Readers may know I’m a fan of weird fortune cookie sayings. Here’s another one: “Do it now! Today will be yesterday tomorrow.”
There’s simply nothing I can add to that.
We’re saddened by the passing of George Frayne, aka Commander Cody, at 77. Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen (named after a 1951 science fiction movie) were one of the first bands to blend country music with rock, and earned their place in the pantheon of musical greats with their blazing 1971 version of “Hot Rod Lincoln.” We salute you, Commander.
In this issue: I cover the premiere of the first two vinyl releases from Octave Records: jazz trumpeter Gabriel Mervine’s Say Somethin’ and Out of Thin Air by pianist Don Grusin. Anne E. Johnson looks at rock icons the Pretenders and jazz vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson. David Snyder brings us Part Two of his comprehensive guide to Roon. Tom Gibbs sees Red – the King Crimson album of the same name, that is. Rich Isaacs has a laugh about 1970s comedy troupes. J.I Agnew is dazzled by direct metal mastering and the DMM Dubplate, Vol. 1. Tom Methans brings us Sevdah, the traditional folk music of Bosnia-Herzegovina. B. Jan Montana rides closer to Sturgis.
Ken Sander revisits Summer Jam at Watkins Glen – and an innovation that changed live concert sound forever. Russ Welton begins a series on getting better sound from computer audio with the least expenditure, and another on choosing speakers. Rudy Radelic surveys the landmark Dionne Warwick recordings with Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Ray Chelstowski interviews rocker Joe Grushecky on the eve of the 25th Anniversary reissue of American Babylon. Steven Bryan Bieler grooves to train songs. Stuart Marvin remembers Sixties rock hype victims Rhinoceros. Andy Schaub has a personal look at FM radio. Larry Jaffee digs Big Bill Broonzy live in Nottingham. The Copper A/V squad concludes the issue with an avian audiophile, this year’s model, multichannel women, and a hole in the wall.
Staff Writers:
J.I. Agnew, Ray Chelstowski, Cliff Chenfeld, Jay Jay French, Tom Gibbs, Roy Hall, Rich Isaacs, Anne E. Johnson, Don Kaplan, Ken Kessler, Don Lindich, Tom Methans, B. Jan Montana, Rudy Radelic, Tim Riley, Wayne Robins, Alón Sagee, Ken Sander, Larry Schenbeck, John Seetoo, Dan Schwartz, Russ Welton, WL Woodward, Adrian Wu
Contributing Editors:
Ivan Berger, Steven Bryan Bieler, Harris Fogel, Robert Heiblim, Steve Kindig, Ed Kwok, Stuart Marvin, David Snyder, Bob Wood
Cover:
“Cartoon Bob” D’Amico
Cartoons:
James Whitworth, Peter Xeni
Parting Shots:
James Schrimpf, B. Jan Montana, Rich Isaacs (and others)
Audio Anthropology Photos:
Howard Kneller, Steve Rowell
Editor:
Frank Doris
Publisher:
Paul McGowan
Advertising Sales:
No one. We are free from advertising and subscribing to Copper is free.
– FD
