Can I Have My Money Back?

"You Say Turntable Sales Are Up....There Are No Statistics To Back This Up" (Corrected 3/2/15)

Michael Fremer  |  Feb 24, 2015

It was twenty years ago, but not today. Close enough though. I was rummaging through some old files when I came upon a letter I'd received from Gary Shapiro, who is now President and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association, the group that among other things, runs the annual International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Record Buying Tips

Buying Used Records? A Cautionary Tale!

Michael Fremer  |  Feb 22, 2015

After reading analogplanet's Bruce Springsteen box set coverage a well-known audio designer excitedly came up to me at last December's L.A. and Orange County Audiophile Society Gala.

Album Reviews

Alvin Brothers Unlock Key to Big Bill Broonzy

Michael Fremer  |  Feb 22, 2015

Common Ground
Dave Alvin and Phil Alvin
 
Yep Roc
Produced by: Dave Alvin and Craig Parker Adams
Engineered by: Who the .... Knows?
Mixed by: Who the ....Knows?
Mastered by: Who the ...Knows?
 
MUSIC
SOUND
What can these two tow headed little brothers pictured on the cover know about Big Bill Broonzy? Obviously plenty as you'll hear on this inspired collaboration—the Alvin brothers' first together in almost thirty years.

And what do you know about Big Bill Broonzy? If you're a big fan of the blues, plenty no doubt. But even if you're not, with a few bars of the opener "All By Myself" you'll say to yourself "Ry Cooder!" but of course it's BBB who Ry was channeling. And Eric Clapton when he covered "Key to the Highway".

Primary Category: 
Album Reviews
Category: 
Album Reviews
Artist: 
Dave Alvin and Phil Alvin
Album: 
Common Ground
Cred Label: 
Yep Roc
Cred Prod: 
Dave Alvin and Craig Parker Adams
Cred Eng: 
Who the .... Knows?
Cred Mix: 
Who the ....Knows?
Cred Mast: 
Who the ...Knows?
Michael Fremer
What can these two tow headed little brothers pictured on the cover know about Big Bill Broonzy? Obviously plenty as you'll hear on this inspired collaboration—the Alvin brothers' first together in almost thirty years.

Analog Gear News

Onkyo Re-Enters the Turntable Market With a Direct Drive Model (Facts Added)

Michael Fremer  |  Feb 22, 2015

A reader in Europe sent a link to a European Onkyo site.

Album Reviews

Dylan and The Band's The Basement Tapes Raw  Presents The Authentic Document

Michael Fremer  |  Feb 21, 2015

The Basement Tapes Raw
Bob Dylan and The Band
 
Columbia/Legacy 88875016131 3 180g LP box set plus 2 CDs
Produced by: Jeff Rosen, Jan Haust, Steve Berkowitz (compiled by Rosen)
Engineered by: Garth Hudson
Mixed by: Garth Hudson
Mastered by: Peter J. Moore, additional production and mastering by Mark Wilder (Mastered for LP by Ryan Smith)
 
MUSIC
SOUND
The further you get in time from this story the more focused, three-dimensional and confounding it becomes. How deep do you want to dig and how far down have you already dug?

Plenty of people I know think The Basement Tapes are “a bunch of unreleased songs Dylan and The Band sang together at 'Big Pink' that were never released but bootleggers forced their release in 1975 as The Basement Tapes".

How many know that the 1975 release was of the songs seriously revised with Garth Hudson’s wide stage recording summed to mono and overdubs placed against the wide-open space?

Primary Category: 
Album Reviews
Category: 
Album Reviews
Artist: 
Bob Dylan and The Band
Album: 
The Basement Tapes Raw
Cred Label: 
Columbia/Legacy 88875016131 3 180g LP box set plus 2 CDs
Cred Prod: 
Jeff Rosen, Jan Haust, Steve Berkowitz (compiled by Rosen)
Cred Eng: 
Garth Hudson
Cred Mix: 
Garth Hudson
Cred Mast: 
Peter J. Moore, additional production and mastering by Mark Wilder (Mastered for LP by Ryan Smith)
Michael Fremer
The further you get in time from this story the more focused, three-dimensional and confounding it becomes. How deep do you want to dig and how far down have you already dug?

News

Mark Knopler Cuts a New Song to Analog Tape

Michael Fremer  |  Feb 20, 2015

A reader forwarded a new video showing Mark Knopfler, who had recorded his share of albums digitally, back in the studio recording to analog tape using tube compressors to achieve the desired sound based on sound not necessarily the latest technology.

Cartridge Reviews

Triangle ART Zeus MC Cartridge: The Best For Less?

Michael Fremer  |  Feb 19, 2015

California-based Triangle ART manufactures five gleaming chrome and gold plated high mass turntables as well as its own tone arm. The 'tables weigh from 40 to 850 pounds. Recently, Triangle ART introduced the Zeus MC phono cartridge, thus completing mechanical part of the analog playback.

Ask Mikey

Questions For the Editor?

Michael Fremer  |  Feb 18, 2015

The best way to ask questions and get answers is to send in an email to MFremer@analogplanet.com.

Features

Analogplanet Visits Stoughton Press

Michael Fremer  |  Feb 12, 2015

Stoughton Press located in California's City of Industry, recently installed a $2.8 million dollar state-of-the-art Heidelberg printing press in order to keep up with the demand for the "vinyl fad".

News

Roxy Music Box Set Coming March 16th From Universal

Michael Fremer  |  Feb 12, 2015

Roxy Music, the art-rock band that spawned the music careers of lead singer Bryan Ferry and producer, music experimenter (and who knows how to adequately describe him) Brian Eno will get the full and well deserved box set treatment from UMe.

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