The Beatles Remastered Mono and Stereo Catalog on 180 gram vinyl -- Coming November 14, 2009

 
 Pre-Order the New Beatles Vinyl Box Set Here!


NEW: Beatles Revolver Stereo Remastered cd review and vinyl comparison

NEW: Click here to read the Review of the 2009 Remastered cd of Abbey Road

NEW:First Listen: The Beatles MONO Box Set (The White Album) Review and Comparison to U.K. Vinyl

On September 9, 2009, EMI will release remastered compact discs of the 12 proper Beatles albums as well as Magical Mystery Tour and Pastmasters volumes one/two. A stereo boxset of the 14 compact discs will be released along with DVDs documenting each release and a 10-disc mono boxset entitled The Beatles in Mono will also be released.

Ever since the initial announcement, there has been rampant speculation that the remastered Beatles catalog will also be re-released on vinyl. The only new Beatles vinyl available for the past twenty years has been sourced from the 1987 digital masters used for the compact disc releases.

Vintage Vinyl Spotlight: The Clash -- London Calling UK vinyl

Nearly thirty years ago, The Clash released their third record, London Calling. Far more than a typical punk rock expression of rage and discontent, London Calling conveyed political and social messages through well-crafted, intelligent songwriting mated to a multitude of flavors. Ska, reggae, rockabilly, as well as punk influences are to be found on the record. Not surprisingjy, London Calling is consistently found at or near the top of most best album lists.

John Coltrane: Live at the Village Vanguard 45 RPM 180 gram vinyl

In 1962, Impulse Records released John Coltrane's Live at the Village Vanguard. Taken from the now legendary November 1961 sessions at the Village Vanguard in New York, this release was a glimpse of what was to come for Coltrane in later years with works such as A Love Supreme, and his foray into free jazz.

The Recording

Live at the Village Vanguard features three cuts from the now famous dates: two Coltrane originals, and one cover of a Romberg-Hammerstein standard. In addition to pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Reggie Workman, and drummer Elvin Jones, Eric Dolphy is featured on bass clarinet on the first cut, Spiritual. In a departure from his usual tenor, Coltrane plays the soprano saxophone on this, as well as the final number, Chasin the Trane.

Neil Young: Sugar Mountain - Live at Canterbury House 200 gram vinyl

In November of 1968, Neil Young was still on the heels of the breakup of Buffalo Springfield and had yet to release his solo debut. For two nights at the Canterbury House in Ann Arbor, Michigan, he would treat a small crowd to a preview of his new record as well as select cuts from his efforts with Buffalo Springfield.

Two years later, the song Sugar Mountain, recorded at the Canterbury House, would appear as the B-side to The Loner, the single from his self-titled debut. The remainder of the shows would remain in the vaults for some forty years until its official release several months ago on cd/dvd as part of the Archives Performance Series. This week, it was released for the first time on imported 200 gram vinyl.

Marvin Gaye: What's Going On and Let's Get It On--MFSL 180 gram vinyl

Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab has just released two absolute classics from Marvin Gaye on 180 gram vinyl: What's Going On (1971) and Let's Get it On (1973) .

Mobile Fidelity continues to be one of the top producers of audiophile quality pressings and these releases are no exception. Both records arrived clean, flat and played flawlessly, with nary a pop or tick. The gatefold covers are made of heavy card stock and the vinyl is housed in Mofi's own anti-static rice paper sleeves.

Both of these releases are good quality releases-- and one is very, very good.

Coming Soon: Neil Young- Sugar Mountain Canterbury House 200 gm vinyl, Marvin Gaye MFSL 180 gm, John Coltrane- Village Vanguard 45 RPM 180 gm vinyl

There has never been a better time than now to be into vinyl. Nearly every top new release, as well as dozens of rock, pop, and jazz reissues are coming out every week.

As great as this vinyl renaissance is, not everthing that comes out is worth parting with your hard-earned dollar. I will continue to seek out the best titles, with the best masterings, and attempt to let you know when a release doesn't live up to the hype.

In the next few weeks, I'll be reviewing what I hope to be some very exciting titles. I've been busy listening to every available Lp and Cd mastering that I can get my hands on in the hope that I can help inform your decisions.

RUSH: Permanent Waves MFSL 180 gram vinyl

In 1980, the Canadian trio Rush, released their seventh album, Permanent Waves. This release was a departure from their previous work as it began a move toward shorter, radio-friendly songs and yielded AOR hits such as The Spirit of Radio and Freewill, that are still played to this day. These hits propelled the record into the Top 5 of the U.S. album charts and brought the band a new legion of fans, which would further expand with their next album, Moving Pictures. While Rush has continued to gain new fans throughout the years, chances are that if you are reading this, you were in your teens or twenties in the Eighties.

Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab has a reputation for releasing ultra-high quality vinyl pressings. This title was no exception. The flawlessly pressed 180 gram disc arrived clean, flat, and was exceptionally quiet during playback. The vinyl is packaged in a gatefold cover made of premium heavy card stock with an anti-static Mofi rice paper inner sleeve.

John Coltrane: Giant Steps 45 RPM 180 gram Rhino vinyl

With the flurry of audiophile jazz titles being released these days, it isn't often that a big occasion is made of a 45 RPM jazz release. That distinction is reserved for truly groundbreaking titles such as this one. Giant Steps was originally released in 1960, and is known for introducing the world to John Coltrane's legendary sheets of sound. This version, mastered from the original analog master tapes by Bernie Grundman, for the first time in the 45 RPM format, is likely to become legendary--and may very well become the definitive stereo version of the recording.

While I do not have an original lime green label stereo copy to compare, I listened to the remastered Rhino cd, original Atlantic cd as well as the recent Rhino 180 gram reissue mastered by Kevin Gray in preparation for this review. In writing this review, I did the great majority of my comparisons with the Gray-mastered Rhino reissue.

Sneak Preview: Big Star -- #1 Record and Radio City 150 gram vinyl -- Are these the best vinyl reissues yet?

After several years of being out of print, Big Star's debut, #1 Record and their follow up, Radio City will again be available on domestic U.S. vinyl.
Approximately two weeks ago, Classic Records announced that on April 7, both releases would be reissued on their new proprietary 200 gram Clarity vinyl formula. Almost immediately thereafter, listings for standard weight versions from Concord Music Group, which owns the rights to both #1 Record and Radio City, as well as the rest of the Stax catalog, began appearing within online audiophile catalogs.

4/13/09 UPDATE: Classic Records has now confirmed that their releases and those from Concord share the same mastering done by Chris Bellman, of Bernie Grundman mastering.

Recently, I had the fortune of acquiring copies of each of these standard weight releases from Concord. In anticipation of reviewing these reissues, I pulled out and listened to a variety of earlier pressings of each record, including the vinyl reissues from Akarma and Big Beat, as well as the 2004 hybrid SACD two-fer.

Very special thanks goes to vinyl guru and owner of The Analog Room, Brian Hartsell, who was kind enough to loan me his mint original Ardent vinyl of both titles. In reviewing the Concord reissues, I primarily compared them to the original Ardent vinyl.

Coming Soon: Big Star--#1 Record and Radio City 200 gram clarity vinyl

On April 7, Classic Records will reissue two records that fit the definition of power pop perfection: Big Star's #1 Record and Radio City. Recorded at Ardent Studios and released in 1972 and 1974--and virtually unknown until the now iconic September Gurls was covered by The Bangles in 1986, Big Star's first two records have inspired countless guitar-driven pop artists from Cheap Trick and The Replacements, to R.E.M. and Matthew Sweet.

Lyrics driven by adolescent lust, catchy, hook-laden melodies, and jangly guitars defined Big Star's sound and set them apart from the Sixties-era power pop genre dominated by groups such as The Kinks, The Who, and Badfinger. Each record originally sold less than 5,000 copies, mostly due to a bad distribution deal with Stax Records and have only been reissued a few times on vinyl--and both of the better known reissues are either from digital sources (UK Back Track) or digitally remastered (Italian Akarma).
Click here to read the full reviews.

Both of these albums are notorious for their bright, jangly sound. The challenge for the mastering engineer will be to convey that sound without also imparting the harsh, ear-bleeding glare heard on the 2004 SACD two-fer.

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss: Raising Sand 180 gram vinyl

Following what can only be described as surprisingly high sales and an immensely successful supporting tour, Rounder Records has issued a second vinyl pressing of Robert Plant and Alison Krauss' 2007 release, Raising Sand.

This Grammy-winning effort from the unlikely pairing of a folk/bluegrass star with the former Zeppelin frontman resulted in much more than the two singing duets together--and at their best, they mesh together so well that their voices almost sound like one. The material on the record is also varied, showcasing bluegrass, country, blues, and even a hint of rock and roll.

Despite my appreciation for the vocal talents of Krauss, both live and in the studio, I find the duets with Plant to be more compelling than are the Krauss-led numbers. Highlights of the disc include a re-working of the 1955 song, Rich Woman, a mid-tempo number steeped in the delta blues. In Gone, Gone, Gone (Done, Moved On) and Please Read the Letter, both duets with Krauss, Plant recalls his roots and peppers his vocal delivery with Zeppelinesque flourishes. And listen to the ballad, Stick with me Baby, for what perhaps best captures the duo's voices sweetly melding into one.

Coming Soon: John Coltrane--Giant Steps 45 RPM 180 gram vinyl

I just finished listening to one of the finest jazz reissues ever, the 45 RPM version of the 1959 Miles Davis masterpiece, Kind of Blue from Classic Records. Long out of print, and mastered by Bernie Grundman and cut at 45 RPM, this reissue of the landmark album brings a highly-detailed, yet never analytical sound with a wide, deep soundstage, quick transients, and cymbals that sound so realistic that Jimmy Cobb takes up residence in your living room.

Sneak Preview Video -- Jack White's New Band: The Dead Weather

Jack White, best known as half of the proto-punk duo, The White Stripes, and still on the heels of last year's excellent Consolers of the Lonely from his oft-dubbed supergroup, The Raconteurs, is back again with yet another new band, The Dead Weather. This time, White has teamed up with The Kills' Alison Mosshart, Dean Fertita of Queens Of The Stone Age, and Jack Lawrence, also of The Raconteurs.

Ebay Auction of the Week: The Smiths UK Rough Trade Vinyl Collection--including The Queen is Dead

This week's featured *Ebay auction brings the rare opportunity to acquire a complete set of UK Rough Trade vinyl from British indie rock band, The Smiths. Anyone who was in college or university in the U.S. or Great Britain--or followed indie rock in the Eighties, surely listened to The Smiths.



A Bona Fide phenomenon in The U.K., The Smiths, led by Morrissey on vocals and Johnny Marr on guitar, Andy Rourke on bass, and Mike Joyce on drums, were arguably the most influential group to come out of England in the decade. Morrissey's sexual ambiguity, tales of angst and alienation combined with Marr's organic, guitar-driven sound presented a compelling alternative to the synth-dominated popular music of the day and propelled them to the top of the alternative indie rock scene. To this day, The Smiths still enjoy a steady cult following.



This auction includes UK vinyl pressings of the four proper studio albums released by the band between 1984-1987: The Smiths, Meat is Murder, The Queen is Dead, and Strangeways, Here We Come. Also included in this auction are UK vinyl copies of the 1984 release, Hatful of Hollow-- a collection of BBC Radio recordings, singles and b-sides, the 1987 compilation, The World Won't Listen, and the 1988 live release, Rank.



The Smiths originally signed with the British independent label, Rough Trade Records, and all of their records would be released on that label in the U.K. In the United States, Sire Records would release everything except for Hatful of Hollow, which was available as an import only.

While the U.S. Sire vinyl was good enough to satisfy the majority of college students and others wanting copies to play in their dorm rooms, serious fans of the band as well as collectors soon realized that the original U.K. Rough Trade vinyl sounded significantly better. Whether better tapes were used or the mastering techniques were different, the U.K. Rough Trade pressings sound more natural-- especially in the midrange, have more detail, and are more balanced sounding records than their Sire counterparts.



The Queen is Dead, considered by many to be the band's crowning achievement, sounds particularly good, and the Rough Trade vinyl, which is particularly difficult to find, has a full midrange, absent on the Sire, which allows Marr's blistering guitar work on songs such as Bigmouth, to be fully articulated. Add the fact that the compact disc releases from Sire--and now WEA, have never been particularly well received, and there is a compelling reason that the Rough Trade vinyl is as desireable as ever.



Whether you are a long-suffering vinyl collector or a fan who has never quite been satisfied with the Sire or WEA releases, this auction presents the opportunity to obtain the best sounding pressings of the essential Smiths releases. And if you can't bid on this auction or don't win it, keep trying and eventually you'll hear this band like you may have never heard them before.

*seller is not affiliated with myvinylreview

U2: No Line on the Horizon 180 gram vinyl review

U2 is back with No Line on the Horizon, their first release since the 2004 critically acclaimed Grammy-winning effort, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. In their twelfth studio release, they turn out a solid, if at times uneven record, that in its best moments harkens back to the creative pinnacle of their career, the 1992 triumph, Achtung Baby.

The songs on No Line on the Horizon are filled with guitar-driven hooks, but not in the in-your-face style of Vertigo, or Get on Your Boots, the record's first single. If Get on Your Boots is the only cut you have heard, you should be pleasantly surprised as the remainder isn't filled with similar guitar-driven bombast. Instead, The Edge works his magic, building tension in the best songs by combining his signature hooks with more subtle guitar textures that work within the song's groove rather than always defining it. Listen to Moment of Surrender for some really tasty slide guitar work.

U2 Performs Surprise BBC Rooftop Concert in anticipation of new album release, No Line on the Horizon

In anticipation of their forthcoming album, No Line on the Horizon, U2 performed a surprise rooftop concert Friday night, atop the BBC Broadcasting House in London, England. Enjoy this brilliant performance of Magnificent, a song which many critics and fans alike believe should have been released as the first single. U2 will officially release the new record on Tuesday, March 3, 2009.

Neil Young Archives Vol. 1 (1963-1972); Live at the Fillmore East; Live at Massey Hall Archives Performance Series 200 gram vinyl

With the most recently announced release date of February 24th coming and going, Neil Young's fans are going to have to continue to wait for the first installment in his highly anticipated Archives series. The continued delays have not, however, quelled speculation about what format or formats the archives will eventually end up on.

Ten-disc Blu-Ray high-def and standard DVD boxsets have already been announced, spanning Young's early career from 1963-1972. Speculation has been rampant, however, whether the set will also be released on compact disc or vinyl. This latest speculation regarding a vinyl release gained momentum after it was rumoured that each part of the ten-disc set would also be available separately. That, combined with the fact that two of the three installments of the Archives Performance Series that have been released thus far, Live at the Fillmore East and Live at Massey Hall , have also been released on 200 gram vinyl, only added fuel to the fire. Sugar Mountain: Live at Canterbury House, is also expected to get a vinyl release.






Cd only edition




For those who haven't picked up the 200 gram vinyl versions of the first two installments of the Archives Performance Series, Live at The Fillmore East and Live at Massey Hall, they are both well worth it.

Ebay Auction of the Week: Simon & Garfunkel Bookends Mono Vinyl

My Vinyl Review starts a new feature today, the *Ebay Auction of the Week. In this feature, I will showcase an auction of interest to the audiophile or vinyl collector.

This week's auction is of an original MONO pressing of Simon & Garfunkel's 1968 folk rock classic, Bookends. This longstanding fan favorite marked the last time the duo offered their releases in both mono and stereo. Bookends produced four Top 25 singles, including the number-one single, Mrs. Robinson. Having also reached the number one position on the album charts, original stereo vinyl copies of Bookends in nice condition are not at all hard to come by.

U2 Video: Angel of Harlem

In anticipation of the upcoming new release from U2, No Line on the Horizon, here is video of the song, Angel of Harlem, from the movie Rattle and Hum. I've always loved the Stax-inspired horns in this song and the great sound captured by the band while playing in Sun Studio. If you've never seen the movie or haven't seen it in a while, it might be just the time to give it another chance.

New Release U2: No Line on the Horizon 180 gram vinyl

On March 3, 2009, U2 will release their 12th studio album, No Line on the Horizon, on 180 gram vinyl as well as compact disc and digital download. Watch the promotional video for the single, Get on Your Boots, located on the left side of this page and vote in the Reader's Choice Poll for a vinyl review of the LP (refresh browser if videos don't immediately appear).

Vintage Vinyl Spotlight: The Beatles "Blue Box" Collection BC-13

NEW: Click here to read the Review of the 2009 Remastered cd of Abbey Road

NEW:First Listen: The Beatles MONO Box Set (The White Album) Review and Comparison to U.K. Vinyl


Featured today in the Vintage Vinyl Spotlight is a collection that is essential for any fan of the Beatles who spins vinyl. Whether you're a long-suffering vinylphile, getting back into the hobby after a long layoff, or a exploring vinyl for the first time, you'll likely to want a good sounding Beatles collection.

What pressings sound the best? U.S.? U.K.? Japanese? Stereo or mono? For the Beatles fan wanting an easy, one-box solution, there is no better source than The Beatles Collection BC-13, also known as The Blue Box.

The Beatles catalog was originally released in the United States and the United Kingdom with slightly different track listings, covers, and packaging. A much more striking difference, however, was the sound. The U.K. releases used minimal processing and offered superior sound, both in the mono and stereo versions of each release. The U.S. versions on the other hand often used second or third generation tapes, and processed the recordings with excessive echo and reverb, particularly on the stereo versions, in an effort to make the records sound more modern--the result was simply inferior sound quality.

The Beatles Collection, catalog number BC-13, was first released as a U.K. import in 1978. A numbered U.S. edition, limited to 3,000 copies was also released. Also known as The Blue Box, this collection contained the stereo versions of all of the proper studio releases, as well as Rarities. The records are housed in a flip-top textured blue cardboard box, which has each of the band member's signatures embossed in gold on the front.

Reader's Request: Prince and the Revolution -- Purple Rain 180 gram vinyl

Today's review is the first of what will be an ongoing feature of My Vinyl Review-- The Reader's Request, with the title to be determined through a reader's poll held the previous week.

A week ago, in anticipation of this release, I pulled out my original Bernie Grundman-mastered vinyl copy of Purple Rain and played it all the way through for the first time in over twenty years. What surprised me most was how this record is much more than an eighties time capsule, and despite some dated production values, has held up surprisingly well since its release twenty-five years ago. The other thing that really stood out was that despite living in the soul bins of nearly every music store, this is a rock record.

Vintage Vinyl Spotlight: Steely Dan Greatest Hits 1972-1978

Today, a new feature makes its debut on My Vinyl Review: Vintage Vinyl Spotlight. In this feature, I will focus on records that contain great music, have fantastic sonics, and aren't too expensive or difficult to find.

Greatest hits packages can really be hit or miss. Often, they don't capture the essence of a band and fail to deliver a musically satisfying experience for anything more than the casual fan. Even more frequently, greatest hits packages suffer from mediocre sonics, as producers and engineers fail to pull together first generation masters from the varied sources required for a project. Today's featured record suffers from none of these deficiencies, and also happens to be one of my favorite greatest hits offerings by any artist.

Best of 2008 Releases: Shelby Lynne --Just a Little Lovin' 180 gram vinyl

No best of 2008 list would be complete without Just a Little Lovin', Shelby Lynne's tribute to Dusty Springfield. I have to admit that before picking up this record, I wasn't a particularly big fan of Dusty Springfield, having only casually heard her more notable recordings on the radio over the years. Having already heard the buzz that this was a good sounding album, the question remained whether it was merely audiophile ear candy, or something worthy of repeated listening.

New My Vinyl Review Feature: Readers Choice Poll

Not sure whether to buy the latest reissue of your favorite record? As a new feature in my vinyl review, readers will have the opportunity to vote on which new vinyl releases and reissues will be reviewed. Vote for the title you would like reviewed in the special Poll section located on the left side of this page. Don't see your favorite listed in the poll? Submit your request in the comments section of this posting.

The Eagles: Hotel California 180 gram vinyl

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL REVIEW AT THE NEW MYVINYLREVIEW.COM!

The Beatles Rooftop Concert 40th Anniversary: Watch it here

Today is the 40th Anniversary of The Beatles rooftop concert. Watch part or all of the concert by clicking the screens located below (refresh your browser if image doesn't immediately appear).

Van Halen: S/T 180 gram vinyl --Audiophile Alert!

Ever wish you had a time-machine so you could go back in time and buy the records you failed to buy that are now out of print and go for big bucks?

As part of their ongoing vinyl reissue series, Warner/Rhino on Tuesday quietly released Van Halen's groundbreaking self-titled 1978 debut record on 180 gram vinyl. Advance promotion had credited Kevin Gray as the remastering engineer for the project, yet much to the surprise of those few who have now opened a copy, Gray's initials, "KG" are not the only ones scribbled into the deadwax. Instead, "KG/SH" can be clearly read. SH are the initials of Steve Hoffman, mastering engineer for the now defunct audiophile label DCC (Dunhill Compact Classics), who was also involved in this mastering. And if one looks further, LPZ-2066, the catalog number of the DCC release of Van Halen, can also be found. That's right, rather than remastering this title again, Warner/Rhino was somehow able to secure the rights to the DCC master and again press copies of what is undoubtedly the definitive pressing of this record.

Bruce Springsteen: Working on a Dream 180 gram vinyl (w/ download code)

The Boss is back with a new two-record set of all-new material just in time for his halftime appearance this coming Superbowl Sunday. On the heels of his last record, the acclaimed Magic, Springsteen is back again with the E Street Band with Working on a Dream, this time with mixed results.

My Lucky Day is the kind of upbeat anthem in the tradition of Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out that could have easily been on Magic and makes you smile every time you hear it. Other highlights of the record are the epic, Outlaw Pete and the somber ballad, The Wrestler. While the rest of the material on the record is fine enough and I suspect that most fans of The Boss will enjoy it, many of the songs either aren't particularly memorable or suffer from mediocre lyrics. This is far from a bad record, it just isn't up to the higher standard realized by Magic--and is a far cry from anything from the classic period of 1975-1985.

The Fireman: Electric Arguments 200 gram vinyl (w/ included cd)

Paul McCartney is back with Electric Arguments, a collaborative, eclectic collection of songs. McCartney used The Fireman moniker to distinguish this as a true collaborative side-project with DJ and producer Youth, rather than merely another McCartney solo record, and in that he has succeeded. There are only a couple of fairly typical McCartney-romps, such as Highway, but most of the record is infused with a free-flowing style that can't be found on the usual McCartney releases. The second half of the record is much more experimental fare, such as the world-music infused Is this love? or the ehthereal Don't Stop Running, which clocks in at over ten minutes. This record may not be McCartney's finest work, but it certainly stands apart from the polished style he has fallen into over the years. For those hoping for another solo project, there could be disappointment, but for those wishing Sir Paul could break out with truly fresh material, Youth seems to have provided just the muse he needed.

The Raconteurs: Consolers of the Lonely 180 gram vinyl

Today's addition to the best sounding releases of 2008 is The Raconteurs' Consolers of the Lonely. If you're expecting a redux of Broken Boy Soldiers, this certainly isn't it. Brendan Benson plays a more prominent vocal role and the result is a welcome alternative to the shrieking vocal style of Jack White. This two-record set allows the band to showcase more than the proto-punk meets Led Zeppelin sound that White is famous for--expect to find elements of folk, punk, the restrained use of some Stax-inspired horns, and even some progressive rock--listen to Rich Kid Blues and you'll hear keyboards reminiscent of Emerson, Lake and Palmer. What this record lacks in cohesion, it makes up for in performance, songwriting, and variety. This is simply an fascinating record that anyone who grew up listening to music from the 1960s and 1970s will in some way relate to.