October 26th, 2023
The Beatles "Red" and "Blue" Hits Albums Re-mixed and Expanded Plus One "New" Beatles Song Debuts many options, many editions, many formats, drops November 10th, "last Beatles song" released 11/2By: Michael Fremer
First, the new "Red" and Blue" editions: these were previewed at an event a few weeks ago at the Dolby Theater in New York subject to an NDA attendees had to sign but I was at "Making Vinyl" in The Netherlands and couldn't attend. Now the press release is public so here's what's coming. There are newly remixed (stereo and Dolby Atmos) and expanded versions of the "Red" (1962-1966) and "Blue" (1967-1970) hits... Read More
October 20th, 2023
"Rufus Reid Presents Caelan Cardello" Vinyl Release Drops Today! produced by Michael Fremer and Robin Wyatt, mastered by Bob LudwigBy: Michael Fremer
On this video I tell the story behind the new vinyl record I'm releasing along with my friend Robin Wyatt, on newly formed Liam Records. Bob Ludwig mastered the Duke Markos engineered recording that we collectively mixed with input from "Tone Poet" Joe Harley. Caelan Cardello is an exciting young pianist. Only after we decided the live performance deserved to be released on record did we find out that Caelan has quite a following in the New York area... Read More
October 20th, 2023
Deutsche Grammophon Announces Next "The Original Source" Releases Available January 12th, 2024 pre-order now via DG shop, available in December at other retailersBy: Tracking Angle
October 20th, 2023—Deutsche Grammophon today announced the next releases in its highly regarded and well reviewed "The Original Source" series. The titles are "Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4" with Claudio Abbado & The Vienna Philharmonic, Richard Strauss "Tod und Verkärung/Vier letzte Lieder", Gundula Janowitz, soprano, Herbert von Karajan & The Berlin Philharmonic and a three LP set of recordings by William Steinberg and the Boston... Read More
October 7th, 2023
Pro-Ject Announces Limited Edition The Dark Side of the Moon Turntable the latest in the company's themed turntable seriesBy: Tracking Angle
Pro-Ject has released a series of group and album related turntables, including a Yellow Submarine shaped one, a Metallica themed one and ones paying homage to The Beatles (all white), Sgt. Pepper's... (the drum image in the platter), The Rolling Stones, etc. but none as dramatic as this new one aimed at DSOTM fans. It includes an in the dark light show along with more substantial features listed below. The MSRP is $1999.
Read MoreSeptember 24th, 2023
Rhino Records Co-Founder Harold Bronson To Release "Time Has Come Today: Rock and Roll Diaries 1967 – 2007" Trouser Press Books Releases September 27thBy: Michael Fremer
My old friend and Rhino Records co-founder Harold Bronson has written "Time Has Come Today: Rock and Roll Diaries 1967" that will be out September 27th on Trouser Press Books. A review will be published shortly but for now, we have the press release:
Read MoreSeptember 18th, 2023
Acony Records Joins the Reel-to-Reel Tape Club First tape offering is Gillian Welch's "The Harrow & the Harvest"By: Tracking Angle
Gillian Welch's Grammy Nominated fifth album "The Harrow & the Harvest", originally released in 2011 finally got an all-analog vinyl release in 2017, with lacquers cut on a lovingly restored lathe; the project overseen by producer/musician David Rawlings and his partner Gillian Welch. Now their Nashville-based Acony record label is again releasing the album, this time on reel-to-reel tape, produced to the same high standards. The tapes are real time... Read More
September 16th, 2023
Exclusive! "AJA" UHQR Preview the Steely Dan "crown jewel" gets a platinum settingBy: Michael Fremer
Even Steely Dan deniers admit that Aja is a masterwork of composition and studio production. It's the "crown jewel" in the rich catalog and the one that Analogue Productions had to get 110% correct. Bernie Grundman cut the original pressing and he cut this UHQR reissue too. He knew his way around the recording.A full review will appear when the finished LP arrives but based on this test pressing, Bernie and Chad knocked this one out of the park and into... Read More
September 14th, 2023
Craft to Issue "The Complete Full House Recordings—Wes Montgomery recorded 'live' at Tsubo—Berkeley, California" 3 LP 180g, 2CD and 192/24 streaming editions available November 10thBy: Tracking Angle
Los Angeles, CA (September 14, 2023) – Craft Recordings honors the inimitable Wes Montgomery on his centennial with an expanded edition of his classic 1962 LP, Full House. Captured at Berkeley, CA’s Tsubo coffee house, the album marks the influential jazz guitarist’s sole live session for Riverside Records and features stellar performances by all, including tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin, pianist Wynton Kelly, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Jimmy Cobb. Presented... Read More
September 13th, 2023
Atlantic Records Celebrates 75th Anniversary With Year-Long Vinyl Campaign, Remixes & Limited Edition Merch Capsule 90 Titles Encompass Iconic Albums Spanning Label’s Entire History, Including Special Editions & Releases Never Before on VinylBy: Tracking Angle
NEW YORK, NY – September 13, 2023: As part of Atlantic Records’ 75th Anniversary celebration, the label – in conjunction with Rhino Entertainment – has launched an extensive year-long vinyl series featuring 90 releases spanning the entire history of the company, from its earliest days until the present. The series encompasses iconic and acclaimed albums across virtually every popular musical genre, including special editions and many that have never been on vinyl. The unprecedented series has been curated by Atlantic Records Chairman & CEO Craig Kallman, who – in addition to his role as the label’s chief executive – is one of the world’s foremost audiophiles, with a personal vinyl collection now numbering over two million LPs.
Read MoreSeptember 6th, 2023
Monk's "Brilliant Corners" is Craft Recordings Next "Small Batch" Release limited to 4000 copies, set for September 8th releaseBy: Tracking Angle
Los Angeles, CA (September 6, 2023) – Craft Recordings’ acclaimed Small Batch vinyl series returns with an audiophile pressing of Thelonious Monk’s Brilliant Corners. A landmark title in the pianist’s celebrated catalog, the 1957 album not only introduces several Monk originals, but also features an all-star line-up of talent, including Sonny Rollins, Max Roach, and Paul Chambers. Shipping September 8th and limited to just 4,000 copies worldwide, Brilliant Corners can... Read More
September 5th, 2023
Geffen/UMe Goes All In on Nirvana's "In Utero" 30th Anniversary Reissue Box 8 180g LPs, 72 tracks, 53 live unreleased, including L.A. and Seattle concertsBy: Michael Fremer
Originally released September 21, 1993 and recorded by Steve Albini, In Utero was Nirvana's first #1 debut on the Billboard 200 and went on to 6x platinum certification in the United States. The 30th anniversary release will be issued October, 27th, 2023 in a variety of formats including include a limited-edition 8LP Super Deluxe box set, 5CD Super Deluxe box set, 1 LP + 10” edition, 2CD Deluxe edition, and a Digital Super Deluxe edition. (Interestingly,... Read More
August 29th, 2023
Onzow Issues a New Instruction For the Zero Dust a multi-year, multi-website epic ends here (even though I thought it concluded May 1st)By: Michael Fremer
Last May 1st, Tracking Angle published "The Onzow Zerodust Controversy Concludes Here" in which I thought we'd put the story forever to rest. I thought "everyone" would be satisfied by the instructions published there. Please read them using the above hyperlink.Later Onzo Labs' Akira Ishibashi requested that I remove the original photo we'd been using to show the residue left on the stylus, to one more representative of what WAM... Read More
August 25th, 2023
The Electric Recording Company Announces Crosby, Stills, Nash Reissue Cut From Original Master Tape limited edition, of courseBy: Tracking Angle
The press release from The Electric Recording Company: The eponymous album of Crosby, Stills & Nash marked the inaugural studio release by the renowned American folk rock supergroup. Unveiled byAtlantic Records in 1969, the album stands as a seminal masterpiece within the realms of folk rock and rock music genres. With David Crosby,Stephen Stills, and Graham Nash at its core, all of whom boasted prior affiliations with accomplished bands (Crosby with The Byrds,... Read More
August 24th, 2023
How Deep A Dive Do You Want To Go Into Frank Zappa's "Over-Nite Sensation"? you'll need dental floss to get through some 50th Anniversary box set variantsBy: Tracking Angle
Overnite Sensation FZ's legendary 1973 album's 50th anniversary super deluxe edition celebrates 50th anniversary with expanded fifty seven unreleased and rare studio and live tracks. Eighty eight track, five-disc edition includes 4 CDs and Blu-ray disc with outtakes, alternate edits and unedited bonus vault masters plus two previously unreleased shows recorded at The Hollywood Palladium and Detroit's Cobo Hall. Blu-ray includes original Quad mix, plus new surround sound and Dolby Atmos mixes of the core album. 180g vinyl set of greatest interest to Tracking Angle readers: 2 LP 180-gram black audiophile vinyl reissue with the album cut at 45 rpm for the first time ever from the original analog tape by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering in 2023 and a bonus 24” x 12” poster of the complete cover art.
Read MoreAugust 23rd, 2023
U-Turn Audio Today Launches "Gen 2" Orbit Line-up first lineup "refresh" in a decade during which time the company says it's sold "hundreds of thousands of turntables!By: Tracking Angle
BOSTON - (Aug. 23, 2023) - U-Turn Audio, an independent American maker of award-winning turntables, announces their first ever refresh of the beloved Orbit Turntable lineup. Building off a decade of success, the next generation of Orbit takes turntable design and technology to the next level with a range of new features like its high-tech magnesium tonearm, electronic speed control, revamped drive system, and more customization options than ever before. U-Turn Audio... Read More
August 22nd, 2023
A True Digital Test Coming Up: Chris Bellman Digitized @192/24 Personally Overseen By Waits/Brennan Released on Vinyl you could say "why not just let Chris just cut from tape?"By: Tracking Angle
"TOM WAITS’ ENTIRE METAMORPHIC AND GROUNDBREAKING MID-PERIOD ISLAND RECORDS STUDIO CATALOG NEWLY REMASTERED FROM ORIGINAL TAPES AND PREPPED FOR RELEASE ON VINYL "AND CD FOR FIRST TIME" (all caps from press release)
Read MoreAugust 17th, 2023
Jason Moran's "From the Dancehall to the Battlefield" Coming On Vinyl—Limited to 300 Copies Should quickly sell outBy: Michael Fremer
If you read Fred Kaplan's review of Jason Moran's From the Dancehall to the Battlefield you may have been sufficiently intrigued to order the Bandcamp download Moran uploaded for purchase this past New Year's Day. I was and I did and glad to have done it. Moran just announced a limited to 300 copies double LP $39.99 vinyl edition available now for pre-order, to be shipped early September. ● 2 LPs ● 180 Gram Vinyl Pressing ● Direct Metal Mastering ● Full... Read More
August 12th, 2023
"His Band and the Street Choir" and "Word of Mouth" Next Up From Rhino's High Fidelity Series limited to 5000 copies andBy: Michael Fremer
Rhino's next two releases in the "High Fidelity" series were announced yesterday. They are Van Morrison's "His Band and the Street Choir" and Jaco Pastorius's "Word of Mouth". Both are available today exclusively at Rhino.com and internationally at select WMG stores. Each release is limited to 5,000 individually numbered copies and priced at $39.98.As with the previous two superb sounding reissues from The Cars and John... Read More
August 8th, 2023
Steely Dan "Aja" Reissue Due September 29th Via Geffen/UMe— AAA Analogue Productions UHQR In the Announcement For UMe edition "mastered from analog" means cut from digital fileBy: Michael Fremer
(Below is the press release from UMe regarding the "Aja" release and subsequent Steely Dan reissues. While the second paragraph is forthcoming about the source—"analog non-EQ'd tape copy" (the master tape is MIA)— you have to get to paragraph four to read that the Geffen edition is from Grundman mastered high resolution digital files. While paragraph five lauds the UHQR edition it doesn't reference its "cut from tape" source).... Read More