Mike Mettler

Interviews
The Epic Odessey [Sic] and Ecstasy of Colin Blunstone and The Zombies, and the Different Game They’re Now Playing for Us Today on Vinyl
Mike Mettler  |  Mar 30, 2023  |  First Published: Mar 30, 2023  |  4 comments

There’s a special intuitive connection certain musicians share that cannot be qualified in technical terms, but can instead be described as being both magical and mysterious. Case in point: the 60-years-and-counting musical mindmeld between lead vocalist Colin Blunstone and keyboardist/vocalist Rod Argent, the twin driving forces behind British invasion stalwarts The Zombies. Still going strong today, The Zombies are on the precipice of the imminent release of their seventh studio album, Different Game, which comes out in fine 1LP form on March 31 via Cooking Vinyl. In a recent Zoom interview with AP editor Mike Mettler, Zombies vocalist Colin Blunstone discussed the connective sonic tissue between Different Game and their 1968 masterpiece Odessey and Oracle, why he prefers hearing songs like “Time of the Season” in mono, and why the Odessey album benefitted from some things The Beatles left behind in EMI Studios while they were recording their legendary June 1967 Sgt. Pepper album. Read on to glean all the properly seasoned details. . .

Continue Reading >
Analog Gear News
Michell Gyro SE Turntable
Mike Mettler  |  Mar 28, 2023  |  First Published: Mar 28, 2023  |  13 comments

For the love of music. It’s a statement of purpose we can all identify with — and it also happens to be the tagline for Michell, the iconic UK audio brand founded back in the mid-1960s long known for their high-quality reference turntables, tonearms, cartridges, and accessories. Of late, we’ve been enamored with the rebranded and duly updated Michell Gyro SE turntable — which, we might add, can also be properly paired with the company’s TecnoArm 2 tonearm. Read on to find out more about this quite cool ’table and tonearm combo. . .

Continue Reading >
Interviews
Bobby Colomby Tells Us Exactly What Happened to Blood, Sweat & Tears, and Why This Groundbreaking Band’s Legacy on Vinyl Holds True to This Day
Mike Mettler  |  Mar 24, 2023  |  First Published: Mar 24, 2023  |  17 comments

Blood, Sweat & Tears were on top of the world — and then, suddenly, they weren’t. A new documentary titled What the Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat & Tears? seeks to set the record straight. Read on to see what BS&T co-founding drummer Bobby Colomby and AP editor Mike Mettler discussed when they got on Zoom together earlier this week to talk about the impetus for the documentary, the secrets contained within the runout grooves of certain records he produced, and his view of what the best-sounding Blood, Sweat & Tears track on vinyl is, and why. . .

Continue Reading >
News
Peter Frampton’s Limited Edition Frampton@50: In the Studio 1972-1975 All-Analog 180g 3LP Box Set Is Coming Our Way Via Intervention Records on July 28
Mike Mettler  |  Mar 22, 2023  |  First Published: Mar 22, 2023  |  23 comments

Peter, we love your way. To wit: iconoclast British guitarist/vocalist Peter Frampton and Intervention Records have collectively announced that his Frampton@50: In The Studio 1972-1975 180g 3LP box set is being readied for release on July 28. Read on to find out all the details regarding this fine all-analog vinyl collection of three key entries from Frampton’s early solo career. . .

Continue Reading >
Analog Gear News
Gold Note PH-1000 LITE Phono Preamp
Mike Mettler  |  Mar 21, 2023  |  First Published: Mar 21, 2023  |  0 comments

LITE up, everybody. As impressed as we’ve been with Gold Note’s premium PH-1000 phono preamp, we are also looking forward to that flagship model’s offshoot, the PH-1000 LITE. Read on to find out more about the LITE, other forthcoming phono stage offerings from this well-respected Italian manufacturer, and news about their just announced U.S. distribution deal. . .

Continue Reading >
News
The White Stripes Set 20th Anniversary Limited Edition Color Vinyl 180g 2LP Edition of Elephant for April 21
Mike Mettler  |  Mar 16, 2023  |  First Published: Mar 16, 2023  |  1 comments

Jack White has vinyl in his veins. Okay, maybe that’s a bit of a stretch, but there’s no denying White is front and center when it comes to his all-out passion for vinyl. In the ongoing effort of releasing both new and reissued LPs under his Third Man Records banner, it’s just been announced that one of White’s previous bands, The White Stripes, will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of their fourth studio album Elephant by releasing a limited edition 180g 2LP version of it on color vinyl on April 21. Read on to glean all the Elephant wax stats you need to know. . .

Continue Reading >
News
Metallica Secure Controlling Stake in Furnace Record Pressing, Ready to Expand the Scope of Their Blackened Recordings LP and Box Set Catalog
Mike Mettler  |  Mar 15, 2023  |  First Published: Mar 15, 2023  |  1 comments

Subtitle this one, …And Vinyl for All. To wit: Metallica and Furnace Record Pressing have jointly announced that Metallica has acquired the majority interest in Furnace, a leading provider of high-quality vinyl and related services based in Alexandria, Virginia. Read on to see what the revised vinyl-oriented partnership entails, and how Furnace founder Eric Astor and Metallica co-founders Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield have to say about it. . .

Continue Reading >
Analog Gear News
Andover Audio SpinDeck2 Turntable
Mike Mettler  |  Mar 14, 2023  |  First Published: Mar 14, 2023  |  26 comments

Some sequels are worth waiting for more than others. Case in point: Andover Audio’s SpinDeck2 turntable, which is the replacement piece for the company’s well-received SpinDeck belt-drive turntable. Read on to glean all the features and specs for the SpinDeck2 accordingly. . .

Continue Reading >
News
RIAA Confirms LPs Outsold CDs in 2022
Mike Mettler  |  Mar 09, 2023  |  First Published: Mar 09, 2023  |  28 comments

In an official report released today, March 9, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) confirmed what many of us already knew — namely, that LPs outsold CDs in 2022. The RIAA further clarified this is the first time that milestone has occurred since 1987. Read on to get all the official numbers and stats to see exactly how well our favorite format performed last year. . .

Continue Reading >
Analog Gear News
Audio Intelligent Vinyl Solutions Adds Two New Solutions to Record Cleaning Product Line
Mike Mettler  |  Mar 08, 2023  |  First Published: Mar 08, 2023  |  6 comments

Audio Intelligent Vinyl Solutions (a.k.a. AIVS) has been making reputable record cleaning products for going on 20 years now, and they’ve just added a pair of key offerings to the product line — namely, Ultra-Low Foaming Formula No. 27 and Enzymatic Concentrate for ultrasonic record cleaning machines. Read on to see if these two new solutions might be the exact right solutions you need to clean your own LPs accordingly. . .

Continue Reading >

Pages

X