Whats on your turntable tonight?

Brian Wilson - Smile - First full listen. So much hype to live up to, it will be a challenge. This was a xmas gift from my wife. She's great at picking up on pathetic hints.

Laurindo Almeida - Virtuoso Guitar - 45rpm white vinyl direct-to-disc WOW, OH MY GOD! This is on first couple of listens, one of my top 5 all time best sounding records.

Garr Karr - Adagio d'Albinoni - King/Cisco Super Analogue Disc; Just received vinyl to replace what had been a reference quality CD. Vinyl even better. Never before have I purchased two amazing sounding records at the same time. If you don't know this version, it is simply a ~1600 Amati double bass accompanied by an organ. The bass sounds like a giant cello, but deeper. It will silence a roomful of snooty audiofools in 10 seconds.

Borodin - Sym 2 & 3, Ansermet; London ffrr
Hot Tuna - First Pull Up, Then Pull Down
Oscar Peterson Trio w/Milt Jackson - Very Tall

Preceeded by with Slipknot1:
Charles Mingus Band - Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus (Impulse 180g import)
Sarah McLachlan - Fumbling Towards Ecstasy/Freedom Sessions (180g Classic Rec.)
Bill Evans w/Jeremy Steig - What's New(verve)
Happy NewYear,
Spencer

Sbank, agree with you about the Gary Karr - Adagio d'Albinoni on vinyl; that King SuperAnalogue pressing is awfully good. The double bass is alternately massively overwhelming, and then very delicate and subtle.

So, what did you think of "Smile" after all the Fremer-hype?

Tonight...

Deep-diving into the past with the Dave Grusin d-to-d Sheffield LP "Discovered Again", Sheffield LAB 5. Obsessively multi-miked, but with incredible detail. I just can't get into the music.

Albert Fuller playing some of Rameau's harpsichord music on Reference Recordings RR 27. You'd never hear this sound live because you're listening from practically inside the harpsichord, but this recording captures exceedingly well the tonality and texture of a superb sounding harpsichord. If you still don't care for the sound of a harpsichord after listening to this LP, then bless you and move on to something else.

Allison Kinnaird, "The Harp Key", Temple 001, traditional Scottish music for harp at its best, played by the great traditional music harpist, teacher and scholar. Kinnaird is considered one of the leading scholars of traditional Scottish/Celtic music today, and has been instrumental in rediscovering the Scottish music tradition and the Scottish harp and wire strung clarsach (which of course preceded anything going on in Ireland ;-) ).
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Spencer shared the Gary Karr LP with me last Saturday night. That giant pipe organ had me holding on to the arms of my chair during some of the low pedal notes. The double bass was played as smooth as chocolate. I'll have to get my hands on that one.
Tonight:
Arturo Delmoni "Songs My Mother Taught Me" (North Star DS0004) Rushton - Thank you for pointing me to this one! What an intimately recorded collection, played with such precise detail.

Delibes "Coppelia - Ballet Suite" von Karajan/Berlin (Deutsche Grammophon SLPEM 136257) Not too familiar with this work, typical DG "house sound"

Mahler "Symphony No. 1" Solti/London SO (London CS 6401)
Those who are afraid to explore Mahler may want to start out with this one. I am not a big fan of Mahler, but I find this Symphony very approachable.

Wei Li/Fei Song "Autumn Yearning Fantasia" (First Impression Music LP 003) Just released limited edition LP from Winston Ma. The sound quality of this all analog LP is some of the best I have ever heard. Two musicians projected into a soundstage with so much air and presence, you feel as though you can get up and walk around the players. The music may not be to everyones tastes, but the recording and the performances cannot be denied. If you are at all familiar with the FIM Asian music releases, get this LP while it is available.

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Slipnot,
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When you have worked your way through the Mahler 1st, get a copy of the 4th with Reiner & CSO on RCA Living Stereo (re-issue). It only gets better and is quite addictive. I don't think it is possible to listen to the 4th too many times, but I am trying.
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Rgds,
Larry

Larry,
Thanks for the tip on the Mahler No.4. I can see myself wanting to get deeper into his work. I do have the Gilbert Kaplan reading of the "Resurrection" on CD that I have enjoyed listening to.
Best,
Joe