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This is an ongoing project by Claude Lemaire of Soundevaluations 121. Various, Thank God It's Friday - Collectors Gift Series. Chocolate City – CCD 20014 DJ + Casablanca – NBD 20116, 20117, 20119, 20120, 20121, 20122, 20123, 20124, 20129 DJ (1978), 10x12", 33 1/3 rpm, single-sided, promo, compilation. Genre: disco Following the immense success of Saturday Night Fever... Read More »

Herein, the latest from the Master of The Tannhauser Gate, John Marks, with a musical movie recommendation to make to us.... Dr. David W. Robinson, Ye Olde Editor Center: Dovidl (played by Luke Doyle). © Sabrina Lantos. Courtesy Sony Pictures Classics. Classical-music fans, especially fans of the violin and its literature, will want to know... Read More »

Blue Note Tone Poet Series Donald Byrd, Chant. Blue Note Stereo LT-991 Stanley Turrentine With Shirley Scott, Hustlin'. Blue Note Stereo 84162 Blue Note 80 Series Lonnie Smith, Think! Blue Note 80 Stereo 7753113 Bobbi Humphrey, Blacks and Blues. Blue Note 80 Stereo 7752697 Grant Green, Alive. Blue Note 80 Stereo 84360 Donald Byrd, Ethiopian Knights.... Read More »

In which John Marks shares his latest musical reflections from his very fine blog site, The Tannhauser Gate. As usual, his comments are edifying and instructive. Enjoy! Dr. David W. Robinson, Ye Olde Editor Gregorio Allegri’s "Miserere" (Have mercy on me, Lord) is one of the most famous pieces of Late-Renaissance polyphonic a cappella choral... Read More »

Something not so secret about me, I'm more interested in the music than the gear. I've documented elsewhere that I do acknowledge that better gear produces better music, but when it's all boiled down, I get distracted listening to gear because I'm identifying with the music. Granted, there are times when I listen to a... Read More »

Yarlung Records is always full of surprises, and Lifeline: Music of the Underground Railroad is no exception. Bob Attiyeh, award winning President of the label, brought it to my attention, explaining its unique and extraordinary meaning. Bob’s tastes are broader and generally superior to mine, and his recommendations always pan out. His hands-on recording techniques, minimalist... Read More »

From John Marks' blog site The Tannhauser Gate comes this recommended recording:  the "American Songbook" as performed by solo artists on Steinway pianos. No words...just the music itself. A tough challenge. But John says that the results are excellent, therefore one should pay attention.... Dr. David W. Robinson, Ye Olde Editor Various: Cole Porter on a Steinway,... Read More »

This is an ongoing project by Claude Lemaire of Soundevaluations 116. The Cure, Three Imaginary Boys. Fiction Records – FIX 1 (UK) (1979), 33 1/3 rpm. Genre: new wave, post-punk. Just as British art director, designer, and photographer Bill Smith crafted the iconic imaginative cover art of their debut album, so did the boys bring a billowing... Read More »

Have you ever wondered which CDs to use when assessing your system? Or maybe you'd like to impress your friends? If so, this text is for you. It covers 10 best sounding COMPACT DISCS and some information about what to expect from them. It was a coincident—if there is such a thing - ask mathematicians... Read More »

The history of the Krakow Sonic Society meetings with various types of Compact Discs is quite long. Almost as long as the list of technical studies intended to improve the process of reading signal from these discs. Already in May 2009, as part of the 64th KSS, we discussed new (for us) patents of EMI... Read More »

GONG, Love From The Planet Gong. 12 CD 1 DVD Audio box set. The Virgin Years 1973-75. UNIVERSAL MUSIC 675 890-1. At last, after years of waiting for the Radio Gnome Invisible Trilogy (translation: Flying Teapot, Angels Egg, and You albums) to be released in superior sound quality, Universal Music has gone one better and combined those albums... Read More »

Herein the latest from dear audio friend and brother John Marks, he who writes and edits The Tannhauser Gate blogging site. Sacred choral music from Tchaikovsky...a true delight for spirit and soul! Enjoy! Dr. David W. Robinson, Ye Olde Editor This YouTube music video has been viewed more than 5 million times (and there have... Read More »

Legrand Jazz, Michel Legrand. IMPEX Records. I'm very much falling in love with 45 RPM LPs. I'm also very much falling in love with IMPEX Records and their recent series of vinyl releases. Merge this format and this label together and you have a real winner: Legrand Jazz. This is a pressing that could possibly... Read More »

This is an ongoing project by Claude Lemaire of Soundevaluations 111. Count Basie, Live at the Sands (Before Frank). MoFi ‎– MFSL 2-401 (2013), (2x33 1/3 rpm). Genre: big band swing, jazz. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, and apparently that is exactly what happened to this original 1966 recording before Reprise finally release it in... Read More »

If you frequent Positive-Feedback, you may have noticed my lengthy interview with Ketil Vestrum Einarsen, who was recently described by Jacob Holm-Lupo as "prog's mad scientist." Well, he is back with a new project called +Ingelrii+, which includes long-time collaborator Gaute Storsve on guitar, bass, and percussion. Trond Gjellum plays drums. In addition to his... Read More »

Our good friend John Marks of The Tannhauser Gate continues his collection of re-published essays here at Positive Feedback. In this one, he makes us aware of a wonderful musical resource in the online archive of recordings from none other than Steinway. What a fine and generous opportunity this is! Many thanks to John for bringing... Read More »

John Marks of The Tannhauser Gate shares his reflections on the 50th Anniversary of the release of The Beatles masterpiece album, Abbey Road, by reminding us of George Benson's follow-up LP, The Other Side of Abbey Road. In the midst of the celebrations that Philip O'Hanlon has organized at a high-end audio dealer level, very many... Read More »

Monteverdi, L'incoronazione di Poppea. Les Ars Florissants, Willam Christie. Harmonia Mundi 8902622.24 3 CD's, 1 DVD. This new release of Monteverdi's last opera, considered by students of the composer's work to be his best, is an extraordinary musical enterprise, especially if you take into consideration Jan Lauwers' somewhat off the wall stage production provided on... Read More »

...in which my good audio friend John Marks, Head Honcho of The Tannhauser Gate, continues his series of essays on a creative thread within rock music, wrapped about the music of Boston. This time, he introduces us to the commentary of Rick Beato, a connection for which we can all be thankful. I'm with John: ... Read More »