COPPER

A PS Audio Publication

Issue 139 • Free Online Magazine

Issue 139 Opening Salvo

Copy That

Copy That

Copper’s writers and I strive for excellence, and work hard to ensure that articles are carefully proofread. But errors occasionally slip by, and when they appear, they’re typically just flat-out brain freezes. For example, “passed” instead of “past,” “flare” rather than “flair” and “peel” in place of “peal.” (What is the correct spelling of “Aaagghhh?”) Responsibility for any such grammatical gaffes rests squarely on the shoulders of yours truly, although I do have the following excuses: by my rough estimate Copper publishes around 150 or more pages of ad-free content every month, and that’s a lotta words to look over; my in-house staff consists of me and Gary the pug; and I’ve had rotator cuff surgery.

In the background, for the past year Rich Isaacs has been helping me catch and fix errors post-publication, and a third set of eyes – yours – may spot things we missed. If you see something, say something – we can fix flubs after they’re published. Now you see ‘em, now you don’t!

In this issue: audio shows are returning, and B. Jan Montana reports on California’s T.H.E. Show. Before YouTube, how did people learn stuff? Why, with self-help records, as Rich Isaacs points out! J.I. Agnew continues his series, The Giants of Tape, with a look at the MCI JH-110. Russ Welton interviews the extraordinary acoustic guitarist Gordon Giltrap, and looks at the effects of standing waves in rooms. Wayne Robins reviews Soberish, Liz Phair’s new album, and her Horror Stories memoir. Anne E. Johnson covers the careers of Elvis Costello and the all-female International Sweethearts of Rhythm. WL Woodward begins a series on Beat storyteller Tom Waits. Are they still relevant? Adrian Wu begins a new series on vintage (and new) Garrard turntables. I cover Octave Records’ brand-new release, The Nature of Things by rock band Foxfeather. John Seetoo reports on the recent AES Show Spring 2021. Rudy Radelic continues his series on jazz musician Cal Tjader with a look at his Verve Records years. Ken Sander finds himself between tours with Kid Creole and the Coconuts. Ray Chelstowski interviews Thierry Amsallem, producer of The Montreux Years, a new series of recordings celebrating the famed jazz festival with initial releases from Nina Simone and Etta James. Tom Gibbs continues his series on high-resolution remasters from prog-rock legends Yes. We round out the issue with James Whitworth contemplating a small eternity, Peter Xeni pondering rotational accuracy, Audio Anthropology salivating over a big MAC and a well-traveled Parting Shot.

Staff Writers:

J.I. Agnew, Ray Chelstowski, Cliff Chenfeld, Jay Jay French, Tom Gibbs, Roy Hall, Rich Isaacs, Anne E. Johnson, Don Kaplan, 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 Writers:
Ivan Berger, Steven Bryan Bieler, Robert Heiblim, Ken Kessler, Stuart Marvin, Bob Wood

Cover:
“Cartoon Bob” D’Amico

Cartoons:
James Whitworth, Peter Xeni

Parting Shots:
James Schrimpf, B. Jan Montana, Rich Isaacs (and others)

Editor:
Frank Doris

Publisher:
Paul McGowan

Advertising Sales:

No one. We are free from advertising and subscribing to Copper is free.

– FD

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#232 What came first: Art or Music? A Conversation With Artist Jose Acosta by Joe Caplan Jul 06, 2026 #232 Blow By Blow: The Jeff Beck Story: An Insightful Book About a Guitar Icon by Ray Chelstowski Jul 06, 2026 #232 Creed Over Camaraderie? by B. Jan Montana Jul 06, 2026 #232 Chronicles of a Sound Pilgrim at the 2026 Montreal Audiofest by Hugues Morin Jul 06, 2026 #232 The Vinyl Beat: Summer Grooves by Rudy Radelic Jul 06, 2026 #232 Hibbing Hillbilly Dylan's Acoustic Rock by Wayne Robins Jul 06, 2026 #232 Quad Quads and Plasmatronics Tweeters: An Extraordinary System Comes to Life by Frank Doris Jul 06, 2026 #232 In Praise of Live Music, Once Again by Ted Shafran Jul 06, 2026 #232 Allnic Audio’s L-9000 Preamplifier: Design and Engineering Innovation by Howard Kneller Jul 06, 2026 #232 “Best Of” Lists and Rage Bait: Enough Already by Frank Doris Jul 06, 2026 #232 Quick Takes: Bud Shank, Paulo Almeida, Jakob Dreyer, Tim Eriksen and Peter Irvine by Frank Doris Jul 06, 2026 #232 My Impressions of AXPONA 2026, Part 2 by Frank Doris Jul 06, 2026 #232 How to Play in a Rock Band, 25: Encounters With Famous Musicians, Part Three by Frank Doris Jul 06, 2026 #232 Budgets, and Systems From Small to Outrageous by Paul McGowan Jul 06, 2026 #232 PS Audio in the News by PS Audio Staff Jul 06, 2026 #232 Hand It Over by Frank Doris Jul 06, 2026 #232 Difference of Opinion by Peter Xeni Jul 06, 2026 #232 Wabi-sabi Tree by James Schrimpf Jul 06, 2026 #231 Piano Prodigy Jude Kofie Releases His Debut Album On Octave Records by Frank Doris Jun 01, 2026 #231 Underappreciated Artists, Part Two: City Boy by Rich Isaacs Jun 01, 2026 #231 Music and the Art of Creation: Talking With Saxophonist Rob Scheps by Joe Caplan Jun 01, 2026 #231 How to Play in a Rock Band, 24: Further Adventures at the 2026 Montauk Music Festival by Frank Doris Jun 01, 2026 #231 Courtney Barnett: Creature of Habit by Wayne Robins Jun 01, 2026 #231 Angine de Poitrine: Interstellar Guitar Rock Saviors Headed for Late-Night TV Pop Stardom? by Mark Lepage Jun 01, 2026 #231 My Impressions of AXPONA 2026, Part One by Frank Doris Jun 01, 2026 #231 2026 La Jolla Concours d'Elegance: Another Aesthetic Feast by B. Jan Montana Jun 01, 2026 #231 Country Music Icon Jo Dee Messina’s Bridges: A New Beginning by Ray Chelstowski Jun 01, 2026 #231 The Luxury Dispatch Hosts a Video Podcast With Ken Kessler by Ken Kessler Jun 01, 2026 #231 The Vinyl Beat: Tracking in the Motor City by Rudy Radelic Jun 01, 2026 #231 Lots of Fun With DSP: The Ferrum Audio WANDLA DAC and Its Tube Mode by Frank Doris Jun 01, 2026 #231 From The Audiophile's Guide: Digital Source Components and Streaming Audio by Paul McGowan Jun 01, 2026 #231 Onkyo’s Monster M-510 power amplifier by The Staff at Just Audio Jun 01, 2026 #231 PS Audio in the News by PS Audio Staff Jun 01, 2026 #231 Naming Convention by Peter Xeni Jun 01, 2026 #231 Les Invisibles by Frank Doris Jun 01, 2026 #231 Wildlife Scene by James Schrimpf Jun 01, 2026 #230 Camaraderie by B. Jan Montana May 04, 2026 #230 AXPONA 2026: A Family Gathering by Paul McGowan May 04, 2026 #230 Pianist Ryan Benthall Explores Jazz Realms and Far Beyond With Divine Sky by Frank Doris May 04, 2026 #230 The Vinyl Beat in AXPONA-Land by Rudy Radelic May 04, 2026 #230 Teddy Thompson’s Musical Growth Deepens With Never Be the Same by Ray Chelstowski May 04, 2026 #230 More Fun in the Sun: Florida Audio Expo, Part Two by Frank Doris May 04, 2026 #230 CanJam NYC 2026 Show Report: Heady Sound, Part Two by Frank Doris and Harris Fogel May 04, 2026 #230 Sonic Youth On Murray Street by Wayne Robins May 04, 2026 #230 Graffeo Coffee: A Symphony of Sensory Experience by Joe Caplan May 04, 2026 #230 The Saul Authority: The Story of Hi-Fi Pioneer Saul Marantz by Olivier Meunier-Plante May 04, 2026 #230 How to Play in a Rock Band, 23: Encounters With Famous Musicians, Part Two by Frank Doris May 04, 2026

Copy That

Copy That

Copper’s writers and I strive for excellence, and work hard to ensure that articles are carefully proofread. But errors occasionally slip by, and when they appear, they’re typically just flat-out brain freezes. For example, “passed” instead of “past,” “flare” rather than “flair” and “peel” in place of “peal.” (What is the correct spelling of “Aaagghhh?”) Responsibility for any such grammatical gaffes rests squarely on the shoulders of yours truly, although I do have the following excuses: by my rough estimate Copper publishes around 150 or more pages of ad-free content every month, and that’s a lotta words to look over; my in-house staff consists of me and Gary the pug; and I’ve had rotator cuff surgery.

In the background, for the past year Rich Isaacs has been helping me catch and fix errors post-publication, and a third set of eyes – yours – may spot things we missed. If you see something, say something – we can fix flubs after they’re published. Now you see ‘em, now you don’t!

In this issue: audio shows are returning, and B. Jan Montana reports on California’s T.H.E. Show. Before YouTube, how did people learn stuff? Why, with self-help records, as Rich Isaacs points out! J.I. Agnew continues his series, The Giants of Tape, with a look at the MCI JH-110. Russ Welton interviews the extraordinary acoustic guitarist Gordon Giltrap, and looks at the effects of standing waves in rooms. Wayne Robins reviews Soberish, Liz Phair’s new album, and her Horror Stories memoir. Anne E. Johnson covers the careers of Elvis Costello and the all-female International Sweethearts of Rhythm. WL Woodward begins a series on Beat storyteller Tom Waits. Are they still relevant? Adrian Wu begins a new series on vintage (and new) Garrard turntables. I cover Octave Records’ brand-new release, The Nature of Things by rock band Foxfeather. John Seetoo reports on the recent AES Show Spring 2021. Rudy Radelic continues his series on jazz musician Cal Tjader with a look at his Verve Records years. Ken Sander finds himself between tours with Kid Creole and the Coconuts. Ray Chelstowski interviews Thierry Amsallem, producer of The Montreux Years, a new series of recordings celebrating the famed jazz festival with initial releases from Nina Simone and Etta James. Tom Gibbs continues his series on high-resolution remasters from prog-rock legends Yes. We round out the issue with James Whitworth contemplating a small eternity, Peter Xeni pondering rotational accuracy, Audio Anthropology salivating over a big MAC and a well-traveled Parting Shot.

Staff Writers:

J.I. Agnew, Ray Chelstowski, Cliff Chenfeld, Jay Jay French, Tom Gibbs, Roy Hall, Rich Isaacs, Anne E. Johnson, Don Kaplan, 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 Writers:
Ivan Berger, Steven Bryan Bieler, Robert Heiblim, Ken Kessler, Stuart Marvin, Bob Wood

Cover:
“Cartoon Bob” D’Amico

Cartoons:
James Whitworth, Peter Xeni

Parting Shots:
James Schrimpf, B. Jan Montana, Rich Isaacs (and others)

Editor:
Frank Doris

Publisher:
Paul McGowan

Advertising Sales:

No one. We are free from advertising and subscribing to Copper is free.

– FD

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