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Horace Andy – Straight To Hell – Fe True Records – 45 rpm

Horace Andy – Straight To Hell – Fe True Records – 45 rpm

by | Feb 13, 2017 | SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews

Horace Andy – Straight To Hell – Fe True Records – 45 r.p.m. stereo vinyl (20 min.) ****: Jamaican homage to The Clash remains topical. (Featuring Horace Andy and Big Youth; The Welders; Eric Blowtorch – guitar; Michael Dr. “Bassie” Bell – bass; Cecelia Negron Jr. – drums; Robin Pluer – organ) When the Clash burst on the scene, punk rock was shoving nearly every other pop music form aside. In addition to the social anger, political resentment was being voiced. At the same time, reggae music was influencing both British and American bands. Despite the joyful grooves, a darker political message was being transmitted by the likes of Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Third World. Jamaican singer Horace Andy started out as a hit maker with songs like “Skylarking”, “You Are my Angel” and “Money Is The Root Of All Evil”. Years later, he recorded with “trip-hop” purveyor, Massive Attack. On a global scale reggae, punk rock and hip-hop was fused. Fe True Records has released a four-song 45 r.p.m., Straight To Hell. Horace Andy had previously collaborated with Joe Strummer in 1999, The two musicians shared a mutual admiration that dated back even further. Thirty-four years after its […]

BERLIOZ: Symphonie fantastique – Royal Concertgebouw Orch./ Daniele Gatti – RCO/ Avotros 45rpm vinyl (2)

BERLIOZ: Symphonie fantastique – Royal Concertgebouw Orch./ Daniele Gatti – RCO/ Avotros 45rpm vinyl (2)

by | Dec 29, 2016 | SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews

Amazing fidelity in this 45 rpm vinyl, though perhaps not the best performance. HECTOR BERLIOZ: Symphonie fantastique – Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/ Daniele Gatti – RCO/ Avotros 45 RPM vinyl (2 discs) ****1/2: Gatti is the seventh conductor of the famed Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amserdam, and takes an unconventional version of the score which has astonished audience since its premiere in 1830. He has a sense of surprise and freshness based on the thorough knowledge of Berlioz’ score, and the joy of making music with the RCO member players who choose Gatti as their new chief conductor. This a masterful job of remastering at 45 rpm. Unfortunately, the performance – while excellent – doesn’t seem to find anything new in this extraordinary work of Berlioz.  It is also available on a fine RCO multichannel SACD (which I have not heard) but using the pseudo-surround feature on most preamps creates an absolutely enveloping music in surround effect with this magnificent 45 rpm remastering. One writer compared the SACD sonics to the SACDs of the ten Mahler Symphonies released a few years ago by the Concertgebouw. The warmth and ambiance of the acoustically-perfect concert hall come thru either way. You would have to […]

Vanessa Fernandez – When The Levee Breaks – Groove Note (3-45 rpm vinyls)

Vanessa Fernandez – When The Levee Breaks – Groove Note (3-45 rpm vinyls)

by | May 18, 2016 | SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews

Vanessa Fernandez – When The Levee Breaks – Groove Note Records 45 rpm stereo vinyl (3 discs), (5/16/2016), 63:33 ****1/2: Singer pays homage to Led Zeppelin in acoustic glory! (Vanessa Fernandez – vocals; Tim Pierce – guitars, arrangements; Jim Keltner – drums; Chris Chaney – bass; Jim Cox – keyboards; Charlie Bisharat – violin; Luis Conte – percussion) Vanessa Fernandez began her career as part of the hip hop groups Urban Xchange and Parking Lot Pimp. The Singapore native remained a local act and recorded an EP, titled Vandetta in 2013. Additionally she became a renowned radio personality, hosting a hip hop show. It seemed that her musical expansion might be limited. That changed in 2014 with the release of her debut, Use Me on Groove Note Records. (*******). This album featured quality studio covers of soul artists like Curtis Mayfield, Bill Withers and Al Green. There were also versions of Blood Sweat & Tears and Queen. The auspicious project featured top-notch musicians that included Tim Pierce (guitars) and Jim Cox (keyboards). There was significant anticipation for her sophomore effort. In keeping with her maverick sensibility, Fernandez has chosen to put together a tribute to rock legend Led Zeppelin. When […]

The Animals – Animal Tracks – EMI (10″ vinyl)

The Animals – Animal Tracks – EMI (10″ vinyl)

by | Apr 16, 2016 | SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews

The Animals – Animal Tracks – EMI (1965)/ Abkco (2016) 8499-1 mono 10” 45 rpm vinyl, ***1/2: Special vinyl EP reissue shows off The Animals’ blues prowess. (Eric Burdon – vocals; Alan Price – piano, organ; Chas Chandler – bass, vocals; Hilton Valentine – guitar; John Steel – drums) The British rock scene was formed by American blues. Most (if not all) of these bands began their careers with covers of blues music. The Rolling Stones took their band moniker from a song by the immortal Muddy Waters. Along with The Yardbirds, The Animals were among the finest purveyors of British blues. Formed in Newcastle upon Tyne in the early 1960s, the group was initially known as Alan Price Rhythm And Blues Combo. The original lineup featured Price (piano and organ), Eric Burdon (vocals), Chas Chandler (bass), Hilton Valentine (guitar) and John Steel (drums). The Animals became a renowned act when their organ-laced version of “House Of The Rising Sun” hit No. 1 in the U.S. Burdon’s gritty vocals complemented Price’s musicality. Like their counterparts, the band continued to record American blues  (“Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood”, “Bring It On Home To Me”) and eventually created their own pop-based alchemy […]

SAINT-SAENS: Symphony No. 3 “Organ”; Intro and Rondo capriccioso in a; La muse et le poete for violin, cello & orch. – Jan Kraybill, pipe organ/Kansas City Sym./ Michael Stern – Reference Recordings (45 rpm vinyl)

SAINT-SAENS: Symphony No. 3 “Organ”; Intro and Rondo capriccioso in a; La muse et le poete for violin, cello & orch. – Jan Kraybill, pipe organ/Kansas City Sym./ Michael Stern – Reference Recordings (45 rpm vinyl)

by | Mar 19, 2016 | SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews

A fine performance and a first on 45 rpm vinyl. SAINT-SAENS: Symphony No. 3 “Organ”; Intro and Rondo capriccioso in a; La muse et le poete for violin, cello & orch. – Jan Kraybill, pipe organ/Kansas City Sym./ Michael Stern – Reference Recordings stereo 45 rpm vinyl RM-1514, 35:27 (3/15/16) ****: The Kansas City Symphony is the only full-time professional symphony in the region, and has made other acclaimed recordings for Reference Recordings. This session, which gets a full and rich romantic sound out of the musicians, was recorded using the HDCD encoding invented by Keith O. Johnson, the recording engineer, and mastered onto this 180 gram half-speed-mastered 45 rpm vinyl, with its wider grooves and faster speed enhancing the sonics almost as much as direct disk recording, which almost nobody is doing anymore. The first two movements are on Side A and the third and fourth movements on Side B. The acoustically superior Helzberg Hall of 2011 is a factor in the success of this recording. Conductor Stern is in his second decade with the orchestra and has been hailed for his remarkable artistic ascent, inventive programming, organizational development and stability, and extraordinary growth of its varied symphony audiences. […]

Bennie Wallace – Moodsville – Prestige/ Groove Note

Bennie Wallace – Moodsville – Prestige/ Groove Note

by | Dec 25, 2015 | SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews

Bennie Wallace – Moodsville – Prestige/ Groove Note GRV1010-1 two 45 rpm vinyls, 50:53 ****: Saxophonist combines traditional jazz plus hi-resolution. (Bennie Wallace – tenor saxophone; Peter Washington – doublebass; Mulgrew Miller – piano; Lewis Nash – drums) Jazz saxophonist Bennie Wallace draws heavily on his Tennessee roots. From his early days with the high school jazz orchestra, he understood the varied tempo signatures and moods of American post-bop jazz. Wallace has played with Barry Harris, Buddy Rich and Ray Anderson. His most significant recording output has come as a band leader. His albums have included Tommy Flanagan, Kenny Barron, Jack DeJohnette, Dr. John, Stevie Ray Vaughan, John Scofield, Elvin Jones and Chick Corea. For nearly four decades, Wallace has explored jazz from many stylistic perspectives. Wallace’s latest release, Moodsville pays homage to the great Prestige and Moodsville label sessions of the late 1950s. This double 45 rpm. vinyl has been recorded in full analog technology with accessible results. Utilizing a classic jazz quartet, (tenor, piano, double bass and drums) Wallace offers melodic interpretations of standards and complex jazz compositions. Side A opens with a cover of “I’ll Never Smile Again”. For anyone familiar with Harry James’ big band version […]