Crate Diggers (What are you listening to now vinyl edition)

Van Halen (Hagar) 5150. Van Halen was always meant for vinyl. Their albums were never the greatest sound quality, but they just played back "right" in the vinyl record format. I never liked any of the CD masters.

Records are awesome. They come with artwork, lyrics and band photos. My son now knows how Eddie Van Halen and Sammy Hagar look like. He also knows that Eddie Van Halen plays guitar and keyboards, and the concept of multi-tracking recording. We also went through the intro chords of Love Walks In on the piano. (This is horrible, I can't play worth shit anymore.) What great lyrics in the chorus. Eighties cheese, but they really do capture the feeling of falling in love.

And then you sense a change
Nothin' feels the same
All your dreams are strange
Love comes walkin' in

Some kind of alien
Waits for the opening
Simply pulls a string
Love comes walkin' in

 

Speaker of daughters, a mystery benefactor sent me a Star Trek Wrath of Khan picture disc (turns out it was @CEE TEE), which my daughter really enjoyed while she was doing her homework. I'm so surprised how kids pick up on stuff. "This is really good, it sounds familiar but original." The major Studios back in the day were more willing to take risks by hiring composers and orchestras to write and perform GREAT original music. This is a great soundtrack that reflects the feelings in the movie to to a tee; and the pressing quality is superb. Hans Zimmer can take a hike! Keep in mind that Khan cost no more than $30M (adjusted 2016) to make.

That's the Mutara Nebula spinning.

 

Yes. Records as a medium (the intervening substance through which impressions are conveyed to the senses) are far more effective at the transmission of art than MP3 or FLAC files on a hard disk. There's no need for a wall of records. Just a box or two will do. It's not quantity, it's quality.

 

If audio is important, just buy a car that you can pay off in one or two years instead of opting for the "maximize my car for 60 monthly payments" strategy of most Americans. Audio is cheap compared to cars. It's about balance.

 

I dug this ancient record up late last night and it sucked me in later than when I wanted to go to sleep. This is such a great piece, easily approachable, modern (relatively), and highly recommended for classical music initiates. Composed about a decade before the 20th century by some Russian dude named Rimsky-Korsakov (this is a name everyone should know) who was a or possibly THE master of orchestra of that time, or of all time.

I don't want to debate the merits of this particular recorded Leonard Berstein (another name everyone should know) and the NY Philharmonic performance. However I will say that I am amazed at the sound quality of this 1959 recording. Yup that's 1959 with tubes. Sure, this old record has a ton of pops, clicks, and a notable scratch on side one; but most modern digital classical recordings can't come close to the immediacy of this record (some come close, but still do not quite meet.)

This music poem recounts the tale of Scheherazade who marries some Sultan dude who seems to have taken a page from the ISIS playbook on how to treat his wives. He basically is distrustful of all women, so every morning after he marries a girl, he has her executed. Scheherazade is determined to put an end to all this nonsense. So after she marries him, she tells him tales of Arabic superheros like Sinbad, and of shipwrecks, explosions, genies, ninja assassins, etc. Every night, Scheherazade leaves a cheesy hook to the next episode, just like how the writers of the Arrow or Flash TV series do it. The Sultan has no choice but to spare her life every morning so he can know what happens next. (There was no Hulu back then). After 1001 nights, he softens and gives up on the idea of killing her.

 

Evidently, it turns out that I have a quite a few mono records in my collection which I didn't know were mono. Mono vinyl reproduction can be succinctly described as dessert (as opposed to the meat-and potatoes of stereo vinyl playback.) I highly suggest that one experience mono playback from a mono cartridge within his lifetime.

For a well written article on the glories on mono vinyl reproduction, read the following: http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2014/08/difference-engine-0

I found this record and played it a few nights ago. Not with a mono cartridge, but a stereo cartridge, which probably doesn't capture the full magic. Still, one can still get an idea, an inkling. I can't wait to get a mono cartridge now that I will have two arms. (Mono cartridges are less expensive too!)



This Jeri Southern album is from the late 1950s. She didn't have a very long career. Supposedly she had a shyish personality and decided to call it quits after a decade in the industry, moving to Hollywood to teach music instead.

She has a conservative take on Porter's music (Cole Porter is someone everyone should know.). She doesn't even change any of the lyrics! This record features good Cole Porter songs that are not as well known. Her style is more straightforward than the other torch singers of that era; but this is not to say she is anything like the crap heard on the Lawrence Welk show - she is still a jazz singer after all, through and through!

I rather like her style because it's respectful and because she is actually GOOD. Nothing at all like the extreme liberties taken by Lady Gaga on her Cheek to Check nonsense with Tony Bennett. It's so refreshing to hear someone really good at her craft and simply execute it well like Jeri Southern. Lady Gaga's renditions on Cheek to Cheek are vulgar and offensive in comparison: "Blaaaah!" "Blaaaah!"

Don't get me wrong, I like Lady Gaga, but I think she is better at singing pop songs about Monster cocks than jazz torch songs written by Berlin or Porter.