News

Sam Records Announces a New Thelonious Monk Album For Record Store Day (Revised)

Michael Fremer  |  Mar 24, 2017

Back in 1960 Thelonious Monk created the musical score for Roger Vadim's controversial film Les liaisons dangereuses. It has never before been released as an album, until now.

Turntable Reviews

The Technics SL-1200G Direct Drive Turntable

Michael Fremer  |  Mar 24, 2017

The original Technics SL-1200 direct drive turntable introduced in 1972 enjoyed a thirty-eight year, six generation run. Technics sold more than 3.5 million of them. In October of 2010 just as vinyl was staging its unlikely comeback, parent company Panasonic pulled the plug on the SL-1200 Mk6.

Used Record Buying Tips

Cracking the Columbia Records Code

Michael Fremer  |  Mar 21, 2017

You can find a great deal of information online about matrix codes and their meaning. Unfortunately some of it is incorrect.

AnalogPlanet Radio

AnalogPlanet Radio's WFDU HD2 "Spring is Here" Radio Show Streams Now

Michael Fremer  |  Mar 20, 2017

Today's playlist is all about spring, with a short detour to celebrate Chuck Berry and Larry Coryell.

Album Reviews

The "Chirping Crickets" Is Rock'n'Roll's DNA

Michael Fremer  |  Mar 16, 2017

The "Chirping" Crickets
The Crickets
 
Brunswick/Analogue Productions APP 109 200g mono LP
Produced by: Norman Petty
Engineered by: Norman Petty
Mixed by: Norman Petty
Mastered by: Kevin Gray at Cohearent Mastering
 
MUSIC
SOUND
When The Crickets' "That'll Be the Day" exploded on the radio in 1957 and the absolutely geeky looking 21 year old Buddy Holly and group appeared December 1st on The Ed Sullivan Show, a generation of kids were moved the way the next one was by The Beatles. You didn't have to look like Elvis. Anyone could be a rock'n'roll star. In fact, "That'll Be the Day" was the first demo cut by The Quarrymen, the skiffle group that eventually morphed into The Beatles.

Primary Category: 
Album Reviews
Category: 
AAA Vinyl
Artist: 
The Crickets
Album: 
The "Chirping" Crickets
Cred Label: 
Brunswick/Analogue Productions APP 109 200g mono LP
Cred Prod: 
Norman Petty
Cred Eng: 
Norman Petty
Cred Mix: 
Norman Petty
Cred Mast: 
Kevin Gray at Cohearent Mastering
Michael Fremer
When The Crickets' "That'll Be the Day" exploded on the radio in 1957 and the absolutely geeky looking 21 year old Buddy Holly and group appeared December 1st on The Ed Sullivan Show, a generation of kids were moved the way the next one was by The Beatles. You didn't have to look like Elvis. Anyone could be a rock'n'roll star. In fact, "That'll Be the Day" was the first demo cut by The Quarrymen, the skiffle group that eventually morphed into The Beatles.

Album Reviews

Nick Culp's "The Culprit's Blues" Goes Back to The Future

Michael Fremer  |  Mar 14, 2017

The Culprit's Blues
Nick Culp Quintet
 
Gutbucket Records GB-1001
Produced by: Nick Culp
Engineered by: Scott Bergstrom
Mixed by: Scott Bergstrom
Mastered by: "Lucky"
 
MUSIC
SOUND
You’ve probably seen or at least heard about Damien Chazelle’s musical “La La Land”, about a musician (Ryan Gosling) whose less than fully expressed mission was to “save jazz”. He brings his turntable and retro-record collection to Los Angeles where he lives in a crummy apartment and makes ends meet by playing in a piano bar.

Primary Category: 
Album Reviews
Category: 
AAA Vinyl
Album Reviews
Artist: 
Nick Culp Quintet
Album: 
The Culprit's Blues
Cred Label: 
Gutbucket Records GB-1001
Cred Prod: 
Nick Culp
Cred Eng: 
Scott Bergstrom
Cred Mix: 
Scott Bergstrom
Cred Mast: 
"Lucky"
Michael Fremer
You’ve probably seen or at least heard about Damien Chazelle’s musical “La La Land”, about a musician (Ryan Gosling) whose less than fully expressed mission was to “save jazz”. He brings his turntable and retro-record collection to Los Angeles where he lives in a crummy apartment and makes ends meet by playing in a piano bar.

AnalogPlanet Radio

AnalogPlanet Radio's WFDU HD2 "Saint Patrick's Day" Radio Show Streams Now

Michael Fremer  |  Mar 13, 2017

Today's AnalogPlanet Radio show celebrates Saint Patrick's Day with an eclectic assortment of tunes and artists designed to demonstrate the strong connection between Irish and American music. Van Morrison once famously quipped that American soul music derives from Irish music.

Video Reviews

Roy Orbison "Black&WhiteNight 30" Blu-ray Has it All (And More)

Michael Fremer  |  Mar 12, 2017

Thirty years after the stars came out in an unprecedented outpouring of love and respect to back Roy Orbison at L.A.'s Cocoanut Grove Ballroom, fans can finally see it all and hear it as never before in the original running order in which it was performed.

News

Fans Demand More Blue Notes From Music Matters!

Michael Fremer  |  Mar 11, 2017

A group of determined fans of both the Blue Note jazz catalog and the Music Matters reissues, which are always done from tape and done correctly recently started a drive to convince the label to issue more of Blue Notes after the label apparently decided it had released a sufficient number.

Album Reviews

Judith Owen's "Somebody's Child" Will Move You

Michael Fremer  |  Mar 9, 2017

Somebody's Child
Judith Owen
 
Twanky Records TWR 00148 180g LP
Produced by: Judith Owen
Engineered by: David Bianco
Mixed by: David Bianco
Mastered by: Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman Mastering
 
MUSIC
SOUND
It doesn't slight this well-produced, thoroughly engaging record to write that singer/songwriter/pianist/raconteur Judith Owen is best experienced live in concert.

Primary Category: 
Album Reviews
Category: 
Album Reviews
Artist: 
Judith Owen
Album: 
Somebody's Child
Cred Label: 
Twanky Records TWR 00148 180g LP
Cred Prod: 
Judith Owen
Cred Eng: 
David Bianco
Cred Mix: 
David Bianco
Cred Mast: 
Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman Mastering
Michael Fremer
It doesn't slight to this well-produced, thoroughly engaging record to write that singer/songwriter/pianist/raconteur Judith Owen is best experienced live in concert.

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