Whats on your turntable tonight?

Alright, one of the recent arrivals….Been watching for this for quite a while. Typically only available from European sellers, and shipping made is a bit crazy. Saw someone selling it in the US, and jumped on it. Really clean. Looking forward to this.

Pierre Boulez conducts Ligeti - Chamber Concerto - Ramifications - Aventures - Nouvelles Aventures. Ensemble Intercontemporain. Deutsche Grammophon 1983, German release.

 

Martinů String Quartet #5 - Janáček Quartet and String Quartet #7 - Vlach Quartet. Supraphon 1980 Czechoslovakia

Thanks guys, good to be back, and great to be spinning vinyl! Or heck, any music 😁

Another new arrival. I have this, but unfortunately the copy I purchased, albeit pristine otherwise, had the original foam sheet that was in the box deteriorate, and some of the particles found their way into the grooves. Try as I might, I just could not get it clean. So, a ‘new’ copy. This looks much better, and hopefully can listen without the unfortunate contamination.

Sir Neville Marriner conducts Bach - The Art of Fugue. The Academy Of St. Martin-in-the-Fields. Philips 2LP box, 1975
 

Sounds great Steve. Sounds so good on very quiet vinyl.....or.....just on vinyl, period. Quiet. Detailed. Puts you right there.

Night Jim, I just shut everything down

Wynton Marsalis - J Mood. Columbia 1986

Todd Rundgren - A Wizard, A True Star. Bearsville 1973

Reiner conducts Rimsky-Korsakoff - Scheherazade. Chicago Symphony/Sydney Harth, violin solo. RCA Victor ‘Living Stereo’, original pressing 1960.

Fantastic.

Stravinsky conducts Stravinsky - Le Sacre du Printemps. Columbia Symphony Orchestra. Columbia Masterworks 1961 stereo.

Raymond Leppard conducts Dvořák

• "Legends" Op. 59

The London Philharmonic Orchestra
Phillips 1971, Netherlands release 
 

Beethoven Edition (box set) 9 Symphonien, Wiener Philharmoniker, Karl Bohm conductor

Symphony 1 & 2 thus far 

I have 5 Beethoven cycle sets, and had not played this one for quite a while. This cycle does not get enough respect IMO. Forgot how clean the vinyl is, and how well it was recorded.

Prague String Quartet
Dvořák - String Quartets No. 8 & No. 10
Deutsche Grammophon 1976, German release 

Modern Jazz Quartet - Live at the Lighthouse. Atlantic/MFSL (remaster/reissue 1984)

Fantastic job by Mobile Fidelity

The Claremont Quartet w/Joanna Nickrenz, piano
Schoenberg - Ode To Napoleon Buonaparte For String Quartet, Piano, And Reciter, Op. 41
Webern - String Quartet, Op. 38
Stravinsky - Concertino For String Quartet & Three Pièces For String Quartet
Nonesuch 1968

Branford Marsalis - Renaissance. Columbia 1987

smokin album....that I don’t play enough

Finally done for the day, and a couple ‘new’ LP’s in the mail, first up...

George Weldon conducts Elgar - Cockaigne, Overture, Chanson De Matin And Chanson De Nuit, Pop And Circumstance Marches, & Serenade For Strings In E Minor. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. RCA Victrola 1968

Freddie Hubbard - Reevaluation : The Impulse Years

Impulse/ABC 2LP gatefold 1973

Thanks Steve. I know 'thicker' ones exist, I just have a bunch of the 'normal' ones. I'll check that out.

I began putting all my albums in outer sleeves since getting back into vinyl.

Szell conducts Beethoven - Piano Concerto No. 2 In B Flat / Thirty-Two Variations In C Minor. The Cleveland Orchestra with Emil Gilels. Angel 1970

@mammothguy54 

Good to hear regarding the Dynaudio Contour 60i‘s. Enjoy!

Santana - S/T. Columbia 1971

Note to self: when the War Dept. Offers to alphabetical order the CD’s in storage, take her up on that with enthusiasm!!!!

Dang, all 2,500? What’s the pay-off? 😁

@mammothguy54 

@bkeske try the 25th Anniversary Edition release of Graceland. The SQ is incredible, way over the top. Sit in the sweet spot and your jaw will be on the floor.

Playing my my original release almost had the same effect, the soundstage effect is pretty well done. There were sounds coming from, it seems, all over the room. I’ll keep my eyes out.

@slaw 

Brian, do you have "I Want it Darker" on vinyl?

No, I don’t. The only Cohen I have on vinyl is ‘Songs of Love and Hate’. Been too busy buying classical since getting back into vinyl again 😉

 Would like to get more of his albums on vinyl though. My ‘want list’ on Discogs is pretty long right now.

@slaw 

Hey Brian,

How many hours on the Zepher?

Good question. I would have to guess, right around 60.

Pere Ubu - Worlds in Collision. Fire Records reissue/remaster 2018, originally Fontana 1991

Tchaikovsky’s 4th. Maazel conducts The Cleveland Orchestra. Telarc 1979.

Fantastic recording and very nice performance

Ahmad Jamal - Live at the Montreal Jazz Festival 1985. Atlantic 2 LP set. 1986

Seems I’m stuck on spinning this set every couple weeks. Really good SQ/pressing. Not sure how I was exposed to these guys back in the 90’s, but they just ‘grabbed my attention’, and made me listen. Still have that effect on me. Not exactly sure why.

Lush - Ciao! best of. 4AD 2 LP gatefold, limited edition red vinyl 2015

Andre Previn conducts Rachmaninoff Piano Concertos 1 & 4. Royal Philharmonic Orchestra w/Leonard Pennario. RCA Red Seal. 1965

Sir Adrian Boult conducts string music of Vaughan Williams - Fantasia On A Theme By Thomas Tallis / Concerto Grosso / Partita For Double String Orchestra. The London Philharmonic Orchestra. Angel 1976

 

Well, the 301 was much loved by Art Dudley, so that must be worth something.

A buddy of mine from my ‘home town’ bought a Thorens back in the mid-70’s. We wound up sharing a dorm room in college. His Thorens ‘won out’ over my Kenwood 2055 in our room ;-) So, after being able to use and listen to it over months, I became smitten with that table. Build quality was really really nice. Everything about it had a quality feel. Sounded good too.

Ever since, I’ve always thought about getting one.

Finally done with work for the day, trying to catch-up.

Britten conducts English Music for Strings. Purcell, Elgar, Britten, Delius, & Bridge. English Chamber Orchestra. London 1969

This album kicks some rear

@uberwaltz 

what? I can’t hear you well from down here.

@slaw 

My inexpensive Pro-Ject Carbon Debut, with the add-on acrylic platter, and Grado Red cart.

I bought it after digging out my old Kenwood 2055 from the mid-70’s, and realizing there were more problems with it than I was ready to deal with, and still not sure if vinyl would stick again for me, went safe with the Pro-Ject. Well, I believe it’s (vinyl has) stuck.

Not ready to make a move quite yet, but have been considering a VPI Scout, maybe the new Prime. I was actually going to inquire with you about that, as being a (the) uni-pivot arm without anti-skating, has gotten its share of negative personal reviews for the arm, but I’ve also read that it has wonderful soundstage, imaging, and depth.  So, I’m a bit on the fence, but if there is one table I’ve looked at in that price range, I’m still drawn to it.

Gidon Kremer - Edition Lockenhaus. 2 LP live set. Franck, Rabinovitch, Caplet, Poulenc, Janacek, Stravinsky, Schostakovich. ECM German release 1986

@uberwaltz 

Next thing you know you will be looking at $3k carts like they are candy.....

Oh, I already do ;-)

But I’m also one of those who likes to see how much he can do for less. Thus, vintage or older gear really does attract me. Like my old Belles 400A amp. Or, mid 00’s Vandy 2CE Sigs I picked up for $600.

There is fun in that to me as well.

I’m also very aware that if I’m going to keep investing in vinyl, that although I don’t *need to* dive deeper, fact is I want to, because, well, ‘we’ can’t seem to stop trying to make things sound better....especially vinyl.

@big_greg 

Don't let that unipivot arm on the VPI scare you off.

Thanks, good to hear from others who have them.

@uberwaltz 

Brian
i have not forgot about you and the tapes.

Not a problem, I’m patient. Thanks 👍🏼

Man, this Ahmad Jamal live album is kicking major butt. I think this is the first time I’ve spun it since I’ve had the Hagerman. Incredible. Has never, ever, sounded this good.

This album is highly recommended. Great recording for a live performance, especially piano. The very first song is a little weak on Ahmad’s piano, but after that, much better.

Budapest String Quartet - Beethoven: The Six Quartets, Op. 18. Odyssey reissue 3LP box set, 1969. Originally recorded 1951.

Mono

Been wanting to play this set for a while, but waited until I was unlazy enough to mount my mono cart. Just a fantastic recording and performances.

Vladimir Ashkenazy conducts Strauss - Ein Heldenleben. The Cleveland Orchestra. London 1985
 

Thanks Steve, they sound real nice too 👍🏼

Quit teasing me Steve. I’m now anxious to see what a second MyMat does 😉

Another new acquisition arrived today. Had this once, (not sure what happened to it), but recently only a digital version. Nice to have back on vinyl.

Neil Young - After the Gold Rush. Reprise reissue 1978. Originally 1970.

Fantastic shape, and very quiet. Probably better than my old one 😁

@slaw 

I don't know why but something about how you worded the last sentence gave me a belly laugh. That has to be recognized.

😁 Especially for a chamber orchestra recording. But it indeed does. Britten was not only a good composer, but also one hell’va conductor.