We inadvertently identified Memphis Record Pressing as being responsible for pressing Tyler, the Creator's IGOR. Obviously some buyers got copies like mine seen in this picture showing a horrendous case of audible "stitching". MRP received some not pleasant emails from readers. These should be directed to United Record Pressing, which actually pressed this terrible looking record. Apologies to MRP and we vow greater diligence going forward.
"Making Vinyl, Hollywood" comes to the W hotel Monday and Tuesday October14th and 15th. AnalogPlanet editor Michael Fremer moderates panels and Analogue Productions/Acoustic Sounds mogul Chad Kassem participates. Tuesday evening the Mikey and Chad Show (or the Chad and Mikey Show, if you you prefer) comes to The Audio Salon, Santa Monica 6-9PM for one show only! If you're in the area, come on over. We'll have fun and spin some great records on a killer system.
Beverly "Guitar" Watkins passed away in Atlanta on October 1st at age 80. She had a heart attack after previously suffering a stroke. I'd missed the news until reading the obit in today's New York Times. If you've not watched this video posted here and on the AnalogPlanet YouTube channel last fall, do yourself a big favor and watch it now. Here's what was written when the video originally posted:
79 year old Beverly "Guitar" Watkins, unknown to most in the audience, puts on a fiery, funky and fierce standing ovation hour-long performance on the first night of Chad Kassem's "Blues at the Crossroads" Blues Festival Friday October 26th.
Craft Recordings today announced a November 15th release of a 5 LP Chet Baker box set that includes the four albums the trumpet player released in 1958 and 1959 on Riverside along with a fifth album of outtakes and alternative takes all remastered directly from the original analog tapes by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio and pressed at RTI.
If you've watched the "RMAF Wrap-up" video on the AnalogPlanet YouTube channel (which today hit 30,000 subscribers), you no doubt remember the surprise "name check" encounter with record restoration expert Charles Kirmuss. It wasn't a "set up". I happened to walk into the room where he was restoring records for attendees as he talked about LAST Record Preservative and said "unlike Michael Fremer who...."—well watch the video below.
Intervention Records announced today that it has put back in print the quick to sell out all-analog reissue of The Flying Burrito Brothers' debut album.
I'll be spinning records this Thursday evening at Sound by Singer, 242 W. 27th Street, New York, N.Y. 10001. There will be two sessions: one at 7 P.M. and one at 8:30. Please R.S.V.P. by calling (212) 924 8600. Everyone attending these events enjoys themselves, but I enjoy it more. Win-Win for all!
Prince's standout album 1999 that included "Little Red Corvette", "1999" and "Delirious" first released in 1982 when 1999 seemed a long way off gets the deluxe treatment in time for the holidays. Along with the standard remastered by Bernie Grundman at 192/24 bit edition (as a double 180g purple vinyl LP) there will be a Deluxe 2 CD/2LP version and a Super Deluxe 5 CD+DVD/10LP+DVD edition (all will include downloads and streaming).
You can always get what you want: ABKCO will release a remastered by Bob Ludwig "stand-alone" CD or vinyl LP version of Let It Bleed if that's what you want, but if you want it all, you can have it all.
On September 4th, Craft Recordings (Concord’s reissue subsidiary) announced a series of 25th anniversary reissues of R.E.M.’s 1994 album Monster. Digitally remastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound, a host of physical and digital releases are set to come out November 1.
David Bowie's 1999 VH1 Storytellers appearance before invited guests in an intimate setting and recorded August 23, 1999 at The Manhattan Center's Grand Ballroom was first issued on CD/DVD and as a download 10 years later. Now, 20 years later Parlophone will release the most complete version will be released on a limited edition 2-LP set October 11th.
The misaligned stars leading to yesterday's Dolby screening room software malfunction (you know the story), aligned today. I was on 58th and 3rd at Innovative Audio to spin vinyl and Guy Hayden was just finishing up today's three Abbey Road 50th Anniversary Edition demos (which went off without a glitch).
Hayden emailed asking if there was a chance I could return to the screening room on 58th and 6th Avenue for a proper stereo mix listen. He didn't know I was right down the block! Unfortunately time was too tight for me to get up there, listen and return to Innovative for the 5:30PM event start time so Hayden generously offered to bring the set to Innovative so I could listen on a proper hi-fi system, which seemed like the ideal way to listen to any version of Abbey Road.
This morning at mid-town Manhattan's Dolby Theater (1350 6th Avenue) I got a chance to hear excerpts from Giles Martin's new 50th Anniversary Abbey Road remix in the small, 24 seat screening room filled with invited press, SiriusXM Beatles channel people, others, and members of Ringo Starr's band who were in New York, having played there the previous evening.
This coming Tuesday evening August 20th 5:30PM-9PM please join me at New York City's Innovative Audio for an evening of vinyl record spinning on a fine audio system. I'm bringing some great records from my collection including multiple versions of the same recording so guests can hear what good and bad mastering can do to sound quality and musical satisfaction.
The Beatles Abbey Road gets the expected 50th anniversary treatment on September 27th UMe announced today, which coincidentally is the 50th anniversary of the famous walk across the street photo shoot that became the iconic album cover.