Michael Fremer

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Interviews
Meet Randy Thornton, Walt Disney Records’ Supervising Producer and Musical Historian
Michael Fremer  |  Jul 31, 2020  |  First Published: Jul 31, 2020  |  2 comments
Annette Funicello’s The Doors connection, Walt Disney’s role in creating famed Sunset Sound Recorders and 15 year old Ron Howard’s role in “The Haunted Mansion” Record album released when the Disneyland attraction first opened are only a few among the many fascinating items gleaned from my interview with Randy Thornton, long-time Walt Disney Records Supervising Producer and Musical Historian.

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Set-Up Accessory ReviewsSet-Up Tips
WAM Engineering's New, Improved WallySkater V2.1
Michael Fremer  |  Aug 02, 2020  |  First Published: Aug 02, 2020  |  47 comments
Skating, a pivoted tonearm’s tendency to “skate” towards the record center is real, is not created by “centripetal force” and is not best ignored because compensating for it somehow worsens sonic performance.

If you do not apply some kind of skating counterforce, the stylus will ride the inner groove throughout the record side, producing uneven record and stylus wear. And it can’t possibly improve record playback sound.

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Analog Gear News
Hana introduces Umami Red MC Cartridge
Michael Fremer  |  Aug 04, 2020  |  First Published: Aug 04, 2020  |  14 comments
Japanese chemist Kikunae Ikeda-san officially coined the term "Umami" in 1908, defining it as a very pleasing or delicious flavor on the palette, a synergistic effect resulting in higher taste intensity.

From the Musical Surroundings press release:

"When Hana decided to create a high-end cartridge, Master cartridge designer Masao Okada-san applied the concept of Umami combining brilliant materials and classic Japanese techniques with modern audio engineering."

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AAA VinylShort Cuts
Direct-to-Disc Vinyl Explosion!
Michael Fremer  |  Aug 05, 2020  |  First Published: Aug 05, 2020  |  25 comments
(Review Explosion is usually a recurring AnalogPlanet feature covering recent releases for which we either don’t have sufficient time to fully explore, or that are not worthy of it. Normally curated by AnalogPlanet contributing editor Malachi Lui, this particular Review Explosion has been hijacked by AnalogPlanet editor Michael Fremer and covers in capsule form Direct-to-Disc releases).

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News
Rhino To Release September 18th Coltrane's Giant Steps 60th Anniversary Deluxe Edition on 2 LPs
Michael Fremer  |  Aug 06, 2020  |  First Published: Aug 06, 2020  |  32 comments
AnalogPlanet readers need to introduction to this groundbreaking album, Coltrane's first for Atlantic recorded shortly after his participation in Kind of Blue. The packaging and presentation are "first class" and include a booklet with new, never before seen photos and an essay by jazz historian Ashley Kahn. The jacket and label art replicate the original's.

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Set-Up Accessory ReviewsSet-Up Tips
Everything You Know About Skating Is Wrong!
Michael Fremer  |  Aug 11, 2020  |  First Published: Aug 11, 2020  |  55 comments
Well, that’s a clickbait headline for sure, but unlike most it’s probably true, especially if you’ve taken my word on this.

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Analog Gear News
Pro-Ject Today Introduces New Debut Carbon EVO Turntable
Michael Fremer  |  Aug 17, 2020  |  First Published: Aug 17, 2020  |  17 comments
MISTELBACH, AUSTRIA– August 17, 2020 – Pro-Ject Audio Systems today unveiled the new $499 Debut Carbon EVO turntable—a feature-packed priced-right addition to its Debut Collection.The new turntable incorporates a one-piece carbon fiber tonearm, electronic speed selection, suspension elements used in the more costly EISA award-winning X1 turntable and in America, a factory mounted Sumiko Rainier cartridge.

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AAA VinylNews
Coltrane's A Love Supreme and Ballads All-Analog Mastered Set For October 9th Release
Michael Fremer  |  Aug 17, 2020  |  First Published: Aug 17, 2020  |  29 comments
Verve/UMe announced today the October 9th release of its second round of Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series/ Acoustic Sounds pressings of two essential John Coltrane albums: A Love Supreme and Ballads, both in stereo, cut using the original analog master tapes. Deluxe laminated Stoughton Press Tip-On gatefold jackets complete the "must have" release.
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News
Audio Research Releases Ken Kessler's 50th Anniversary Book "Making the Music Glow"
Michael Fremer  |  Aug 20, 2020  |  First Published: Aug 20, 2020  |  3 comments
MAPLE GROVE, MN – August 20, 2020 – Audio Research is honored to partner with author Ken Kessler in releasing a book timed to the company’s 50th anniversary. Entitled, “Audio Research: Making the Music Glow”, the book describes the people behind the company, designing, manufacturing, fine-tuning, and marketing the audio amplification and source components that have been regarded perpetually as among the best in the industry.

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AAA VinylNews
Tom Petty’s Wildflowers & All the Rest  (Not Quite) "All Analog" Box Set Cut From ½” Master Tapes Coming October 16th From Warner Records (SOURCE CLARIFICATION 8/21/2020)
Michael Fremer  |  Aug 20, 2020  |  First Published: Aug 20, 2020  |  30 comments
Arriving October 16th in multiple formats and configurations, Wildflowers & All the Rest features the original 1994 Wildflowers album, newly re-mastered and cut directly from the original ½” analog master tapes by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering and pressed at Record Industry in The Netherlands, plus unreleased tracks, solo demos, live performances, alternate versions and more—many of which were sourced from analog tape but then of necessity digitized..

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