I was making my maiden voyage to a just-opened Hi-Fi shop in 1972 (Audio Arts in Livermore, California, owned and operated by Walter Davies, now owner/inventor of The Last Factory of record care products renown) on the day Bill Johnson of ARC was delivering and installing his complete system---SP3 pre, Magneplanar Tympani-I speakers bi-amped with D51 and D75 amps. He also brought along a Thorens TD-125 MK.2 turntable and Decca Blue cartridge, which was mounted on a proto-type ARC pickup arm. The arm never made it into production, but it resembled the Grado arm of the 1950’s---a flat, wide chunk of dark wood, like walnut or rosewood.
Once set up and ready to go, Walter put on the "Me And Bobby McGee" track on Gordon Lightfoot’s If You Could Read My Mind LP. Bill said "That IS a great sounding record. What is it?". Walter gave him the LP. Used copies are plentiful; give it a spin on your system and see if you agree with Bill ;-).
