Happy holidays from all of us at Copper!
There are countless holiday and end-of-year releases, but topmost on my wish list is Talking Heads: 77 Super Deluxe Edition, which features the band’s first studio album plus B-sides, 45 RPM singles with songs that never appeared on the album, and a live 1977 recording from CBGB. The set also comes with an 80-page book with new liner notes from everyone in the band. This one scores an 11 out of 10 on the desire-o-meter.
In this big end-of-year issue: We review a number of holiday-themed recordings. 2L has released a stunning pair of albums in hi-res immersive and stereo: Yule by Trio Mediæval, and Fred over jorden (Peace to the World) by the Uranienborg Vokalensemble. The Vinyl Beat has holiday happiness reissues and more with new and classic albums by Nik Bärtsch, Vince Guaraldi, the Mavericks, Ella Fitzgerald, and more. I offer part one of our Capital Audiofest 2024 show report. Adrian Wu continues his series on four-track reel-to-reel tapes, and we have the second of a three-part interview with Jamie Howarth of Plangent Processes, which corrects for the minute speed variations in master tapes to provide sonic improvements. B. Jan Montana has a solution to life’s biggest problem.
Ray Chelstowski interviews John McDermott about the upcoming Experience Hendrix 2025 tour, celebrating the music of Jimi Hendrix. Wayne Robins goes to a Vampire Weekend concert. PMA Magazine's Pierre Dallaire spotlights some recommended Brahms recordings. I review the new Analogue Productions 2-LP 45-RPM reissue of the classic Genesis album Nursery Cryme. Larry Jaffee spots some trends at the Making Vinyl Europe convention. Continuing our PS Audio 50th anniversary retrospective, Paul McGowan and the company have a new beginning in the 1970s. I offer advice to bands who have to play on cramped stages. Rich Isaacs finds a test record that lampoons audiophiles. Ken Kessler gets in a sticky reel-to-reel tape situation. PS Audio ends the year with some smashing reviews. From The Listening Chair sizes up our editor. We bid farewell to 2024 with some swinging in stereo, the perfect gift, and a toneful throwback.
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Contributors to This Issue:
Ray Chelstowski, Pierre Dallaire, Frank Doris, Harris Fogel, Rich Isaacs, Larry Jaffee, Ken Kessler, Howard Kneller, Paul McGowan, B. Jan Montana, Rudy Radelic, Wayne Robins, Alón Sagee, Adrian Wu, Peter Xeni
Logo Design:
Susan Schwartz-Christian, from a concept by Bob D’Amico
Editor:
Frank Doris
Publisher:
Paul McGowan
Post-publication Nitpicker:
Rich Isaacs
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– FD
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