Recording history and tape provenance
Colomby assembled an unusual cast. Herbie Hancock plays Fender Rhodes and clavinet and Wayne Shorter soprano saxophone. Also present are Michael Brecker, Hubert Laws, Randy Brecker, Peter Erskine, Don Alias and Narada Michael Walden. Sam & Dave reunited for "Come On, Come Over."
"Donna Lee" opens the album as a solo-bass arrangement of a bebop theme, played with congas. "Portrait of Tracy," named for Pastorius's first wife, is built on natural and artificial harmonics. It became one of the most imitated pieces in the electric bass repertoire.
The tune's authorship is disputed. The original LP labels credit "Donna Lee" to Charlie Parker. Some sources attribute it to Miles Davis instead, while The Audio Beat describes the Davis credit as the mistaken one. The dispute predates any pressing of this record.
Original Epic pressings (1976)
Epic PE 33949 appeared from several US plants, and Discogs documents them separately. The Terre Haute pressing on orange Epic labels is the one generally sought.
The Santa Maria pressing is identified by a "1 S" etching in the runout, on orange labels with the same design as Terre Haute. One owner calls it a great sounding pressing, and another reports a Santa Maria copy on blue Epic labels rather than orange.
A Pitman pressing from 1978 also circulates. One owner rates its separation and soundstage ahead of both the CD and the Music On Vinyl reissue.
Carrollton copies need care. One comment on the Discogs master warns that some Carrollton pressings were cut in mono by mistake and sound dull. Another owner rates Carrollton the best of the plants. Both accounts sit on the same page.
Later repressings vary more. An owner of one reissue reports almost no channel separation and a nearly mono soundstage. Another comment there describes a 1979 reissue on cursive Epic labels as a corrected cut.
Outside the US, Epic issued it in the Netherlands as EPC 81453, in several label variants. A US promo also exists.
Original Recordings Group 45rpm (2012)
The ORG edition, catalogue ORG 114, splits the album across four 45rpm sides on 180g vinyl. Elusive Disc lists it as mastered by Bernie Grundman from the original analog master tapes and pressed at RTI, limited to 2,500 numbered copies.
Wider groove spacing suits a record this dense. The Audio Beat rated it 4 out of 5 for music and 4.5 for sound. The reviewer reports dead-flat vinyl and no pops across the four sides.
TONEAudio named it one of its 2012 best audiophile pressings and describes Hancock's piano as freed from the grunge of the original. Owner reviews echo that, and prices have risen since the run sold out.
Music On Vinyl (2010)
The Music On Vinyl 180g reissue, catalogue MOVLP136, is the standard modern option. Some owner reviews describe it as flat and quiet, with the bass clearly defined rather than muddy.
Others disagree sharply. A 2026 review on the Discogs master calls the vinyl crackly and noisy even after ultrasonic cleaning, while allowing that the soundstage is decent. An owner of a vintage Pitman copy prefers that pressing by a wide margin.
No mastering engineer is credited in the sources checked. It is the easiest way to own the album without chasing an original or paying ORG prices, with more copy-to-copy variation than its price suggests.
Buyer's guide by budget
$$: The Music On Vinyl 180g reissue, flat and quiet, with clear low end.
$$$: An Epic PE 33949 Terre Haute pressing, with the plant and label colour confirmed before paying a premium.
$$$$$: The ORG 45rpm, now scarce since the 2,500-copy run sold out.
Pressing tier summary
| Tier ⇅ | Pressing | Cat# | Year ⇅ | Format | Source / Mastering | Notes | Market ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | Original Recordings Group 45rpm | ORG 114 | 2012 | Stereo, 45rpm, 2×180g | Bernie Grundman, from the original analog masters. Pressed at RTI | Numbered, 2,500 copies. TONEAudio 2012 best audiophile pressings | $641VG+ $839NM $937M |
| A | Epic original, Terre Haute pressing | PE 33949 | 1976 | Stereo, 33⅓ | Epic lacquer | First pressing. Orange Epic labels, glossy gatefold | $102VG+ $133NM $148M |
| B | Music On Vinyl | MOVLP136 | 2010 | Stereo, 33⅓, 180g | Not credited | Owner reviews split, from flat and quiet to crackly and noisy | $42VG+ $55NM $62M |
| A | Epic original, Santa Maria pressing | PE 33949 | 1976 | Stereo, 33⅓ | Epic lacquer | "1 S" runout etch. Orange labels, blue-label variant reported | $109VG+ $143NM $160M |
| B | Epic, Pitman pressing | PE 33949 | 1978 | Stereo, 33⅓ | Epic lacquer | One owner prefers it to the CD and the Music On Vinyl reissue | $71VG+ $92NM $103M |
| C | Epic repressing, later labels | PE 33949 | Late 1970s–80s | Stereo, 33⅓ | Epic lacquer | One owner reports nearly no channel separation. A 1979 cursive-label cut is described as corrected | $74VG+ $97NM $109M |
| – | Epic original, Carrollton pressing | PE 33949 | 1976 | Stereo, 33⅓ | Epic lacquer | Not rated. Accounts conflict. Best of the plants for one owner, mistakenly cut in mono and dull for another | – |
| – | Epic (Netherlands) | EPC 81453 | 1976 | Stereo, 33⅓ | Epic lacquer | Not rated. Orange, black and white label variants documented | $44VG+ $58NM $65M |
| – | Epic US promo | PE 33949 | 1976 | Stereo, 33⅓ | Epic lacquer | Not rated. Promotional pressing | none currently listed $124VG+ $162NM $181M |
References
- Discogs (master, all versions): https://www.discogs.com/master/49071-Jaco-Pastorius-Jaco-Pastorius
- The Audio Beat, "Jaco Pastorius, Epic/Original Recordings Group ORG 114": https://theaudiobeat.com/music/jaco_pastorius_lp.htm
- TONEAudio, "Jaco Pastorius": https://tonepublications.com/?p=9442
- Elusive Disc, "Jaco Pastorius – Jaco Pastorius, numbered limited edition 180g 45rpm 2LP": https://elusivedisc.com/jaco-pastorius-jaco-pastorius-numbered-limited-edition-180g-45rpm-2lp