Hi Allan,
I know what you mean about all of the reissued Blue Note on LP never beating an original. Ron and I felt EXACTLY the same way....until now. On the other hand I really have never felt that those Prestige 45 RPMs were too bright. Actually this brings up an interesting point. I do feel, after having heard the original master tapes, that Rudy's original BN and Prestige LPs were cut a little on the hot side. And very cleverly so. When you consider that the typical home gear of the 50's and early 60's tended to lose high frequency information, Rudy was simply compensating for the enviroment of the time. Very clever! However, when you listen to originals now, using modern gear, the originals while exciting, are a bit over the top at the upper end IMO. But its a sound, as you say, that we've all grown to know and love after all these years. It's "how Blue Notes sound."
The BN 45s sound just more like the band is there.....or that you are there with them. They aren't bright, they aren't dull. But there's just more "there" there if you know what I mean. And gobs of tonal color, something that usually gets washed out on various reissues.
cheers,
Joe