Copper Magazine · Issue 221 · A free PS Audio publication
Issue 221 Table of Contents

Table of Contents – Issue 221

Table of Contents – Issue 221

“I have seen the midnight sun shining.” – The Strawbs, “Midnight Sun”

Too many music greats have passed on in the past few months. Yet their music lives on, and we will remember them through their art, and through the wonder of recorded music.

In this issue: I interview musician, composer and record label maven David Chesky. Octave Records releases Tangent by Simple Math and pianist Charles Blenzig, and I talk with him about his jazz reinterpretations of contemporary songs. Wayne Robins goes to see legendary producer and musician Peter Asher. B. Jan Montana contemplates the nature of Man and freedom. I ponder some implications of AI for the future of music and audio. Rich Isaacs notes that you can learn a lot from LP inner sleeves. Ray Chelstowski talks with acclaimed singer/songwriter Freedy Johnston about the reissue of what has been called a perfect album, “Can You Fly.” Harris Fogel has a photo essay from T.H.E. Show 2025 SoCal.

EveAnna Manley sells her audio company, Manley Labs. Joe Caplan has thoughts about quantum computing. Paul McGowan offers an excerpt from The Audiophile’s Guide with more advice on optimizing a listening room. I ask the question: how much do rock bands get paid? Rudy Radelic delves into the origins of the 12-inch single in The Vinyl Beat. Harris Fogel attends NAMM 2025's Roni Lee Rooftop Jam. In a guest appearance, AAA Magazine offers a fascinating look into the career of opera singer Maria Stader. PS Audio’s StellarGold DAC makes The Absolute Sound’s list of best DACs under $5,000, and the Stellar DAC gets rave-reviewed in Best of High End. Ken Kessler checks out vintage reel-to-reel tapes. The issue wraps with a radiotrician, a bedtime story, and a harmonious path.

 


Click here for information on how to post comments in Copper.

Contributors to This Issue:
Joseph Caplan, Ray Chelstowski, Frank Doris, Harris Fogel, Stephan Haberthuer, Rich Isaacs, Ken Kessler, Paul McGowan, B. Jan Montana, Rudy Radelic, Wayne Robins, 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

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

Copper’s Comments Policy:

Copper’s comments sections are moderated. While we encourage thoughtful and spirited discussion, please be civil.

The editor and Copper’s editorial staff reserve the right to delete comments according to our discretion. This includes: political commentary; posts that are abusive, insulting, demeaning or defamatory; posts that are in violation of someone’s privacy; comments that violate the use of copyrighted information; posts that contain personal information; and comments that contain links to suspect websites (phishing sites or those that contain viruses and so on). Spam will be blocked or deleted.

Copper is a place to be enthusiastic about music, audio and other topics. It is most especially not a forum for political discussion, trolling, or rude behavior. Thanks for your consideration.

 – FD

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Favorites From T.H.E. Show SoCal 2026 by Cam Martin Oct 05, 2026 #235 Singer/Songwriter John David Schrader: On the Need to Create, Part Two by Joe Caplan Oct 05, 2026 #235 A Life in High-End Audio: The Roy Hall Interview, Part Two by Frank Doris Oct 05, 2026 #235 Grammy-Winning Producer, Songwriter, and Guitarist John Leventhal Goes Instrumental With National Drift by Ray Chelstowski Oct 05, 2026 #235 From Swimming Pool to New Listening Room—to Founding an Accidental Audio Company by Gilles Laferrière Oct 05, 2026 #235 The Vinyl Beat’s Size Matters Edition by Rudy Radelic Oct 05, 2026 #235 The Sublime Complexities of Nature by B. Jan Montana Oct 05, 2026 #235 How to Play In a Rock Band, 28: Growing Older and Dealing With It by Frank Doris Oct 05, 2026 #235 Young Rascals: From Bar Band to Stardom by Wayne Robins Oct 05, 2026 #235 Duncan Sheik: In Memoriam by Ray Chelstowski Oct 05, 2026 #235 From The Listening Chair: The Meze Audio 105 Silva Headphones by Howard Kneller Oct 05, 2026 #235 Checking Out Some NOLA Loudspeakers – and Some Thoughts About Audio Writing by Frank Doris Oct 05, 2026 #235 The Kanazawa Phonograph Museum: Music from a Time Capsule by Sebastian Polcyn Oct 05, 2026 #235 PS Audio in the News by PS Audio Staff Oct 05, 2026 #235 From The Audiophile’s Guide: Making the Most Critical Choice by Paul McGowan Oct 05, 2026 #235 Evolutionary Growth by Frank Doris Oct 05, 2026 #235 Speed Racer by Peter Xeni Oct 05, 2026 #235 Happy Halloween! by James Schrimpf Oct 05, 2026 #234 A Life in High-End Audio: The Roy Hall Interview, Part One by Frank Doris Sep 07, 2026 #234 Jason Greenlaw Offers His Personal Perspective on Jazz Guitar in Vantage Point by Frank Doris Sep 07, 2026 #234 Transcendent Phoenix: Lucina Yue Brings the Ancient Konghou Into Modern Times by Frank Doris Sep 07, 2026 #234 We Must All Follow Our Bliss by B. Jan Montana Sep 07, 2026 #234 How to Play in a Rock Band, 27: Leveling Up by Frank Doris Sep 07, 2026 #234 Ross Valory: Traveling Into New Musical Territory With All of the Above by Ray Chelstowski Sep 07, 2026 #234 Singer/Songwriter John David Schrader: On the Need to Create by Joe Caplan Sep 07, 2026 #234 The People Who Make Audio Happen: More From T.H.E. Show SoCal 2026 by Harris Fogel Sep 07, 2026 #234 The Vinyl Beat Digs Into the Gadget Box by Rudy Radelic Sep 07, 2026 #234 The Rolling Stones: Foreign Tongues Spoken Loud by Wayne Robins Sep 07, 2026 #234 Musical Moments by Rich Isaacs Sep 07, 2026 #234 Rags for Solo Piano and a Dog: David Chesky's Ragtime Music for the Modern Age by Frankly Speaking Sep 07, 2026 #234 HIGH END 2026, Vienna: Here to Stay by Carsten Barnbeck Sep 07, 2026 #234 From The Audiophile’s Guide: The Two Main Types of Loudpeakers – Box and Panel by Paul McGowan Sep 07, 2026 #234 Letting it Slide by Frank Doris Sep 07, 2026 #234 PS Audio in the News by PS Audio Staff Sep 07, 2026 #234 Long Playing by Peter Xeni Sep 07, 2026 #234 La Mer by B. Jan Montana Sep 07, 2026 #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

Table of Contents – Issue 221

Table of Contents – Issue 221

“I have seen the midnight sun shining.” – The Strawbs, “Midnight Sun”

Too many music greats have passed on in the past few months. Yet their music lives on, and we will remember them through their art, and through the wonder of recorded music.

In this issue: I interview musician, composer and record label maven David Chesky. Octave Records releases Tangent by Simple Math and pianist Charles Blenzig, and I talk with him about his jazz reinterpretations of contemporary songs. Wayne Robins goes to see legendary producer and musician Peter Asher. B. Jan Montana contemplates the nature of Man and freedom. I ponder some implications of AI for the future of music and audio. Rich Isaacs notes that you can learn a lot from LP inner sleeves. Ray Chelstowski talks with acclaimed singer/songwriter Freedy Johnston about the reissue of what has been called a perfect album, “Can You Fly.” Harris Fogel has a photo essay from T.H.E. Show 2025 SoCal.

EveAnna Manley sells her audio company, Manley Labs. Joe Caplan has thoughts about quantum computing. Paul McGowan offers an excerpt from The Audiophile’s Guide with more advice on optimizing a listening room. I ask the question: how much do rock bands get paid? Rudy Radelic delves into the origins of the 12-inch single in The Vinyl Beat. Harris Fogel attends NAMM 2025's Roni Lee Rooftop Jam. In a guest appearance, AAA Magazine offers a fascinating look into the career of opera singer Maria Stader. PS Audio’s StellarGold DAC makes The Absolute Sound’s list of best DACs under $5,000, and the Stellar DAC gets rave-reviewed in Best of High End. Ken Kessler checks out vintage reel-to-reel tapes. The issue wraps with a radiotrician, a bedtime story, and a harmonious path.

 


Click here for information on how to post comments in Copper.

Contributors to This Issue:
Joseph Caplan, Ray Chelstowski, Frank Doris, Harris Fogel, Stephan Haberthuer, Rich Isaacs, Ken Kessler, Paul McGowan, B. Jan Montana, Rudy Radelic, Wayne Robins, 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

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

Copper’s Comments Policy:

Copper’s comments sections are moderated. While we encourage thoughtful and spirited discussion, please be civil.

The editor and Copper’s editorial staff reserve the right to delete comments according to our discretion. This includes: political commentary; posts that are abusive, insulting, demeaning or defamatory; posts that are in violation of someone’s privacy; comments that violate the use of copyrighted information; posts that contain personal information; and comments that contain links to suspect websites (phishing sites or those that contain viruses and so on). Spam will be blocked or deleted.

Copper is a place to be enthusiastic about music, audio and other topics. It is most especially not a forum for political discussion, trolling, or rude behavior. Thanks for your consideration.

 – FD

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