LATEST ADDITIONS

Mark Smotroff  |  Oct 17, 2023  |  4 comments

David Bowie’s October 1973 covers album, Pin Ups, was actually somewhat of a placeholder, made with the intention to fulfill contractual requirements for his then-label, RCA Records — but it actually became a smash hit. To celebrate the album’s 50th anniversary, Parlophone is releasing a 180g 1LP half-speed-mastered edition on October 20. Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see if the new Parlophone Pin Ups is a worthy addition to your LP listening queue. . .

Mike Mettler  |  Oct 16, 2023  |  11 comments

We only got a brief sneak peek at Moonriver Audio’s cool new 505 MM/MC hybrid phono preamp in action at Munich High End 2023 back in May, but now it’s time to take a much closer look at it now that it’s on the market. Read on to see why this Swedish company’s 505 phono preamp is worthy of our attention. . .

Mike Mettler  |  Oct 12, 2023  |  2 comments

We’re always happy to see when new vinyl-centric record labels crop up with a clear mission, and that leads us directly to the M.O. that’s fueling Inner Groove Records. The fledgling label’s inaugural release is a 180g 1LP reissue of Lim Taylor’s long lost 1974 funk/soul gem You Hear Me Knocking, an album that initially surfaced on Ray Charles’ custom Crossover Records imprint. Read on to see how you can secure your own copy of Knocking before this strictly limited-edition LP is gone, gone, gone. . .

Mark Smotroff  |  Oct 11, 2023  |  21 comments

The new Geffen/UMe 1LP edition of Steely Dan’s seminal September 1977 album, Aja, sounds pretty darn good, all things considered, given that it bears a key difference from the other entries in this reissue series to date. Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see what that difference is, and if this new edition of Aja is right for you either way. . .

Mike Mettler  |  Oct 09, 2023  |  5 comments

Cyrus Audio has decided to kick off the celebration of their 40th anniversary in 2024 somewhat on the early side by announcing the late-October availability of their new TTP turntable — but we don’t mind that kind of advance fanfare in the least. Read on to find out more about the well-respected British company’s flagship turntable offering. . .

Mike Mettler  |  Oct 06, 2023  |  2 comments

Trevor Rabin is a truly cinematic artist — and we don’t just say that because he joined a band called Cinema that soon enough brought its name back around to Yes before they released November 1983’s 90125. In the interim, Rabin has scored over 50 films and television shows, continued to work on and off with various Yesmates (hello, ARW), and he’s also released a number of wide-ranging solo albums to boot. His latest effort, Rio, is being released today in various 2LP configurations via InsideOut Music. During a recent Zoom interview with AP editor Mike Mettler, Rabin discusses the vinyl-centric impetus of Rio, why it’s important for him to personally attend as many mastering sessions as he can, and why he feels Bob Ludwig’s mastering “saved” 90125. . .

Mike Mettler  |  Oct 04, 2023  |  6 comments

We’re always excited when the next round of Record Store Day titles is announced, and this week has already seen a flurry of notices about a slew of great Black Friday RSD Exclusive and RSD First titles that will be available at participating Record Store Day shops on November 24. Read on to find out what some of our early RSD Black Friday favorites are, what their respective limited-edition pressings are capped at, and if they’re being offered on black or color vinyl. . .

Mark Smotroff  |  Oct 03, 2023  |  17 comments

It looks like the old Who’s Next. It feels like the old Who’s Next. But the new 180g 1LP half-speed-mastered 50th anniversary edition of The Who’s seminal August 1971 masterpiece Who’s Next sounds arguably bigger and better than any commonly available version of the original mix of Who’s Next that we’ve heard to date on vinyl. Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see why this new Abbey Road half-speed-mastered, Plangent Processes-restored 180g 1LP Who’s Next belongs on your turntable, pronto. . .

Mike Mettler  |  Oct 02, 2023  |  2 comments

In honor of Audiophile Day, we here at AP thought we’d put the spotlight on a new turntable that gets our high-end hi-fi juices flowing — and the Reed Muse 3A ’table fits that bill to a T. Read on to glean more about this noted Lithuanian company’s latest turntable endeavor. . .

Mark Smotroff  |  Sep 29, 2023  |  1 comments

Our seventh Short Cuts installment of Review Explosion is all about Pharoah Sanders — namely, the rare 1977 spiritual jazz album Pharoah that’s now a part of a new 2LP Luaka Bop box set that also includes a separate Harvest Time Live 1977 LP, plus a look at the fine 180g 1LP Third Man-Pressed Verve by Request reissue of 1972’s Black Unity. Read on to get Mark Smotroff’s take on both of these quite worthwhile reissues. . .

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