Really Livin' - The J.J. Johnson Sextet (1959) (1LP Vinyl) - Very Good Plus (VG+)

Really Livin' by The J.J. Johnson Sextet.

There is a particular kind of thrill in dropping the needle on a record like this one, a Columbia stereo pressing dressed in the unmistakable red and white six eye label. From the moment the platter starts turning, you know you are holding a piece of the label's golden age of engineering, when the phrase "STEREO FIDELITY" printed in crisp white font actually promised something new and expansive to the listener at home.

"Really Livin'" gathers The J.J. Johnson Sextet in a program that moves easily between smoldering standards and hard swinging originals. Side one opens with "Me Too" before sliding into "Decision," a pairing that sets the tone for the whole set. From there the mood deepens with "I've Got It Bad And That Ain't Good," then snaps back to attention with the bebop staple "Red Cross," and closes out with the buoyant lift of "Almost Like Being In Love."

Flip to side two and the record reaches for the sublime. "Stardust" unfolds with all the aching beauty the tune deserves, giving Johnson's horn room to breathe and sing. "Sidewinder" brings the groove, "God Bless The Child" carries its familiar weight of tenderness and hard truth, and "Speak Low" caps the album with a sophisticated, late night swing that leaves you wanting to lift the arm and start again.

This is the stereo edition, and it wears its pedigree on the label. The title and tracks are printed in black font, while "STEREO FIDELITY" and the Columbia name appear in white against that classic red and white six eye design. Look to the left side of the label and you will find "NONBREAKABLE" printed just below the catalog number CS 8178, a small detail that collectors of this era know well.

The matrix information is right where it should be, faithful to how these Columbia pressings were laid out. Below "Side 1" you will see XSM 47769, and below "Side 2" you will see XSM 47770. These stamped identifiers are part of the fingerprint of the release, the kind of thing that tells you exactly what you are spinning and connects it to the pressing plant lineage that made this label a benchmark for quality.

For anyone building a serious jazz shelf, a six eye Columbia stereo pressing of J.J. Johnson is a cornerstone. It captures a master of the trombone in a generous, varied program, framed by one of the most iconic label designs in recorded music. Slide it out of the sleeve, admire that red and white circle, and let "Really Livin'" live up to its name.

Pressing Details:
Track Listing:
A1. Me Too
A2. Decision
A3. I've Got It Bad And That Ain't Good
A4. Red Cross
A5. Almost Like Being In Love
B1. Stardust
B2. Sidewinder
B3. God Bless The Child
B4. Speak Low

Notes:
Stereo version red and white Columbia six eye label
Black font for title and tracks
White font for "STEREO FIDELITY" and COLUMBIA
"NONBREAKABLE" below CS 8178 on left side of label
XSM 47769 below "Side 1"
XSM 47770 below "Side 2"

Artist: The J.J. Johnson Sextet

Format: 1LP

Genre: Jazz

Label: Columbia

Catalog Number: CS 8178

Release Year: 1959

Country: United States

Condition: Used

Media Condition: Very Good Plus (VG+)

Sleeve Condition: Very Good Plus (VG+)