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Book Reviews
A Jimmy Page Page Turner: "Light & Shade"
Michael Fremer  |  Dec 21, 2012  |  First Published: Dec 31, 1969
It's too bad no one at The David Letterman Show read this book before Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and Jimmy Page recently appeared on the show. Dave wasn't prepared, didn't know what to say or ask and so it was all inane small talk.
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Beatles
Help! I Forgot to Review "Help!"
Michael Fremer  |  Dec 21, 2012
While The Beatles' musical arc was ever upward, the group's cinematic efforts traveled in the opposite direction. "A Hard Day's Night" was the group's best film. Shooting in black and white was more of a financial than esthetic choice it worked perfectly to capture the staid post-war period the boys found themselves in growing up.
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Beatles
EMI's Beatles Box In Perspective
Michael Fremer  |  Dec 20, 2012
A woman walks into a butcher shop. She says "Can I see that chicken?" The butcher hands it to her. She smells it in front, she smells it in back, she smells it all over and then hands it back to the butcher saying "Mister, this chicken stinks!" The butcher replies "Lady, could you pass a test like that?"
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Beatles
"With The Beatles": A Weak Follow Up?
Michael Fremer  |  Dec 19, 2012
Released in the U.K. November 22nd, 1963—the day John F. Kennedy was assassinated, many of the songs here weren't released in America until Capitol issued Meet The Beatles! in January of 1964 but a few bitter months after the assassination. America, particularly its youth needed an emotional pick me up and The Beatles provided it, though more on the Vee-Jay album than on this one.
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News
This Is How It's Done: Analogue Productions Readies the Stevie Ray Vaughan Catalog Cut Using Master Tapes
Michael Fremer  |  Dec 19, 2012  |  First Published: Dec 31, 1969
With all of the reissues coming from questionable sources or proudly proclaiming their "digital-ness" ala The Beatles Box, we're fortunate to have labels like Analogue Productions, Mobile Fidelity, ORG, IMPEX, Rhino and the others cutting lacquers from analog tapes.
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Beatles
"Yellow Submarine": Does It Matter?
Michael Fremer  |  Dec 18, 2012
With but four new tunes, this is arguably the least important Beatles album but it's part of the box so here we go.
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News
Rhino Reissues Love's Classic "Forever Changes" Album From Analog Tape! (Corrected)
Michael Fremer  |  Dec 17, 2012  |  First Published: Dec 31, 1969
Rhino recently reissued Love's essential Forever Changes album in conjunction with last November 23rd's "Record Store Day." The album was cut by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering and pressed at RTI.
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Beatles
"A Hard Day's Night" Plating Mystery Solved!
Michael Fremer  |  Dec 11, 2012  |  First Published: Dec 31, 1969
I just got off the phone with Record Technology Incorporated's owner Don MacInnis regarding the stamped lacquer used to press A Hard Day's Night and only that album.
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News
Don't Worry, I'm Keeping My Day Job!
Michael Fremer  |  Dec 09, 2012  |  First Published: Dec 31, 1969
I was invited to speak at last week's Los Angeles and Orange County Audiophile Society Annual Awards Banquet. I spoke there two years ago and did some audio stand up comedy so this time i figured I'd do something else: sing.
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Beatles
"A Hard Day's Night" Among the Best of the Box, But Why?
Michael Fremer  |  Dec 07, 2012
It's June of 1964. Beatlemania is sweeping America. You've just graduated high school and are getting ready for college. You're trying to grow up, you're listening to jazz, but you've been pulled into this teen craze by the music. Not since Elvis, the Everly Brothers and Roy Orbison has your world been so rocked.
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