Horace is so cool that Hieronymus Bosch digs him.

Cool comment and Horace is way cooler!

Very good read and thank you for sharing this information. Instant pre-order for those two titles and I am excited to see the other projects mentioned here too.

in the 1980s and 90s. That is where I first listened to Tapscott's music. Los Angeles based Interplay Records also released three Tapscott recordings. Elaine Brown commissioned Tapscott to arrange and conduct her album titled, "Seize the Time" on Vault Records. Found that at the Jazz Record Mart too. Still see it around the Chicagoland record shows every once in a while. I enjoyed reading this article.

Wonderful post. Thank you so much. You've filled in so many blanks and helped me make sense of the new reissues. I'm listening to my old copy of The Call right now. Gorgeous!!

Interesting that he's not explicitly calling out Outernational sounds as the other label where these are available as I'm sure these are officially licensed as well. I know the excellent Kirk Lightsey & Mallory Hall band releases through their label are using the master tapes & pressed at Pallas & sold at very reasonable prices.

However, I'm sure the new Nimbus reissues from Pure Pleasure & Kevin 'Boom 'Boom' Gray, will improve any existing pressings.

https://honestjons.com/shop/label/Outernational_Sounds

Sounds pressings for the Tapscott LPs with the tonearm jumping out of the record groove.

https://www.discogs.com/release/13406355-Horace-Tapscott-With-The-Pan-Af...

I spoke with Tom Albach several times while I was a college radio dj with a jazz show (1985-1989) and became obsessed with Horace Tapscott at the time. He did, in fact, send me some promo copies of lps, though unlike other labels, I had to ask for them (they were not on cd at the time). Later, in 1992 when I moved to California, I struck up correspondence with Albach againand purchased everything released on the label. From my brief interactions with Tom, the article's depiction of him seems accurate, but my interractions were with someone who was committed to jazz and social justice, 2 things I am still commtted too. Perhaps a bit more business savy would have helped him, but I think the music industry needs more people like Tom Albach and fewer of, say, folks like Lucian Grange.

Hi, can someone clarify the sources of the new reissues? I just received a copy of Flight 17 from Pure Pleasure (haven't had a chance to listen to it yet), but there is no KG&CA in the dead wax. I'm a bit confused by the article, it seems to be saying only the Kevin Gray mastered titles are from analogue, so is this new Pure Pleasure release from a CD?

.. I agree with JW's comments regarding Pure Pleasure. All the titles I have from them are great and this is no different.

Great article by the way.

That was that was, as Malachi mentioned in his Spiritualized review, exquisite!

Great list.

I am compelled to add...

1) The best record brush I have ever used....only 52 bucks!

https://www.ursa-major.eu/shop-us

2) Bonny Light Horseman is the best turn out the lights and fade into you album of the past several years. (It's acoustic and great for lying in bed in the dark and simply enjoying. File Under easy Listening.

https://www.bonnylighthorseman.com/

3) Edward O'Brien's (EOB) LP "Earth" is solidly great and can also be quite trance inducing. It also comes in four, count 'em, four colors!

https://www.amazon.com/Earth-EOB/dp/B084DG7DHF

4) If the audiophile in your life is interested in some fine vintage hardware...

A) Empire turntable are going to be the next Thorens 124. Only 200-400 bucks 2-3 years ago, now around a grand for nice ones, but stinking beautiful to behold, they are 'tinkerable,' and nicely done. Did I mention how pretty?

B) This one is top secret: Find a Technics SP10 Mk II and then have it modified by Krebs!

http://www.krebsupgrade.com/

Krebs, IIRC, is the drive guru behind that Oswald Mills Oma turntable that we can't afford. This is the middle class person's way to enter that level of the atmosphere. (Doing this now may actually yield a return on investment, as well. Once word gets around about the Oma table and the SP 10 Mk II motor...to the moon!)

4) The Feickert Next Generation Universal Protractor is 250 bucks and is a fantastic and sharable tool!

https://www.musicdirect.com/analog-accessories/feickert-next-generation-...

5) Treat yourself to almost any Audio Technica cartridge and be prepared to be pleased. Seriously, pick your budget point and just go for it. Almost ever model in the long lineup has advocates for its greatness. Again: pick any model and get great bang for your buck, top to bottom.

https://www.audio-technica.com/en-us/cartridges/best-for/audiophile

6) Simply stroll into Amazon and search for "Turntable Weight." save yourself hundreds of dollars! Buy an array and have a club meeting to compare! The Femeli line is lovely. The Nobsound could be made by Oracle! really, under 30-40 bucks and you have great stocking stuffers!

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=turntable+weights&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

7) Humminguru's ultrasonic record cleaner is a blast to use and CHEAP!

I have one, I got one for my son, and several of my local Hi Fi Club's members have them....easy to use, about 350 bucks.

I also have a Nitty Gritty Mini Pro and the Audiodesk and this Humminguru is a worthy companion for loads less dinero! This product is almost transcendent for the price. We stood around at our annual Chico Hi Fi Club bonfire and 'steak sans utensils' last night and sang its praises. Please check it out.

https://humminguru.com/

I agree that Empire table's prices are on the go. However, having owned one in college I have to say that the tonearm had massive slop in it. It still sounded pretty good, but that was a real turn off. Several others I have seen were the same.

...inner sleeves. I've tried almost all of them.

https://www.sleevecityusa.com/diskeeper-ultimate-audiophile-inner-sleeve...

I'm quite interested in that Humminguru RCM.

Michael, I was REALLY looking forward to that record brush comparison that got sidetracked by...whatever all that lacquer hullabaloo was all about.

Will you be doing the record brush comparisons any time soon?

Great, thanks Michael. I'll keep an eye out for it.

I want this.

https://www.designboom.com/art/brian-eno-limited-edition-color-changing-...

I can't hope to compete with Anton D's comprehensive approach, and I've finally found a Brian Eno release that I won't (OK, can't) buy. What I can do, though, is point out that you've missed the one accessory which goes with nearly every kind of music and is compatible with a broad range of equipment: a bottle of Scotch. It's very much in the spirit (sorry) of the season. Lagavulin for me if anyone's feeling generous.

You left out the most important accessory that any vinyl afficionado should own: A complete set of WAM Engineering's WallyTools (as well as WAM's microscopic cartridge evaluation / hardware-alignment-error-mitigation service). I know of no way to more effectively improve the sound of your rig for three figures.