Whats on your turntable tonight?


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
slipknot1
Sonic treats, leftover after Halloween:

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.
Last night:

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!
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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.
Tonight:

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)
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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.