COPPER

A PS Audio Publication

Issue 146 • Free Online Magazine

Issue 146 Opening Salvo

The Write Thing

The Write Thing

“Writers write.” – Dave Kindred.
“Nuff said.” – Stan Lee.

Ken Kessler is back! He started with Copper Issue 2 and returns after a long absence with the beginning of a series on the open-reel tape revival.

We are proud to welcome two new contributors. David Snyder plays a leading role in the Atlanta Audio Club and Arizona Audio/Video Club and co-leads the Digital Audio Focus Group for the San Francisco Audiophile Society. David describes himself as a "network audiophile." He is excited about helping others to navigate this relatively new aspect of high-performance audio.

Steve Kindig recently concluded a 36-year career at electronics retailer Crutchfield. He wrote and edited articles and product descriptions for their catalogs and website. Steve has also been a DJ for more than 30 years at radio station WTJU in Charlottesville, Virginia, where he’s the host of an American folk program as well as a world music show.

In this issue: J.I. Agnew wraps up his interview with Martin Theophilus and the Museum of Magnetic Sound Recording. I cover Octave Records’ latest release, Clandestine Amigo’s Things Worth Remembering. Tim Riley reviews a new disc of Leoš Janáček music by pianist Lars Vogt. Rudy Radelic begins a series on the music of Burt Bacharach. John Seetoo continues his in-depth look at Christian rock innovator Phil Keaggy. B. Jan Montana keeps riding to Sturgis. Ray Chelstowski interviews former Spirit band member-turned-lawyer Al Staehely about some rediscovered recordings.

Anne E. Johnson gives insight into the music of soul icon Isaac Hayes and 18th century French composer Jean-Philippe Rameau. Ken Kessler begins a series on getting back to his reel-to-reel roots. Tom Gibbs reviews Bob Dylan’s new Springtime in New York: The Bootleg Series Vol. 16/1980-1985 set. Russ Welton concludes his interview with dazzling guitarist and film composer Michael Baugh. Ken Sander revisits the 1973 Summer Jam at Watkins Glen. David Snyder demystifies Roon. Steve Kindig gets into music from the Analog Africa label. We wrap up the issue with a groovy guy, a praiseworthy achievement, some questionable system upgrades, and a wizened tree.

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, Larry Schenbeck, 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, 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

The Write Thing

The Write Thing

“Writers write.” – Dave Kindred.
“Nuff said.” – Stan Lee.

Ken Kessler is back! He started with Copper Issue 2 and returns after a long absence with the beginning of a series on the open-reel tape revival.

We are proud to welcome two new contributors. David Snyder plays a leading role in the Atlanta Audio Club and Arizona Audio/Video Club and co-leads the Digital Audio Focus Group for the San Francisco Audiophile Society. David describes himself as a "network audiophile." He is excited about helping others to navigate this relatively new aspect of high-performance audio.

Steve Kindig recently concluded a 36-year career at electronics retailer Crutchfield. He wrote and edited articles and product descriptions for their catalogs and website. Steve has also been a DJ for more than 30 years at radio station WTJU in Charlottesville, Virginia, where he’s the host of an American folk program as well as a world music show.

In this issue: J.I. Agnew wraps up his interview with Martin Theophilus and the Museum of Magnetic Sound Recording. I cover Octave Records’ latest release, Clandestine Amigo’s Things Worth Remembering. Tim Riley reviews a new disc of Leoš Janáček music by pianist Lars Vogt. Rudy Radelic begins a series on the music of Burt Bacharach. John Seetoo continues his in-depth look at Christian rock innovator Phil Keaggy. B. Jan Montana keeps riding to Sturgis. Ray Chelstowski interviews former Spirit band member-turned-lawyer Al Staehely about some rediscovered recordings.

Anne E. Johnson gives insight into the music of soul icon Isaac Hayes and 18th century French composer Jean-Philippe Rameau. Ken Kessler begins a series on getting back to his reel-to-reel roots. Tom Gibbs reviews Bob Dylan’s new Springtime in New York: The Bootleg Series Vol. 16/1980-1985 set. Russ Welton concludes his interview with dazzling guitarist and film composer Michael Baugh. Ken Sander revisits the 1973 Summer Jam at Watkins Glen. David Snyder demystifies Roon. Steve Kindig gets into music from the Analog Africa label. We wrap up the issue with a groovy guy, a praiseworthy achievement, some questionable system upgrades, and a wizened tree.

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, Larry Schenbeck, 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, 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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