Miles Davis: Kind of Blue -- to be released on Classic Records 45 RPM Clarity Vinyl ?

Last year, Classic Records introduced their latest 200 gram proprietary vinyl formula: Clarity Vinyl. Following this initial rollout, however, they have been relatively slow in releasing titles pressed on this new formula.

After a handful of Blue Note jazz titles and more recently, the Big Star reissues, Classic has just announced some additional titles to be released on the Clarity formulation, including 45 RPM 4 LP single-sided sets of Norah Jones' Come Away With Me, Dave Brubeck's Time Out, and most interestingly, Miles Davis' Sketches of Spain.

While Sketches of Spain is itself a great record, its re-release in the 45 RPM format suggests what Classic might have in store: the re-release of the venerable Kind of Blue on 45 RPM Clarity Vinyl. What's the big deal, you ask?

Wilco: The Album -- 180 gram vinyl (w/ included cd) -- Win a Free Copy Here!

Wilco is back with Wilco (The Album), their seventh studio album and follow up to their 2007 release, Sky Blue Sky. Nonesuch simultaneously issued the cd and vinyl/cd combo packages, allowing vinyl fans wanting the album right away to be able to get it without having to "double dip," as often happens with new releases. As usual, this review will concentrate on the vinyl release and will compare the sound quality of the vinyl and cd versions.

The single 180 gram vinyl was pressed at the Pallas plant in Germany and arrived perfectly clean, flat, and played with nary a pop or tick. Pallas continues to be a standard bearer for the production of super-premium quality vinyl pressings and is only rivaled by the best pressing plants in Japan. The gatefold cover is made of heavy card stock and comes with a printed color sleeve. The vinyl itself is housed in an audiophile quality poly-lined inner sleeve.