Copper
Twisted systems
The Dave Clark Five
When writing this column, I frequently close my eyes and go back to certain times in my life – in this case 1964 post Beatles arrival – and try to...
Can An Atheist Love Gospel Music ?
Hmmmm…… If I weren’t a writer, always looking for interesting stories, this article would not have been written. Why? Because I wouldn’t have ruminated over the fact that, as an...
Here Comes The Yet Another Son
First appeared in Goldmine Magazine, edited for Copper. I recently spent 24 hours in Liverpool with my daughter Samantha on a dad/daughter Beatles visit. I had been to Liverpool several times while Twisted...
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Renova...
My current audio system consists of the following— and there is a reason that I’m telling you this: Turntable: VPI Avenger Reference W/12” 3D printed VPI tonearm Cartridges: Dynavector XV1-S/EAT No. 5...
The Munich High End Show 2019, Part 2
Before I go any farther down the High End show rabbit hole, I left out one turntable. This one was perhaps the most over the top of all. The reason...
The Munich High End Show 2019
I attended the High End Audio Show 2019 last week in Munich, as did our esteemed Editor, Bill Leebens. We came independently. I came as both a fan and as a journalist representing Copper, Inc.com,...
The One That Got Away
The day I just missed a 1959 ‘Burst As an avid guitar collector, I’m often asked about my method and reasoning behind the guitars that I own or have owned....
A Conversation With “Cousin Brucie”
[Originally published in Goldmine magazine—Ed.] Talking Beatles, The JFK Assassination and rival DJ Murray the K…. In 1964, there were only 4 ways to connect with your rock ‘n’ roll heroes: Buying...
Great Artists Dilemma
As much as my Springsteen article caused an outpouring of comments, I was impressed by the numbers and passions of the comments on my “Why Can’t America produce a Great...
Why Can't America Produce a Great Rock Band? (t...
One afternoon, while I was writing a Beatles article for Goldmine magazine, I started to ponder the issue of the world’s most important and influential rock bands. These are the bands that...
The Cult of Bruce (and Why I'm Not a Member)
Certain bands maintain a following that is so rabid that, when trying to discuss any criticism, they have the need to bulldoze over anything other then total devotion. Loving the...
I Hate...(Fill in the Blank)
When I’m introduced as Jay Jay French of Twisted Sister at parties or social events, the first question I’m asked is, “So what music are you listening to these days?”...
John Lennon: Come and Gone
[Portions of this story were originally published in Goldmine magazine—Ed.] February 7th was the 55th anniversary of the Beatles’ arriving in America. To commemorate this date in Beatles history, I present this true story of fate...
Giles Martin Interview
[Originally published in Goldmine magazine—Ed.] While at the listening session for the new Giles Martin remixed White Album and associated demos, I experienced how much Giles sounds like his father, George. In manner, style,...
You Know It Ain’t Easy, Part 2
….unless you really wanted to meet John & Yoko. New York City, 1979 This one really came out of left field as Doug Kleiman, the person whose story it is,...
You Know It Ain’t Easy, Part 1
Montreal, 1969 Over the last year or so, I have run across 2 people with incredible stories about how they planned ways to meet John & Yoko, and managed to actually...
Keith Richards Will Still Be Here When You Are ...
This article is about preservation. No one exemplifies this more than the legendary Rolling Stones guitarist, Keith Richards. Oh, sure, his survival despite years of damage from drug and alcohol...
Dylan, The Beatles, Mick Jagger, The Fugs, and ...
If I titled this story “The Strange Life & Times of Richard Alderson,” chances are: a) My readers wouldn’t be too excited b) You probably wouldn’t read past the title,...
Elton Saved My (Rock 'N' Roll) Life Tonight
Last Friday, I attended Elton John’s concert at Madison Square Garden, with amazing seats, courtesy of a good friend, Jay Marciano, CEO of AEG. I will get into what transpired,...
Fake Blues Is Fake News
Although The Beatles were my “jumping off point” in my rock ‘n’ roll dreams, they did not give me the roadmap to anything other than a dream. I needed to...
Radio R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Aretha Franklin (and all recording artists) get no “R-E-S-P-E-C-T” in regards to being paid to have their songs played on the radio. Aretha Franklin has never been paid for the...
Loving the Beatles (In Real Time)
With the 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ “White Album” this November 22nd, and my position as the Beatles featured writer for Goldmine magazine, I am steeped in Beatledom at the moment. Within...
While My Guitars Gently Sleep
Early on in my writing for Copper a few readers asked me to write about my influences. I understood that to be about the guitar players/bands that inspired me.There is,...
Reel to Real
“Hey Jay Jay, how about an audio column for a change?” YOU GOT IT! Several years ago, a mutual friend introduced me to Ken Kessler. I’d been reading Ken’s reviews and...
The Needle and the Damage Done
No, this is not another “confession’ about past drug use. It’s a review of an amazing stylus cleaner. First though, I knew that my story about how I dealt with...
So You Wanna Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star
But first: No, I didn’t forget about Tommy Emmanuel. It just doesn’t warrant a full analysis except to say that, in the here and now, if I could play like...
So a Drummer Walks Into a Bar....
A little light summer diversion: -What is the difference between a drummer and a pepperoni pizza? A pepperoni pizza can feed a family of four. -What do throw a...
Guitar Influences, Part 6: Jerry Garcia (an uni...
I was going to write about my new fave guitarist Tommy Emmanuel but, in light of the comments made by several readers (both pro & con) regarding Jerry Garcia in...
Guitar Influences, Part 5: Mick Ronson
So now you are saying….”So how do you go from all these blues masters to Glam hero Mick Ronson?” Fair enough. As much as the Beatles were the “Big Bang”...
Guitar Influences, Part 4: Albert King
I woke up a couple of weeks ago and realized that I dreamed that Albert King called me to tell me he was coming over to jam. As Albert died...
How I Dealt With My Recent Prostate Cancer Diag...
As you may have surmised, this is a very personal article. It’s about me. It’s also about how I deal with all things i.e. business, personal etc. I took off...
Guitar Influences, Part 3: Eric Clapton
As common as it is to read statements from rock n roll musicians that “When I saw The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show, I knew I wanted to be...
Guitar Influences, Part 2: Keith Richards, Chuc...
Keith Richards, Chuck Berry &… Mike Kagan?? Yeah…I know. I can hear it now. Who is Mike Kagan? A legendary American (or British) wizard, unknown to most of the world...
Guitar Influences, Part 1: Mike Bloomfield
I have been asked on several occasions to write about the guitar players who have had the greatest influences on me. While I have talked about this short list in...
A Very Twisted Tower Tale
The response to my tone control/ equalizer article brought out the inner fight in many of you. I would hope that high-end manufacturers are listening, and reading many of your...
We Don't Need No Education...We Don't Need No T...
Well, you will soon see that I disagree with that opening title but before I get into the next audio controversy let me wrap up the 3-part audio gear history...
Climbing to the Audio Summit Part 3: Speakers a...
As I bring this “Climbing to the Audio Summit” exercise to a close I am not just taken aback by the total amount of gear that I purchased over the...
Climbing to the Audio Summit Part 2: Amps/Preamps
The response to “Climbing to the Audio Summit: Turntables” was truly amazing. The comments really were, for the most part, insightful, and some manufactures should read them. I also have...
Climbing to the Audio Summit Part 1: Turntables
I want to thank you all for your comments on the “Great ’67 Psychedelic Shoot-out”. [In case you missed it: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 The Winner! —Ed.] Spoiler alert!: The winner was Pink...
Still More of the ’67 Psychedelic Shootout!
Both the Beatles & The Rolling Stones released 2 albums in 1967. For the purpose of this face off (and because I, alone, make the rules) we are only dealing...
The Final Countdown!
We’ve arrived at the finals of the ‘67 Psychedelic Shoot-out!!! There was no way of knowing how this whole exercise was going to peel out. It really just started as...
Brit Psychedelics
First a word about what/who is not on my Psychedelic Shootout list: Fever Tree—debut album Yes, I had the album, and yes, I played it fairly often… but it did not make any...
Brit Psychedelics, Continued
Cream’s Disraeli Gears is being moved to a later issue. Here then are more UK contenders: The Move, Traffic, Procol Harum & The Yardbirds The Move—singles Why are they here? They only...
The '67 Psychedelic Shootout Continues!
Let it not be said that journalists don’t pay attention to their readers. The responses to my contenders to the Psychedelic Shootout of 1967 has persuaded me to add 4...
The Great 1967 Psychedelic Album of the Year Sh...
Part 1 The Contenders I recently sent away for, and received, the 50th anniversary edition of the Rolling Stones’ Their Satanic Majesties Request, from now on referred to as TSMR, for the sake of...
Cables? We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Cables!
In the world of high end audio there is probably no subject as controversial then the retail cost of high end cables vs. what they really bring to system. While...
Revenge, Audio Style
I hope you all had a great summer. I missed you! This first story in my second season of writing for Copper is about… revenge. It is also about audio....
1967: The Year Rock ‘n’ Roll Became Rock
To all my readers; I will be taking the summer off but this last article was truly a labor of love for me. I want to thank Bill & Paul...
Long Island, Part 2
The following Monday morning after the delivery and installation of the $100k system that was used just to listen to Grateful Dead live bootleg cassettes and burned CD’s (referred to...
Audio Retales Visits Long Island
Robin Williams famously once said that “Cocaine is God’s way of telling you that you’re making too much money!” Well…the same could be said about really expensive toys whether they...