue Note Records © 2022 UMG Recordings Inc.
Universal International Music B.V. Blue Note is a registered trademark of Capitol Records LLC.
Made in the EU.

Matrices / runouts are etched on both sides. Pressing plant's plating marks (such as "=2", "2=" or "1X") are mirrored.

Track Listing:
A1. Caramba
A2. Suicide City
B1. Cunning Lee
B2. Soulita
B3. Helen's Ritual

Artist: Lee Morgan

Format: 1LP

Genre: Jazz

Label: Blue Note

Catalog Number: 3876185

Series: Classic Vinyl Series

Release Year: 2022

Country: United States

Condition: Sealed (New)