News

Neil Young "Ditch Trilogy +" LP Box Set Coming For Black Friday RSD. This image is of a Counterfeit!

Michael Fremer  |  Nov 26, 2014

The Neil Young master tapes for this second box set were sitting in Chris Bellman's mastering suite last winter when I visited and interviewed Bernie Grundman about the Blue Note reissues, some of which were originally digitized at BGM Mastering and some of which were cut to lacquer by Chris.

Phono Preamp Reviews

A Current Affair: The Intriguing MR Labs VERA 20 MC Phono Preamplifier

Michael Fremer  |  Nov 24, 2014

The compact, two piece VERA 20 Phono Preamplifier from MR Labs may look more like a piece of medical technology and less like high performance audio gear, but don’t let its plain looks deceive you.

It consists of two relatively small chassis, one containing the amplification and signal processing electronics and the other the power supply. The power supply chassis (which at approximately 6 pounds weighs 3 times more than the amplification chassis) is capped at one end with a beefy heat sink more typical of a power amplifier. The two chassis connect via a pair of multi-pin umbilicals.

News

Led Zeppelin File Identities Revealed

Michael Fremer  |  Nov 24, 2014

For those taking the time to listen to the two posted files in the Led Zeppelin III review....

Beatles

The World's Greatest Artists Sing The Songs of Paul McCartney: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

Michael Fremer  |  Nov 23, 2014

The Art of McCartney: The Songs of Paul McCartney Sung by the World's Greatest Artists
Various Artists
 
Arctic Poppy APGATEV1402 3 180g LPs
Produced by: Ralph Sall
Engineered by: Peter McCabe, others
Mixed by: Peter McCabe, others
Mastered by: Louie Teran (lacquers cut by "BGM")
 
MUSIC
SOUND
The producer Ralph Sall had an idea ten years ago or so: why not get some of the greatest musical talents of our time to pay tribute to Sir Paul McCartney by having them cover his songs? What could possibly go wrong?

With today's "phone it in" technology Sall figured he could record the backing tracks locally and then, if necessary, have the singers add their parts in their local or home studios and that is apparently how this 3 LP set (also available on CD and probably on iTunes) was produced.

Primary Category: 
Beatles
Category: 
Beatles
Artist: 
Various Artists
Album: 
The Art of McCartney: The Songs of Paul McCartney Sung by the World's Greatest Artists
Cred Label: 
Arctic Poppy APGATEV1402 3 180g LPs
Cred Prod: 
Ralph Sall
Cred Eng: 
Peter McCabe, others
Cred Mix: 
Peter McCabe, others
Cred Mast: 
Louie Teran (lacquers cut by "BGM")
Michael Fremer
The producer Ralph Sall had an idea ten years ago or so: why not get some of the greatest musical talents of our time to pay tribute to Sir Paul McCartney by having them cover his songs? What could possibly go wrong?

News

Read "The Long Play" by Colette LaBouff Published in The Morning News

Michael Fremer  |  Nov 20, 2014

A reader forwarded a link to a story by Colette LaBouff published in The Morning News, "a magazine of essays, art, humor and culture" that I'm 100% certain you will enjoy reading. The publisher has generously granted us permission to provide the link.

News

Bruce Springsteen "The Album Collection Vol. 1 1973-1984"—First Look

Michael Fremer  |  Nov 18, 2014

Legacy's long awaiting Bruce Springsteen vinyl box set arrived so analogplanet.com editor Michael Fremer unboxed it with the camera rolling. Have a look:

Album Reviews

Led Zeppelin III Tones Down the "Heavy"

Michael Fremer  |  Nov 17, 2014

Led Zeppelin III
Led Zeppelin
 
Atlantic R1-536182 2 180 LPs
Produced by: Jimmy Page
Engineered by: Andrew Johns, Terry Manning
Mixed by: N/A
Mastered by: John Davis and Jimmy Page (lacquers cut by John Davis)
 
MUSIC
SOUND
(Ed. note: "Sample 1" is Bernie Grundman's cut for Classic Records)

The third Led Zeppelin album has its heavy moments as on the banshee scream opener "Immigrant Song" but most often the pace is faster, the grooves lighter and at times it's downright celebratory.

Primary Category: 
Album Reviews
Category: 
Album Reviews
Artist: 
Led Zeppelin
Album: 
Led Zeppelin III
Cred Label: 
Atlantic R1-536182 2 180 LPs
Cred Prod: 
Jimmy Page
Cred Eng: 
Andrew Johns, Terry Manning
Cred Mix: 
N/A
Cred Mast: 
John Davis and Jimmy Page (lacquers cut by John Davis)
Michael Fremer
The third Led Zeppelin album has its heavy moments but most often the pace is faster, the groove lighter and at times it's downright celebratory.

News

Science Shows There's Only One Real Way to Listen to Music

Michael Fremer  |  Nov 17, 2014

Here's a link to a story you probably will enjoy. Note the angry, bitter and occasionally ignorant comments from "those people".

News

HDtracks Adds Vinyl Store

Michael Fremer  |  Nov 17, 2014

Jimmy Durante (some younger readers may need to look him up) used to say "Everybody's gotta get into the act!" and when it comes to vinyl, he was correct! It's sold at Whole Foods (which because of some of the customers I encounter there I like to call "A-Whole Foods") at Urban Outfitters (along with Crosley "groove chewers"), Target and other unlikely vinyl venues.

News

Two Days At Audio Advice in North Carolina

Michael Fremer  |  Nov 15, 2014  |  First Published: Nov 14, 2014

For the second time in two years I was invited to participate in North Carolina retailer Audio Advice's "Music Matters" customer appreciation event. No doubt some of you have attended a similar type happening at your local audio retailer—if you're fortunate enough to have one in your area.

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