Whats on your turntable tonight?

Shostakovich, String Quartet No. 1, Fitzwilliam Qt, L'Oiseau Lyre DSLO 31 (Written in 1938 at the age of 32, this first string quartet demonstrates why Shostakovich is such a master. Just a phenomenal introduction to delights to come in the remaining 14 quartets he was to write over his lifetime.)

Freddie Hubbard, Here to Stay - Blue Note ST-84135 (45rpm Music Matters reissue)

Doc Watson, Doc Watson On Stage - Vanguard VSD 9/10 (incredibly good music making)
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Returning my recent purchase of the Beach Boys' "SMiLE" on 2LP due to high distortion levels in the pressing (inner bands, side 2 only, but not always the quietest surfaces elsewhere either). Noise and distortion issues aside however, IMO the sound quality and packaging weren't all they were hyped up to be in any event. With its bloated bottom, thin mids, and exagerated highs, to go with a rather flat soundstage, it sounds neither like a good-quality 60's record, nor like a typical 60's Beach Boys pressing (which usually suffered from compromised sound in different ways). And the look and feel of the printed materials are in no way period-accurate, or even noteworthy by current standards. So, rather than trying again, I may just play it safe and go with the CD set instead...

Pink Floyd- The Wall new remaster. VERY NICE!!!

"Magico" - another fine ECM recording; this by Egberto Gismonti, Charlie Haden and Jan Garbarek. The title says it all. Beautiful and melancholy. If you haven't heard it, I hope you will check it out. "Folk Songs" by the same trio is wonderful too.

Schuller "Seven Studies on Themes of Paul Klee" Dorati/Minneapolis SO (Mercury SR90282)

Dvorak "Cello Concerto in B Minor, Opus 104" Starker/Dorati/London SO (Mercury SR90303)

Crosby, Stills & Nash "Crosby, Stills & Nash" (Atlantic SO-8229/Classic Records reissue)

Gregg Allman "Laid Back" (Capricorn CP 0116)