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Album Reviews
Eric Clapton Wastes His Talent on “Happy Xmas,” a Snoozefest that Fails to Bring the Christmas Spirit
Malachi Lui  |  Nov 06, 2018  |  34 comments
Over the past 70 years, the world has been treated to Christmas songs recorded by Bing Crosby, the Vince Guaraldi Trio, Nat “King” Cole, and many others. These classics evoke the wonderful feelings of the holiday season among listeners of all ages. Happy Xmas is Eric Clapton’s attempt to create his own seasonal classic. With a “slight blues tinge” to holiday favorites, he falls painfully short with an amazingly boring, emotionless, and by-the-numbers album.

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News
Join Me At Ovation A/V Indianapolis This Friday November 9th
Michael Fremer  |  Nov 05, 2018  |  5 comments
AnalogPlanet editor Michael Fremer appears at Ovation A/V Indianapolis on Friday evening November 9th starting at 6PM as part of the two-day 31st Anniversary event. The store's website calls Fremer a 'sell-out', but that's okay. He'll show up anyway. Ovation's site promises big 31st A
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Analog Corner
Analog Corner #100
Michael Fremer  |  Nov 05, 2018  |  First Published: Nov 01, 2003  |  7 comments
The Mørch DP-6 tonearm's pillar

This is the 100th "Analog Corner" I've written for Stereophile. Thanks to all for reading the column, and for taking the time to send me and the magazine so many letters, complimentary and otherwise, over the eight years and four months it's taken to reach 100 installments. In that time we've witnessed one of the greatest resurrections since...well, I don't want to get into John Lennon's trap, so let's just say the unlikely survival and rebirth of analog in the age of digital everything has been one of the most gratifying phenomena I've witnessed in my life as an audiophile. If I've played some small part in that, all of the hard work has been worthwhile...

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Album ReviewsInterviews
Bob Dylan's "More Blood, More Tracks The Bootleg Series Vol. 14" Review + Exclusive Interview With Co-Producer Steve Berkowitz
Michael Fremer  |  Nov 02, 2018  |  14 comments
1974's Blood on the Tracks (Columbia PC 33235) was for many at the time a "Bob Dylan's back" album. He was back on Columbia Records after leaving for David Geffen's Asylum for a pair of not particularly well-received at the time albums backed by The Band. But more importantly Dylan was back in the more familiar role as folk-poet and story teller—though spinning more deeply felt tales from various points of view that many observers wrongly thought were personal chronicles.

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News
Eagles Legacy Box Available Today However You Wish
Michael Fremer  |  Nov 02, 2018  |  8 comments
The Eagles' seven studio albums, three live albums plus a collection of rare singles and B-sides are included in the 15 LP vinyl edition of Eagles Legacy along with a 54 page hard-bound book all in a lavish slipcase package costing $349.98 It includes "Hell Freezes Over" and for the first time
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News
Join Me In West Palm Beach, Florida at Audio Advisors Thursday Evening November 8th
Michael Fremer  |  Nov 01, 2018  |  2 comments
AnalogPlanet editor Michael Fremer makes an in-store appearance at Audio Advisors, 2271A Palm Beach Lakes Blvd. West Palm Beach, Florida 33409 on the evening of November 8th along with Richard Vandersteen, Mat Weisfeld (who's bringing the new VPI HW 40 Direct Drive turntable) and Audio Research's Aldo Fillipelli.

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Album Reviews
Best Digital Release Ever? Analogue Productions Reissues “Axis: Bold As Love” on SACD
Malachi Lui  |  Oct 31, 2018  |  18 comments
“Why another Axis: Bold As Love?” That’s what I asked myself before buying this SACD. After all, mono and stereo AAA LPs have been in print for several years, and were obviously made for audiophiles. For digital listeners, the most recent CD edition mastered by the late George Marino at Sterling Sound isn’t bad. How much better can this album sound?

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Features
The Amazing Beverly "Guitar" Watson Performs at "Blues at the Crossroads" 2018
Michael Fremer  |  Oct 31, 2018  |  2 comments
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.

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News
Newvelle Records Launches Season Four And There's A Discount For AnalogPlanet Readers
Michael Fremer  |  Oct 30, 2018  |  7 comments
The by-subscription Newvelle jazz label just launched season four of its unique original LP series. The vinyl-only 6 LP series consists of original productions, all recorded and mixed at East Side Sound in New York by Marc Urselli with lacquers mastered by Alex DeTurk. Pressing has moved from MPO to Chad Kassem's QRP in Salina, Kansas.

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Features
Bobby Rush Live at "Blues at the Crossroads", Salina, Kansas 2018
Michael Fremer  |  Oct 29, 2018  |  1 comments
This performance by 85 year old Blues legend Bobby Rush is the first in a series of videos shot at this year's "Blues at the Crossroads Blues festival at Blue Heaven Studios in Salina, Kansas. Blue Heaven Studios and the festival are part of Acoustic Sounds' Chad Kassem's music empire.

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