Now for part two of our David Bowie vinyl guide aka “how Parlophone botched most of their current remaster series” (part one here). Before we dive in, I’ve read all the comments about part one and have a couple things to address:Yes, the '70s albums inherently aren’t the most dynamic mixes, nor would I want them to be. Yes, Bowie and Visconti (when applicable) often went for a thick, processed sound, and they achieved that on the originals. That’s what Bowie... Read More

By 1974, Genesis was on its way from being lauded an underground cult favorite to an entity with commercial potential within the English progressive rock scene. Selling England By The Pound peaked at No. 3 in the UK album charts, and it spawned their first minor hit, “I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe).” In a concert setting, frontman Peter Gabriel became the group’s central figure, captivating audiences with an abundance of costumes and headdresses that elaborated... Read More

In Part 3 of my detailed survey of these groundbreaking recordings, I examine the unique qualities Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra brought to these still benchmark accounts of this challenging repertoire. I also offer a detailed review of each record, and suggestions for further exploration of the Second Viennese School - on vinyl, CD, SACD and in a fine new biography of Schoenberg. (Part 1 of this series of articles presented an account of Schoenberg's development of atonality and serialism, and Part 2 examined the history of recordings of this repertoire prior to the original release of Karajan's set in 1974).

With the arrival of the sixth and final David Bowie anthology box set I Can’t Give Everything Away [2002-2016], Parlophone has finally completed a decade-long undertaking: ruining the sound of Bowie’s entire catalog.It’s quite impressive, actually. Six hefty remaster box sets from 2015 to 2025, most with some problem of some sort, and none of them having the sound quality these records deserve. Not all of the box set remasters (and the equivalent individual album... Read More

To mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Arnold Schoenberg, DG's Original Source deluxe vinyl reissue series presents Herbert von Karajan's seminal survey of music by the composer and his two most famous pupils, Alban Berg and Anton Webern. In Part 1 of our coverage of this important reissue I discussed the development of atonality and serialism in the music of Schoenberg, which laid the foundation for a major strand of 20th century modernism. Here, in Part 2, I discuss how the recording industry represented this repertoire in the years leading up to the release of Karajan's game-changing box set.

To mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Arnold Schoenberg, DG's Original Source deluxe vinyl reissue series presents Herbert von Karajan's seminal survey of music by the composer and his two most famous pupils, Alban Berg and Anton Webern. Mastered and cut AAA directly from the original 4 and 8-track mastertapes by Rainer Maillard and Sidney C. Meyer at Emil Berliner Studios, this deluxe 4LP set offers the perfect opportunity to reassess how these composers played a central role in changing everything about how music was composed, listened to - and not always understood.

‘The tide is turning… everything’s gonna be alright now’ - “New Millennium”. Progressive music is rarely the most commercially viable genre for the singles charts and radio. As the 1990s gave way to the 2000s, Dream Theater avoided becoming collateral damage catering to record label demands. The pressure to write shorter material and work with outside producers/writers—the antithesis of what the band had set out to accomplish—almost to it disbanding. Earning artistic... Read More

‘Progressive rock’ was a taboo phrase amongst many music consumers in the 1970s. Instead of artists being lauded for top-tier musicianship, the genre became stigmatized for songs enduring intimidating lengths beyond the 6-minute mark and neo-classical approaches that seemed indulgent to those who preferred the simplicity of ‘three chords and an attitude.’ Regardless of varying perception, there’s no denying that the limitless boundaries of sonic exploration gave way... Read More

You’ll have to read Phil Schaap’s Wikipedia entry to get the full measure of the man. But it must be noted that he taught jazz at the graduate level at Columbia University and Rutgers University, taught American Studies at Princeton University, and convened graduate-level classes for the Juilliard School’s “Jazz at Lincoln Center” program. During his life’s journey, Phil Schaap acquired seven “Little Gold Gramophones.” (My personal count: Zero.) Three for “Best Album Notes;” three for “Best Historical Recording;” and one for “Best Audio Engineering.” That last one being the 1996 award for Miles Davis & Gil Evans: The Complete Columbia Studio Recordings. Obviously, this guy knew his stuff.

Mapleshade Records was a haven for jazz-loving audiophiles in the 1990s, a label that combined very good music and excellent sound quality in an era when digital—which, in its early days, usually meant lousy sound—was sweeping through the mainstream industry. Mapleshade’s proprietor-engineer, Pierre Sprey, recorded all his albums on analog tape, with austere minimalism: just two microphones (sometimes three), no processing, not even a mixing board. He stacked bricks... Read More

Never deemed ‘cool’ in the eyes of the mainstream and scowled by record critics, Canadian trio Rush were the textbook definition of ‘the people’s band.’ Guitarist Alex Lifeson, drummer Neil Peart, and bassist/keyboardist/vocalist Geddy Lee were anomalies amongst contemporaries who praised rock’s lewd and lascivious side. Their body of work explored science fiction, fantasy-driven, and philosophical lyrical realms while adapting to whatever musical climate they were... Read More

Continuing this video series produced by Emil Berliner Studios that takes you behind-the-scenes of the Original Source Series.It's been just over two years since Deutsche Grammophon launched its series of AAA vinyl reissues mastered directly from the original 4 and 8-track master tapes of treasured recordings from its 1970s catalogue. In response to collectors' numerous questions concerning every aspect of this important audiophile reissue series, Rainer... Read More

Continuing this video series produced by Emil Berliner Studios that takes you behind-the-scenes of the Original Source Series.It's been just over two years since Deutsche Grammophon launched its series of AAA vinyl reissues mastered directly from the original 4 and 8-track master tapes of treasured recordings from its 1970s catalogue. In response to collectors' numerous questions concerning every aspect of this important audiophile reissue series, Rainer... Read More

It's been just over two years since Deutsche Grammophon launched its series of AAA vinyl reissues mastered directly from the original 4 and 8-track master tapes of treasured recordings from its 1970s catalogue. In response to collectors' numerous questions concerning every aspect of this important audiophile reissue series, Rainer Maillard and Sidney C. Meyer of Emil Berliner Studios take you behind-the-scenes of every aspect of the Original Source. This is... Read More

Duke Ellington and Johnny Hodges may co-headline Side by Side, their portraits aligned in parallel on the cover. But for most of that 1959 album’s runtime, the titanic pianist, composer, and bandleader and his longtime alto saxophone foil aren’t together at all.On August 14, 1958, Hodges led a band of Ellington alumni and associates — tenor saxophonist Ben Webster, pianist Billy Strayhorn, bassist Wendell Marshall, and drummer Jo Jones — through four of his own... Read More

Zev Feldman’s devotion to Bill Evans borders on evangelism — and the flock is growing. While prepping 2023’s Treasures: Solo, Trio & Orchestra Recordings, the Resonance Records co-founder dropped into Crooked Beat Records in Alexandria, Virginia, only to learn the shop had pre-ordered 30 copies — an eye-popping tally for a niche archival set. “We’ll have 300 people around the block,” owner Bill Daly reported. “Your Bill Evans records — everybody wants them.”... Read More

Film music specialist LaLaLand Records continues its series of comprehensive 007 reissues with the score that set the musical template for the entire series.  I continue my deep dive into the story behind the creation of this iconic piece of 60s pop culture with a detailed assessment of this important restoration and reissue.  Barry, Bassey and Bond - nobody does it better…

My thesis is that music written for the ensemble of two violins, one viola, and one cello constitutes the musical art form that most nearly approaches perfection, both in its past achievements and its present possibilities. The greatest minds and most perceptive dispositions find in the literature and performance of string-quartet music an endlessly self-renewing source of wonder and delight. The string quartet is a most felicitous meeting of potential and realization.