August 4th, 2023
Analogue Productions Announces Double 45rpm "A Love Supreme" Coming August 11th cut by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound NashvilleBy: Michael Fremer
Often, when a label has a tape out of the vault for a 33 1/3 rpm reissue, it uses the opportunity to also cut it at 45rpm, plate it, and hold onto it until a later 45rpm release. That's clearly the case here. Verve/Acoustic Sounds reissued A Love Supreme at 33 1/3 a few years ago cut by Ryan Smith from the master tape copy Rudy Van Gelder had sent to the U.K. shortly after the album was recorded. When the original tape was found to be plagued with drop outs, Van... Read More
July 31st, 2023
Blue Note Announces Next Run of Classic Vinyl Reissue Series of course, all-analog 180g pressed at OptimalBy: Tracking Angle
Blue Note Records announces the next run of titles in the Classic Vinyl Reissue Series, presenting 180g all-analog vinyl reissues of some of the most iconic masterpieces of the Blue Note catalog by jazz legends including Art Blakey, Donald Byrd, Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Sonny Rollins, and others. Don Was and Cem Kurosman curate, Kevin Gray masters directly from the original analog master tapes Optimal presses and the price is right! Newly announced... Read More
July 28th, 2023
Introducing Rhino Reds! series celebrates 45 years of Rhino RecordsBy: Tracking Angle
LOS ANGELES – To celebrate Rhino’s 45th Anniversary, the label iaunches Rhino Reds, a new series of limited-edition reissues pressed on custom “Rhino Red” vinyl. Over the next few months, Rhino will release classic albums and rarities from its vast music archive, showcasing records by key artists from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Each complete reissue will feature a bonus 7-inch, both pressed on translucent “Rhino Red” vinyl, based on the PMS color used in Rhino’s logo.To... Read More
July 21st, 2023
Previously Unreleased Nina Simone Live Album "You've Got to Learn" Out Today on Verve Includes Simone’s First-Ever Recording Of “Music For Lovers” And “Blues For Mama,”By: Tracking Angle
July 21, 2023 (New York, NY) – Today marks the Verve Records/UMG release of You’ve Got To Learn, a previously-unreleased recording of Nina Simone’s performance at the 1966 Newport Jazz Festival. The album arrives as part of the “Happy Birthday Miss Simone” campaign, a year-long celebration of Simone’s 90th birthday. Listen to the album HERE. You’ve Got To Learn is a major find for Simone’s fans. The album includes Simone’s first-ever recording of “Music For Lovers”... Read More
July 21st, 2023
For Those Who Actually Play Their Records, Something From Blue Note to Hang on the Wall a new series of limited-edition Francis Wolff fine art photography collector’s piecesBy: Tracking Angle
Blue Note Records has announced The Francis Wolff Collection, a new series of limited-edition fine art photography collector’s pieces that celebrates the legacy of Blue Note co-founder and photographer Francis Wolff as well as the musicians he loved. The series launches today with a collection of one-of-a-kind pieces featuring Wolff’s iconic photographs of the legendary saxophonistJohn Coltrane at the 1957 recording session for his masterpiece Blue Train (BLP 1577).... Read More
July 16th, 2023
Our Man In Kyoto, Jonti Davies Explores the City's Finest Record Stores even if you've never been or don't plan on going, Kyoto vinyl shop photos and descriptions prove enticingBy: Jonti Davies
[Updated November 2023] Kyoto is not only a microcosm of everything that those on the outside looking in love about Japan—vermilion torii gates x infinity, the pale pink petals of sakura trees, and occasional whiter-than-white geisha faces—it’s also home to a thriving underground live music scene, a friendly cottage recording industry of local labels and cassette-sharing, and a central mile or two filled with excellent record shops. Here are ten [now eleven] of my favorites, followed by the best of the rest.
Read MoreJuly 2nd, 2023
Record Store Day 2023: The Madness Amplifies Is RSD worth the Saturday morning hassle anymore?By: Malachi Lui
I did not line up for Record Store Day this year. I’d respond in disbelief if you told me that five years ago, but it’s true: RSD, once a tactic to lure customers into record shops during the iTunes era, has now become a full-scale shitshow in an already booming vinyl market. In 2023, you don’t need to remind the kids to go to record shops; a new Taylor Swift release does the trick.
Read MoreJune 8th, 2023
Joni Mitchell's Live "A Case of You" Available digitally today how you view this depends on your mindsetBy: Tracking Angle
June 8, 2023: When Joni Mitchell mesmerized the Newport Folk Festival audience last summer with a surprise performance, she “breathed new meaning into some of her most famous lyrics” (New York Times). Today, the powerful live recording of her beloved hit “A Case Of You” is available digitally. Originally released in 1971 on Blue, this new live recording features vocals by Marcus Mumford and Brandi Carlile.
Read MoreJune 3rd, 2023
Giles Martin "ZOOMs" In" to Introduce His Atmos "Pet Sounds" Mix at New York's Dolby Screening Room the mix master intended to attend but a family emergency prevented itBy: Michael Fremer
Universal and The Beach Boys organization tasked mix master Giles Martin to produce a Dolby Atmos edition of the iconic album Pet Sounds. There were big differences between doing this mix and Mr. Martin's previous remix work on albums produced by his father George Martin, and in his ZOOM call presentation before the Dolby Screening Room playback in New York on Tuesday, May 30th, he addressed them. Nonetheless, Martin's larger than life on-screen image amplified a level of discomfort with this project not evidenced in any of the Beatles re-mix events I attended. Following the full album playback, he returned to take questions from the audience.
Read MoreJune 1st, 2023
John Coltrane with Eric Dolphy 1961 Village Gate Recording Recently Discovered in the New York Public Library For the Performing Arts Archives "Evenings At the Village Gate..." released globally on Impulse! July 14thBy: Tracking Angle
June 1, 2023 (New York, NY) In the summer of 1961, John Coltrane headlined at the celebrated music venue, the Village Gate. With a lineup of musicians that included McCoy Tyner, Reggie Workman, Elvin Jones, and the fiery playing of Eric Dolphy, Evenings at the Village Gate captures the creative and transformative spirit that sprang from the pairing of Coltrane and Dolphy, and the evolving short-lived quintet. Evenings At The Village Gate: John Coltrane With Eric... Read More
May 30th, 2023
Craft's Jazz Dispensary Announces "A Triple Groove of Top Shelf Series Reissues" (Plus a "Smokeware" Offering) from Jack DeJohnette, Idris Muhammad and Leon SpencerBy: Tracking Angle
The press release poop: Los Angeles, CA (May 30, 2023)‒Jazz Dispensary is proud to announce the next harvest of its offerings from the acclaimed Top Shelf series, with a triple groove of reissues featuring Jack DeJohnette’s Sorcery, Idris Muhammad’s Black Rhythm Revolution!, and Leon Spencer’s Where I’m Coming From. These reissues mark the first wide vinyl release of all three albums in over 40 years. As with every title in the Top Shelf series, which reissues the... Read More
May 19th, 2023
Rhino Launches "Rhino High Fidelity"—a New AAA Limited Edition "Premium Vinyl" Reissue Series! lacquers cut from master tapes by Kevin GrayBy: Tracking Angle
Rhino Records today announced a new "audiophile grade" limited to 5000 copies reissue series of rock and jazz classics mastered by Kevin Gray using the original master tapes, plated and pressed at Optimal in Germany and available only on the Rhino website. (However, as of the press release launch time, Friday May 19th at 9 A.M., neither of these records appears on the Rhino website).The first two titles are The Cars, the group's 1978 debut and... Read More
May 12th, 2023
"Joni Mitchell at Newport"—Her July, 2022 Surprise Appearance Coming July 28th, 2023 on Vinyl and CD double vinyl set, ATMOS, streaming services, etc.By: Tracking Angle
From the press release: Mitchell was joined on stage at the Newport Folk Festival by a star-studded band led by Carlile, the 9x GRAMMY®-winning singer/songwriter. Other performers included Carlile’s bandmates Phil and Tim Hanseroth, Wynonna Judd, Marcus Mumford, Celisse, Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig of Lucius, Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes, and more.Mitchell delighted the audience, blending her voice with the other singers on stage on classics like “Big Yellow Taxi,” “A... Read More
May 3rd, 2023
Craft Announces Next Group of OJC Reissues cut AAA from original master tapes by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio and pressed at RTIBy: Tracking Angle
Los Angeles, CA (May 2, 2023) – Craft Recordings announces the second batch of Original Jazz Classics seriesreissues—all of which are essential additions to any jazz fan’s collection: Mal Waldron Sextet’s Mal/2, Yusef Lateef’s Eastern Sounds, as well as a pair of landmark recordings from the Bill Evans Trio, Waltz for Debby and Sunday at the Village Vanguard. Delivering the highest-quality listening experience, each album boasts lacquers cut from the original tapes... Read More
May 1st, 2023
The Onzow Zerodust Controversy Concludes Here (Updated August 29, 2023 With New Instruction) the new instructions explain it wellBy: Michael Fremer
Back in 2021 on my "previous endeavor"'s website, I published a story with images about a stubborn residue found by WAM Engineering LLC (WallyTools) on styli cleaned using the Onzow Zerodust. The report said "An analysis of the residue shows it is not silicone but rather a polymer of some sort. Further material analysis is forthcoming and will be reported here as soon as it's available".
Read MoreApril 29th, 2023
Memory-Tech’s UHQCD: The Final Red Book CD Frontier? the true ultimate CD?By: Malachi Lui
At long last, I’ve reached the last stage of my exploration into specialized Japanese CD pressings. After testing Sony’s Blu-spec CD2 and JVC Kenwood’s Super High Material (SHM) CDs, we’ll now dive into the Ultimate Hi-Quality CD, or UHQCD.
Read MoreApril 17th, 2023
SHM-CD: An Improvement? Diving into JVC Kenwood's Super High Material CDsBy: Malachi Lui
My dive into specially-manufactured Japanese CDs didn’t start so well, with the Sony Blu-spec CD2 format turning great recordings into fatiguingly bright, glorified white noise. But I’d already committed to trying those other Japanese CD formats too, so while still somewhat skeptical I hoped that these other CDs wouldn’t be a complete waste. Today’s feature centers around the SHM-CD, frequently used by the Japanese branches of Universal and Warner Music.
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