AAA Vinyl

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Mark Smotroff  |  May 22, 2026

Today, we’re delving into two new versions of The Beach Boys’ seminal May 1966 masterpiece, Pet Sounds, which has been released in two separate high-grade vinyl editions in celebration of its 60th anniversary: a) Capitol/UMe’s Vinylphyle series 2LP mono/stereo set, and b) Interscope/Capitol’s ultra-premium Definitive Sound Series (DSS) One Step edition. Read Mark Smotroff’s in-depth review of both editions to see how and why they’ve each met our own exacting standards, and how a long-lost 1972 master put one of them over the top. . .

Mark Smotroff, Mike Mettler  |  May 01, 2026

Analogue Productions have recently released a tremendous 200g 2LP 45rpm UHQR version of The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s December 1967 album, Axis: Bold As Love in both stereo and mono. Read Mark Smotroff’s review of the stereo edition (and AP editor Mike Mettler’s extended footnotes) to find out why it’s worth the investment, and then carry on into Mettler’s footnotes to see why the mono edition is also top-shelf. . .. . .

Mark Smotroff, Mike Mettler  |  Apr 03, 2026

Athens, Georgia’s legendary indie rock band R.E.M.’s back-to-back initial releases on I.R.S. — August 1982’s five-song Chronic Town EP, and April 1983’s full-length album debut Murmur — are now featured together in a Definitive Sound Series (DSS) One-Step 180g 2LP set from Interscope/Capitol. Read Mark Smotroff’s review — and AP editor Mike Mettler’s extensive footnotes — to see if this double release is well worth the DSS investment. . .

Mark Smotroff, Mike Mettler  |  Mar 27, 2026

The October 1975 live album bearing the compelling title of Bongo Fury that features Frank Zappa and legendary/visionary composer Captain Beefheart holds a special place in both artists’ catalogs as their only official live collaboration recording. A new expanded 180g 2LP set of Bongo Fury — which is officially credited to Zappa / Beefheart / Mothers — was released a week ago by Zappa/UMe on March 20, 2026, and it not only celebrates the 50th Anniversary of this sometimes-overlooked album of joyfully swaggering blues-centric madness but offers incredible new insights into the music and improvements to its overall sound. Read Mark Smotroff’s review (and AP editor Mike Mettler’s extensive footnotes) to see if Bongo Fury 50 will provide the proper hard-core vinyl ecstasy we’re all seeking. . .

Mike Mettler  |  Mar 25, 2026

Wouldn’t it be nice if The Beach Boys were to somehow celebrate the upcoming 60th anniversary of one of the most important album releases of the 20th century, May 1966’s Pet Sounds? Oh, wait — they will be doing just that with a few different analog-oriented, vinyl-centric releases to come via Capitol/UMe on May 15, 2026. Read AP editor Mike Mettler’s report to see which LP version of Pet Sounds 60 you should get (or simply get all of them, just like he will). . .

Mark Smotroff, Mike Mettler  |  Mar 20, 2026

A new audiophile-worthy, restored 180g 2LP reissue of Peter Frampton’s breakthrough mega-hit double-live January 1976 Frampton Comes Alive! album seems more than appropriate, especially in order to celebrate this landmark live set’s 50th anniversary. To that end, the new Frampton Comes Alive! Vinylphyle edition that was released as part of UMe’s thus far outstanding Vinylphyle series on January 22, 2026, is on our review slate today. Read Mark Smotroff’s review review (and AP editor Mike Mettler’s footnotes) to see why this AAA Vinylphyle edition of Alive! adds new life to an already stellar live double album. . .

Mike Mettler  |  Mar 04, 2026

He kept his eyes open all the time, and he also shot a man in Reno just to watch him die (or so he said). Of course, we’re talking about the one and only Johnny Cash, whose 1957 debut album on Sun Records, With His Hot and Blue Guitar, has just received a 180g 45rpm all-analog 1LP upgrade from Intervention Records. Read AP editor Mike Mettler’s review to see why Intervention have once again worked their unique analog magic with another vintage classic LP. . .

Mark Smotroff, Mike Mettler  |  Feb 20, 2026

At the tail end of last year, we reviewed the inaugural release in UMe’s most excellent new Vinylphyle reissue series — The Velvet Underground & Nico’s 1967 self-titled debut LP — and this week, we’re going to dig into two more offerings from this most excellent series’ first run of releases: a) Bob Marley & The Wailers’ June 1977 global breakthrough LP Exodus, and b) The Band’s underappreciated yet iconic November 1975 original-lineup studio swan song, Northern Lights – Southern Cross. Read Mark Smotroff’s two-fer review to see why both of these Vinylphyle LPs deserve your immediate attention. . .

Mark Smotroff  |  Feb 13, 2026

For many music enthusiasts just getting into jazz, the arguable best way to discover the work of the legendary saxophonist John Coltrane is to, in fact, listen to his seminal recordings made for the Atlantic label in the early 1960s — and listen to them in mono. And thus, that leads us directly to today’s review subject, John Coltrane’s 1960–1964 Mono, a 180g 6LP box set released via Rhino’s most excellent High Fidelity Series back in late November 2025 as the ostensible kickoff celebration for this year’s Coltrane Centennial. (The late, great Trane was born in September 1926.) Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see exactly why you should make the investment to get your hands (and ears) on the 1960–1964 Mono collection. . .

Mark Smotroff  |  Jan 02, 2026

Since we ended 2025 with a review of one of the two best-selling jazz albums in history, it is only appropriate — and remarkably timely! — that we begin 2026 by reviewing a most important 180g 2LP update of the other album of such esteemed, 5x-platinum-selling lineage: Miles Davis’ August 1959 Columbia landmark, Kind of Blue. The offering of a new, definitive audiophile version of Kind of Blue from Analogue Productions — one that is based on the much-sought-after speed-corrected edition originally issued by Classic Records in 1995 — is certainly big news, so read Mark Smotroff’s review to see if this new Kind of Blue release is worthy of getting in your hands and onto your turntable ASAP. . .

Mark Smotroff  |  Dec 26, 2025

In the 60 years since its initial release in 1965, A Charlie Brown Christmas has become not only a family tradition, but also something of a musical heirloom that gets passed on through the generations, thanks to its universally appealing TV special and — of course — its gorgeous, perfect soundtrack LP by Vince Guaraldi. As part of its 60th anniversary celebration, A Charlie Brown Christmas just received a wonderful new 200g 45rpm 2LP UHQR update from Analogue Productions, and its aural rewards can easily be enjoyed throughout the year. Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see why the new UHQR edition of A Charlie Brown Christmas is well worth getting now for 365-day enjoyment purposes. . .

Mike Mettler, Mark Smotroff  |  Dec 23, 2025

Oh, where did the time go. . .? It’s been yet another year of acquiring, archiving, cleaning, spinning, and listening to LP after LP, and box set after box set — and sometimes, even some EPs and 45s got into that mix as well! Naturally, before the big mid-week holiday festivities take over our front-of-mindsets, we here at AP feel it’s the exact right time to determine the best of what we’ve heard on vinyl during the past 12 months — and we’ll be covering our favorites of the year in two installments. Between the two of us — i.e., 1) Mike Mettler, your intrepid AP editor, and 2) chief LP reviewer, Mark Smotroff — we have listened to multiple-hundreds’ worth of albums on vinyl in 2025 apiece, so check out Part 1 to see what our 10-plus favorite archival reissue LPs of the year are. . .

Mark Smotroff, Mike Mettler  |  Dec 12, 2025

The Velvet Underground & Nico LP released on Verve in March 1967 — featuring hypnotic model-turned-chanteuse Nico along with guitarist/vocalist Lou Reed, violist/bassist John Cale, rhythm guitarist Sterling Morrison, and drummer/percussionist Mo Tucker — is arguably one of the most influential recordings in rock & roll history. Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see if Republic/UMe’s new all-analog 180g Vinylphyle edition of this important, historical LP is able to corral the beauty inherent in its intersection of delicacy and distortion to a degree worthy of repeat spins. . .

Mark Smotroff  |  Nov 22, 2025

Fans of The Monkees will be pleased to learn that a new release from Rhino’s esteemed High Fidelity reissue series shows how they took significant steps to deliver a significant update of the band’s November 1967 smash hit album Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.. Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see why the new 180g 1LP Hi-Fi edition of Pisces trounces all previous editions. . .

Mike Mettler  |  Nov 05, 2025

My fellow analog audiophiles, take note — we are now all members in good standing in a newly spelled subset called vinylphyles. Vinylphyles, of course, have the same, er, obsessive-about-SQ-on-wax laser-focus as we do — and we can credit UMe for coming up with that double-y sobriquet, which also happens to serve as the name of their exciting new reissue program. Read on to see which four titles are coming out on November 14, 2025, that will inaugurate this all-important AAA series. . .

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