Sorry I’ve been absent. I’ve done some interesting research into music commissioned for the earliest days of television, and just resumed teaching again. I’m also thinking of going back to school to learn archival practices and preservation among other things. I’m reading about the history of Dead Can Dance, and it is fascinating. More soon on that and other things. You should go out and buy: Katanga! Tone Poet Bobby Hamilton -Dream Queen- cut from tape and mastered by the notorious Bernie G. More soon, Bill ... Read More
GEARBOX RECORDS- The Future of Analog? INTERVIEW with Darrel Sheinman
Those of us who have been spinning records for a while have had an interesting ride in the last few decades: first was the Death of Vinyl™ as record stores cleared out LP inventory to be replaced with racks of CDs. Many of us learned more about older records at that point, including pressings, plants and source material. Although a few labels kept the candle lit, more and more records were being sourced from digital files; in the reissue market, a lot of those, to the extent they were even marketed in the US, sounded markedly different than their analog predecessors. With the resurgence... Read More
Listening- A Longer (and Wider) View
Listening- A Longer (and Wider) View This site does not attempt to capture the latest LP releases and reissues; I think the legacy press and audiophile sites do a more than adequate job on those fronts. Although we have sifted through some labels of historic significance (Island “Pink”; Vertigo “Swirl” and Warner “Green”), most of the music-related pieces here are more random and driven largely by my own interests—from early “heavy” rock (now recategorized as “proto-metal”) to spiritual and soul jazz. Yes, there have been a few deep dives into things like blues... Read More
DRIFTGLASS by Seed Ensemble
DRIFTGLASS by Seed Ensemble There is something very special about Driftglass by Seed Ensemble. For starters, it’s a hell of a lot of fun to listen to; when did you last experience that? The album and ensemble are the brainchild of Cassie Kinoshi, a gifted performer, composer and arranger who leads a big band with a big sound and an eclectic, and sometimes unexpected, array of influences. What starts as a thrumming bass solo soon morphs into a stage full of instruments that mixes the avant-garde with something that resembles a James Bond film theme from the ‘60s—it’s cool stuff,... Read More
Fuzzy Duck- self titled (Be With Reissue)
Fuzzy Duck- self titled (Be With Reissue) Fuzzy Duck’s eponymous album is relatively obscure- it didn’t sell much at the time of release, with a limited pressing run and the group disbanded. But instead of fading into complete obscurity, the album enjoys a cult following with prices to match. Be With Records, the same outfit that did such a good job reissuing the Air album with Googie Coppola, just released this reissue, attainable by mere mortals for the cost of 4 lattes. It’s well worth the cost. What you’ll hear is a UK psych hard rock band in top form circa 1971, with... Read More
Alice Coltrane, Ptah, the El Daoud and the Coltrane Home Studio (Part I)
Alice Coltrane, Ptah, the El Daoud and the Coltrane Home Studio (Part I) Alice Coltrane’s Ptah, the El Daoud, has an inner luminosity that transcends its performances and composition; it is the rare album that captures not just brief moments of brilliance, but entire passages that transport the listener. The album is all the more remarkable for being out of print on vinyl since 1974. It was recorded in a studio built by the Coltranes in their Dix Hills home that was slated for demolition until a group of preservationists and family members stepped in to rescue it. This is the story of an... Read More
In the Court- Steve Wilson’s 50th Anniversary Remix on Vinyl
In the Court- Steve Wilson’s 50th Anniversary Remix on Vinyl In the Court of the Crimson King was not just foundational to the emergence of “prog rock” but has endured long after many other influential and important early bands who tapped that vein fell into disfavor. I’ve had a number of copies of this record over the years, and settled on an early UK pink label (A3/B3) and a somewhat later UK pink rim (4u). The 2010 reissue of In the Court on vinyl, which drew from newly discovered source material was fine as far as it went but sounded a little clinical to my ears compared... Read More
El Donut Shoppe— “Inspirational” Rare Jazz Records
El Donut Shoppe— “Inspirational” Rare Jazz Records Rare jazz records have gotten pricey. I’ve patronized a number of dealers in the last few years, but there are a few that stand out. One is Uncle Tony’s El Donut Shoppe. It is not your “normal” record shop—think of it as a place of first or last resort when looking for hard to source, offbeat and rare jazz records: private or small label records and other rarities that seldom show up for sale in the marketplace (either at record stores or on the Internet) but are highly sought after by those looking for something a... Read More
Milt Ward and Virgo Spectrum- Obscure Grail
Milt Ward and Virgo Spectrum- Obscure Grail This album, with Milt Ward as band leader and featuring Carlos Garnett on tenor sax and Cecil McBee on bass is fairly rare- it comes up occasionally for sale, but it took me time to get a copy. Released in 1977 (according to the copyright notices on the labels) on the utterly obscure Twin Quest label, little seems to be known about Ward or the sessions. He did appear as a trumpet player on a few other albums. Given the album’s rep as a “grail” it is surprising how little is known about it, particularly given the line... Read More
The Finish Line for Your Phonograph Stylus…
The Finish Line for Your Phonograph Stylus… By Mike Bodell, May 23, 2019 Based on an informal survey of friends who predominately play vinyl records, I believe the most neglected part of their audio system is the stylus on their phonograph cartridge. The stylus is a key component in an audio system and is subjected to the most wear. Yet when I asked folks in my network how many hours of play their cartridges have seen, they could not tell me with any accuracy; all ventured educated guesses. I’ve been there too. Given the value of records today, particularly rare and collectible jazz... Read More
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