COPPER

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Issue 148 • Free Online Magazine

Issue 148 Opening Salvo

Issue 148

Issue 148

"A dream goes on forever." – Todd Rundgren

I've been dreaming more than usual lately, especially after seeing Todd Rundgren in concert the other week and being taken into musical dreamland. At times, especially these days, it can be tough to keep the flames of a dream alive, but ultimately, I agree with Rundgren. After all, a dream doesn't have to be shackled by reality. And reality is often born from dreams.

In this issue: WL Woodward offers Part Three of his series on Tom Waits. Don Kaplan is thrilled by some appropriate music for Halloween. Stuart Marvin asks: are musicians’ brains wired differently? Wayne Robins reviews It’s a Good, Good Feeling: The Latin Soul of Fania Records: The Singles. J.I. Agnew digs more deeply into direct metal mastering and the DMM Dubplate, Vol. 1. Tom Gibbs reviews the new Johnny Cash at the Carousel Ballroom, recorded by none other than Owsley “Bear” Stanley. Ken Kessler continues his personal journey into reel-to-reel tape. I wrestle with an engineering inferiority complex. Anne E. Johnson profiles under-recognized composer Louise Ferrenc, and new folk revivalists Mumford & Sons.

Dan Schwartz ponders the role of imagination in listening to audio systems. Tom Methans finds an audio component he’ll never part with. John Seetoo continues his series on Christian music icon Phil Keaggy, and Andy Schaub wonders what audiophile heaven would be like. Ray Chelstowski investigates the case of the return of NRBQ and talks with guitarist Scott Ligon. B. Jan Montana moves on ahead towards Sturgis. Russ Welton continues his quest for better computer audio without spending a lot. Rudy Radelic looks at Burt Bacharach’s music for the big and little screens. We close out the issue with noise reduction, the need for speed, stereosonic sound, and Halloween spirits.

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, 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, Andy Schaub, 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

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#233 A Report From The Total Hi-Fi Experience Show SoCal 2026 by B. Jan Montana Aug 03, 2026 #233 Bluegrass Meets Country, Folk, Jazz and More in All That We Carried by The Squid City Slingers by Frank Doris Aug 03, 2026 #233 Corey Glover and One Tribe Nation: A Variegated Musical Collective by Ray Chelstowski Aug 03, 2026 #233 Excursions with Clive: The Late Clive Davis, A Personal History by Wayne Robins Aug 03, 2026 #233 AI, Art, and Music: A Conversation With Synthography Art by Joe Caplan Aug 03, 2026 #233 New American Symphonies: A Rediscovered Gem and a Vital Contemporary Work by Frank Doris Aug 03, 2026 #233 The Vinyl Beat: Genesis, the Dave Clark Five, Antonio Carlos Jobim and More by Rudy Radelic Aug 03, 2026 #233 How to Play in a Rock Band, 26: When It's Time to Record Your Music by Frank Doris Aug 03, 2026 #233 More From T.H.E. Show 2026, and the People Who Made it Happen by Harris Fogel Aug 03, 2026 #233 Underappreciated Artists, Part Three: Icehouse by Rich Isaacs Aug 03, 2026 #233 The Surprisingly Rich and Varied Music of Somalia by Steve Kindig Aug 03, 2026 #233 A Remarkable Discographic Legacy: The LP Recordings of the Basel Symphony Orchestra by Stephan Haberthür Aug 03, 2026 #233 From The Audiophile’s Guide: The Importance of Loudspeakers by Paul McGowan Aug 03, 2026 #233 From Swimming Pool to New Listening Room: A Conversation with Norman Varney of AV RoomService by Gilles Laferrière Aug 03, 2026 #233 PS Audio in the News by PS Audio Staff Aug 03, 2026 #233 Audio Jewelry by Peter Xeni Aug 03, 2026 #233 Enrich Your Life by Frank Doris Aug 03, 2026 #233 The Searcher by James Schrimpf Aug 03, 2026 #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

Issue 148

Issue 148

"A dream goes on forever." – Todd Rundgren

I've been dreaming more than usual lately, especially after seeing Todd Rundgren in concert the other week and being taken into musical dreamland. At times, especially these days, it can be tough to keep the flames of a dream alive, but ultimately, I agree with Rundgren. After all, a dream doesn't have to be shackled by reality. And reality is often born from dreams.

In this issue: WL Woodward offers Part Three of his series on Tom Waits. Don Kaplan is thrilled by some appropriate music for Halloween. Stuart Marvin asks: are musicians’ brains wired differently? Wayne Robins reviews It’s a Good, Good Feeling: The Latin Soul of Fania Records: The Singles. J.I. Agnew digs more deeply into direct metal mastering and the DMM Dubplate, Vol. 1. Tom Gibbs reviews the new Johnny Cash at the Carousel Ballroom, recorded by none other than Owsley “Bear” Stanley. Ken Kessler continues his personal journey into reel-to-reel tape. I wrestle with an engineering inferiority complex. Anne E. Johnson profiles under-recognized composer Louise Ferrenc, and new folk revivalists Mumford & Sons.

Dan Schwartz ponders the role of imagination in listening to audio systems. Tom Methans finds an audio component he’ll never part with. John Seetoo continues his series on Christian music icon Phil Keaggy, and Andy Schaub wonders what audiophile heaven would be like. Ray Chelstowski investigates the case of the return of NRBQ and talks with guitarist Scott Ligon. B. Jan Montana moves on ahead towards Sturgis. Russ Welton continues his quest for better computer audio without spending a lot. Rudy Radelic looks at Burt Bacharach’s music for the big and little screens. We close out the issue with noise reduction, the need for speed, stereosonic sound, and Halloween spirits.

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, 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, Andy Schaub, 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

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