People often ask me what music I have. Remember that I am now only in my third year since restarting with vinyl after selling a mammoth collection of really super stuff in the mid eighties. Then followed an in-out situation with CD, which just never meant the same as the LPs I had. In 1999 I started with DVD and spent a bit of money purchasing music. But so what? DVD music was just another digital format adding video. And when I look at Queen today as they were in the mid seventies I prefer hearing than seeing them! My return to vinyl started in early 2004 when I bought a JunkMail, saw an ad for a Planar 3, bought it without hesitation and had it serviced with new parts immediately. The rest is history. I have not seriously listened to any CD since and would watch the Elton John DVD just to irritate my teenage daughter. The vinyl collection is being rebuilt at a steady pace, thanks to second hand vinyl being available as well as incredible new releases. I love the female voice, hence the number of female artists (Eva Cassidy, Carol Kidd, Diana Krall, Alison Krauss, Joni Mitchell, Thelma Houston, Annie Lennox, Aimee Mann, Amanda McBroom, Carole King, Norah Jones, Sara K and Rickie Lee Jones) represented.
My system is based on ease of use and high quality sound. I am long past having time to struggle with finicky floating suspensions and record clamps. The Rega brand has a long and successful history and the P7 offers excellent sound, rock solid operation, ease of use and looks simply gorgeous. Put on the record, lower the arm and off you go. An Ortofon Jubilee MC cartridge mates beautifully with the excellent RB700 arm, feeding an Audio Synthesis Passion phono stage with a modified offboard power supply. The Jubilee is about as good as you can possibly get for a shade under R12 000.00. The locally produced Valve Audio Predator 200 watt valve amplifier takes over via a pair of Synergistic Recearch Alpha Stirling interconnects and drives a pair of Bowers and Wilkins 703 three-way loudspeakers through Ecosse MS 4.45 biwired loudspeaker cables. The turntable and phono stage are seated on a beautifully crafted hi-fi stand designed and manufactured by Sound Structures. Since the P7 does not have any form of suspension, a solid stand is critical and the Sound Structures unit provides this.
The Predator is to be replaced by its more illustrious older brothers - the Valve Audio Genesis pre-amplifier and two Black Widow dual monoblock power amplifiers - allowing a bi-amped setup and enough current to drive just about anything. It's not really about more power though, but rather total control. The Predator is probably sufficient and I like it very much but getting the higher specification Genesis and Black Widow units is something I really look forward to and after this there is just simply no need to get anything more. For more information on Valve Audio products, visit www.valveaudio.co.za.
 |   Alpert, Herb: Rise Beautiful MFSL copy in pristine condition. Includes 1980, Rise and Aranjuez. Herb Alpert is a musician's delight and conjures magic with his ability to play the trumpet and fluegelhorn. I first heard Alpert as a kid when I would listen to my parents' copy of Herb Alpert: Tijuana Sound of Brass and Whipped Cream and Other Delights. |
 |   Alvin, Dave: Blackjack David A truly outstanding album by Americana / blues artist Dave Alvin. The music is deep and brooding, with lots of bass. The man's voice is excellent and can go really low. Nurtured by Fairport Convention's Richard Thompson, you can clearly here the influence the latter has had. Quite possibly the best Mobile Fidelity title I own! This is not background music. It demands your full attention. |
 |   Baez, Joan: Diamonds and Rust I was born some ten years too late and was a little guy unaware of the incredible period in music, circa 1968 to 1974. Luckily my parents knew all about the Beatles / Elvis period, then the late sixties / early seventies "flower power" movement. Which is the period a lot of my music comes from. Joan Baez is an icon of the period and Diamonds and Rust a must to have. The woman has an incredible voice. Just listen to Hello in there. No wonder this album was remastered by both Nautilus and Mobile Fidelity. I need not say more. Re-issued by A&M and pressed in Germany, this is stunningly quiet example of why vinyl beats any other format for sheer sound. |
 |  Bee Gees: Living Eyes is a Japanese RSO pressing of a great album by this supergroup. Living Eyes, He's a Liar and Wildflower are only some of the excellent songs found here. The CD version is officially out of print and a simple little silver disk with this title is said to fetch 300 US$ on eBay! My vinyl copy cost me 20 US$. I remember owning the same title on USA pressed vinyl many years ago and it sounded awesome. There was no way I was going to pass up the chance of getting an even better Japanese pressing. |
 |  Bee Gees: Spirits having flown A radical departure from what they had done before this (the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack) was required to keep the Bee Gees success running. And they made no mistake here. Sure some will not like the high pitched voices, but then this is what made them famous. A second hand Nautilus half speed mastered copy bought through Audiophile USA for about 40 US$. Priceless. |
 | Beethoven, Ludwig Von: Ninth Symphony Beethoven's 9th Symphony" - with Georg Solti conducting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, is a 2LP Gatefold remastered by Mobile Fidelity (MFSL 2-516) with this album having the Chatsworth, Ca. address and the super-quality vinyl pressed in Japan. The 2 LPs each feature one of the four movements on each side. Inside the gatefold cover are extensive liner notes about Beethoven and the Symphony, as well as credits, along with photos of some of the musical members. |
 |  Beethoven: Symphony 5, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Carlo Maria Giulini You can never have too many versions of the Fifth Symphony! |
 | Beethoven: Symphony 5, Berlin Philharmonic, Herbert Von Karajan You can never have too many versions of the Fifth Symphony! |
 | Beethoven, Ludwig Von: Klavierkonzert No 5 Emperor, Berlin Philharmonic, Leitner, Kempff Beautiful version of Beethoven's Emperor Concerto. |
 |  Bolling, Claude and Lagoya, Alexandre: Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano Stunning CBS half speed mastered copy. It is said on the cover that there is no one who can play a flute like Jean-Pierre Rampal. Listen to him and then you will know why. Then put him with Claude Bolling on jazz piano and you have a combination quite unlike anything you will ever find. That one is a true classical exponent and the other a jazz one, being able to gell so well together is just awesome. It's a scarce item and you may only be able to find it on CD. Even then, go for it! You should also look out for other collaborations between both Rampal and Bolling, working with other artists. |
 |   Bolling, Claude and Rampal, Jean-Pierre: Concerto for Classic Guitar and Jazz Piano Experimental music does not come any better than this. Having been bitten by the Flute album, I wondered if guitar and piano could be as successful together. The I found this in a down town collector's store. A mint Dutch CBS pressing, it is crystal clear and most enjoyable! Just listen to the way Latino / Spanish music sounds when jacked up with a bit of spicy jazz. Bolling teams up with Alexandre Lagoya, an Egyptian born guitarist and flamenco exponent. Together the concerto is excellent and I still have not decided which is the better - Bolling and Rampal on piano and flute; or Bolling and Lagoya on piano and guitar. And while you listen to the music, take time to study the cover sleeve. |
 | Brubeck, Dave: Time Out This is an artist whom I discovered because someone else did not want the record anymore. Easy listening and if you don't know the title track then you certainly don't listen to music at all. Take 5 is well known, and many of the other Brubeck music would have featured at some point or another in your life. It's just that this sort of music does not jump up and grab you by the throat. You have to find it. And what a find! Look out for two pressings of this album: the Classic Records 33rpm 200 gram pressing and the same pressing but at 45rpm and spread over more than one disk. If you don't like getting up to turn over recods then the 33rpm is perfect. But get the 45rpm and be ready for sonic bliss. |
 |  Bush, Kate: The Kick Inside The great debut album by Kate Bush contains some very "haunting" songs, the least not "Wuthering Heights", which, if you have read the book, you will understand. One of my all time favourite LPs but that said, I don't really like her other works. |
 |  Cantrell, Laura: Humming by the flowered vine is a singer whom I discovered recently and this music just simply jumped off the record and has clung to me ever since. A beautiful voice in a pop / country setting makes this a real treat, given that she is not a full time singer. The 150 gram pressing is really detailed and open and has received many accolades. |
 | Carnes, Kim: Mistaken Identity is another of my eBay finds for next to nothing! I had this LP years ago and getting it again was imperative. |
 | Cars, The: The Cars I owned this album as a Nautilus pressing in the early eighties and it was a joy. The MFSL pressing though, is miles better. One of a few 70's LPs that I still immensely enjoy. |
 |  Cassidy, Eva: Songbird is an incredibly moving album about someone who knows where she is going and how to get there. A spiritual wake up call for many who think life is a simple stroll in the park. Christine McVie's song gets new meaning here and the jazz oriented music sounds wonderful. Some of it is live but with audience applause edited out. Read the review... |
 |  Cohen, Leonard: Greatest Hits I bought this album because my wife likes the music of Mathys Roets, who covers Leonard Cohen extremely well. I ordered the LP, got a CD version in the meantime and missus was not impressed at all. Then the LP arrived and suddenly she likes it, saying the CD is thin and tinny. Which bodes well for my future vinyl purchases. The pressing is absolutely stunning, done by Simply Vinyl and even a quick look at the vinyl shows you that this is something special. Unfortunately as is the case with all my Simply Vinyl pressings, they tend to be bowl shaped. See my remarks on Roxy Music and Dire Straits lower down. Nevertheless, an excellent collection by Mr Cohen. |
 |  Cole, Holly: Don't smoke in bed is another one of my female pop / jazz favourites. Often used for demonstration purposes The Tennessee Waltz showcases an amazing voice, accompanied only by the two gentlemen on guitar and piano, focusing on the voice rather than a cacophony of instruments. The variety of songs are well known and very relaxing. My kind of music. This is a true 200 gram disk from Classic Records and looks and feels classy. The surface is silky quiet despite a very fine cut. |
 |  Crawford, Hank: Soul of the Balad Fifties music, and ballads played by jazzman Crawford. A great blend of jazz, blues and a touch of swing. An excellent production by Mobile Fidelity and the lowest number I own on the Anadisq series - 00051 of 7500! |
 | Creedence Clearwater Revival: Green River, my first CCR Acoustech remastered disk. 180 gram vinyl, pressed by RTI in the USA. The music is fresh, the bass fantastic and the remastering breathes new life into a classic. Tombstone shadow and Wrote a song for everyone are personal favourites. A must-have. My family are by now either deaf or are CCR converts as I play any of the LPs at least once a day. Read the review... |
 | Creedence Clearwater Revival: Cosmo's Factory: Named after the recording studio where most of the work was done. Previously also available as a MFSL pressing, this is my second CCR LP, remastered by Acoustech and pressed on 180 gram super vinyl. Like Green River and Willy and the Poorboys, the Acoustech version is dynamic, unlike the MoFi version which is "dull". Run through the jungle makes for the best 11 minutes of rock and roll instrumentation ever. Read the review... |
 | Creedence Clearwater Revival: Willy and the Poorboys: My third CCR LP, also remastered by Acoustech (will be purchasing all seven). Fortunate Son (I like the political sarcasm here!), Midnight Special and Cotton Fields are special. The latter of course is not even written by CCR as it is an old traditional song, made famous in South Africa by two brothers by the name of Campbell. This is probably the best of the CCR albums. Read the review... |
 |  Criss, Sonny: Go Man! By the mid-'50s, William "Sonny" Criss was maturing as a significant voice on the alto saxophone. Heavily influenced by Charlie Parker, much of Criss' earlier output was plagued by a hurried time feel, awkward phrasing and an uncomfortably tense vibrato. Go Man!, one of three dates he did for the Imperial label, showcases a confident, energetic Criss on ten standard tunes and two original lines. Sonny Clark is heard here in fine form (a bit more aggressive and "on top of the beat" than usual) along with the very coherent team of bassist Leroy Vinnegar and drummer Lawrence Marable. Clark's piano introduces nearly every cut on this recording, and his crisp, inventive soloing is a perfect compliment for Criss' brightly expressive, lightening quick lines. Overall, a lively assortment of concisely rendered, boppish treatments. Sonny Criss' second effort for the now infamous Imperial label features tunes such as "Summertime," "How High the Moon," "Wailin with Joe" with Sonny accompanied by Yeatis Clark, Leroy Vinnegar and Lawrence Marable. Transferred from the original full track mono tapes by Bernie Grundman using Classic's "all tube" pure mono cutting system and pressed on Quiex 200g Super Vinyl Profile. |
 | Charlie Daniels Band: Fire on the mountain: Mint Epic half speed mastered copy of a brilliant bluegrass album. But then it could also be country, southern rock, blues, gospel. Whatever you'd like to call it, the southern flavour is ever present. The Charlie Daniels Band is today as strong as some 35 years ago. You will enjoy Caballo Diablo, Long haired country boy, Trufy, Georgia and The South's gonna do it. An extremely rare recording and pressing and an instant jewel in my collection. |
 | Crosby, Stills, Nash, Young, Taylor and Reeves: Déjà Vu: You do not have a proper entry in your collection if you do not have Déjà Vu. Having had one of those original Atlantic releases with the brown leather and gold embossed text, I just simply had to get it again. Remastered by Acoustech from the original two track tapes, it is pressed on 200 gram Quiex Vinyl. This sounds crazy, but if you listen to some of the songs while looking at the spinning record, the spinning green, orange and white Atlantic logo on the label has a mesmerising effect. A jewel and truly better than the MoFi version which, if you can find a sealed copy, will cost you about 200 US$. What I like about my copy it that it is so flat that (on the LP12 at least) I have to stop the platter before I can take the disk off as the edges are truly vertical and fit the LP12 platter exactly. Of course using a Rega does not present this problem. Read the review... |
 | Domingo, Placido and John Denver: Perhaps Love Stunning CBS half speed mastered copy. When I got this LP for the first time in the early eighties, Placido Domingo had already made a mark in the commercial market playing the lead role in the movie La Traviata and his teaming up with country legend John Denver work exceptionally well. There are some great tracks, including East of Eden. Finding this LP again was absolutely mandatory! |
 | Diamond, Neil: Hot August Night is an all time favourite and I have a Mobile Fidelity copy in absolutely mint condition. The cover is in such a good condition that I may as well have been the first to open it. The Hot August Night concert may have been recorded in the early seventies but it has endured as a live masterpiece. I don't know what else there is to say about this milestone in recorded music history. Apparently there's nothing captured on video about this event. |
 | Diamond, Neil: You don't bring me flowers is a marvelous CBS half speed mastered recording which I bought second hand and immediately played Forever in blue jeans. It is years old but really in immaculate condition! There are many classic songs on this album and while the duet does not really do it for me, it is nevertheless a fine song. And who cares if Diamond is an ageing artist? The music is easy on the ear and I don't always wnat to use all my brain power to figure out what music is all about. |
 | Diamond, Neil: The Jazz Singer is a MFSL half speed mastered recording and testimony to just what can be achieved when extra care is taken to produce the album. Bought second hand from Audiophile USA, this copy is in absolutely flawless condition with not a single pop, tick or scratch to be found. According to the USA grading system this will be called Mint. I think it's better than that. And forget about the ridiculous review of this album found on the Rotten Tomatoes web site - enjoy the music of surely one of the USA's best ever artists. Who cares if the story line of the movie is a bit soppy? In any case, I'd shutup if my web site was called Rotten Tomatoes. It stinks and so do many of their reviews. Some of us are in fact quite normal and being weird is not always funny. The music and production are first class. Play America as often as you like. They are the only country with some national pride anyway. I enjoy the music. And that is really all that matters to me. |
 | Diamond, Neil: On the way to the sky I got this album because someone wanted to throw it away. You don't throw away vinyl. Someone else may want it later. This may not be the best work Diamond has ever produced, but then he is a legend and one can appreciate just about everything the man has done. The disk's condition, even after some 18 years, is mint. I am sure very few CDs would last this long. CBS import from the USA. |
 |   Diva: Original Soundtrack A haunting soundtrack made famous for La Wally, the theme song, still heard today (notably in a Ferrari / Shell advertisement). Some of the stuff is really weird but I bought it for the title song alone. |
 |   Dowling, Lesley Rae: Dowling, Lesley Rae is the debut album of South African musician Lesley Rae Dowling and contains many "hits" - The Spaniard and Grips of Emotion being just two. Surprising for a local pressing the sound quality is really very good. |
 | Dowling, Lesley Rae: Unravished Brides |
 | Dooby Brothers: Minute by Minute A rare find on a Nautilus half speed mastered superdisc. |
 | Fagen, Donald: The Nightfly: How I searched for a copy of this excellent album! Even a second hand copy would do nicely thanks. And this I found thanks to Audiophile USA's web site, as a sealed Japanese copy that cost an arm and a leg but is worth every cent spent on it. Fagen's solo effort after the demise of Steely Dan is simply a stunning collection of well composed songs. It would be difficult to single out one song but New Frontier gets the honours here because of the brilliance of the music and the tongue in cheek lyrics. But how do I leave out Maxine, Ruby Baby and IGY? A must for your collection - if you can find a copy. That I paid some 150US$ for my copy is completely irrelevant when this is surely the best possible version availale in any format. Full stop. |
 |  Forcione, Antonio: Tears of Joy Super pressing by The Naim Label in the UK ensures that this album follows in the Forcione tradition - immense talent by lead guitarist Antonio and the rest of his band. A great selection of mursical themes and rythms allow for plenty of variation. Try Meet me in Londen and Dedicato, two other Forcione albums, and experience a master in action. An all-instrumental album, it is a welcome break from the normal presentation of leading vocalist and backing band arrangement. |
 | Garfunkel, Art: Art Garfunkel: A wonderful LP and a gem considering I paid R5.00 for it, sealed. Brand new. CBS USA. Break away is a fantastic song and I often use it to demonstrate the incredible dynamic range vinyl has. It contains some of Art's best works, even if he has to use Paul Simon to help out on one of the songs. Listening to A heart in New York I wonder what he must have felt like on September 11... Read the review... |
 | Gayle, Crystal: When I dream: It is really sad when people get rid of their vinyl collections, whatever the reason may be. But then buying into some of these records can be a rewarding experience. This is a Nautilus half speed mastered Superdisc and in pristine condition. Crystal is a fine pop / country singer and also a gifted gospel singer. Try Wayward Wind and you will see why. To date I have three versions of The Wayward Wind - sung by Emmylou Harris on Cimmaron, Neil Young on Old Ways and then this one by Gayle. |
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Gershwin, George: Rhapsody in blue Rhapsody in Blue and An American in Paris are Gershwin favourites and have been played by many. This is a Columbia half speed mastered disk which I got, sealed, for R10.00 (for US viewers, this is about 1.50 US$). In this version Michael Tilson Thomas is a bit on the fast side and neither of the two pieces portray the trendy but relaxed feel of the 20's I have heard them played through other interpretations. I remember having a high resolution 45rpm disk with both pieces. It was a masterpiece in every sense. |
 | Gilmour, David: David Gilmour: This early work of Pink Floyd front man shows what was to come on the Floyd's next album, The Wall. The man has style and knows how to play a guitar. Brand new CBS 180 gram pressing and despite being a bit warped, you can't hear the surface noise one would expect. |
 | Gilmour, David: About Face: Knocked by many for failing to be a success outside of Pink Floyd, David nevertheless does very well with this album. It's a CBS USA copy, is 20 years old and sounds as good as if it were pressed yesterday. I also had the CD, a UK Harvest. Love on the air and All lovers are deranged display two different styles used by Gilmour very effectively. I really miss my 45rpm remix of Blue Light. The man is no slouch with a guitar in hand and the cover showing the weathered (Stratocaster?) instrument seems to yearn back to pre-Wall days! Which is probably what the title is all about. |
 | Gilmour, David: On an island: Time changes people. Looking at a much older David Gilmour, gone are the long haired days of the seventies, replaced by a much more docile artist, clearly at the top of his game. On an Island is slow and easy going. There are still some amazing guitar riffs, but these are now less franctic as in the Pink Floyd days. A truly stunning album and quite possibly his last. The songs are intelligent and proves Gilmour has learnt his life lessons. Ol' Dave can retire, knowing that he has achieved top honours. |
 |  Grusin, Dave: Discovered Again! Sheffield Lab Treasury, contains some wonderful jazz music. Relaxing to the extreme. No surface noise. Second hand copy found for R50.00 in a downtown store where there must be a zillion other LPs. I also found the original Sheffield pressing a while ago, which was pressed from the original studio recording and not the tape, as with the Treasury series. You may not play this everyday, but when you do, don't just play it as background music (muzak). Rather listen carefully and hear a master at work. Read the review... |
 | Herrmann, Bernard: Four Faces of Jazz Herrmann worked principally for 20th Century-Fox from the mid '40s until the end of the '50s, and did brilliant work on such movies as The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Beneath the 12-Mile Reef, and Journey to the Center of the Earth; in the '50s and '60s, Herrmann also contributed notably to the success of Alfred Hitchcock's films, and wrote inspired scores for early films by Brian De Palma and Martin Scorsese. He died the night he finished work on Taxi Driver. The Four Faces of Jazz showcases some artists you would not necessarily associate with jazz - Igor Stravinsky being one. The other three, Darius Milhaud, Kurt Weill and George Gerswin are jazz specialists. Listen to Stravinsky playing jazz and you can hardly imagine that he also composed classical ballet pieces like La Sacre Du Printemps (The Rite of Spring) and Petroushka. Another 200 gram Anadisq with a low number 0481, which could not have come at a better time. |
 | Hi-Fi News Analogue Test Record Not music but certainly worth the investment. Your system needs to be tweaked and while there are many tools to do the job, the best ones are your two ears! A series of test signals tests for tracking ability, azimuth, VTA and rumble. A must-have. |
 | Hindemith: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra; Mozart, WA: Concerto No 3" The Goosen's / London Symphony recordings from 1959 feature Joseph Fuchs as the soloist on these Bert Whyte recordings at Walthamstow Assembly Hall in London - the same hall used extensively by the Decca and Kenneth Wilkinson. The performance is electrifying and wonderfully complemented by the 35mm sound which has a textural richness that is more realistic than any other tape format. The LP was cut DIRECTLY FROM THE 35mm MAGNETIC FILM using a vintage Westrex 1551 tape machine, with specially built playback electronics that are vastly superior to any others used on these machines to playback the original 35mm tapes. The Len Horowitz / History of Recorded Sound specially modified 1551, fitted with brand new playback heads matched to the revolutionary playback electronics was stationed at Bernie Grundman Mastering in Hollywood. With Len Horowitz running the playback machine and Bernie Grundman mastering from the three track 35mm tapes, Classic Records has been able to cut the legendary sound and performances DIRECTLY FROM THE 35mm MAGNETIC FILM through Classic's "ALL TUBE" tape playback system and cutting system at Bernie Grundman Mastering in Hollywood. The LP's are pressed on Classic's 200g Super Vinyl Profile making it possible to get ever nuance out of the non-distorted grooves that make SVP sound superior to all other records on the market today. Authentic tip on construction jackets with all original artwork and labels add to this must have deluxe LP edition! |
 | Hiroshima: Hiroshima East meets west so to speak, when traditional Japanese instruments mix with western style guitars, saxophone and drums. Called fusion, the bridge between different styles of music can work surprisingly well. This is easy listening. My MFSL copy was a gift and is really in mint condition. Those old MFSL pressings were made from high quality and hard vinyl. |
 | Hockensmith, Hadley: Heartsongs is on first inspection nothing special. But a silver label on the plastic cover states that it is pressed with virgin vinyl by Meadowlark Records, known for great gospel music. And while the music is not strictly gospel, the musicians know where they are heading. Some outstanding instrumental music is done a huge favour by the inclusion of Scotland and Montsanto Park. This is music for the heart, from the heart. |
 | Holst, Gustav: The Planets is one of those rare pieces of classical music. And with Sir Georg Solti in charge of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, this is probably the ultimate combination of composer, conductor, orchestra and production team. It's a tad too fast though and the opening bars of Mars suggest that Solti was in no mood to loiter around. My MFSL copy was a brand new one which I found on Audiophile USA for a real bargain, sealed. This is one of the MFSL classics, also released as a UHQR recording on 200 gram vinyl. |
 | Houston, Thelma, and Pressure Cooker: I've got the music in me is originaly a Sheffield Lab Treasury direct to disk recording and the Treasury series are pressings made from the tapes recorded during the live recording. Some of the orchestration is a bit over the top but Houston's vocals are strong and passionate, especially the title song, including its reprise at the end of the recording. It took me many years to find another copy on vinyl and the one I have now was so ridiculously cheap, I have to be careful not to loose my appreciation for a really outstanding piece of work. A recent find has seen the original pressing added to the catalogue and I thus now own both the original and Treasury series. |
 | Jones, Howard: Dream into action I'm not quite sure if this is the last of the New Wave movement, a bit of calmer punk or what but I was just drawn to this album when it was released in the mid eighties. While I have nothing else by this singer, Jones does his thing here. Excellent Elektra pressing from the USA. I previously owned a German pressing which was simply superb (all the German WB pressings excel) and the American pressing comes a close second. |
 | Jones, Norah: Come away with me: My second Norah Jones LP. The old Hank Williams song, Cold cold heart sounds better than ever before. A brilliant album made even better by being presented on 200 gram Quiex Super Vinyl. Surface noise? What surface noise? Whether Jones will maintain the momentum, even after the second successful album is to be seen. I hope it will. Read the review... |
 | Jones, Norah: Feels like home has made Norah Jones a household name. Pressed on 200 gram Quiex Super Vinyl, it's quiet and beautifully presented. Not for anyone who becomes depressed easily! Here I speak for both the albums: This lady is here to stay. Enjoy the innocent but beautifully mature voice. I trust that a lot more will come from her and that it won't be ruined by commercialism. Read the review... |
 |  Katrina and the Waves Where were you when this was played on the airwaves? I was based in the northern parts of the Kruger National Park 1986 doing my national service when someone put this into the casette player. I was hooked immediately and bought the album the minute I was able to. There's nothing fancy about the music, just cool pop. Got this as a gift from a good friend.
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 |  Kidd, Carol: All my tomorrows Recorded by Linn Records because, and this is stated on their web site, there was nothing else sonically good enough to demonstrate their turntable, this album really is a sonic masterpiece. Carol Kidd is a highly acclaimed jazz artist and was once asked by Frank Sinatra to open one of his shows. I like Dat Dere, a cute song about little girl expectations. But it is really one complete performance rather than individual songs.
On this album I was immersed by songs such as My Funny Valentine and the cute Dat Dere, which I first heard on a Rickie Lee Jones live show. Kidd's voice is not the type you'd usually associate with jazz and smoke filled bars. Instead the voice is crystal clear and has a child like innocence in certain cases. There is not a single song here that does not deserve to be included. Certainly not party music but rather to be enjoyed with the company of one. Seriously recommended as it is not likely to be repressed after the 2000 batch has been sold out. If only the rest of her recordings were available on vinyl. [ Read the review... ] |
 | King, Carole: Tapestry Why is it that all the good female vocalists' surnames are in the J to M range? My copy is a Columbia Half Speed Mastered edition. Not that this superb album needs the technical lift, but hey, if it's available, buy it. Classic songs here and I can easily imagine the laid back scene as portrayed on the cover. This album, along with some other albums of the same period, has defined the music of the seventies and uses vocals as its main driving force. While some have endured, unfortunately the eighties introduced a new wave, pop and glitzy culture based on what you could do with instruments and computers, relegating decent singing to the back seats. |
 | Klemmer, John: Touch Beautiful MFSL copy in excellent condition. The first commercial album to be used by Mobile Fidelity to prove the advantages of decently mastered music, pressed on high quality vinyl. It is an early pressing with upright text. The music might seem outdated in 2006 but listened to in context of mid-seventies fusion, it far surpasses the artificial disco stuff of the time. |
 | Klugh, Earl: Finger Paintings is an all time classic album. The man's ability on guitar is truly awesome, hence the title - painting sound with your fingers. I guess I could have gone for a more substantial pressing such as the MFSL (standard) or the UHQR (200 gram MFSL). I will stick with this one. Sometimes you really do not need some fancy pressing to enjoy the music. |
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Krall, Diana: The girl in the other room This was love at first hear. If you even think you can like jazz, piano and good vocals, this album is a must. It is a German import and stunningly quiet for a standard pressing. Listen to Black Crow, a Joni Mitchell song, beautifully played and sung in a jazz environment. Krall's piano work is outstanding and many songs were written by husband Elvis Costello. The album is spread over two disks, which does make for more work swapping and turning them over. But it also means that the album cutting is given more breathing space, hence the high technical standard. Departure Bay is a fitting end to two great pieces of vinyl. There's a rumour that Classic Records are about to release the entire Verve catalogue by this artist on 200 gram vinyl. |
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Krauss, Alison, and Union Station: So long so wrong is my current favourite. The only vinyl version available is from Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab and you will not find a better recording. Excellent "bluegrass" music and a valuable addition to my collection. There is not a single drum to be heard. Apart from Ms Krauss' excellent abilities as lead vocalist and fiddle player, strings front men Ron Block and Dan Tyminski are incredible artists in their own right. If ever Mobile Fidelity wanted to make a return statement, this is it. It is simply one of the best technical presentations from them I have ever heard, using GAIN 2 Ultra Analog mastering. Read the review... |
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Krauss, Alison, and Union Station: Live Just got my copy of this magnificent album. Officially one of the lowest numbers in the country. |
 | Lightfoot, Gordon: Sundown comes from the early Seventies and yet has not aged at all. Beautiful 6 and 12 string guitar work by Lightfoot is the focus of the music along with the excellent vocals. Everyone will have heard Sundown at some time but the album is filled with really excellent pop / folk music. Mine is an excellent MFSL recording, one of the first Mobile Fidelity versions with the upright lettering on the cover. Bought second hand from Audiophile USA, the condition of the disk is nothing short of brand new. |
 |  Little River Band, The: The Little River Band What a way to start an album! The first song is the long version of It's a long way there, some eight minutes, compared to the four minutes or so on the Greatest Hits album. I got four LRB albums from Steve Strange, listed here, except for First under the Wire, which is my MFSL pressing. These are all pressed in the USA on the Harvest label. This is classic seventies pop / rock and a severley underrated band. |
 | Little River Band, The: First Under The Wire: Australia has often produced excellent musicians. Think of Midnight Oil, the Bee Gees, Olivia Newton John, Men at Work and, of course, The Little River Band. My copy is a second hand MFSL, brought from Audiophile USA, and like the Gordon Lightfoot album above, in absolutely pristine condition. If like me you have heard of this band only through the Greatest Hits compilation, then this album is perfect place to start. While all the songs carry some love gone wrong theme, this album has some great music. Hard Life (Prelude) and Hard Life on Side 2 are excellent purely for the instrumentation but the entire Side 2 forms a coherent whole. A straight rock / pop song with an incredibly powerful message of hope and salvation, Man on the run, is central to this part of the album. Cool Change and Lonesome Loser on Side 1 are commercial successes. |
 | Little River Band, The: Sleeper Catcher |
 | Little River Band, The: Diamantina Coctail |
 | Little River Band, The: The Net |
 | Manhattan Transfer: Live will be remembered by many for the song Chanson D-Amour but this is for sure not the only reason why this is an exceptional album. The live performance is fast paced and the performance of the artists top quality. A big band, swing type mood prevails. This is relaxing music and a well deserved break from more serious stuff. An early MFSL pressing with the original upright lettering, it denotes a first pressing, making it more valuable than the later pressings of the same title with the slanted lettering. |
 | Manilow, Barry: 1 may not be everyone's cup of tea but this was a sealed copy of an early MFSL recording, pressed on wafer thin vinyl. I had been looking for a copy for a long time. |
 |  Manilow: Barry: Swing Street Cool and suave urban jazz does not come any better than this and if ever there was reason to believe in the virtues of vinyl, then this is it. A simple 1987 disk, pressed by Arista, shows surprisingly little surface noise for a standard, commercial pressing. Nice and relaxed music for time when you simply want to do just that - relax. |
 | Manchester, Manchester: Melissa Manchester Early seventies music by a well known singer, my copy mastered by Mobile Fidelity is in pristine condition. The music may not be sonically spectacular but that does not mean it won't sound good in the half speed mastered format. |
 | Manchester, Melissa: Don't cry out loud This time a Nautilus half speed mastered recording, Manchester's voice is clear and the music relaxing. I need to spend a bit more time with it before making a more decent assessment. |
 | Marsh, Warne: Jazz of Two Cities 200gram pressing from Classic Records. Warne Marsh and Ted Brown playing tenor Saxes are joined by Ronnie Ball on piano, Ben Tucker on bass and Jeff Morton on drums on this Classic Imperial Series reissue. The original full track mono master tape was used on Classic's "all tube" MONO cutting system at Bernie Grundman Mastering with Bernie "Bebop" Grundman doing the set-up and cutting. Pressed on Classic's own Quiex Super Vinyl Profile, tunes include Smog Eyes, Ear Conditioning, Lover Man, Jazz of Two Cities, Dixie's Dilemma, and more. |
 | Mulligan, Gerry and Desmond, Paul: Blues in Time The Four Faces of Jazz showcases some artists you would not necessarily associate with jazz - Igor Stravinsky being one. The other three, Darius Milhaud, Kurt Weill and George Gerswin are jazz specialists. Listen to Stravinsky playing jazz and you can hardly imagine that he also composed classical ballet pieces like La Sacre Du Printemps (The Rite of Spring) and Petroushka. Another 200 gram Anadisq with a low number 0481, which could not have come at a better time. |
 | McLachlan, Sarah: Afterglow During the mid-'90s, Sarah McLachlan was a near-ubiquitous presence in pop music, establishing adult alternative pop radio with 1994's "Fumbling Toward Ecstasy" and 1997's "Surfacing" and spearheading the popular Lilith Fair touring festival. Afterglow is firmly within the McLachlan signature sound, a softly tuneful, mildly atmospheric blend of classic singer/songwriterism and a touch of vaguely dreamy alternative pop, all shined and immaculately produced by Pierre Marchand. Classic's 200g QUIEX Super Vinyl Profile allows you to hear every nuance of the haunting production. |
 |  McLean, Don: Believers contains some really excellent music by the artists probably best known for American Pie and Vincent. Released in 1981, this is a standard US pressing but no less valuable than any of the others. There's a casual mood to be experienced. Crazy Eyes, Love Letters, Love Hurts are mellow. But Sea Cruise and Left for Dead on the Road to Love speed up things. |
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McBroom, Amanda: Growing up in Hollywood Town is one record I have been hunting for a long time, finally finding it for an absolute bargain. Pressed by Sheffield Lab as a direct to disk recording, I have one of the originals, not the Treasury version that was made available later. It is often mentioned as one of the best ever Sheffield Lab recordings. There are some very powerful songs on this album and McBroom's writing often depicts sadness (The Portrait, Amanda and Dusk). Interestingly, the Sheffield Lab disks may be technically excellent, but the vinyl pressings are often thin and usually wobble. I can only imagine what it could have sounded like if 180 or 200 gram vinyl was used. While the focus is very much on the vocalist, let us not forget the huge contribution made by Lincoln Mayorga, a tremendous piano player who also does the arrangements for most Sheffield Lab recordings he is involved with. |
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 Mellencamp, John: Uh Huh 1983 album by American rock and roller. Mercury pressing from the UK and of really great quality. This was still the "Cougar" part of Mellencamp's career, a bit of a wild character but never missing to drive home a point. Like Bruce Springsteen, Mellencamp is the working class's kind of person who makes no bones how he feels about the American Dream. Crumblin' Down and Pink Houses are really excellent pop tunes and Pink Houses has probably made him a household name, having performed this for President Reagan. While some of the songs are disposable, the final Golden Gates once again confirms his commitment to the cause of the average American working class with a really driving song. |
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Mellencamp, John: Scarecrow I guess there's very little difference between Scarecrow and Lonesome Jubilee as the theme is the same throughout, similar to that of Bruce Springsteen. But while The Boss draws the stadium filled crowds, Mellencamp is sort of the poor man's Springsteen. Nevertheless, Scarecrow has some terrific songs and Minutes to Memories and Rumbleseat stand out. My copy is nothing special and I wonder if the MFSL Anadisq (Only test pressings exist and these are scarce.) will take care of the ultra thin bass. The hunt is on to find such a test pressing. |
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Mellencamp, John: The Lonesome Jubilee is one of the albums that helped Mellencamp really crack a wider market. Having partially dropped the "Cougar" bit in his name by adding the surname, the man has shaken off the wild boy attitude, has grown up and it shows in his music. The lyrics are very politically / socio-economically laden. Yep, the Land of the Free is not all it seems to be and not so free after all. It is indeed very disturbing to hear what is happening there. Rickie Lee Jones knows this as well and voices her opinion about it, much to the irritation of the current government! This is a standard 120 gram Mercury pressing but the merit of the album is underlined in that Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab used it to repress it as an Anadisq 200 gram issue using GAIN technology in the early nineties. My purchase of this was on an eBay auction. The record has a low number (3195) and sounds wonderful. |
 | Miller, Steve: Fly like and eagle is a new purchase, previously unknown to me but what an album! I will grow to enjoy this artist tremendously. Remastered for Capitol in 1999, pressed by RTI for Capitol on 180 gram super vinyl and while not super flat, the arm and cartridge ride the waves without any audible distortion. Can't imagine why I never noticed this artist before. A collection of pop and country, I will take a long time to get bored with this disk. |
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Mormon Tabernacle Choir: Voices in Harmony Two massive choirs come together and do what the MTC does best - sing well known gospel and American patriotic songs as if they were angels. This album features the MTC on one side and The Vocal Majority takes over on the flip side. My sealed CBS copy cost me a cool R5.00. That's less than one US dollar. A mix of gospel and traditional songs show why the Americans, despite some spectacular failures in their history, cannot be beaten in the patriotism stakes. Most enjoyable. |
 | Mormon Tabernacle Choir: The Mormon Tabernacle Choir Album: 23 Greatest Hits may not be everyone's cup of tea and is in the same tradition and style as the one mentioned above. But I got it for some 10 US dollars, it's a double album pressed by CBS Masterworks, sounds superb and to top it all, uses the Philidelphia Orchestra conducted by Eugene Ormandy. So the musical presentation has to be spectacular. And it is. If your knowledge of classical music in a choral setting lacks a bit then this could be the album to start with. I'd love to be able to hear this in the appropriate setting of a truly massive cathedral and huge organ. God Bless America starts what is a wonderful collection of songs. Listen to Woodie Guthrie's This land is your land, When Johnny Comes Marching Home (only bettered by Leontyne Pryce's soprano voice which I have on CD only), Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring and other gospel favourites. That the scene of clouds and sun on the cover is upside down is barely noticeable. Magnificent. |
 | Mussorgsky, Ravel, Stravinsky: Pictures from an Exhibition, Firebird: Philadelphia Orchestra, Riccardo Muti Russian music has a sense of national pride that is only rivalled by the American patriotic songs. Ravel's contribution to Mussorgsky's work is immense. Some thirty five years later, Stravinsky's Fire Bird ballet broke new ground. The 1918 version is of course a sort of Version 2 of the 1910 work. |
 | Mussorksky, Modest: Pictures at an Exhibition, Night on the Bare Mountain Another of the series of EVEREST recordings done in London with Sir Malcolm Sargent conducting the London Symphony in this event performing a couple of old war horses in Pictures and Night on Bald Mountain. To say these are definitive performances would be overstating the case, however, they are perfectly executed if at a bit slower pace than others - notably the Reiner / CSO on RCA. Rene Leibowitz's performances on Power of the Orchestra (RCA VCS 2659) have been the sonic standards for many years but the Everest takes the sonics that make these pieces sing to a new level of reality - you can for a moment actually believe you are in the Hall. It takes a certain majesty to pull off full orchestra reality in the home environment and this recording comes as close as possible to fully achieving that effortless sense of size necessary to do so. Bert Whyte is again at the controls for another outstanding EVEREST 35 mm recording at London's famed Walthamstow Assembly Hall - the same hall used extensively by the Decca and Kenneth Wilkinson. The LP was cut DIRECTLY FROM THE 35mm MAGNETIC FILM using a vintage Westrex 1551 tape machine, with specially built playback electronics that are vastly superior to any others used on these machines to playback the original 35mm tapes. The Len Horowitz / History of Recorded Sound specially modified 1551, fitted with brand new playback heads matched to the revolutionary playback electronics was stationed at Bernie Grundman Mastering in Hollywood. With Len Horowitz running the playback machine and Bernie Grundman mastering from the three track 35mm tapes, Classic Records has been able to cut the legendary sound and performances DIRECTLY FROM THE 35mm MAGNETIC FILM through Classic's "ALL TUBE" tape playback system and cutting system at Bernie Grundman Mastering in Hollywood. The LP's are pressed on Classic's 200g Super Vinyl Profile making it possible to get ever nuance out of the non-distorted grooves that make SVP sound superior to all other records on the market today. Authentic tip on construction jackets with all original artwork and labels add to this must have deluxe LP edition! |
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Newmann, Michael: Italian Pleasures Simply the most stunning piece of classical guitar work ever, and this from a young man of only twenty at that stage. Beautiful 19th century classical music especially for guitar. A Sheffield Lab recording, in pristine condition with not a single pop or tick anywhere. |
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Newton, James Howard, and Friends: Rock instrumentals composed for synthesizers There is a lot to be learned from adding synthesizers to your music and while many think that it takes creativity out of the hands of the artist, this does not have to be true, as proven when a group of much sought after musicians get together for a direct to disk recording, split only by the end of Side One. Excellent music that it sure to test your system to the limit. One of the songs is also used on the Sheffield Lab Track Record. |
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Omartian, Michael: Adam Again I had to search for a long time to find an album of this gifted artist where he is not performing as session musician for someone else. This is an excellent gospel orientated album and is very scarce. He is joined by his wife and also by friend Lee Ritenour. Pressed in 1976 this album was sealed and stored in some warehouse until discovered by the guys from Audiophile USA. There's not much (good) Christian music available on vinyl but this counts as one of them. |
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Orbison, Roy: Greatest Hits Now this was one of those impulsive purchases but what a gem it is! Re-issued by Classic Records and pressed on 200 gram Quiex Super Profile Vinyl, there is nothing to find fault with. The surfaces are quiet and the presentation of the music sonically outstanding, despite the recording techniques of days gone by. |
 | Pablo Cruise: Place in the sun OK, I admit to never ever having heard music of this group before and only ever recall seeing the Mobile Fidelity half speed master in specialists record shops. Now I own it but my wife listens to it. |
 | Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon I owned this very same LP from 1981 to 1988, sold the lot and then by a stoke of luck found it again at the end of 2008. I also have the 30th anniversary reissue. |
 | Rachmaninoff: Svjatoslav Richter: Klavierkonzert No 2 in C minor, Six preludes One of my older Deutsche Grammophon pressings in mint condition, known as an older version because of the lack of the tulip border on the label, Rachmaninoff's concerto comes to life through the impeccable work of the Russian pianist. Using the Nathional Philharmonic Orchestra of Warschau and with Stanislaw Wislocki as backup, this is a testimony to the wealth of music from the USSR of old. |
 | Rampal, Jean Piere: Encores Rampal's genius with the flute is well known in jazz circles, especially with his concertos for flute and Jazz Piano with Claude Bolling. But the flute is after all intended for classical compositions and this is where it comes to its own. This excellent CBS Masterworks pressing contains music for flute, from composers such as Doppler, Bizet, Mozart, Gluck, Teleman, Haydn and Bach, all beautifully performed under the guidance of Japanese maestro Shigeobu Yaaoka and the Tokyo Concert Orchestra. |
 | Rafferty, Gerry: City to City is the 1978 album from which Baker Street was taken. Too many people listened to this song in isolation. The entire album is quite brilliant and many songs stand out. I once owned the album on Mobile Fidelity and today this item is worth a fortune. Somehow it did not sound as well as a standard German or Dutch pressings. My first copy was a second hand bargain and in mint condition, except for the label on side two which is stuck off center and it sounds really nasty when the cartridge reaches the end and traverses the paperwork... but I just got a new copy, pressed on 180 gram vinyl by Simply Vinyl. Now this is a real beauty. It's super quiet and much more open and "spacy" than my other copy. The problem with the bowl shaped disk has appeared again. See my comments on Supertramp's Breakfast in America. |
 | Ravel, Maurice: Bolero: La Valse, Rhapsodie Espagnole. Boston Symphony Orchestra, Seiji Ozawa This is an item I bought at an auspice and is not really my favourite version of Ravel's beautiful and captivating rendition of a Spanish dancer on a table in a room full of men. The pace is relentless and at only some 14 minutes and 28 seconds, way too fast. Ozawa kills this magnificent piece by being in a hurry. Von Karajan's version, below, is much better. |
 | Ravel, Maurice: Bolero; Debussy: La Mer is one of a number of classical recordings on the London, Angel and EMI labels for which MFSL got the rights to remaster and re-issue. I have a few versions of Bolero and on this on the drummer is crystal clear and the bass exceptional. The central instrument is of course the drummer and it is quite amazing to see and hear this piece live. I saw it in the State Theatre in Pretoria and after maintaining perfect timing for 17 minutes, the drummer was drenched in sweat! The visual aspect of this piece is also well illustrated on the front cover - the bolero being a brisque Spanish dance - with vivid orange pink and brown dress. |
 | Respighi: Pines of Rome, Fountains of Rome |
 | Richard, Cliff: Every face tells a story Excellent collection of songs by English pop / gospel singer Cliff Richard. Every face tells a story has long been a favourite of mine, together with Don't turn the light out and some others. While in the army we had an impromptu, sort of unplugged, session of young guys who could sing and play guitar. The cover of the title song done by a young chap would really make Cliff proud if he could ever hear it. USA import. |
 | Kenny Rogers: Greatest Hits Country crooner Kenny Rogers makes no mistakes here. This compilation is an excellent buy on the MFSL label and sounds first class. You don't have to be a fan of country music to appreciate the man's talent. It's music that appeals to my wife and therefor my future purchases of vinyl have been secured! Of course I fail to understand how this can be a pressing made from the master tapes as it is a selection of songs from various other albums and so using those master tapes means cutting them and then splicing them together to form an "new" master tape. It's unlikely that the owners of the original master tapes would have allowed this. |
 |  Sara K: Water Falls is a stunningly produced Direct Metal Master (DMM) and technically by far the most advanced technology in vinyl mastering and reproduction available today. The album has an amazing presence, is silky quiet and the instruments and voice are tangible. If this is the way vinyl can go forward the digital formats may just as well die now as they can never hope to capture even a slice of what is offered here. The music is simply riveting and you can feel the musicians' fingers on the strings. |
 | Shostakovich, Dmitri: Symphony 9, Prokofiev: Lt Kije Suite Sargent seems to have a real feel for these Russian Orchestral favorites. Both performances are in the Sargent tradition of a little slower in pace than some of his contemporaries, however, as we all know faster is not always better. In this case the deliberate pace is very revealing of the glorious intricacy of these classical gems. Refreshing interpretations by a top notch conductor with a world class orchestra in the heart of the golden age of recording- what more can an audiophile ask for? These EVEREST 35mm recordings by Bert Whyte at London's famed Walthamstow Assembly Hall are truly Majestic in their size and sense of orchestral realism mostly due to the high and low frequency detail and dynamics that are recordable only on 35mm film. In the words, of Len Horowitz from History of Recorded Sound "35mm has its own wisdom". It is hard to describe other than to say that there is something about the live event that 35mm can capture and recreate that you can't get from conventional tape formats - there is a certain retained magic with 35mm as this disc, like the rest will attest. The LP was cut DIRECTLY FROM THE 35mm MAGNETIC FILM using a vintage Westrex 1551 tape machine, with specially built playback electronics that are vastly superior to any others used on these machines to playback the original 35mm tapes. The Len Horowitz / History of Recorded Sound specially modified 1551, fitted with brand new playback heads matched to the revolutionary playback electronics was stationed at Bernie Grundman Mastering in Hollywood. With Len Horowitz running the playback machine and Bernie Grundman mastering from the three track 35mm tapes, Classic Records has been able to cut the legendary sound and performances DIRECTLY FROM THE 35mm MAGNETIC FILM through Classic's "ALL TUBE" tape playback system and cutting system at Bernie Grundman Mastering in Hollywood. The LP's are pressed on Classic's 200g Super Vinyl Profile making it possible to get ever nuance out of the non-distorted grooves that make SVP sound superior to all other records on the market today. Authentic tip on construction jackets with all original artwork and labels add to this must have deluxe LP edition! |
 | Schubert, Franz: Sonata in A Major is an excellent direct to disc recording by Sheffield Lab in mint condition, the piano work played by Jerome Rose comes across beautifully and is custom with all Sheffield Labs recordings, was produced by Lincoln Mayorga, a piano expert himself. If there is one instrument where recording quality is critical, it must be piano. The music is lively and really open. A prized part of my collection. |
 | Seger, Bob: Against the wind Another bargain. I got this one, in the same pristine condition as Hot August Night and Melissa Manchester, because someone else did not want it anymore. If you own this record it will probably because of the title track, if nothing else. But the artwork is exceptional as well. Half speed mastered recording by Mobile Fidelity. |
 | Simon and Garfunkel: Bridge Over Troubled Waters A classic album in every respect. Great early seventies music from this New York duo. The CBS Mastersound pressing is superb and worth a fortune, if sealed. |
 | Sheffield Lab: Track Record Yeah, audiophiles must be crazy. Would you pay top dollars for 16 minutes worth of music? Said to be technically the best Sheffield Labs pressing ever, the groove spacing is so wide you could almost write between adjacent grooves. This was necessary because of the high resolution and quality, requiring enough space for the groove not to cause grooves crossing over one another. Digital formats have no way of capturing the incredible presence that a direk to disk recording offers and this disk is ample proof of this. |
 | Springsteen, Bruce: Nebraska is a solo effort by Bruce Springsteen, said by some to have been recorded in a motel, using only a guitar and harmonica. Haunting songs but giving hope with Reason to Believe. You can even hear the traffic outside the hotel. The music is reflected by the cover, showing a bleak and desolate American plains landscape. CBS USA. Mint. |
 |  Sky, 2 Williams, Flowers, Peek, Fry and Monkman come together to record classical music in a new way. Apart from their own compositions, famous names that are given a new coat of paint are Bach, Vivaldi and Rameau. The very first piece sets the tone: a flavour of Spanish dance called the Jota, performed here with an ever changing rhythm and tempo. Add musical influences from Arabica, Greece, France and central Europe, and you have a musical feast. |
 | Springsteen, Bruce: Live 1975 - 1985, 5 disk set. A must if you even remotely like Springsteen. Spans ten years on the road and gives an insight into what makes Springsteen an American icon. Personal highlights: This land is your land (because of the lyrics) and Cadillac Ranch (I like motor cars). Lows: Anything from the album Born in the USA, which is just too commercial for my taste. Have just received a sealed USA CBS copy. Of course, various live performances mean songs sound different than you may be used to. Read the review... |
 | Steely Dan: Aja A stunning album by Steel Dan, Aja is a late find. Isn't it strange that there is always something you should always have owned and for some reason either never got, or end up getting it almost too late? This is one of them. Not a single bad song and in a way much better than Gaucho. I recently found a Cisco pressing that simply outclasses the MFSL copy I have. |
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 Stravinsky, Igor: The Rite of Spring An excellent version of this very haunting music. Brilliantly mastered, there is not a single mistrack to be found. My copy is brand new, I got it from someone else who bought it and then never even bothered to open it. Of course, having a digitally mastered disk in an analogue environment may come as a surprise to some, but then you have to keep in mind the technical difficulties of recording classical music. So any effort to improve the sound is a bonus. And you are hardly going to have the nerve to tell Telarc that they don't know what they are doing... |
 | Strauss, Johan et al: Radetzky Marsch Oh the beauty of the Deutsche Grammophon pressings of yesteryear! And who cares if it is a "digital aufnahme" (digital recording) in an analogue environment. With its impressive catalogue of composers, conductors and orchestras it is hard to find fault. This collection of minitary march music by the Strauss father and son is immense and brought to light by the spectacular Berlin Philharmonic with Herbert von Karajan at the helm. |
 | Supertramp, Famous Last Words is a 1982 release and while not as powerful as Breakfast in America or Crime of the Century, has some really good songs. Crazy, Out on your old brown shoes, C'est le bon and Waiting so long are very much Supertramp's trade mark songs. My copy is pressed by A & M and although not one of the more fancied "audiophile pressings", it sounds amazingly good. Which proves one thing: if you have decent equipment the music will sound good, no matter what. |
 | Streisand, Barbara: Greatest Hits Volume 2 was almost lost on me. Sealed copy that I wanted to sell, accidentally opened it and found the most beautiful voice inside! CBS half speed mastered copy. |
 |  The Sweet: Biggest Hits I can only imagine the sniggers but hey, this was early seventies "bubble gum music" and to this day I still enjoy the relatively simple and short songs. |
 | Tchaikovsky, Peter, 1812, March Slave, Romeo and Juliet with André Previn conducting the LSO, the pace is somewhat slower than I am used to, also owning other versions of these works. But for one tiny scratch on Side 2, lasting some three rotations, the disk is mint. The cost was 45 US dollars. I bought the MFSL copy to test the waters before buying more half speed mastered classical music. This album has proven to me that it is the right direction to take and I can already see myself purchasing Symphony 6 (Pathetique) and Elgar's Falstaff suite. |
 |  Vangelis: Antarctica This is classic Vangelis but only if you like this sort of music. On the first listen the music was inspiring and while I never saw the firm for which this is the soundtrack I can only assume it must be excellent. My second hand copy was given a new lease on life after just one session in the record cleaner. Superb Japanses pressing. |
 | Vangelis: China |
 | Vinyl Collection is a stunningly produced Direct Metal Master (DMM) and technically by far the most advanced technology in vinyl mastering and reproduction available today. The album has an amazing presence, is silky quiet and the instruments and voices are tangible. If this is the way vinyl can go forward the digital formats may just as well die now as they can never hope to capture even a slice of what is offered here. The music is simply riveting and you can feel the musicians' fingers on the strings. [ Read the review... ] |
 | Watkins, Doug: Watkins at Large Transition was a very small and obscure Jazz label for about two seconds in the mid - Fifties but they did a couple of great Jazz records and Watkins at Large is one of them. This is Watkins on bass as leader of a band consisting of Duke Jordan on piano, Arthur Taylor on drums, Kenny Burrell on Guitar, Donald Byrd on trumpet, and Hank Mobley on tenor sax. Watkins plays a seven foot Italian bass on tunes including his own "Panonica" and a 13 minute version of Tiomkin's "Return to Paradise". According to Tom Wilson who produced the session and wrote the notes, " Watkins at Large is one of those rare sessions where everyone falls immediately into the groove from the opening minute. The result of such a 'hang-upless' date is freely constructed, intensely personal jazz without pretention or frills." As always, this "True MONO" recording was transferred from the original full track Mono master tapes on Classic's ALL TUBE, MONO cutting system - no Mono cut on a stereo lathe here. Pressed on Classic's 200g Super Vinyl Profile and presented with original artwork and eight page booklet provided by Jeff Barr of Jeff Barr Rare records. This is a record that is so impossibly rare that if we didn't reissue it then most people would never know of its existence. We got the tip on this gem from Ron Rambach who has helped Classic over the years to consistently choose winning Jazz titles - Roe Baby this one's for you! |
 |  Wonder, Stevie: Original Musiquarium 1 Someone once said to me that you don't have to necessarily be a great fan of some artist to appreciate the quality of the music. The statement applies to me in this case. While I won't call myself a Wonder fan, I am simply humbled by the man's skill on the piano, despite being blind. His eighties and nineties stuff does not move me in any way, but the first side of this double album must surely rate as the best funk ever and is early seventies. Starting with Superstition, the very first drum beats set the tone for a quite incredible song. Once the rest of the instruments kick in, its magic. These are songs taken from older albums yet they beautifully merge and the entire side is really one cut. I enjoy the political criticism in Living for the City and Front Line. A recent find has secured a better pressing than the one I currently have, but with strange sides - 1/4 and 2/3. |
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