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Cracker: The Golden Age
Virgin 8 41498 2 (CD). 1996. Dennis Herring, David Lowery prods.; Joe Chiccarelli, Wayne Cook, others, engs. ADD? TT: 48:17

This one was supposed to be the major-label breakthrough for Cracker, but alas, it whistled right past the target. Nonetheless, it has stood the test of time, for being both a demo-worthy recording (in spots) and full of great songs. "Big Dipper" and "Dixie Babylon" stand out as great-sounding, crunchy, hippie country blues numbers, nestled between more aggressive outings that cash in on the 1990s'…

Shirley Horn: Here's to Life
Shirley Horn, vocal, piano; Johnny Mandel, arr.
Verve 314 511 879-2 (CD). 1992. Johnny Mandel, prod.; Al Schmitt, eng. AAD? TT: 62:00

Here's to Life has been a continual part of mine since its release, in 1992. Shirley Horn was a mature artist when this long-planned collaboration with composer and arranger Johnny Mandel finally came to fruition. It was a match made in heaven. Horn's deep mezzo is surrounded by exquisite arrangements and world-class orchestrations. The sound is beautiful, thanks to Al Schmitt's…

Frank Zappa: Apostrophe (')
Zappa ZR 3851-1 (LP). 1974/2014. Frank Zappa, prod.; Steve Desper, Terry Dunavan, Barry Keene, Bob Hughes, Kerry McNabb, engs. Mastered directly from the original ½" analog master tapes. ADA. TT: 32:02

Evidence suggests that what Frank Zappa feared most was to create music that might be classified as easy listening. No surprise, then, that Apostrophe ('), a straight-ahead rock record by Zappa standards, became his biggest-selling US release. This doesn't mean it's watered-down Zappa; to quote his son Dweezil,…

The final product of a process I wrote about in the April 2015 issue of Stereophile, this long-time comin…

Taking part will be: Jim White of Aesthetix,…

It's a classic case of addition by subtraction. On December 23, 1964, on a flight from Houston to Los Angeles, Brian Wilson had a panic attack—or, perhaps, a full-fledged nervous breakdown. Two more such episodes followed in quick succession, and Brian…

Sandy will also be available to answer and discuss audiophiles' questions, whether regarding GoldenEar loudspeakers, or any other far-ranging topics of interest to attendees. Food and refreshments will be served.

Although there was a fall chill in the air, the front windows were open, and the sounds of perhaps the greatest Beach Boys ballad of all wafted into the Massachusetts night.

Perched on the edge of the couch, dear friend and Stereophile contributing music editor David Sokol—former editor-in-chief of New Country and Disney magazines, a man who's written about music for over 40 years and has yet to lose his passion for the stuff—was waxing poetic and weeping, ever so slightly, as the room filled with the intricate mix of voices that…