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While the string of legendary independent labels, from Blue Note and Prestige to Steeplechase and Impulse! loom large in our ­Spiritual Jazz catalogue, our latest installment concerns the brave and innovative souls who acted 'privately', recording and releasing their music without the aid or involvement of a bona fide record company. Making a custom, private press record on your own, without the backing, status and business acumen of an established record company to help out is no mean feat, but it never really was difficult - it's just a matter of spending money - but the tricky bit, which remains to this day, is what to do exactly with a pallet load of vinyl that's just been delivered to your door?

Sales and distribution never was easy, and getting it right requires imagination, enthusiasm, dedication, hard work and a more than a little luck. Even for the professionals it's proved immensely difficult at times; perhaps that's why so many private press records remain so obscure and elusive to this day.

Herein we examine a variety of tracks from a selection of privately pressed jazz records, released in the US between 1964 and 1987. - Sounds of the Universe