Mark Smotroff

AAA VinylAlbum ReviewsVinyl Reports
50th Anniversary AAA 180g 2LP Expanded Edition of Bongo Fury, Frank Zappa / Beefheart / Mothers’ 1975 Collaborative Live Album, Greatly Expands Its Underrated Aural Palette
Mark Smotroff,  |  Mar 27, 2026  |  First Published: Mar 27, 2026  |  comments

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. . .

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AAA VinylAlbum ReviewsVinyl Reports
Peter Frampton’s Live 1976 Masterpiece Frampton Comes Alive! Celebrates 50th Anniversary With Exemplary, AAA Vinylphyle Series 180g 2LP Reissue
Mark Smotroff,  |  Mar 20, 2026  |  First Published: Mar 20, 2026  |  comments

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. . .

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Album ReviewsVinyl Reports
Miles Davis’ Rightly Acclaimed The Complete Live at the Plugged Nickel 1965 Collection Returns to Vinyl After 30 Years in a Stunning New 10LP Box Set
Mark Smotroff,  |  Mar 13, 2026  |  First Published: Mar 13, 2026  |  comments

Miles Davis would have been 100 years old this year, and in celebration of that most momentous centennial milestone, Columbia/Legacy have returned one of the most requested, pivotal, and iconic live performances in the artist’s storied career to the marketplace: The Complete Live at the Plugged Nickel 1965, a 10LP box set reissued on January 30, 2026. Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see why this historically important collection deserves both its reputation and its rightful place in your collection. . .

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Beck’s Beautiful, Triple Grammy-Winning 2014 Morning Phase Album Achieves Near Perfection on New DSS One-Step 180g 1LP Reissue
Mark Smotroff,  |  Mar 06, 2026  |  First Published: Mar 06, 2026  |  comments

Fans of Beck David Hansen know that this multitalented singer/songwriter, producer/performer is something of a musical chameleon who delivers his music cross-pollinated in rock, folk, Latin, hip-hop, and even symphonic sounds. This all made his triple-Grammy-winning February 2014 Capitol LP Morning Phase all the more of a surprise, as it was a lush slow-moving, ambient-flavored, acoustic-driven masterpiece that commands rapt attention from listeners. The new Definitive Sound Series (DSS) reissue of Morning Phase from Fonograf/Capitol now makes it easier than ever to kick back and just float upstream with Beck’s music. Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see all the reasons why the DSS edition of Morning Phase is a must-have. . .

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Album ReviewsVinyl Reports
Chess Records’ 75th Anniversary Series of 180g LPs Kicks Off With a Pair of Indisputable Blues Gems From Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters
Mark Smotroff  |  Feb 27, 2026  |  First Published: Feb 27, 2026  |  comments

A pair of recent reissues of two raw, rockin’ classic LPs by Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters are arguably ground zero for modern electric blues music as we know it today. Kicking off UMG’s 75th anniversary celebration of the venerable Chess Records label late last fall, Howlin Wolf’s Moanin’ in the Moonlight (1959) and Muddy Waters’ The Best of Muddy Waters (1958) are two of the LPs that ushered in the parent label’s Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series, with Acoustic Sounds handling the 180g pressings. Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see why both of these reissues are vital additions to your collection. . .

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AAA VinylAlbum ReviewsVinyl Reports
UMe’s 180g 1LP Vinylphyle Series Serves Up Two More Outstanding Reissues: Bob Marley & The Wailers’ Exodus, and The Band’s Northern Lights – Southern Cross
Mark Smotroff,  |  Feb 20, 2026  |  First Published: Feb 20, 2026  |  comments

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. . .

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AAA VinylAlbum ReviewsVinyl Reports
The Rhino High Fidelity Series Kicks Off Their John Coltrane Centennial Celebration With AAA Mono Versions of Six of Trane’s Seminal Atlantic-Era Albums in New 180g 6LP 1960–1964 Mono Box Set
Mark Smotroff  |  Feb 13, 2026  |  First Published: Feb 13, 2026  |  comments

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. . .

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Prog Pioneers Yes’ Spectacular 1973 2LP Masterwork Tales From Topographic Oceans Sets Sail Again on 180g as Part of Newly Expanded Super Deluxe Edition
Mark Smotroff,  |  Feb 06, 2026  |  First Published: Feb 06, 2026  |  comments

In December 1973, Yes issued Tales From Topographic Oceans, a double album that some fans consider to be the greatest record they ever made, while others view it as a time-marker pinpointing the precise moment where the entire progressive rock genre went off the rails. Either way you look at it, the galvanizing, chart-topping Tales From Topographic Oceans is being rightly celebrated today, February 6, 2026, with the release of an exemplary, expansive super deluxe edition from Atlantic/Rhino that includes 2LPs, 12CDs (yes, 12 CDs), and 1BD — a truly deep-dive for (re)consideration of this remarkable recording. Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see exactly why this new collection of Tales is worthy of repeat sailing, er, spinning on your turntable . . .

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David Bowie’s Benchmark 1976 Album Station to Station Connects Anew With Stellar 50th Anniversary Half-Speed-Remastered 180g 1LP Reissue
Mark Smotroff,  |  Jan 30, 2026  |  First Published: Jan 30, 2026  |  comments

Fifty years ago, upon the release of his 10th studio album on RCA, January 1976’s Station to Station, David Bowie painted a firm portrait of his future, presenting his Thin White Duke persona that was first hinted at on March 1975’s Young Americans. Now celebrating its so-called Golden Jubilee, Station to Station was re-released 50 years to the day on January 23, 2026, via Parlophone in a new half-speed-mastered, audiophile-worthy limited-edition 180g LP, alongside a fun, companion picture disc option. Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see if you need to check into either/both of these STS reissues. . .

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T. Rex’s Pioneering 1971 Release Electric Warrior Gets Even More Glammed Up With Fine New Rhino High Fidelity Series 180g 1LP Remaster
Mark Smotroff,  |  Jan 23, 2026  |  First Published: Jan 23, 2026  |  comments

Many music fans consider Electric Warrior, the classic September 1971 Reprise LP by Marc Bolan’s T. Rex, to be ground zero for the music genre known as glam rock. Indeed, popular music’s trajectory at that time would likely be very different if not for the success of this album, which has long been an in-demand fan-favorite LP. And thus, a new, audiophile-worthy remastered 180g 1LP version of it courtesy Rhino’s most excellent High Fidelity Series was very much in order. Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see if you need to get it on with the Kevin Gray remaster of Electric Warrior ASAP. . .

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