music Archives - Positive Feedback

Hyperion Knight's Free Online Course on the History of Classical Music: Part 2 Chopin through Gershwin

John Marks — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 00:58:02 +0000

Image courtesy of Acoustic Sounds Here's the trailer for Part 2 of Hyperion Knight's free Hillsdale College online course on the history of classical music. The trailer for Part 1, Pythagoras through Beethoven, has had 327,000 views. (See here at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKSc8NL9ZBk) I want to stress that you can sign up for the course and watch... Read More »

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Family Heirlooms? Two Amazing New Reissues! Vince Guaraldi, A Charlie Brown Christmas (UHQR) and Nat King Cole, The Christmas Song (One-Step). Iconic Music At Its Best!

Robert S. Youman — Sun, 01 Feb 2026 16:52:41 +0000

Please be patient as I share some personal backstory. When I was a kid, our family had certain traditions for Christmas week that were lovingly established and then re-enforced by my father every year. He and my mother seemed to enjoy them as much or more than the seven kids. These traditions have carried on... Read More »

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…and Steve says...Listening to All My Records (Part 4)

Steve Lefkowicz — Sun, 01 Feb 2026 16:31:52 +0000

For those readers new to this column, please read the introductory comments in Part 1 HERE. As I mentioned in previous parts of this series, many times in my articles and reviews, and probably to everyone I've ever talked to about records or audio, I had a bunch of records stolen at some point in... Read More »

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Recent Finds No. 62 Exquisite Releases at NativeDSD

Rushton Paul — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 20:05:57 +0000

In this issue, we have some exquisite new albums at NativeDSD, led by a new Pure DSD256 release from Cobra Records with a fascinating program for solo piano. And two new releases from the creative artists partnering with Brendon Heinst at TRPTK, and more. I hope you will find something to further explore. Flowers We... Read More »

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Stevie Nicks' Bella Donna - the MoFi Ultra Disc 1-Step 180 Gram 45 LP Set Rocks with Realism

Juan C. Ayllon — Sun, 25 Jan 2026 16:54:24 +0000

"The album was meticulously recorded with the best technology of its day and has always sounded good, but it has never sounded this good on vinyl," wrote Jeff Elbel of Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs Ultra Disc One-Step reissue of Stevie Nicks' Bella Donna record. "This prestige-format release benefits from the label's best mastering and highest-tier pressing process.... Read More »

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Recent Finds No. 61 From Bert van der Wolf

Rushton Paul — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 19:27:18 +0000

Yes, you know by now that I keep track of Bert van der Wolf's recording projects. I've been holding my reviews of the two releases below because I keep hoping to add yet a third release along with them—wishfully the first release from Bert's new High Street Studio recording studio, HERE. But, alas, while Bert's... Read More »

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Arturo Delmoni Legendary Violinist in a Wonderful Reissue from HDTT, with Free Sample Download

Rushton Paul — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 22:31:53 +0000

One of my all-time favorite violinists is Arturo Delmoni, who has recorded far too infrequently. Here we have an opportunity to hear him performing in a superb reissue of his recording Music for Violin and Guitar. Originally released by Athena Records in 1993, this reissue is a significant sonic improvement over the original CD-only version... Read More »

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An Audiophile Classic Record Album is Born: The Paul Sawtelle Big Band Live at the Pacific Audiofest!

Jeff Day — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 17:04:26 +0000

Greetings friends, I hope you are well! Imagine with me for a moment that Blue Note Records set up a special concert event at Jazz Alley in Seattle featuring a premier jazz artist. The concert would be recorded directly to 2-track tape in real time, in front of the live audience, by Blue Note's crack... Read More »

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Faron Young, Sweethearts Or Strangers

Robert Pincus — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 16:49:00 +0000

One one the finest voices from the golden age of country music belonged to Faron Young (1932-1996). During the fifties, the handsome singer had a unique tenor voice with an agility similar to that of Elvis Presley. He came from Shreveport, Alabama, and went by the monikers The Hillbilly Heartthrob and The Singing Sheriff. With... Read More »

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Seven Deadly Sins of Vinyl Collecting

Editors at Positive Feedback — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 18:53:39 +0000

This is a guest article by reader David Fisher It seems like each new popular musical genre initially gets labeled "the devil's music." In the 1920s, the swinging rhythms of jazz were considered taboo in some corners of polite society. Later, subtle to blatantly risqué lyrics earned Delta blues that "devil's music" moniker. Then along... Read More »

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Recent Finds No. 60 HDTT Shares Some Superb New Releases

Rushton Paul — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 16:45:30 +0000

Bob Witrak, founder and mastering engineer for High Definition Tape Transfers (HDTT), continues to astound me with the quality of his releases. Those of us who value recordings from the "golden age of stereo," and who are obsessive compulsive about obtaining the best sound quality possible, owe Bob a great debt of gratitude for his... Read More »

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Rhino High Fidelity Delivers! A True Tour De Force And Sonic Showpiece From Devo!

Robert S. Youman — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 17:35:57 +0000

Devo, Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! (Rhino High Fidelity) No need to set the stage. This new Devo reissue from Rhino High Fidelity is spectacular! As good as the 1978 original pressing sounds, there is no comparison. And the OG does sound excellent! With this release, Rhino continues to set the... Read More »

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Christoph Croisé, Lullabies

Stephen Francis Vasta — Sun, 04 Jan 2026 17:08:14 +0000

Christoph Croisé, Lullabies. Christoph Croisé, cello; Ana Bakradze and Oxana Shevchenko, piano. AVIE 2779 (digital EP). TT: ~21.20. Lullabies, Op. 18, Lullaby for Béatrice; Lullaby for Almuth; Lullaby for Reni; Lullaby for Maria. Cello Sonata, II. Lullaby for Arthur. As my review of Silvestrov's Postludium No. 3, way back in Issue 132, suggests, I'm a sucker for... Read More »

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…and Steve says...Listening to All My Records (Part 3)

Steve Lefkowicz — Fri, 02 Jan 2026 01:00:33 +0000

For those readers new to this column, please read the introductory comments in Part one HERE. As I mentioned in Part 2 of this series (HERE) in the late 1980s I had an early mid-life crisis. For a variety of reasons, but partly due to being despondent over the poor sound quality of early CD... Read More »

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Two New One-Step Treasures From The Definitive Sound Series - R.E.M. and Beck

Robert S. Youman — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 18:52:10 +0000

R.E.M., Chronic Town & Murmer. The Definitive Sound Series. One-Step (33 RPM) The Definitive Sound Series (DSS) is absolutely killing it! This twofer One-Step reissue, which includes R.E.M.'s first EP Chronic Town and first LP Murmer, were both originally released on the IRS label in 1982 and 1983 respectfully. For this One-Step, both pressings are... Read More »

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Wish You Were Here 50: Deluxe Edition - Celebrating Fifty Years of Pink Floyd's Classic Album with an Expansive Box Set

Tom Gibbs — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 18:42:19 +0000

Sony Music is celebrating the 50th anniversary reissue of Pink Floyd's landmark 1975 album Wish You Were Here with a multitude of sets repackaged as Wish You Were Here 50. Among the available formats are three-LP sets, a 2-compact disc set, a standalone Bluray disc, and high-resolution digital downloads. The crème de la crème version is... Read More »

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The Music Machine

Robert Pincus — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 17:51:38 +0000

With the exception of a few songs by The Ramones, I dislike punk rock. However, I love punk-like songs from the sixties, the music that some experts now call proto-punk. Examples include The Kinks' "You Really Got Me" and "All The Day and All of the Night," The Who's "My Generation," and The Sonics' "The... Read More »

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When Good Enough is Not Enough: Cobra Records Producer's Choice Vol. 2 in Pure DSD256, with Free Sample Download

Rushton Paul — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 23:06:49 +0000

Producer's Choice, Vol. 2. Cobra Records 2025 (Pure DSD256-Direct Mixed, Stereo) Edit Master Sourced (To be released December 12 at NativeDSD) Cobra Records' 25th Anniversary celebration continues with the release of Producer's Choice, Volume 2. And it is phenomenal. Earlier this year, I wrote with enthusiasm about the release of Volume 1 which included selected... Read More »

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Late Season Original Jazz Classic Reissues and a New Bill Evans Trio Box Set, all from Craft Recordings

Tom Gibbs — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 18:41:39 +0000

Among Craft Recordings' late-season jazz releases are seven new titles in the Original Jazz Classic reboot series, along with an exceptional new Bill Evans Trio box set that highlights the complete studio recordings of his classic first trio. The OJCs feature three 1957 releases on the Savoy label, including reedman Yusef Lateef's Jazz Mood, saxophonist... Read More »

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Recent Finds No. 59 NativeDSD Continues With Interesting New Releases

Rushton Paul — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 23:46:14 +0000

My meanderings in music over the past few weeks have surfaced some nice releases at NativeDSD, with quite varied selections to share. We have three new Pure DSD releases from Hunnia Records, APSoon Records, and Octave Records (good to see them back in the Pure DSD game). And we have music ranging from the Suites... Read More »

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…and Steve says...Listening to All My Records, Part 2

Steve Lefkowicz — Sat, 29 Nov 2025 19:06:56 +0000

For those readers new to this column, please read the introductory comments in Part 1 HERE. I thought this time I would explain a little about my record shopping habits and how my collection grew to what it is now. After collecting a hundred or so 45-singles as a kid in the 60s, I started... Read More »

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An Exciting New Release from Yarlung Records in Pure DSD256 with Quartet Integra Performing Beethoven, Ligeti, and Lefkowitz

Rushton Paul — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 22:06:11 +0000

Whenever I get to hear something that is so supremely good, and so delightfully performed, with such insight and richness, I feel it warrants a immediate sharing with you. This new Yarlung Records Pure DSD256 album, released today, is such a recording. Can you tell I'm excited about it? Yes, indeed! You need to hear... Read More »

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BigRibbons - a New Label To Keep Your Eye On, With Free Sample Download

Rushton Paul — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 18:23:31 +0000

What a pleasure to hear of a new label with audiophile aesthetics emerging from the greater Los Angeles commercial music community! This was my immediate reaction when I first started talking by phone with Ryan Sillifant, producer, mastering engineer, and performing artist for a new label, BigRibbons, launched by Wes Dooley, founder of AEA Microphones... Read More »

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A New and Inspired Album from Chet Baker, "Swimming by Moonlight"

Robert S. Youman — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 17:19:34 +0000

Chet Baker, Swimming By Moonlight. Slow Down Sounds (33 RPM) My father was a big Chet Baker fan. I remember that he had several of the essentials including Chet, Chet Baker & Strings, Chet Baker & Art Pepper – Picture of Health, and Chet Baker Plays The Best of Lerner And Loewe. I also remember... Read More »

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Anna Fedorova Returns with Liberté in this New Recording by Jared Sacks

Rushton Paul — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 22:28:07 +0000

Anna Fedorova is, to me, one of the most exquisite pianists performing today. Her interpretative skills are subtle, inventive, and completely engaging. And her technical skills are simply amazing. When she performs, I just slide into a very happy place listening to her. Her most recent release is delightful. Liberté, Anna Fedorova, Orquesta Sinfónica de... Read More »

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