Michael Fremer

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Beatles
The Beatles Get Back To Mono and AAA Vinyl
Michael Fremer  |  Jun 16, 2014  |  First Published: Jun 15, 2014  |  188 comments
Apple Corps and Universal Music Group today announced the September 8th release date (September 9th in North America) of the long-anticipated Beatles’ mono vinyl reissue series, cut to lacquer using the original analogue master tapes.

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Features
The Beatles Japanese TOJP Reissues: Just Say No!
Michael Fremer  |  Jul 31, 2004  |  1 comments

There was a great deal of excitement a few months ago when Toshiba-EMI announced a new series of Beatles albums. The 1970’s EAS series from the label are considered by most collectors to be among the best sounding Beatles albums issued anywhere, but a ‘90’s series issued by the label, and cut from digital masters was expensive and sounded brittle and uninviting, though as usual, the packaging was sumptuous and the pressing quality was pristine.

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Features
The Beatles Remasters: A Splendid Time Is Guaranteed For Most
Michael Fremer  |  Dec 31, 2010  |  0 comments

How bad were the original Beatles CDs issued back in 1987? So bad that even the clueless conditioned to believe that CDs represented an automatic sonic step up from vinyl noticed something was terribly wrong.

Amusing to some observers was the nature of the complaints: “they sound tinny,” “they sound flat,” “they sound thin and bright,” “they’re harsh and edgy,” “where’s the warmth?” etc.

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Beatles
The Beatles Remasters: A Splendid Time is Guaranteed For Some
Michael Fremer  |  Sep 01, 2010  |  1 comments

The Beatles Remasters: A Splendid Time Is Guaranteed For Most

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BeatlesNews
The Beatles Singles Collection Cut Mostly From Original Singles Tapes
Michael Fremer  |  Nov 19, 2019  |  First Published: Nov 19, 2019  |  23 comments
I have been assured by co-producer Guy Hayden that this 45rpm box was cut directly from TAPE and that whatever transfers were done (hence the credit) was done as they were for the AAA mono album box, to use as a reference before actual cutting in order to preserve the tapes.
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Beatles
The Beatles: "On Air-Live at The BBC Volume 2" A Fascinating, Musically Worthy Time Capsule
Michael Fremer  |  Oct 10, 2013  |  6 comments
These BBC recordings from 1963 and 1964 make clear that The Beatles were, even at that early stage of their career, a skilled musical ensemble and that even then they were eager to cast off the teen-craze image created for them by Brian Epstein.

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AAA VinylAlbum Reviews
The Berlin Philharmonic's Direct-To-Disc Brahms Symphonic Cycle Conducted By Sir Simon Rattle
Michael Fremer  |  Dec 23, 2016  |  21 comments
The just released (November 18, 2016) six LP box set of the four Brahms symphonies recorded direct-to-disc performed by Sir Simon Rattle and The Berlin Philharmonic before a live Philharmonie audience is as meticulously produced and presented as its existence is unlikely.

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AAA VinylAlbum Reviews
The Berlin Philharmonic's Direct-to-Disc Bruckner Symphony #7 Box Set
Michael Fremer  |  Jun 01, 2020  |  34 comments
Last May 11th 2019 guest conductor Bernard Haitink conducted the BPO in his final performance with the orchestra. At the time plans were made to record the performance of Bruckner's 7th symphony "Direct-to-Disc" neither the orchestra nor the conductor knew it would be their last collaboration. Haitink announced his retirement shortly after the concert.

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AAA VinylAlbum Reviews
The Best Ever Kind of Blue?
Michael Fremer  |  May 17, 2021  |  163 comments
Is it possible to now write anything that hasn’t already been written or said about this record? I haven’t any fresh insights to offer that might advance what you probably already know. A good Kind of Blue pressing puts you in the 30th Street studio to hear the performance. Ashley Kahn’s “Kind of Blue” book sets the pre-recording stage, offering both musical and technical details and puts you as much in the control room as in front of the band.

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Album Reviews
The Best Ever "Bringing It All Back Home"?
Michael Fremer  |  Jan 22, 2013  |  22 comments
One side electric, one side acoustic, both sides of this March, 1965 release announced in both words and music Dylan's liberation from his folk music and "spokesperson for a generation" straight jacket and a turn towards more personal expression.
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