music Archives - Positive Feedback

Recent Finds No. 35 Classical Music Composed Within the Past 25 Years

Rushton Paul — Sat, 26 Apr 2025 18:17:45 +0000

With such a rich history of music in the western world, it is too easy to get lost in centuries past. We can too easily fail to see the amazing music being written today. With this article, I want to offer up some outstanding music of the 21st Century I've been privileged to hear these... Read More »

The post Recent Finds No. 35 Classical Music Composed Within the Past 25 Years appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Eydie Gormé

Robert Pincus — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 16:20:49 +0000

In today's world, Eydie Gormé (1928-2013) is most famous for being part of a successful singing duo with her husband, Steve Lawrence (1935-2024). As a pair, they were successful from the earliest days of stereo LPs and well into the digital era. They also excelled at comedy, and they looked great too. By all accounts,... Read More »

The post Eydie Gormé appeared first on Positive Feedback.

The "Dark Horses" versus the (Orchestral) "War Horses," Part 2

John Marks — Sun, 20 Apr 2025 02:10:34 +0000

John Marks is a multidisciplinary generalist and a lifelong audio hobbyist. He was educated at Brown University and Vanderbilt Law School. He has worked as a music educator, recording engineer, classical-music record producer and label executive, and as a music and audio-equipment journalist. He was a columnist for The Absolute Sound, and also for Stereophile magazine. His consulting... Read More »

The post The "Dark Horses" versus the (Orchestral) "War Horses," Part 2 appeared first on Positive Feedback.

A Rare Musical Experience with Pianist David Fung

Rushton Paul — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 23:35:12 +0000

David Fung, Evening Conversations. Yarlung Records 2006 2025 (Pure DSD256) HERE Edit Master Sourced I found myself talking recently on the phone with my friend Bob Attiyeh, the creative founder and visionary of Yarlung Records. I'm always intrigued by these occasional calls with Bob. One never knows whence they may wander. That day, Bob... Read More »

The post A Rare Musical Experience with Pianist David Fung appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Joni Mitchell's Classic Court and Spark now on Mobile Fidelity Limited Edition UltraDisc One-Step 45 rpm LPs

Tom Gibbs — Sun, 13 Apr 2025 16:44:05 +0000

Last year Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab began releasing six of Joni Mitchell's most iconic albums, making them all available not only as hybrid SACDs, but also in MoFi's ne plus ultra analog statement format, their UltraDisc One-Step 180 gram LP set. The series began with Ladies of the Canyon (1970), then moved to Joni's deeply... Read More »

The post Joni Mitchell's Classic Court and Spark now on Mobile Fidelity Limited Edition UltraDisc One-Step 45 rpm LPs appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Recent Finds No. 34 New Releases from HDTT

Rushton Paul — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 21:01:06 +0000

Bob Witrak has been busy these past months with additions to the HDTT catalog. The biggest news is that the International Phonograph Jazz recordings are back! See my earlier note about this great news, HERE. Below are some of the new reissues (not IPI) that have caught my ear in recent weeks. Witches Brew, Alexander... Read More »

The post Recent Finds No. 34 New Releases from HDTT appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Rare, Limited Edition, and Cool Colored Vinyl LPs from Rhino for Record Store Day April 2025

Tom Gibbs — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 23:39:16 +0000

Record Store Day typically always takes place on the third Saturday of April in any given year, but for 2025, that date fell on what is a bank holiday across much of the globe, so the date was pushed forward to April 12. Rhino is again offering a broad selection of 47(!) limited edition LPs... Read More »

The post Rare, Limited Edition, and Cool Colored Vinyl LPs from Rhino for Record Store Day April 2025 appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Craft Recordings Offers Seven Exclusive and Collectible LPs for Record Store Day April 2025

Tom Gibbs — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 17:43:50 +0000

Craft Recordings again offers an interesting mix of collectible, limited-edition, rare, and long out-of-print LPs for Record Store Day 2025 (RSD) that's happening on Saturday, April 12. Record Store Day typically always takes place on the third Saturday of April in any given year, but for 2025, that date fell on what is a bank... Read More »

The post Craft Recordings Offers Seven Exclusive and Collectible LPs for Record Store Day April 2025 appeared first on Positive Feedback.

The "Dark Horses" versus the (Orchestral) "War Horses," Part 1

John Marks — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 16:29:56 +0000

Automotive journalist, amateur endurance-car racer, musician and music lover Jack Baruth challenged our mutual friend John Marks to come up with a list of the most frequently over-programmed pieces for symphony orchestra. And then, for each "War Horse" composition, come up with a "Delightful Discovery, Dark Horse" piece. John's answers ran in two articles published... Read More »

The post The "Dark Horses" versus the (Orchestral) "War Horses," Part 1 appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Recent Finds No. 33 International Phonograph Inc (IPI) Pure DSD256 Transfers are Back!

Rushton Paul — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 23:03:38 +0000

Let there be rejoicing among fans of Pure DSD recordings—transfers from the IPI analog master tapes to Pure DSD256 are back at HDTT! They disappeared for a while when IPI owner and recording engineer Jonathan Horwich decided to retire and withdrew them. But now the International Phonograph, Inc., catalog is returned to HDTT. These albums... Read More »

The post Recent Finds No. 33 International Phonograph Inc (IPI) Pure DSD256 Transfers are Back! appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Recent Finds No. 32 Early Music from Medieval to Early Renaissance

Rushton Paul — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 03:43:35 +0000

I unabashedly love listening to early music, from medieval to renaissance. And much of this music is for voices. Not all, by a long shot, but there is a lot that is a cappella. Early music will be the theme of today's Recent Finds because this is what has consumed much of my recent listening.... Read More »

The post Recent Finds No. 32 Early Music from Medieval to Early Renaissance appeared first on Positive Feedback.

k.d. lang, Ingénue and Green Day, American Idiot - Two Classic One-Step Reissues from Because Sound Matters

Robert S. Youman — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 22:51:58 +0000

k.d. lang, Ingénue. Because Sound Matters, 33 RPM One-Step. $99.98 The k.d. lang, Ingénue One-Step reissue from Because Sound Matters has been an absolute delight from the first day that it arrived! It is clearly my favorite reissue so far this year! I was unfamiliar with this title, yet it has been on constant rotation... Read More »

The post k.d. lang, Ingénue and Green Day, American Idiot - Two Classic One-Step Reissues from Because Sound Matters appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Everything's Archie

Robert Pincus — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 17:41:36 +0000

A couple of nights prior to performing this finger workout on my keyboard, I had a craving for some vinyl with a male vocalist. I wasn't in the mood for Joe Cocker, Jim Reeves, or Frank Sinatra. I wanted something frothy, and free from deep thought. I just wanted to be swept away by blissful... Read More »

The post Everything's Archie appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Maya Fridman's Ordo Ritualis - a New Album from TRPTK

Rushton Paul — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 15:34:31 +0000

Whenever cellist and vocalist Maya Fridman releases a new album, I celebrate. Or perhaps it's a happy dance. Either way, I head off to download the album and spend some time listening. And I'm never disappointed. Maya's musicianship is superb, both as a cellist and as a vocalist. But it is probably her sensibilities about... Read More »

The post Maya Fridman's Ordo Ritualis - a New Album from TRPTK appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Recent Finds No. 31 HDTT from the Desmar Master Tapes and More

Rushton Paul — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 16:03:29 +0000

I don't always manage to include all recent HDTT releases that I've liked in any given article. Sometimes a little catch up is required. Thus the belated reviews of two releases missing from my last discussion, Overtures by Offenbach and Auber and Louis Armstrong meets Oscar Peterson. And a Pure DSD256 Miles Davis reissue plus... Read More »

The post Recent Finds No. 31 HDTT from the Desmar Master Tapes and More appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Recent Finds No. 30 with Pure DSD256 Albums from Hunnia Records and More

Rushton Paul — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 17:29:00 +0000

Those who have travelled with me through my notes on recent finds know that I have eclectic taste in music. I enjoy almost anything acoustic that is well performed and well recorded. Unfortunately, this also means that you have to scan through the album covers to see if there may be anything that aligns with... Read More »

The post Recent Finds No. 30 with Pure DSD256 Albums from Hunnia Records and More appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Red Norvo with Strings

Robert Pincus — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 16:46:47 +0000

The sound of Fantasy's mono jazz records from the mid-fifties is a sound that I really love. Should you try some—and I am referring to the records that were pressed on translucent red vinyl—the first thing you'll notice is they lack the forced-upon-you "high fidelity" sound of the Capitol and Columbia mono LPs. This is... Read More »

The post Red Norvo with Strings appeared first on Positive Feedback.

2025 Kicks Off with a Pair of Classic OJC LP Reissues from Guitarists Wes Montgomery and Joe Pass

Tom Gibbs — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 17:55:09 +0000

For the first half of 2025, Craft Recordings has announced five new reissues to kickstart the next phase of their Original Jazz Classics (OJC) series. Including a pair of historic albums from Miles Davis, a classic (mostly) solo date from pianist Thelonious Monk, along with albums from two remarkable jazz guitarists, Wes Mongomery and Joe... Read More »

The post 2025 Kicks Off with a Pair of Classic OJC LP Reissues from Guitarists Wes Montgomery and Joe Pass appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Josep Colom Returns and Wow!

Rushton Paul — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 16:59:25 +0000

Mozart Piano Sonatas, Josep Colom. Eudora Records 2024 (Pure DSD256) HERE "There are good pianists, and then there is Josep Colom." * A living legend. A creative genius. A brilliantly and entrancingly insightful artist. Spanish pianist Josep Colom is all of that and more. And if you've not listened to his recordings, you have been... Read More »

The post Josep Colom Returns and Wow! appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Yes, Close To The Edge - Super Deluxe Edition

Tom Gibbs — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 21:28:45 +0000

Rhino Entertainment continues to give the Yes catalog of albums the Super Deluxe Edition treatment with a new LP/CD/BD box set of the band's fifth studio album, 1972's Close To The Edge. A truly expansive multi-disc box set, Close To The Edge: Super Deluxe Edition (SDE) offers not only new remasters of the album from... Read More »

The post Yes, Close To The Edge - Super Deluxe Edition appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Better Late Than Never: Mariah Carey's Classic Merry Christmas from MoFi, on 33 rpm UltraDisc and 45 rpm Limited Edition LPs

Tom Gibbs — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 16:40:42 +0000

Prior to last year's holiday season, Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab caused a bit of a stir in the audiophile community when it announced the Original Master Recording release of Maria Carey's perennial favorite Merry Christmas. With availability in a variety of individually numbered, limited edition formats, including a 33 rpm UltraDisc One-Step LP, a pair... Read More »

The post Better Late Than Never: Mariah Carey's Classic Merry Christmas from MoFi, on 33 rpm UltraDisc and 45 rpm Limited Edition LPs appeared first on Positive Feedback.

The Jo Stafford Collection

Stephen Francis Vasta — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 18:08:05 +0000

The Jo Stafford Collection. Jo Stafford, vocals, with various orchestras (unidentified) and assisting artists. HMV Easy 7243 5 29450 2 3 (monaural, recordings 1943-63) Decades ago, my parents regularly listened to a Saturday afternoon radio show on which host Jonathan Schwartz programmed Frank Sinatra and other performers of the Great American Songbook. Once, when I was visiting... Read More »

The post The Jo Stafford Collection appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Steely Dan's Katy Lied on 45 rpm, 200 gram, Clarity Vinyl UHQR LPs from Analog Productions and Quality Record Pressings

Tom Gibbs — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 20:58:56 +0000

Analogue Productions has by degrees been gradually remastering and releasing the entire Steely Dan catalog on SACDs, 180 gram LPs, and 200 gram Ultra High Quality Record (UHQR) ultimate LPs. The latest in this series is the band's fourth studio album, 1975's Katy Lied, a record whose sound quality (at least, on the original LP... Read More »

The post Steely Dan's Katy Lied on 45 rpm, 200 gram, Clarity Vinyl UHQR LPs from Analog Productions and Quality Record Pressings appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Warner and Rhino Start Your Ear Off Right in 2025 with Cool Limited Edition LP Releases

Tom Gibbs — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 17:27:00 +0000

Rhino Entertainment and Warner are aiming to Start Your Ear Off Right in 2025 with 26 limited edition LP reissues and releases. The current group of albums in the series includes a varied mix of 180 gram, clear vinyl 140 gram, and cool colored-vinyl 140 gram LPs. Start Your Ear Off Right encompasses a diverse... Read More »

The post Warner and Rhino Start Your Ear Off Right in 2025 with Cool Limited Edition LP Releases appeared first on Positive Feedback.

Choosing the Best Sounding File Format with Free Sample Downloads

Rushton Paul — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 17:21:49 +0000

Since downsizing 5 years ago and leaving behind my LPs and vinyl playback equipment, I have gradually built a new digital music library. At Dr. David's request, I shared this traumatic journey in several articles titled Yes, There Really is Music After Vinyl, the first of which you can find HERE. Today, most new additions... Read More »

The post Choosing the Best Sounding File Format with Free Sample Downloads appeared first on Positive Feedback.