When the acoustic folk-rock band America released their debut album at the end of 1971, I bought it. When they came to my hometown the next month, I saw them play this album. That live set, along with the A-side single “A Horse with No Name” was astonishingly good. I don’t remember if they played the B-side single “Everyone I Know is From California” that night, but it ended up being one of the tightest concerts I’ve ever been to. “A Horse with No Name” (originally... Read More

Valentine's Day 2016 was a day in my musical journey that left an influential impression. I bought a copy of Pet Sounds and listened to it with headphones in the dark, as per mastermind Brian Wilson’s instructions from an old interview. My head was swirling–listening to harmonies that sounded like they came from the heavens and being astounded how the Wrecking Crew brought Brian’s grandiose arrangements to life. Tony Asher’s introspective lyrics stung me so hard... Read More

An odd set for the weekend: a track from the Command Records stereo classic Persuasive Percussion—everyone's favorite late '50s stereo demo record and a few tracks from Triiple Play among the weirdest jazz albums ever! On the left channel a string section plus a few other instruments playing "pop" arrangements. And on the right channel some of jazz's greatest musicians of the early '60s (and before and after) playing jazz arrangements,... Read More

Sonny Rollins, the “saxophone colossus,” died on May 25 at the age of 95, a profound loss for jazz. His passing marks, literally, the end of an era. He was the last jazz titan from the generation that revolutionized jazz just after World War II; the last musician to have played with Charlie Parker (the spearhead of that revolution); and the last of the 57 jazzmen and women who posed for Art Kane’s iconic 1958 “Great Day in Harlem” photo. More important, Sonny Rollins... Read More

Magic happened when Hal David and Burt Bacharach hooked up with Dionne Warwick. She was the perfect vocal vessel for their music and lyrics. Though Make Way for Dionne Warwick, released August 31st, 1964 included two tracks on her previous album for the Bacharach and David team, it was such a strong set, in part because it included the Top Ten single hit "Walk on By", it went up the r&b album chart as well. It's also one of the first albums to... Read More

KLAUDIO will debut at Vienna High End (June 4-7) the KD-CLN- LP200U—a new ultrasonic record cleaning machine capable of auto-sensing and cleaning 7", 10" and 12" records using only water—no chemical additives necessary.Also new is the KD-ATL-RCMO5 ver.2 a 5 disc loader that queues up 5 records of any size (7,10,12 inch) and automatically replaces and washes them sequentially. The unit is a simple "bolt-on" device using a pair of... Read More

The Electric Recording Company just announced its version of The Doors L.A. Woman limited to 450 copies at £395 each. I know people complain about the price but usually by the time I publish the news, which just arrived in my inbox, they are sold out. So if you want one, best to try now. Will it be better than the UHQR? Can't say, but it surely will be different. Read More

DG’s Original Source Remastering of three titles from its iconic Avant-garde LP series of the 1960s/70s prompts me to follow the White Rabbit of Musical Curiosity down a very long rabbit hole into the Wonderland of 20th century modernism and the avant-garde, a Wonderland that as a teenager I found fascinating (and still do); a Wonderland I never entirely left. 

It’s a Wonderland with many surprises - some agreeable, some disorienting, some a little alarming. Which is precisely as it should be with any good movement in the Arts that aims to question everything.  

All essential to an understanding of where we are today in our ongoing voyage through the musical firmament.  Thus I invite you to join me on an exploration of what makes this music tick, and why it remains worth listening to - even if you are not quite sure you like it!  Maybe you will surprise yourself…

This TrackingAngle track Du Jour celebrates the Miles Davis Centennial with a track from the rare and out of print Miles album Live Around the World. The album consists of 1988-1989 performances recorded on tour and assembled here to give the feel of a single live performance. The set begins with "In a Silent Way" recorded in New York on December 17th 1988 and ends with "Hannibal" from Miles Davis's last performance. The next to last track is... Read More

When is the right time to celebrate in a big way and pop the corks? Definitely a 100th birthday! This anniversary currently belongs to Miles Davis (May 26, 1926). But what do you do when the archives have almost nothing left to offer? A reissue or a new release? Warner Music Group is taking the easy route and releasing the previously neglected live album Miles & Quincy – Live At Montreux on vinyl as part of the Rhino Reserve series.

In today’s vibrant high-end analog market, numerous turntables dazzle us with their stunning looks and impressive sounds. However, many fall short over time, prioritizing style over true musical integrity. The Wand Master 14-4 takes a refreshing approach, focusing not on flashy design but on preserving the delicate temporal and harmonic connections that bring music to life. It’s all about delivering an experience that is coherent, expressive, and deeply emotionally... Read More

The great tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins died the other day age 95. He had a great run. I thought it best to honor him by playing two tracks. One is "Doxy" from the RCA Victor "Living Stereo" original pressing Our Man in Jazz recorded live at The Village Gate featuring Billy Higgins, Don Cherry and Bob Crenshaw. It's one of the first records Sonny made after returning to performing. Not easy listening but well worth the effort and the sound... Read More

When Classic Records issued the first 4 Led Zeppelin albums in a 200g box set edition it included a test pressing of "Stairway to Heaven" at 45rpm. Later, it issued a very limited edition TP on Clarity Vinyl, the same basic formulation Analogue Productions uses now for its UHQR releases. The history of that formulation and how Classic Records started using it is an interesting. I would have told it in the video but was pressed for time so here it is:... Read More

May 22, 2026 (Los Angeles, CA) – Today, Neil Young returns to his Official Release Series (ORS) with the next installment of four classic titles from the 1990s. Last September we released the CD and vinyl box sets for ORS Vol 6: Discs 26, 27, 28 & 29 comprised of HARVEST MOON, UNPLUGGED, SLEEPS WITH ANGELS and MIRROR BALL Today on May 22, each of these titles are available now as individual vinyl and CD editions via Reprise Records. Each of these seminal 90s-era... Read More

A triple-play for Memorial Day: first up, "Be My Baby" by The Ronettes from what appeared to be a trashed copy of Philles Records Presents Today's Hits pulled from $1.00 bin. A bit of crunch at the beginning and then wow! That's followed by "New Orleans Shuffle" by John Fahey and his Orchestra from a Reprise promo record After the Ball from 1973. Every copy I've ever seen has been a promo copy leading me to believe the record never... Read More

The Beatles EP box set rounds up all of the various Beatles EPs containing the singles tracks not found on the U.K. albums up through "Magical Mystery Tour". I show all the great jackets and then play "The Inner Light" and "Baby You're A Rich Man" in stereo at 45rpm. The sound is spectacular. Enjoy! Read More

This Track Du Jour features a 1A pressing of the "Bridge Over Troubled Water". Significant because according to engineer/producer Roy Halee, shortly after the record's release, the master of the title tune was replaced with a not particularly good copy of the song, so every subsequent reissue has the less than outstanding title track. The 1A pressing guarantees the title tune is the original master tape. Also, "The Only Living Boy In New York"... Read More

First things first! The Deluxe embossed, laminated cover looks swell! The "LIVE" and "FULL HOUSE" have never had this deluxe cover treatment, nor did the record ever have a gatefold edition. The gatefold photo is kind of a shocker. I never saw these guys dressed like that onstage in Boston, which is the only place I ever saw them. This set recorded live at the run down former vaudeville theater renamed the Cinderella Ballroom in rundown (at the... Read More