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The Grateful Dead's 1973 album Wake of the Flood is notable for many reasons. It was the first record released on the band's own label, Grateful Dead Records, and it was the first studio album without keyboardist Ron "Pigpen" McKernan (who had just passed away) and drummer Mickey Hart (who was on a hiatus). In Pigpen's place arrived the husband-and-wife…

Shifts in the market and personal interests led to changes at Adirondack Audio & Video, an established company with locations in upstate New York and—as HiFi Loft—in Manhattan. The company recently split into two separate entities. Under new ownership by a former partner/employee, just before Labor Day, 2023, HiFi Loft spun off from…

On this page in Stereophile's December 2023 issue, contributing editor (and mastering engineer) Tom Fine and I described a press event at which Apple Corps (the Beatles umbrella corporation) presented the news about the (at the time) forthcoming new Beatles single and the forthcoming "remixed" reissues of the "Red" and "Blue" Beatles compilations. Tom attended the event—which, notably, was held at Dolby headquarters here in New York City, reflecting, apparently, Apple Corps' interest in Dolby Atmos. At the event, demos were presented in the…

This is an album with serious audiophile cred. It was recorded to analog tape on a Studer A800 MKIII at 30ips, by Ryan Streber at Oktaven Audio in Mount Vernon, New York. It was mixed, also at 30ips, on a custom, tubed Ampex 351, by Pete Rende. Bernie Grundman mastered it for vinyl and cut the lacquer, direct from the analog tape, on an…

Henning Sommerro: Borders
Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, Nick Davies, cond., Sigmund Groven, harmonica; Roar Engelberg, pan flute; Marianne Thorsen, violin
2L 2L-173-SABD (Pure Audio Blu-ray & hybrid SACD/MQA CD; available for download as 7.1.4 48k Dolby Atmos TrueHD, 7.1.4 96k Auro-3D, 5.1 24/192 DTS:X, discrete 24/88.2 and DXD 7.1.4 immersive, and 24/192 PCM, 24/352.8 MQA and DXD stereo). 2023. Morten Lindberg, prod., balance, editing, mix, and mastering eng. TT: 48:04

As readers of my reviews will be aware, I judge stereo imaging accuracy by…

Jimmie Lunceford: Lunceford Special: 1939–1940
Columbia CK 65647 (CD). 2001. Charles L. Granata, reissue prod.; Andreas Meyer, remastering.

Lunceford led one of the swingingest bands of the big-band era, noted for its skin-tight precision, distinctive two-beat rhythm, and stylistic flexibility, embracing both sweet and hot jazz. This is an outstanding collection from the band's peak period, showcasing its silky ensemble work and such first-rate soloists as trumpeter Snooky Young, trombonist Trummy Young, and saxophonists Willie Smith and Joe Thomas.…

Kate Bush: The Dreaming
EMI America ST-17084 (LP). 1983. Kate Bush, prod.; Ron McMaster, eng.

Kate Bush's true masterpiece has lived in the shadows of its successor for four decades, a fate worsened by the resurgence last year of the later album's "Running Up That Hill." The tribal drumming and Fairlight synth were there on The Dreaming's opening and title tracks, without the believe-in-yourself messaging. Instead, we get a thirst for knowledge and an Australian automobile accident. Elsewhere, there's bank robbers and magicians, not to mention a…

Tower Of Power: 50 Years Of Funk & Soul: Live At The Fox Theater, Oakland
Chester Thompson, Jerry Cortez, Lenny Pickett, Emilio Castillo, David Garibaldi, others Artistry Music ART7078LP (LP/CD). 2021. Joe Vannelli, Emilio Castillo, prods.; many engs.

Tower of Power played the '60s San Francisco psychedelic ballrooms, but they were East Bay all the way—Oakland, baby! With a large, smokin' horn section, the Tower could find the soul pocket and kick it, almost like they were in Memphis. As the leadoff track clearly puts it, "It ain't no joke, they done…

Isabelle Faust: Stravinsky: Histoire Du Soldat (Version Français), élégie, Duo Concertant
Harmonia Mundi/Qobuz (24/96 FLAC). 2021. Martin Sauer, prod., Sauer, Julian Schwenkner, eng.

My relationship to contemporary classical musicians, like my current favorite violinist Isabelle Faust, is pure fanboy. More than simply admiring their playing or musical insight, I become enamored with their persona. And sometimes I become obsessed with their latest album. Such is the case with Faust's incredibly well-recorded version of Stravinsky's Faustian parable L'…