Michael Fremer

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Book Reviews
"Abbey Road to Ziggy Stardust": Engineer/Producer Ken Scott Looks Back On An Amazing Career (so far).
Michael Fremer  |  Apr 29, 2013  |  23 comments
Can a recording engineer's memoir be a "real page turner" as the book trade likes to characterize a suspenseful novel? Yes, if the engineer is Ken Scott and yes if you're a true fan of the art and science of recorded music and you revel in minutiae and historical perspective that adds depth to your appreciation of your favorite records.

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Beatles
Ken Scott Speaks of Recording The Beatles, David Bowie and His Other Studio Adventures
Michael Fremer  |  Apr 30, 2013  |  4 comments
Woody Allen famously said "80% of success is showing up." 16 year old recording engineer/producer Ken Scott showed up at EMI Studios less than a week after writing a letter requesting a job interview. He "passed the audition" and was rewarded with a job in EMI's tape library.

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Analog Corner
Analog Corner #36
Michael Fremer  |  Apr 28, 2013  |  4 comments
One of the fascinating things about watching your personal odometer piling on the miles is that, whatever your self-image, you're leaving an ever-lengthening trail that becomes more difficult to deny with every glance in the rearview mirror.

I can't escape it: I love old things. I drive an old car not because I can't replace it with a new one, but because the experience of driving it is irreplaceable. New cars don't look, feel, sound, or even smell like my old Saab: the roar of the throaty engine, the sound of the air being sucked into the carburetor, the visceral connection between the road and my hands on the non-power steering wheel—new cars can't provide these sensations. New cars hide their mechanical nature. Old cars celebrate it.

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Record Cleaning Tips
Don't Let This Happen to You!
Michael Fremer  |  May 02, 2013  |  55 comments
This is a digital microscope shot of my Lyra Atlas. I am embarrassed.
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News
Zappa Classics "Freak Out" and "Over-Nite Sensation" Coming From Universal Music-Zappa Records—Along With Never Before Released "Finer Moments"
Michael Fremer  |  May 07, 2013  |  6 comments
Are you hung up?
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Analog Corner
Analog Corner #37
Michael Fremer  |  May 07, 2013  |  5 comments
What's it worth to ya?"

This quintessential American question is the hub of our capitalist society, and one that figures in two subjects that have recently been clogging my e-mail in-box. The first has to do with the Record Club of America's half-million-plus unplayed LPs, which I wrote about last fall ("Analog Corner," September 1997).

RCOA's much-delayed catalog (due out last October but not appearing until this May) has created quite a stir with many recipients, some of whom are outraged by what they see as absurdly high prices for many of the discs. You should hear them! Along with Dan Burton, they should have their mouths washed out with soap! I'll spare you those.

Most of the others are more bemused than angry. Like this guy: "Stop it, stop it. You've got to be kidding. I wonder if Mr. Fremer helped them price the classical issues, and probably [Fi's] Wayne Garcia priced the Jazz."

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NewsMunich 2013
Reporting From Munich Hi-End Show Thursday through Sunday
Michael Fremer  |  May 07, 2013  |  6 comments
I'll be attending the Munich Hi-End Show Thursday through Sunday and reporting back here nightly on all things analog at the show. Stay tuned!
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Album Reviews
Johanna Martzy's Bach Unaccompanied Violin Sonatas Reissued by The Electric Recording Co.
Michael Fremer  |  May 08, 2013  |  15 comments
Through her early EMI recordings, among others, the late Hungarian violinist Johanna Martzy has achieved fame, notoriety and a cult following that escaped her during her lifetime.

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Munich 2013
Why Can't America Host an Audio Show Like Munich High End 2013?
Michael Fremer  |  May 10, 2013  |  0 comments
Just concluded day two of High End 2013 in Munich. The MOC Convention Center was packed. It's a large venue sort of like a somewhat smaller Javits Center in New York City. Not all of it was used for the show but much of it was, including an enormous ground level space and much of the second and third floor atrium area.

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Munich 2013
Pro-Ject's "Elemental", A $199 Crosley Killer!
Michael Fremer  |  May 10, 2013  |  5 comments
Pro-Ject founder and CEO Heinz Lichtennegger has decided to go after the cheap plastic turntable market with a high quality alternative that will sell for $199 complete with an Ortofon cartridge.
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