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Album Reviews
Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention’s Previously Unreleased 180g 5LP Whisky A Go Go, 1968 Box Set Is a Primo L.A. Freak Scene Time Capsule, as Showcased on Remarkably Quiet Optimal-Pressed BioVinyl
Mark Smotroff  |  Aug 09, 2024  |  4 comments

There are numerous reasons why music fans should be interested in a previously unreleased 5LP box set featuring an entire performance of Frank Zappa and his original Mothers of Invention band in full flight in the heart of the Los Angeles freak scene of the late-1960s. Titled Whisky A Go Go, 1968, this lovingly curated collection — which was released by Zappa/UMe on June 21, 2024 — is a time-capsule snapshot moment in time when Zappa’s original band was reaching an arguable performing peak. Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see just how good Whisky A Go Go, 1968 sounds, and why its Optimal pressing on BioVinyl was clearly a wise decision by the Zappa braintrust. . .

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Interviews
Deep Purple’s Roger Glover on the Teamwork Behind Capturing the Band’s Vintage Sound on Their New 180g 45rpm 2LP Set Dubbed = 1, Plus Taking Stock of 50-Plus Years of Machine Head
Mike Mettler  |  Aug 08, 2024  |  4 comments

Bassist Roger Glover is the secret sauce of Deep Purple. His pub-rock roots fuel the sonic elixir that gives Purple’s musical bouillabaisse blend of rock, classical, and progressive the extra oomph it needs — and it’s something that’s well in evidence on Deep Purple’s latest, and 23rd, studio LP, the 180g 45rpm 2LP set named/numeraled = 1, which was released by earMUSIC/Edel on July 19, 2024. On a recent Zoom call with AP editor Mike Mettler, Glover discussed his instinctual connection with drummer Ian Paice, which version of the band’s classic 1972 LP Machine Head is his favorite, and what vintage Deep Purple albums he’d like to remix himself. . .

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Analog Gear News
Dual CS 529 Turntable
Mike Mettler  |  Aug 06, 2024  |  0 comments

One of the many affordable turntables that impressed us at High End Munich 2024 was Dual’s CS 529, which features a twin gimbal tonearm and a pre-mounted Ortofon 2M Red cartridge (among other things), so we felt it was time to give the German company’s latest a closer look. Read on to see all the features and specs of the Dual CS 529 table. . .

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Analog Gear News
Pro-Ject Debut PRO B Turntable
Mike Mettler  |  Aug 05, 2024  |  2 comments

We loved it when Pro-Ject debuted their commemorative Debut PRO turntable three years ago in conjunction with the company’s 30th anniversary, and we also love that they’ve just introduced the upgraded version of that very cool table, the Debut PRO B. Read on to see all specs and improved features of the Debut PRO B. . .

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AAA VinylALBUM RELEASE NEWS
Rhino’s High Fidelity Series Continues to Sizzle Here on August 2 With ZZ Top’s From The Top: 1971-1976, an AAA 180g 5LP Box Set Available Exclusively at Rhino.com
Mike Mettler  |  Aug 02, 2024  |  1 comments

Have mercy! Rhino High Fidelity (a.k.a. Rhino Hi-Fi) does it again with today’s special box set release — namely, ZZ Top’s From The Top: 1971-1976, a limited-edition vinyl reissue collection containing the first five LPs from that little ol’ band from Texas — ZZ Top’s First Album (1971), Rio Grande Mud (1972), Tres Hombres (1973), Fandango! (1975), and Tejas (1976). Read on to learn about the source materials, the SRP, and where you can get From the Top exclusively. . .

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Beatles
John Lennon’s New Mind Games: The Ultimate Mixes & The Out-takes 180g 2LP Set Offers Alternate View Into His Oft-Overlooked 1973 Near-Classic Solo Album, With Mostly Great Results
Mark Smotroff  |  Aug 01, 2024  |  1 comments

Periodically, artists will issue an album that unintentionally divides their audience, as John Lennon did with his October 1973 solo LP, Mind Games. A new 2LP set dubbed Mind Games: The Ultimate Mixes & The Out-takes, released on July 12, 2024, may change some of that perspective, as it aims to bring listeners more inside Lennon’s 1973 recording sessions at New York’s Record Plant studio. Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see if this new edition of Mind Games is worth the investment. . .

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Phono Preamp Reviews
Classic Audio’s MM PRO by Michael Fidler Phono Preamp Heads to the Top of Its Price Class
Ken Micallef  |  Jul 30, 2024  |  2 comments

Hand-built in Kent, England, Classic Audio’s MM PRO by Michael Fidler phono preamp is a pint-sized bruiser that packs a real punch. This little box — no bigger than a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold phone tucked into a Band-Aid tin — is a serious piece of kit hiding inside a sandblasted aluminum frame. Read Ken Micallef’s review to see if Fidler’s MM PRO makes the grade in terms of clarity, separation, and broad soundstage performance. . .

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FeaturesNews
Diggers Factory Review Preview
Mike Mettler,  |  Jul 29, 2024  |  1 comments

When it comes to vinyl, we’re all about passion — and we here at AP absolutely love the passion that fuels the French boutique label, distributor, and online record store, Diggers Factory. Check out Shanon McKellar’s sneak peek videoclip as she previews some of the Diggers Factory releases she plans to review. . .

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Album Reviews
Louis Armstrong’s Live 1968 BBC TV Performance Is Restored and Updated for a Stunning New 180g Verve LP, Louis in London
Mark Smotroff  |  Jul 26, 2024  |  3 comments

In the world of popular music, few names are as iconic as Louis Armstrong. His influence is undeniable as one of the founding fathers of jazz, and while there is no shortage of posthumous releases issued since Armstrong’s passing at age 69 in 1971, that wealth of music can also make the process of discovery daunting for new listeners trying to figure out where to begin — or where longtime fans can continue. Read Mark Smotroff’s review of the newly released 180g 1LP Louis in London set on Verve to see why this live performance he did for BBC TV in 1968 is a great place to start and/or resume. . .

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Interviews
RIP John Mayall: A Deep Conversation With the Late, Great Father of the British Blues Movement of the 1960s, Whose Lifelong Mission Was to Keep the Blues Real, Especially on Vinyl
Mike Mettler  |  Jul 24, 2024  |  3 comments
John Mayall, the undisputed father of the British blues movement, passed away at age 90 in California on July 22, 2024. Mayall emerged in the heyday of the ’60s blues-rock scene in Britain, and over the ensuing years, he shepherded the ace guitar-slinging likes of Eric Clapton, Peter Green, and Mick Taylor. In an updated and expanded interview with AP editor Mike Mettler, Mayall discussed why he preferred to cut his tracks in as few takes as possible, what specific factor he based his sequencing choices on, and how his 1966 Blues Breakers With Eric Clapton LP truly opened up a new avenue of recording. . .

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