For me its the first or very early LP's of: Allman Brothers - "Allman Joys" "Idyllwild South" Santana - "Santana" 200 g reissue Emerson Lake and Palmer - "Emerson Lake and Palmer" and, Beethoven - "Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major" Rudolph Serkin/Ozawa/BSO
Vivaldi, Viola D'Amore Concertos, Rolla/LisztFerencChO, Barsony -va, Hungaraton SLPX 12162 (Hungaraton made some beautiful recordings during the analog days, this is certainly one of them)
Holst, Hymn of Jesus/The Perfect Fool/Egdon Heath, Boult/LPO, London CS 6324 (The Hymn of Jesus is a wonderfully powerful work for 2 choruses and full orchestra; Egdon Heath is arguably one of Holst best works for orchestra, but hushed and delicate.)
Bartok, Divertimento for String Orchestra, Barshai/MoscowCO, London reissue by Super Analogue 9108 (another superb Kenneth Wilkinson recording!)
Slipknot - and speaking of Kenneth Wilkinson, the Solti Beethoven 9th is a good example of his work, albeit with a few more mikes than his best. But, a GREAT performance, imo, served very well by the recording engineer.
For anyone looking for this Solti recording of the 9th, it is now available in the marvelous Speakers Corner series of reissues of the Decca classical catalog. .
Rodrigo - Conciertos: Andaluz, de Aranjuez/The Romeros/Alessandro & San Antonio SO (Mercury Golden Imports) The composer himself adds a liner note affirming that The Romeros' "...color, authentic musicianship, and virtuosity on guitar...permits them to present truly extraordinary interpretations." (The Concierto Andaluz was commisioned by Celedonio Romero and dedicated to his guitar-playing sons.) All fans of Miles Davis'/Gil Evans' "Sketches Of Spain" need a good version of the Concierto de Aranjuez around, and this one is.
Manfred Mann - Mann Made (Ascot, 1966) The Mann and his band (as opposed to the Earth Band), post-Do Wah Diddy Diddy and pre-Quinn The Eskimo. The best original tune here is titled "L.S.D.", and its lyrics make (what appears to be) no further references whatsoever to what those letters normally stand for (but a band I used to play in did cover it). Also includes a cover of hometown DC blues guitar hero Bobby Parker's seminal "Watch Your Step".
Chad & Jeremy - Of Cabbages & Kings (Columbia, 1967) One of those quintessential '67 albums, with everything including the kitchen sink thrown in, along with a credit line informing us that the whole affair was "Arranged and scored by Chad Stewart" (Jeremy Clyde wrote the songs). If their psychedelic cover pic raiment and love beads don't let you know what you're in for, then how about the song titles that comprise Side Two?: "The Progress Suite, Movements 1 thru 5 - 1)Prologue 2)Decline 3)Editorial 4)Fall 5)Epilogue". Great production by Gary Usher.
Ravi Shankar - Charly (Soundtrack, World Pacific 1968) I really need to see the movie (a Sterling Silliphant adaptation of the Daniel Keyes novel "Flowers For Algernon", which I haven't read either). For one thing, it's got Claire Bloom in it. For another, the Main Title theme, written (but not on paper scores) like all of it by Ravi himself, rips off Erik Satie. Jazzy West Coast session cats galore, like Bud Shank, Tom Scott, Ray Brown, Laurindo Almeida, Bob Bain, Bill Plummer, Milt Holland, and more, all mixed up with sitar and tabla, mmmmm....
Diskolater:
John Coltrane - Coltrane (Impulse!, rec. 1962, Deluxe 2-disk 2002 reissue) Almost literally "Out Of This World". Makes your system sound ten feet tall - which is not incidentally also about how tall this music will make *you* feel (or at least me). With McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison, and Elvin Jones.
The Fleshtones - More Than Skin Deep (Ichiban, '98) Only if you can proudly claim "I'm Not A Sissy" anymore! Or don't be and go see 'em live, to get real rock'n'roll again.
Recent excursions into the good(live music) & the bad(CDs) have taken my attention away from this, my favorite thread. Small venue shows by both Shivaree and Rickie Lee Jones remind why we're in this hobby in the first place. Amazing artistry on both counts. Shivaree is a definite band to keep your ears & eyes on. Recent CD hunt reminds me that there's still far too much good stuff not yet on vinyl...a shame. Regardless, Tindersticks - Can Our Love is serving as the perfect accompaniment for a rainy day. Spooky sounds reminiscent of The Blue Nile, with disturbed vocals lamenting over strings, staccato horns & brooding keyboards. Wanna segue into some dark Joy Division LP, but I don't own any. Will probably keep the mood w/Velvet Underground or turn back the clock to Billie Holliday. Keep this thread humming, musical diversity rules! Cheers, Spencer
Hank Garland - Jazz Winds From A New Direction [Introducing The Modern Guitar Of] (Columbia [mono], 1961) Nashville C&W studio legend goes to swingsville, with Gary Burton on vibes, Joe Benjamin on bass, and Joe Morello on drums. I wish all of you could hear this record: not, I suppose, the type of sound that's considered accurately realistic today, but talk about your ear-candy - this toothache-sweet aural truffle practically sounds like it was recorded in a bonbon factory! Turn up this hugely atmospheric confection and instantly transform any system into big'ol corner horns powered by vintage zero-feedback SET tubes - lucsious and exciting are two words that come to mind. And that describes the music as well, which never sacrifices inventive arrangements or genuinely soulful artistry in getting its hot-licks thrills; my only complaint is that it's too short! Snap this one up if ever you come across a copy. (Cover photo is also tres cool for those into Gibson archtops - not to mention MG drop-tops.)
The Jacques Loussier Trio with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - Bach: Brandenburg Concerto #5/Air On The G String/Prelude #2 In C Minor (London Phase 4 Stereo, 1969) Maybe the most successful combination of the trends of piano trios playing jazz arrangements of Bach plus small jazz groups fronting symphony orchestras? Or maybe just the only attempt at it? Whatever, this really works, being at least as good as the earlier Loussier Trio 'Play Bach' series. Somewhat unbelievably, the orchestra and group never step on each other's toes, and swing hard together right through some very complex arrangements. The alternately jazzy and bluesy cadenzas integrate perfectly with the orchestral movements, tying together time signature changes with a lot of dynamic variety and structural interest. The balances are about ideal, the strings and woodwinds sounding lush and spacious while the trio is satisfyingly present and yet part of the whole. The overt sound of the record is quite pleasing like most Phase 4's, yet even though my copy is pristine, there perhaps seems to be something a slight touch 'off' about it in a 'modulated' sort of way, as if possibly there may have been a subliminal-level tape-flutter, disk-cutting, or amplifier power-supply breakthrough problem in the mastering chain, but not enough to preclude listening enjoyment, or for me to even really be sure of for that matter.
Arturo Delmoni: "Songs My Mother Taught Me" John Marks Records, originally issued on NorthStar. Romantic works for violin and piano marvelously rendered by a master violinist. If you don't know this record, and you enjoy chamber music, seek it out! Beautifully recorded, beautifully performed (as is all of Delmoni's work).
"Popular Masterworks of the Baroque" Tafelmusik Baroque Orch, Reference Recordings RR13 (45 rpm, half-speed mastered by Stan Ricker). IMO, one of the great Reference Recordings LPs by the (then young) Canadian group.
"Music of Pachabel, Gluck and Handel" Hogwood/Academy of Ancient Music, L'Oiseau Lyre DSLO 594. A beautiful analog recording of music performed in Hogwood's typically light, delicate and lively style. Nicely recorded and quite good sound even through the rigors of DMM mastering.
Pink Floyd, "Wish You Were Here" Columbia PC 33453 - hey, we all have to have some fun! .
ok it's my CD player again sounding even more analogue than it ever has thanks to GNSC spun Pink Floyd "The Wall" hearing many details previously unheard before.
More Bach: Starker: Suite 3 for Solo Cello, Mercury, Speakers Corner reissue Delmoni: Partita 2 for Solo Violin, WaterLily 07, followed by the flip side with music of Kreisler and Ysaye.
Supertramp: Crime of the Century, A&M SP 3647 (I just don't understand people who trash this US pressing. It's very good. But, I haven't heard the Speakers Corner reissue or a good British pressing to compare. Anyone?)
Coming up later: Holst: Savitri, Holst,I/ECO, Purcell Singers, J.Baker, Argo ZNF6 (and compare to ZK98) (a real treat if your system can generate a deep, broad and realistic soundstage) .
Ruston, I can't speak to the US pressing of "Crime Of the Century", but I do have the 180g Speaker's Corner reissue. We'll have to spin it on that Walker of yours one of these days. It's holographic, information far beyound the boundries of the loudspeaker. Very quiet surface.
Tonight: Ravel "Bolero" Bizet "Carmen Suite" Wallenstein/Virtuoso Symphony of London (Audio Fidelity FCS 50,005) Disc is one of several Audio Fidelity recordings aquired this weekend ata library booksale. Excellent condition, just need to run them through the RCM and put them into fresh sleeves.
Hi. If you and Joe decide to do a shoot out with Crime of the Century I have the MFSL and Mike may have an original UK. I've always loved that album. The Speakers Corner is supposed to be very very good and some have reported it's better than an original UK.
Bach - Casals Conducts Brandenburg Concertos - Marlboro Festival Orch. Columbia 2 eye Not the greatest recording, but music good enough to hold my attention through all 6 sides. Peterson/Brown/Thigpen - Sound of the Trio - Verve A really underrated jazz LP w/nice version of On Green Dolphin St. The Kenny Drew Trio Riverside/OJC Chopin - Sonatas 2&3 Wilhelm Kempff - London ffrr Al DiMeola - Land of the Midnight Sun Modern Jazz Qrt - Concorde - Prestige/OJC - One of the best albums featuring vibes that I've heard. Plenty versions better than the OJC I have. Mozart - Sym 40&41 - Reiner/CSO Shaded Dog Renaissance - Turn of the Cards - Sire; A classic in it's genre, a beautiful blend of art rock & folk, with a nod to the baroque. Annie Haslam's fine voice has never sounded better. Cheers, Spencer
Supertramp "Crime Of The Century" (A&M SP 3647) Speaker's Corner 180g reissue. After the discussion in this thread last night, how could I not? I said it before, I'll say it again - Holo-freaking-graphic! Sonny Rollins "Saxophone Colossus" (Classic reissue OJC-291) 180g Mozart "Sonatas For Piano and Violin K.296,305,306" Perlman/Barenboim (Deutsche Grammophon 415 102-1)
Time for one more disc still before Monday Night Football..
The Crusaders - The 2nd Crusade (Blue Thumb, 1973) Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't. Most of the time I feel like giving preference to The Jazz Crusaders 60's acoustic material, but sometimes I've got to get that (plain old) Crusaders 70's electric groove on. Hi Siliab!
V.A. - "Flex Your Head" (Dischord, 1982) Every few years or so, I pull out thee harDCore punk sampler and remind myself that you really had to be there - which I was in large part, but am no longer.
V.A. - "Ear-Piercing Punk" (Trash, early 80's?) Long-OOP 60's garage punk comp featured a cover designed to look like it contained '77-era material; I wonder how many people this has fooled over the years. Still some of the most arresting sleeve art ever, and a totally hot comp besides. Happy to say I own original 45's of two of the sixteen great singles represented: "I Need Love" by The Third Booth, and "Enough" by The Bohemian Vendetta. (Wish it were more, but I don't pay collector prices for these slabs, I dig 'em up on my own.) To me this stuff still wears better today than most anything made in later years that actually called itself punk.
Jerry Cole & The Stingers - Guitars A Go Go! (comp., Beatrocket 2000, orig. rec. 1963-66) Collected tracks from four budget-bin surf/hot rod instro LP's (out of roughly 80 he was responsible for, in a variety of genres and under a variety of pseudonyms). A widely-recorded session man, you might know Cole best (even if you don't actually *know* it) for the ringing arpeggiated riff that's the signature of the inaugural Monkees smash "Last Train To Clarksville". I do own a couple of the original supermarket-special LP's, but Sundazed's 180-gram pressing holds up better in the microwave...
Live music for us Friday and Saturday: Last night: The Curtis Institute of Music faculty recital. Chamber music just doesn't get any better than the Field Hall at the Curtis: perfectly sized for chamber music, with seating for 250 people, and lovely acoustics. Last night: Victor Danchenko, violin, with Micah Yui, piano performing exquisitely: JANÃCEK Sonata for Violin and Piano; SCHUMANN Fantasy in C major; DEBUSSY "En bateau" from Petite suite, La plus que lente, Claire de lune; FRANCK Sonata in A major. Followed by encore pieces by Paradis and Kreisler. Second row, center, 15' from the performers: it just doesn't get better that this.
Still going through my acquisitions from our audio group's (including AudiogoN's Sbank) field trip to Red Trumpet Records today. Mark Knopfler "Ragpicker's Dream" spinning on the CEEDEE player. among the new items in the collection: A sealed, mono, Japanese pressing of Miles Davis "Bag's Groove" a little pricey, but what the hell... Count Basie "88 Basie Street" 45 rpm, 200g. Pink Floyd "WYWH" CBS half-speed master used, but in OK shape Lucinda Williams "World Without Tears" Jerry Garcia/Merle Saunders "Live At Keystone" Still another pressing of Miles Davis "Kind of Blue" this one a 180g from Absolute Analogue The Roaches "The Roaches" 180g reissue A slightly wrinkled center lable copy of the Mercury reissue of Dorati/Minneapolis "Seven Studies On Themes Of Paul Klee
Even though it is a silver disc, "Ragpicker's Dream" is a very worthwhile addition to your collection if you are a Knopfler/Dire Straits fan
Tvad, I also recommend Knopfler's "Local Hero Soundtrack" Not only the vinyl, but the movie too, if you've never seen it, directed by Bill Forsyth, starring Peter Reigert and Burt Lancaster. Really quirky and funny.
Tvad, I agree w/you that Neck & Neck is great CD! Haven't seen it on vinyl either.
Listening right now to freshly purchased Al Dimeola/John McLaughlin/Paco DeLucia - Friday Night in San Francisco. Probably the most accomplished acoustic guitar record I've heard. I've always liked DiMeola solo, but the interplay on this record is just palpable...amazing stuff. Recently spun: Eric Clapton - At His Best Joni Mitchell - Blue 10,000 Maniacs - In My Tribe 10cc - Greatest Hits Grateful Dead - American Beauty REM - Eponymous Jeff Beck - Wired Beach Boys - Pet Sounds (stereo reissue) Ben Folds - Live (Great album of solo piano/vocals - funny, too!) Blondie - Autoamerican (proving to my daughters that rap is 20+ years old! Villa-Lobos/Prokofiev - Uirapuru & Cinderella - Stowkowki/Everest Kate Bush - The Dreaming (starting to sound a little dated) Charlie Mingus - Best of Aimee Mann - Lost in Space (MFSL) I've been busy! Cheers, Spencer
Mercury reissue of Dorati/Minneapolis "Seven Studies On Themes Of Paul Klee
Slipknot, what an outstanding record! The music is amazing, the performance is great, and the recording is one of the best. Is this now available individually from Speakers Corner (versus only as part the 3LP set), or is this an odd copy Rick had? If these are now available individually, folks who passed this by initially because of the cost of the set should really consider getting this LP (SR 90282, very accessible and coupled with Fetler's "Contrast for Orchestra" - a very nice piece). .
Rushton, I lucked out! It was an odd copy from the 3 record set Rick had that had been returned because the label on one side was wrinkled and loose. Outstanding!! sonics and recording second to none, rousing performance. Played it twice this evening. I won't even disclose the price, suffice to say that after hearing it I feel guilty for "stealing" it from Rick. When I saw it, I scooped it into my pile of discs.
Don & The Goodtimes - So Good (Epic, 1967) Sunshine pop plus. Dig that impeccable Cali studio sheen backing the multi-part harmonies, all wrapped up courtesy the aforementioned Jack Nitzsche's arranging and producing talents. Despite a surfeit of catchy tunes and a history of prior singles that sold well regionally in the Northwest (and a regular gig on Dick Clark's Where The Action Is), this turned out to be their lone LP. They morphed from a prototypical stompin' white R&B band along the lines of such compatriots as the original Paul Revere & The Raiders, The Sonics, and The Wailers, but perhaps just a bit late in the game to make it big like the Raiders did.
[Speaking of The Sonics, have you dug the new Land Rover TV ad which features their brutal version of The Sharps' classic "Have Love Will Travel"? The pairing of a luxury SUV and this primal punk pounder is just as ludicrous on its face as previous similar campaigns in recent years (such as Iggy's "Lust For Life" selling cruises) to be sure, but you can't help enjoying hearing this stuff coming through the tube, and I smile at the fact that those at whom the ads are aimed probably never heard of the stuff...]
Ray Bryant - Dancing The Big Twist (Columbia 6-eye stereo, about 1961?) One of my fav jazz pianists and composers turns in the obligatory dance craze cash-in disk. Good, but not as outstanding as his earlier dance craze effort, Madison Time (prominently featured in John Waters' Hairspray movie). Players include Mickey Roker, Buddy Tate, Harry Edison, and Ray Barretto among others.
The Chico Hamilton Quintet - The Chico Hamilton Special (CSP reissue, orig. Columbia rec. 1960) The eternal answer to the seldom-asked question, what is the best jazz group to have featured cello and flute? Not conceited 'chamber-jazz' devoid of swing, but simply bracingly singular music that follows its own path in a most subtle and satisfying way.
Dead Boys - We Have Come For Your Children (Sire, 1978) Still doesn't hold a candle to their '77 "Young Loud and Snotty" debut, but not much does.
Big Joe Williams - Nine String Guitar Blues (Delmark, probably about 1970, maybe recorded earlier) This is a record my father bought at my urging when I was in my early teens. He liked the fact that I was into the blues, and I got to listen to the record without having to buy it myself. When I put this on tonight, I realized - which I hadn't before - that I also have a couple of these tracks on a Delmark blues compilation CD I picked up cheap last summer. So naturally I compared the sound between LP and CD, and was pleased at how close the two were timbrally, which tends to confirm the overall accuracy of each leg of my playback chain (although I did slightly prefer the LP, which sounds just a bit less forward, edgy, and granular, and lacks the incipient distortion on vocal peaks present for some reason on the CD, presumably a remastering artifact).
Gerry Mulligan Meets Paul Desmond (Verve, 1957) The baritone and alto chase each other around over Mulligan's pianoless bass and drums rhythm section. Their copious counterpoint was apparently improvised without prior rehearsal.
So far tonight... Walter Leigh: Concertino for Harpsichord & String Orchestra, Braithwaite/LPO, Pinnock -hpd, Lyrita SRCS 126
Malcolm Lipkin, Clifford's Tower/Pastorale/String Trio, The Nash Ensemble, Hyperion A66164 (modern British composer, still actively composing in his 70's. Wish I had more of his music. Anyone know of any additional recordings to recommend?)
Rushton,i just recieved my copy of Doc Watson ,Southbound from ups about 20 min ago,,cleaned it and put it on ,,wow!!great album,,,pickin and grinin ,its amazing how a new album can sound so much better with a good cleaning!!Happy Thanksgiving to all!
For Billie Holliday, I'm not an expert but I've liked both "Songs for Distingue Lovers" (Classic Records reissue) and "Lady Sings the Blues" (Speakers Corner reissue). Distingue Lovers is probably her most well known album: it's certainly the one I've heard the most about over the years. But, Lady Sings the Blues really grabs me. .
Mozart Horn Concertos, McGegan/Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra with Lowell Greer playing natural horn (everyone knows how HARD this is to play a valveless baroque horn, right?), Harmonia Mundi HMU 7012 (another outstanding recording by Peter McGrath) .
Miles Davis "Kind Of Blue" (Columbia CS 8163) 45 rpm Classic Records 200g reissue Allman Brothers Band "At Fillmore East" (Capricorn SD2 802)Classic Records 200g reissue Sonny Rollins "Saxophone Colossus" (Prestige P7079) OJC 180g reissue Clemencic Consort/Rene Clemencic "Danses Anciennes De Hongrie Et De Transylvanie" (Harmonia Mundi HM 1003) Moussorgsky "Pictures At An Exhibition" Reiner/CSO (RCA LSC 2201) Classic Records reissue
And, for good measure, a couple of CDs thrown in: Dead Can Dance "Into The Labyrinth", track 1 "Yulunga" Mark Knopfler "Shangri-La" 2 channel SACD version
Ray, Rushton, As Billie Holiday fans, you might want to check out a sort-of-new artist named Madeleine Peyroux. She has 2 CDs out, one from this year, the other about 7-8 years ago. She has a voice and style that answer the question, "If Billie was born in the modern age, what would she sound like?" Her new album has received many raves...Cheers, Spencer
ÂTaylor's Wailers - This is a late 50's mono set that is drummer Art Taylor's first recording as a leader. High energy set that features Ray Bryant's swinging and harmonically advanced piano playing, and Art Taylor's powerful but nuanced drumming. The horn players; Charlie Rouse, Donald Byrd and Jackie McClean blend beautifully and have immediately recognizable solo voices. John Coltrane, Red Garland and Paul Chambers are on one cut. The high points of the record are the two Monk tunes that close the set; Minor Swing and Well You Needn't. Apparently, Monk wrote the arrangements and conducted these tunes during the recording session, and it shows. All the rhythmic quirkiness and signature chord changes featured in Monk's own recordings are in evidence. Great record.
ÂMiki Honeycutt - Soul Deep Late 80's recording from a Rounder affiliate that simply cooks. This lady has that big, brassy soul queen sound, but with a distinctively bright vocal timbre. Stylistically, less Gopspel and more Broadway, which works great here. Excellent, hyper-tight, backup band cooks throughout. No question that these folks know their way around 60s and 70s Blues and R&B.
So far: Josef Suk "String Quartet, Op.31" Suk Quartet (Supraphon 1111 3370) Intimate, very well recorded small ensemble string music John Coltrane "Blue Train" (Blue Note ST-46095) a Rudy Van Gelder gem.
Tuesday night music sessions with the gang. This is what I remember, (we played other titles).
Peggy Lee, 1956 mono LP, "Black Coffee." Rickie Lee Jones, "Traffic From Paradise." Ella Fitzgerald, 1960 Stereo, "Let No Man Write My Epitaph" Vitaly Gnutov, "Balalaika Favorites" Rudolf Belov, Osipov State Carmen McRae, 1990 Stereo, "Carmen Sings Monk" Billie Holiday, "Lady In Satin" (45 RPM) Tina Brooks, "Back To The Tracks" (45 RPM)
Not much over the past several days - raking leaves, Thanksgiving, sports on TV, and then I tore apart the system and vacuumed and cleaned everything down, and readjusted my shelf heights to make way for the ExactPower so I could get it off the floor. The tube monoblocks are removed 'cause my upgrade coupling caps just arrived and it's off to the tech shop they go, so the backup SS stereo amp has taken up residence for the time being. During the last 24:
LP:
The Jimi Hendrix Concerts (2LP, Reprise 1982) I have to admit I do not yet own any of the more recent Experience Hendrix silver disk reissues or compilations, so for all I know this release may be obsolete now, but that doesn't mean there's anything wrong with it either, except for some naturally variable sound quality among the different venues. Seems mastered a bit on the mellow side though, which some might consider a good thing given all the distortion (of the performances, that is).
CD:
The Equals - First Among Equals (2CD, Ice UK import collection, 1994) Eddy Grant's original band, he of "Electric Avenue" and "Romancing The Stone" 80's fame. The Equals were a genre-busting, racially integrated late-60's English band that combined elements as diverse as ska, British Invasion-style pop, Caribbean calypso, American-style R&B, psychedelic rock, and bubblegum (their minor American hit was "Baby Come Back" in '68, on RCA). The Clash covered their song "Police On My Back" for the Sandinista album, and several English and Australian 60's bands covered other of their tunes.
The Blue Things (expanded reissue, Rewind/BMG 2001, orig. rec. 1964-'67) Midwestern garage-beat, folk-rock, pop-psych band originally on RCA (one of that label's first post-Elvis signings of a rock band in the 60's, before the Jefferson Airplane, recorded with good sound at their famed 'Nashville Sound' studio by Felton Jarvis). Derivative but but quite accomplished and enjoyable period stuff for fans of bands like The Beau Brummels, The Lovin' Spoonful, etc.
Tonight... Bartok - various compositions based on the folk tunes he collected, all on Hungaraton LPs from the 1970s. Hungaraton did a full series of all of Bartok's music and these are largely wonderful performances and recordings. Tonight's are all orchestral with the Budapest Symphony Orchestra with either Korodi or Erdelyi conducting: ...Four Old Hungarian Folk Songs ...Four Slovak Folk Songs ...Hungarian Folk Songs ...Slovak Folk Songs ...Rumanian Dance 1 - Orch Version ...Wooden Prince Suite ...Vn Conc 1 (1908)
And continuing this evening of Bartok into chamber music: ...44 Duos for Two Violins, performed by the legendary Wanda Wilkomirska (love her playing) ...Seven Pieces from Mikrokosmos, for two pianos .
Rush, Your depth of Classical knowledge & the records to accompany it, never ceases to amaze me. If I ever build my Classical collection to 1% of yours, with your continuing excellent recommendations, it will be a proud collection. Schubert "Trout" is next in the "buy" queue. Recent spinners: Ryan Adams - Gold - maybe it's too produced, perhaps it's too obviuosly searching for airplay, but this record just wears well on me. Great simple songs, interesting lyrics, stuff to get stuck in your head all day long. Besides the vinyl sounding better, you get extra songs not on the CD. Television - Marquee Moon - A punky masterpiece that never received the audience it deserved, except from the critics. Plenty of new bands have learned from this LP. Charles Mingus - Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus - (Import 180g) Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here Brahms - Szell/Cleveland - Sym No.1 - Epic Van Morrison - Moondance - 180g German pressing Squeeze - Argybargy Copeland - Bernstein/NYP - The Copland Album - Columbia A recently found mono Everly Brothers is on deck...Cheers, Spencer
Sbank, for a good Schubert Trout Quintet on LP, consider either:
Clifford Curzon and Members of the Vienna Octet, Decca SXL 2110 (Speakers Corner reissue) (my preferred performance and recording); or
The Festival Quartet, RCA LSC 2147 (Classic Records reissue)
These were among some recordings I recommended recently on an "introduction to classical music" thread for someone looking for CDs. CD or LP, these are superb performances.
And, thanks for your comments; while I do listen to a lot of classical music, and I've collected quite a few recordings which I enjoy, I still defer to others on this forum who are more knowledgable about the music than I. And, as Texasdave points out to me regularly, I'm not familiar with many great recordings that are available only on CD. .
hey Rob,hows all the new gear sounding?now that i have a record cleaning machine im going thru some albums ive had since i was 14 and see what i can salvage,,,,
Cheryl Wheeler: "Cheryl Wheeler" Northstar W0001 Paul Simon: "There Goes Rhymin' Simon" Columbia 25589 Sonny Boy Williamson: "Keep It To Ourselves" Alligator AL 4787
Just to confuse all of you who think I listen only to classical. ;-) .
Miles Davis "Sketches Of Spain" (Columbia PC 8271) Gene Ammons "Blue Gene" (Prestige 7146) Classic Records 180g reissue Keith Jarrett "The Koln Concert" (ECM 1064/65) The resolving power of my new preamp really showed itself on this recording tonight. All the humming, foot tapping, hall noises, and assorted moans, groans came through LOUD AND CLEAR ;)
With fellow "goNer Sbank along for the ride today, a playlist as long as your arm. I'll try and replicate what I can remember: Dead Can Dance "Into The Labyrinth" Louis Armstrong "Satchmo Plays King Oliver" Stravinsky "Firebird Suite" Leinsdorf/Los Angeles (Sheffield Lab 24) Elvis Costello Ben Folds "Live" Oscar Peterson Sonny Rollins Quintet "Tenor Madness" (Prestige LP 7047) Prokofieff "Lieutenant Kiji" Reiner/Chicago (Chesky RC10) Supertramp "Crime Of The Century" Speaker's Corner reissue
Dark - Round The Edges (Arkarma Italian Import reissue, orig. rec. 1972) English power trio acid-psych/hard rock sound, not unreminiscent in spots of early Black Sabbath or Hawkwind. I didn't know anything about the band or the provenance of the original release before stumbling across this disk; from the repro it looks as though this may have been a limited-edition vanity pressing at the time, and this copy must itself be a relatively recent limited edition, with a textured-stock gatefold jacket plus booklet and in 180g pressing.
Unicorn - Blue Pine Trees (Capitol, 1974) Unpreposessing, somewhat generic, but uniformly winsome mixture of post-Beatles Brit-pop and post-Byrds country-rock, produced by Pink Floyd's David Gilmour (who also guests on pedal steel). Imagine Badfinger imitating the Flying Burrito Brothers covering Dwight Twilley tunes and you'll be in the general neighborhood.
Magic Sam's Blues Band - Black Magic (Delmark, about 1969) Second-gen Chicago electric blues guitarist/singer was infuential with his updated, smoothly soulful yet intense blend of Muddy Waters', B.B. King's, Bobby Bland's, Otis Rush's, and Sam Cooke's takes on the blues (but with his own distinct stamp, both vocally and instrumentally), he died tragically young. Often cited as a main progenitor of of the blues-soul crossover approach that later made Robert Cray a broad-appeal star.
Polycarbonate/aluminum:
Classic Reggae: The DeeJays (compilation, Music Club/Demon 2001, orig. rec. late-60's thru early-70's, Trojan Recordings) Prime cuts of the 'sound-system' kings like U Roy, I Roy, Big Youth, etc., in the eccentric genre that spawned Dub and contributed to the foundation of Rap.
Lee Morgan Quintet - Take Twelve (Jazzland/Original Jazz Classics/Fantasy '89, orig. 1962) The trumpeter's first date as leader after leaving Blakey's Jazz Messengers, with Clifford Jordan t.s., Barry Harris p., Bob Cranshaw b., and Louis Hayes d. For a guy who's mainly remembered today for his funky-bop jukebox hit "The Sidewinder", Morgan remains one of my personal favorite composers and players of the era, and I have yet to discover a run-of-the-mill album from him (another one who died too young, by violence at a club in 1972). The uptempo stuff is typically varied and invigorating, but the nicest thing here may be the beautifully elegiac "A Waltz For Fran", which sounds neither like a usual jazz waltz nor a usual jazz ballad, but rather stately and meditative, like gentle waves lapping upon a sandy shore at sunset, with a simple but satisfying melody that sticks in the head, delivered with tender tone and touch.
aluminum CD actually a computer burned CD-R of Diana Krall "when I look in your eyes" never actually heard her before the recording quality is just awesome.
Last night was music night for our group, eight showed up and this is what we spun on the Walker TT.
Eels, "Electro Shock Blues" Terry Clark "Cool Struttin'" Sonny Rollins, "Way Out West" Dead Can Dance, "Serpents Egg." Bjork, "Gling Glo" Patsy Cline, "Patsy Cline Story" Miles Davis, "Kind of Blue" Miles Davis, "Tutu" Bill Evans, "At the Montreux Jazz Festival" Nirvana, "Nevermind" Stevie Ray Vaughn, "Riviera Paradise"
So far A shoot-out between 2 versions of the "Firebird": Dorati/LSO Mercury reissue Liensdorf/Los Angeles Sheffield Lab 24
Another AudiogoN member (Sbank) and I listened to the Sheffield together last weekend, and we both thought the dynamics of the Sheffield were greater than the Mercury. After listening tonight to both, I still feel that way, at least as it comes across on my system. That said, I prefer the performance of the Dorati/LSO over the Sheffield because to me, there is more emotion and "fire" in his reading. There are no flies on either recording. You can't go wrong with either of them.
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