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Bad Company / Bad Company Bad Company - Bad Company

"The instrumentation separation is unbeatable, particularly the auxiliary percussion (tambourine, claves, and cowbell) on 'Rock Steady,' coming across more prominently than before. ... Like all Atlantic 75 pressings done by Analogue Productions, this 45 RPM cut by Ryan K. Smith will reign as the finest this album ever sounded." — Music = 9/11; Sound = 10/11 — Dylan Peggin, TrackingAngle.com. Read the entire review here.


Welcome To My Nightmare / Alice Cooper Alice Cooper - Welcome To My Nightmare

Shock rocker Alice Cooper's Welcome To My Nightmare — part of the Analogue Productions Atlantic 75th Anniversary Series — embellishes an already landmark release. "Drew Struzan's artwork that gracefully adorns the laminated Stoughton tip-on jacket, has never looked this classy" / "Alice's vocal delivery on 'The Black Widow' comes across on this pressing as more confrontational and submissive. The Fender Rhodes glistens across the speakers during 'Only Women Bleed,' and the strings sound as smooth as silk." Music = 10/11; Sound = 11/11 — Dylan Peggin, TrackingAngle.com. Read the full review here.


Very Tall / Oscar Peterson Trio with Milt Jackson Oscar Peterson Trio with Milt Jackson - Very Tall

"The cover is exemplary, and the label design is almost identical to what a 1960s Verve Records label looks like. Musically, this is a wonderful recording if you like the sound of the Vibraphone and Milt Jackson's playing as paired with Peterson's classic trio. And as far as how the recording sounds, in a word its: outstanding. Another clear winner from the Verve Records Acoustic Sounds series, especially for the estimated $38 price point." — Mark Smotroff, Audiophile Review, Feb. 19, 2024. Read the entire review here.


A World Of Piano! / Phineas Newborn Jr. Phineas Newborn Jr. - A World Of Piano!

"Another exemplary release in Craft Recordings Acoustic Sounds series is by under-appreciated jazz pianist Phineas Newborn called A World Of Piano! ... The 180-gram vinyl quality is excellent — certainly higher than the standard weight ‘80s edition — and was pressed at QRP (Quality Record Pressing). The cover art is made to the exacting standards of the vintage LPs from the 1960s. ... Also, because Craft is paying attention to important details for collectors, A World Of Piano! is issued on the black stereo Contemporary Records label design of that period." — Mark Smotroff, Audiophile Review, Feb. 19, 2024. Read the entire review here.


Crosby, Stills & Nash / Crosby, Stills and Nash Crosby, Stills and Nash - Crosby, Stills & Nash

"Given the room to 'stretch out,' Bernie (Grundman) delivers a bass bomb ... but even better: cleaner articulation and control, better textures and greater extension (throughout). ... The soundstage is enormous, percussive transients are very well-articulated and honestly, this is by far the best rendering of this recording that I've yet heard and by a very wide margin." — Music = 10/11; Sound = 10/11  Michael Fremer, TrackingAngle.com. Read the entire review here.

"If you're already familiar with it and you know what to expect, you're going to hear the best presentation of this album on the Atlantic (75 Series) 45. ... I'm so glad to have it in my collection, now it will become my reference copy for sure." — Scott Wilson, The Pressing Matters, YouTube video


"...the sound floor on these records is very, very low — the vinyl is quiet. And I really think that helps define what we hear. ... this is probably going to be a definitive copy of this album. The sound quality is superb, to say the least." YouTube video


"...the vocals really get you from all sides — it really was much more precise when you compared them ... I think this really is the sweet spot for this particular record."— David Bianco, Safe & Sound Texas Audio Excursion YouTube video , YouTube video


The Doors / The Doors The Doors - The Doors

"... it's just more immersive, like the sound is wrapping around you like you're live in the studio. And that's something I really want to get when I hear a Doors album. I want to feel that 'live' feeling. And this one has it in spades. Very, very impressive." — Scott Wilson, The Pressing Matters, YouTube video.


The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway / Genesis Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway

"If you already know the album and are very familiar with it you'll put this on and you'll just be hooked you'll be glued to it from side one through to side eight. ... an absolute all round unequivocal thumbs up for me." — Dave Denyer on YouTube compares the "absolutely superb new Chris Bellman all-analogue cut from the original master tapes" to both a 1974 U.K. original and 1980 U.K. "Porky Prime Cut." YouTube video

"... another thing I noticed with the sound is ... this one opens up as you would expect a 45 to, but there's much
more detail in the mid-range so that is really impressive and a key to my enjoyment of this album as a whole." — Scott Wilson, The Pressing Matters, YouTube.  YouTube video

A Love Supreme / John Coltrane John Coltrane - A Love Supreme

"To my ears, the new UHQR has a slight edge over the others. That edge arises from the clarity and definition of all the instruments, how Coltrane's saxophone pops, and balance that's the best of all the versions I've heard. Is this UHQR the final word on 'A Love Supreme,' at least on vinyl? If history serves, the answer is an emphatic 'No.' ... to my ears, this UHQR entry has nosed into the lead."— Robert Baird, Revinylization No. 47, Stereophile, Oct. 17, 2023. To read the full review click here.

"...you will surely appreciate the sonic differences between the Verve Acoustic Sounds 33 1/3 edition, which is really good with this UHQR, which is, to say it in technical terms 'insanely better' and the proverbial 'window into the studio' when the session was recorded. In what ways? Every way, actually. You'll hear it from the opening tam-tam hit-especially if you've been playing this album for fifty years! The background quiet is noticeably better than even the quietest regular QRP pressing. Tyner's piano appears in three dimensional space, Jones's stick work on cymbals and woody rim shots startle. The difference between this version and every other one including Smith's cut from the same tape at the same time is not subtle and if your system has the resolution you'll immediately hear it and be glad you made the $150 investment. I know I am! ... if this album is meaningful to you and you want by far the best sounding version ever released, this is it." — Music = 11/11; Sound = 11/11 — Michael Fremer, AnalogPlanet.com. To read Fremer's full review click here.


In The Right Place / Dr. John Dr. John - In The Right Place

"Released in 1973 on the ATCO label, In The Right Place might just be the highlight of the Atlantic 75 Audiophile Series for me so far. ... Ryan K. Smith has done a terrific job mastering this 45 RPM recording. As stated earlier, he has taken an excellent recording and made it even more outstanding! Drums, horns, and backup singers seem to explode out of an expansive soundstage. The unique vocal style and suburb piano skills of Dr. John come through loud and clear. That gravelly voice is now so full of texture and emotion and excitement! Pressed at QRP and presented in a high quality tip-on style tri-fold outer sleeve, this is the way that most would want an audiophile reissue to be presented. Another big winner from Chad Kassem and Analogue Productions!" — Robert S. Youman, Positive Feeback Online, Issue 131, Feb. 1, 2024


Elephant / The White Stripes The White Stripes - Elephant

“The UHQR edition of 'Elephant' edges out my other Third Man editions of the album — namely, the 2003 original, the 2013 2LP repressing, and the 2020 2LP edition — for, as good as they essentially are, they all continue to display a few flaws here and there. But, especially in terms of the breadth of the soundstage and balls-out impact of the arrangements and instrumentation on all four sides of dead-quiet, well-centered vinyl, I too feel the UHQR version of The White Stripes’ 'Elephant' reigns supreme. It gets a Music rating of 9, and a Sound rating of 9.” — Mike Mettler, Analog Planet


"(Once) you get into spinning the UHQR 'Elephant' with both open mind and open ears, be ready to geek out on loads of vintage-sounding amps and fat guitar tones, hooky riffs, catchy melodies, and ever-pounding drums. The more you play it, the more The White Stripes’ Elephant may likely become your jam — and this new Analogue Productions edition of it is worth every penny of the UHQR $150 entry fee. — Mark Smotroff, for Analog Planet


Blues & Roots / Charles Mingus Charles Mingus - Blues & Roots

"This new Kevin Gray mastered stereo reissue using the original tapes, plated and pressed at QRP, gives you a remarkably transparent open window on the original event presented, compared to the original, with greater dynamic authority, timbral vibrancy, dynamic range and image three-dimensionality. You can be sure the 'old school' gimme the original mono document types might complain, but so much more is revealed here, it's difficult to fault what Kevin Gray has pulled from these tapes ... For now though, there's this highly recommended deluxe, laminated, 'Tip-on' edition featuring a pair of black and white Mingus photos in the gatefold. Happy 75th to Atlantic Records" —  Music = 9/11; Sound = 9/11 - Michael Fremer, TrackingAngle.com. Read Fremer's full review here.


John Prine / John Prine John Prine - John Prine

".. somehow until this reissue the recording's true sonic excellence was well hidden. This reissue cut by Ryan Smith using the original master tapes puts you in the studio with Prine and much Southern instrumental talent, or Prine in your room, or however you wish your head to arrange it. Definitely a fitting title for the Atlantic 75th Anniversary celebration, musically and sonically. Like the label, it's a record that stands the test of time." — Music = 9/11; Sound = 9/11 — Michael Fremer, TrackingAngle.com. Read Fremer's full review here.

"This reissue has exceeded all my expectations. The 45 RPM format has its advantages, but I must tip my hat to Chad Kassem, Ryan K. Smith, and QRP. As we all know, when it comes to sound quality, every detail matters. These folks have all really delivered on this reissue! John and band play before you in all their pride and glory. There is a life-like presence and tangibility that I would have never guessed was on those tapes. This reissue is a great tribue to John. As before, I am confident that he is once again two-stepping up there with a huge smile and he is very, very pleased!" — Robert S. Youman, Positive Feedback Online, Nov. 2, 2023. Read the entire review here.


Aja / Steely Dan Steely Dan - Aja

"Soundwise, the UHQR 'Aja' hits at an 11. It never fails to engage me, spin after spin after spin. ...If you want to consistently experience the best of what this particular 200g 45 RPM 2LP Steely Dan series has to offer, then the Analogue Productions Aja fits the bill for being the pride of the UHQR neighborhood, hands down." — Mike Mettler, Analog Planet, Nov. 18, 2023. Read the entire review here.


"The tape box pictured in the notes tells the tale in tiny hand written letters: 'original master was 1/4'. In other words the source for this UHQR reissue was a 1/2" Dolby A copy of the master, which became the 2 track Dolby Master. When you hear the record you won't care about from where it came, you'll just know it's the best sounding Aja you've ever heard and it's not close. For one thing, "Deacon Blues" takes up an entire UHQR 45rpm side ... The 7:26 epic finally has room to breathe and express all of the tape's wondrous top end and dynamic authority. ...

"Transients are so well defined. You're sure to hear newly resolved detail. Bernie Grundman did not appreciably mess with the EQ compared to his original 1977 cut because there was nothing wrong with what he originally did, but cutting at 45 and not having to cut to near the label has obvious benefits especially on "Deacon Blues" but really on everything and the bottom end has definitely not been attenuated as it must have somewhat been on the originals.

"This Aja fulfills the UHQR promise as well if not better than has any in the series and there's plenty of stiff competition!" — Music = 11/11; Sound = 11/11 — Michael Fremer, TrackingAngle.com.


Out Of The Afternoon / Roy Haynes Roy Haynes - Out Of The Afternoon

"This reissue, part of the Acoustic Sounds Series, was remastered by Ryan K. Smith at Sterling Sound and pressed at Quality Record Pressings. It is enclosed in a deluxe gatefold jacket produced by Stoughton Printing. The Bert Goldblatt photograph on the cover is, if anything, better reproduced than that of the original album. It's gorgeous in every way. I have listened to this music over the years with a white-label mono original pressing. The session was recorded in stereo and mixed to mono for that release, and I am won over by the stereo imaging of this reissue. I will not say that the soundstage is a perfect facsimile of a jazz ensemble, but it is exceptionally good, with drums in one channel, Kirk in the other, piano dead center and bass a bit to one side. The tonal color and frequency extension of the reissue are slightly better than the mono original's, so I will be listening to the Acoustic Sounds version from here on. This is easily one of the best reissues of the year — an album of all hits and no misses." — Music = 5/5; Sound = 4.5/5 — Dennis Davis, The Audio Beat, Nov. 3, 2023. Read the entire review here.


Come Away With Me / Norah Jones Norah Jones - Come Away With Me

"I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that some tapehead (s) will wear out their copy Come Away With Me. Yes, this Norah Jones tape is that good! So a word of advice. Buy a copy of the Analogue Productions LP and reel-to-reel tape and only play the tape on special occasions when the audiobuddies drop by! ... People should know better by now than to question Chad's judgement in procuring and releasing albums. Yet procuring the rights to Come Away with Me was even a coup for him and Analogue Productions and he it out of the park on this release. The music only gets better and better with each succeeding track. There's not a throwaway song on Come Away With MeCome Away with Me, in fact, is worth buying just for the title track Come Away With Me. But luckily, given the price of the tape, each song on Jones' album is a hit unto itself!" — Myles B. Astor, Senior Editor, Positive-Feedback.com


Pretzel Logic / Steely Dan Steely Dan - Pretzel Logic

"While Steely Dan's Pretzel Logic UHQR may not share the full-on Wow factors that its predecessors Countdown to Ecstasy and Can't Buy a Thrill do (each in their own respective ways, of course), that doesn't discount this 2LP set's value when it comes to overall worthiness or what you'll get out of repeat listens — because the more you hear it, the more you get into it. If Pretzel Logic is your personal go-to Steely Dan album, this UHQR edition is absolutely for you. If you want to test your jazz-lineage chops and get further inside the music to hear how SD are literally transitioning their studio acumen right before your very ears into a signature style that wound up blooming in full force on their subsequent albums, then this UHQR edition is definitely for you too. ... Logic stands tall in all its 200g 45rpm 2LP clear-vinyl glory, just like many a great record on the phonograph should." — Music = 8/11; Sound = 9/11 — Mike Mettler, AnalogPlanet.com. To read Mettler's full review, click here


Can't Buy A Thrill / Steely Dan Steely Dan - Can't Buy A Thrill

"The packaging is stunning; I love the big, beefy box. Others don't. Inside the box is a Tip-on gatefold double pocket jacket with film lamination by Stoughton Printing. It's pretty glorious. ... The remastering, the high pressing/plating standards, and the quality control at every step have produced a magnificent vinyl release. ... this Bernie Grundman (remaster) is very special. If you have a clean original or are happy with the Speakers Corner pressing, you could probably spend your $150 elsewhere. But if you do invest, you wont' be sorry. ... I love the sound of this 45. Very highly recommended." — Anthony Kershaw, Audiophilia, May 2023. Read the entire review here.
"... this edition of Steely Dan's debut delivers incomparably superior sound and pressings so perfect you'd wish all LPs were stamped on Clarity V2 vinyl. Side-by-side, you hear instantly why UHQR is something to which to aspire — the sax break in 'DirtyWork' left me speechless. And Analogue Productions' slipcase? The acme of LP sleeves." — hi-fi news (U.K.), May 2023
"This is rarefied air. Not only is this a classic album, that has stood the test of time, this is not the vinyl you see in your clothing store, not even in your record store. As expensive as that might be, as much TLC might be involved, more in the old days, this UHQR reproduction is a huge leap beyond that. It's more akin to listening to your favorite albums on CD when that format came upon the market. Suddenly the sound was clear. But warm it was not. However vinyl always was, and this version of Can't Buy a Thrill most certainly is." — Bob Lefsetz, The Lefsetz Letter. Read the entire review here.
"This limited to 3,500 copies UHQR restores the bottom end wallop without sounding artificially 'EQ'd.' There's far greater overall transparency and more precise high frequency transients so synth lines really come to life. It's a big improvement over the original." — Music = 8/11; Sound = 8/11 — Michael Fremer, trackingangle.com. To read Fremer's full review, click here.

"Happily, for this, my first UHQR experience, it feels super-solid. Musically, Can't Buy A Thrill feels more three-dimensional on this UHQR edition than on other versions I've heard. Overall, the sound is super-clear and crisp, but ultimately presents the music more warmly than the standard 180g 1LP edition does. When you compare them side by side, you start noticing the differences between the UHQR and the standard edition — the sizzling cymbals aren't quite as sizzly on the standard version, for one thing, and, comparatively, the vocals take on a bit of that raw edge around them. Plus, the congas feel less natural-sounding on the standard edition. ... Can't wait to see, and hear, what comes next — but for now, the 200g 2LP Can't Buy A Thrill serves as one of the best listening experiences you'll have this year." — Music = 8/11; Sound = 9/11 - Mark Smotroff, AnalogPlanet.com. To read Smotroff's full review, click here.



"(Clarity Vinyl) is a very quiet formulation .... This means you can really crank up the UHQR. In fact, to really enjoy it, you must. When you do, the music will come to life on top, the midrange will bloom with detail and the bottom will be firm, deep and satisfying. Vocal clarity and 'body' benefit greatly from Grundman's mastering, yet Victor Feldman's percussive accents remain sharp, clean and present." — Music = 9/11; Sound = 9/11 - Michael Fremer, trackingangle.com. To read Fremer's full review, click here.


Exodus / Bob Marley and The Wailers Bob Marley and The Wailers - Exodus

"The bass on this record is massive and deep, without the bloat I've heard on recent half-speed reissues by Abbey Road. Marley's vocals have a gruff quality present on this recording, one that I failed to even notice on my fine-sounding box set copy, but that's the level of holographic detail present on this UHQR release. The soundstage is also shockingly good for a bass-heavy reggae record, with the band placed neatly on a clearly defined stage just behind my speakers, not overly wide in a "hi-fi" kind of way, but not smashed together to create fake cohesion. Instead, you get a realistically placed band with a surprisingly balanced sound. Overdubs sound fresh here, with everything from the background vocals to the random percussive one-offs that litter these songs, appearing detailed, three-dimensional, and well-integrated. This is hands down the best-sounding version of these songs I've ever heard on my system, surpassing both the impressive Box Set and any/all Hi-Res digital editions." — Anthony Kershaw, Audiophilia, May 2023. Read the entire review here.


Smokin' At The Half Note / Wynton Kelly Trio and Wes Montgomery Wynton Kelly Trio and Wes Montgomery - Smokin' At The Half Note

"Wes Montgomery remains one of the undisputed greats of Modern Jazz guitar. To hear the man at his best is to luxuriate in the elevated energies of 'Smokin’ at the Half Note,' an LP co-billing him with the impeccable trio of pianist Wynton Kelly, bassist Paul Chambers, and drummer Jimmy Cobb. That set has been freshly reissued in Verve/UMe’s Acoustic Sound Series, and for consumers of vinyl with a passion for post-bop jazz, its acquisition is absolutely essential." — Joseph Neff, The Vinyl District, May 16, 2023. Read the entire review here.


Countdown To Ecstasy / Steely Dan Steely Dan - Countdown To Ecstasy

"Recording sessions for Steely Dan's second album were squeezed between dates on a tour that was more drudgery than ecstasy. As a result, in Donald Fagen's words, the album came together in a 'desultory, haphazard fashion.' In the end, the songwriting and performances were solid front to back, but the fact that some songs sound different than others may have reflected the erratic recording schedule. The comparatively compressed 'My Old School,' for example, differs markedly from the more open-sounding 'Your Gold Teeth,' and Fagen's vocals also sound different. The beefiest and best-sounding cut is 'Show Biz Kids' wherein Fagen takes shots at the beautiful people while Rick Derringer's slide guitar oozes sleaze and swagger. If one song maximizes the virtues of the Bernie Grundman-remastered 45 RPM 2LP UHQR vinyl pressing of Countdown to Ecstasy, it's 'Your Gold Teeth.' During some Santana-like grooves, the instruments have more breathing room than on the original U.S. pressing. On this and other cuts, there's also a clarity to the background and midground instruments that sells me on the UHQR. On the other hand, the original U.S. pressing has a more lifelike presence — so I'll stop short of saying there's a definitive edition of Countdown to Ecstasy." — Music = 5/5; Sonics = 4.5/5 - Jeff Wilson, The Absolute Sound, May-June 2023


Ballads / John Coltrane Quartet John Coltrane Quartet - Ballads

"My first introduction to this outstanding Rudy van Gelder recording dates back to the '90's JVC's XRCD series. Since then, I've acquired different versions on LP, each one being a step better, culminating in the 45 rpm reissue. And now we have it in the ultimate format 15-ips reel-to-tape. Here we find the aptly titled Ballads featuring a much mellower version of Coltrane, backed by the likes of McCoy Tyner on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums. Or as Ashley Kahn wrote, 'In 1963 had Impulse decided to title his new album something like Coltrane Plays for Lovers Only rather than Ballads, it would have been cliché, but more accurate.' Nothing could be closer to the truth and just a great demonstration of Coltrane's incredible talent." — Myles B. Astor, Positive Feedback, 2022 Writer's Choice Awards. To read the full review click here.


Stand Up / Jethro Tull Jethro Tull - Stand Up

"This Analogue Productions reissue made it in just under the wire, and who knew it was so good?!?! Certainly not me in part because my original copy that I bought junior year in high school in 1971 is long gone. So suffice it to say I wasn't expecting much, and was shocked from the first to last note of Stand Up. I initially intended to only listen to the first disc at the first listening session; but the reissue was so good that I listened to both discs and wished for more when the needle hit the run out groove. 'Bouree' and 'Nothing is Easy,' are two of my favorite songs on the album and both blew me away. Barre and Cornick's guitar work never sounded like this way back when, and had me playing air guitar along with them! The sound is remarkably transparent and revealing of Anderson's singing and flute playing in its full glory." — Myles B. Astor, Positive Feedback, 2022 Writer's Choice Awards. To read the full review click here.  


"Now comes Analogue Productions' 180-gram double 45 RPM reissue sourced from the original Island master tapes sent over from the U.K., cut by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio, pressed at RTI and housed in a laminated gatefold "Tip on" jacket complete with "pop up" band. The packaging is exquisite! Only word for it. AP couldn't get permission to use the pink label so it uses the green Chrysalis one. ... if the goal was to duplicate the original pink label Island sound, this reissue misses that, which is good because this new double 45 reissue is far superior to the original in every possible way. The tape was in great shape, that's for sure. Clarity, transparency, high frequency extension and especially transient precision are all far superior to the original. Bass is honest, not hyped up and the mastering delivers full dynamics that are somewhat (but only slightly), compressed on the original. Ian Anderson's vocals are naturally present as if you are on the other side of the microphone. Most importantly, the overall timbral balance sounds honest and correct. But especially great is the transient clarity on top and bottom. ... Best of all, as the title suggests this album "stands up" to time. It hasn't lost a thing musically, lyrically or sonically. Highly recommended!" —  Music = 9/11; Sound = 9/11 — Michael Fremer, trackingangle.com. To read Fremer's full review click here.

Kind of Blue / Miles Davis Miles Davis - Kind of Blue

"Kassem's new edition — also stamped in an edition of 25,000 — is from the same master, pressed on the same type of vinyl (but not "hand pressed" this time, which actually results in greater pressing consistency, plus now there's a good chance everyone who orders will get their copy in a reasonable time period), packed in the same fancy box. The only difference is that the music is on two LPs, cut at 45rpm, meaning the grooves are much wider. All things equal, this should make for finer detail, an airier ambience, more lifelike sound generally. And that's what you get here. Take the passage from my Stereophile review and step it up a few notches: "finer touches...even more stunningly clear...still more layers...the ecstatic beauty..." Everything is more present, more brassy, woody, or metallic, depending on the instrument. There's a more palpable sense of a human being blowing through a mouthpiece, plucking a string, coaxing a keyboard, or tapping a snare drum. There is more of a sense that you are with the musicians in the studio. In short, take any account you've read-or any memory you treasure-of this album's sonic glories, and embellish every admiring adjective with more, more, better, better." — Music = 11/11; Sound = 11/11 Fred Kaplan, TrackingAngle.com. To read Kaplan's full review, click here.


 Steely Dan - Two Against Nature & Steely Dan - Everything Must Go
Steely Dan - Two Against Nature &
Steely Dan - Everything Must Go

“Everything appeared on vinyl in Europe shortly after its release, and Rhino put out a 2LP Two Against Nature (with the fourth side blank) for Record Store Day in 2021. I haven’t heard the Euro pressing, but I have the Rhino. The Acoustic Sounds reissue is pressed from the same digital master (by Scott Hull), so its only distinctions are the QRP pressing and 45 RPM speed, but that makes a big difference. Fagen’s voice is clearer, the guitars are pluckier, the horns are brassier, the drums are more eye-blinkingly smacked, and the rhythm is more coherent. The improvement isn’t huge, but it’s obvious. (The improvement over the CD is fairly large.) The Rhino LP package is out of print and sells on Discogs for hundreds of dollars, so the Acoustic Sounds package, at $60, is a relative bargain.

Everything Must Go was released on vinyl in Europe, and while it too is better than the CD (I have both), the Analogue Productions reissue, which is mastered by Bernie Grundman, is much better still. Here, too, comparisons are academic, as the Euro LP is out of print and selling for three-digit prices on the secondary markets.

Both albums are also among AP’s handsomest productions, with a Tip-on gatefold jacket, lush color reproduction, and dead-quiet 180-gram virgin vinyl.

If you missed these albums when they came out, at the start of the century, it’s time to catch up, since the times have caught up with them. There’s never been a better way to do so.” — Fred Kaplan, Revinylization, for Stereophile, September 2022


Are You Experienced? / The Jimi Hendrix Experience The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced?

Stereophile's Revinylization Best New LP Reissue for August 2022!

"Analogue Productions and a few other vinyl-oriented labels are indeed pursuing sonic excellence with their reissues. Done right, this requires attention to every facet of the audio and physical-media production chain. (This) new copy of Are You Experienced is immaculately flat — a fully flat profile is one of the virtues of the Clarity Vinyl process — and visually transparent, with a well-centered spindle hole. Surface noise is almost nonexistent, contributing to outstanding detail and texture. Those black backgrounds viscerally enhance the huge dynamic range of this recording and the resulting impact. ... I did a three-way vinyl comparison: my original Reprise stereo copy from 1967, the 2010 stereo version remastered by Eddie Kramer, and this new UHQR issue. The tracks on Are You Experienced vary in the amount and depth of bass due to choices made during the recording and mixing. On this new UHQR LP, when the low end is there, it's just beautiful — as at the beginning of 'The Wind Cries Mary.' Another big winner is the sound and definition of Mitch Mitchell's drums; his jazzy attack on 'Third Stone from the Sun' is a shining example. When Jimi leans in, as he does on 'Foxy Lady,' it doesn't sound like he's bending a string; it sounds like he's tying his guitar into knots. ... On the system I have now, with this pressing, I can experience at least a heavy echo of the energy I felt when I first encountered the album all those years ago." — Revinylization by Sasha Matson, Stereophile, August 2022


"... the copies that arrived with me were as perfect vinyl pressings as possible. ... The booklet is now expanded to 20 pages. ... (It) now includes a number of extra photographs along with additional essays from Brad Tolinski and John McDermott to sit with the original Dave Marsh essay. ... What was apparent from the off, once the needle hit the clarity vinyl, this vinyl pressing was dead silent. Over all, unquestionably a pressing to the highest standard; as quiet as a physical pressing you could wish for which in turn allowed the vinyl formula's black background to deliver on its part, flat and centered. These points allowed the record to shine in its own right. The flat profile was noticeable once again with no deviation from delivery from start to end of each side. ... Grundman's part in bringing this to us as is — well, it's been a long time coming, but worth the wait — 20,000 copies is not many, really. This is unlikely to be presented any better any time soon if ever." — Gordon Johnson, jmhvinyl.co.uk, April 9, 2022. Read the entire review here.


"...sonically (prior editions) can't touch this new Bernie Grundman mastering using the original tapes and pressed UHQR flat profile on 200g Clarity vinyl at QRP. I compared this new version to the original and to all of the other Experience Hendrix reissues and Bernie's got them all beat in terms of dynamics, three-dimensionality and especially transparency — a quality I never thought to assign this recording but one listen will convince you that it's there. I've been playing this record in one version or another since August of 1967 and I knew there was a 'mouth pop' on 'Purple Haze' but nonetheless when it came I jumped and adrenaline flowed so present and 3 dimensional was the 'pop.' This is one of the classic albums from the rock era and it's never sounded this good. This version will most likely never be bettered" —  Music = 10/11; Sound = 10/11 - Michael Fremer, AnalogPlanet.com. Read Fremer's full review here.


Soultrane / John Coltrane John Coltrane - Soultrane

"Originally released in 1958, this was Coltrane's third studio recording for Prestige, and was completed three days after his participation in the Miles Davis Milestones sessions. With Red Garland on piano, Paul Chambers on bass and Art Taylor on drums, we have an all-star quartet that serves Coltrane well. ... Superb dynamics. Amazing clarity and definition. Another dead quiet and flat pressing by QRP. Soultrane is an excellent point to jump back into the Prestige series. By the way, be forewarned that Chad plans on rolling out a total of 25 titles. You might want to bookmark that Acoustic Sounds website. Highly recommended!" — Robert S. Youman, Positive Feedback, Issue 120, April 14, 2022. Read the entire review here.


Kind of Blue / Miles Davis Miles Davis - Kind of Blue

"...this one is speed-corrected, so you can think of it as the one to own. ... the booklet that accompanies this edition is so comprehensive that, should you have the patience, you might want to read it from cover to cover before letting your stylus settle into the groove. It just might prepare you for what you are about to hear, which is — to my ears — so far above reproach that it has joined a minuscule list of albums I would have to classify as 'perfect.'" — Ken Kessler, The Vinyl Adventure. Read Kessler's entire review here.
"You really do feel like you're in the recording studio with the band; the realism of the room is that stark. I've heard the UHQR called the "apex release," and can confirm this to be true. It is, simply put, a stunning record." — Eric Pye, ecoustics.com. Read Pye's entire review here.
"The result (drum rolls) is the best-sounding Kind of Blue ever, superior in every way to all previous pressings, including the original. The pressing is superquiet, allowing the slightest of details to pop out from the black backdrop. Cobb's drumkit is spooky real. I've heard this album, in one version or another, hundreds of times, and there are fine touches in Cobb's snare swooshes and cymbal taps — accents on accents, rhythms within rhythms — that I've never heard before. Chamber's bass lines are stunningly clear: the notes he's playing, the pluck of the strings, the glow of the wood. There are also new layers of detail in Miles' mouthpiece manipulations, Evans's pedal work, and the sheer beauty of Coltrane's and Adderly's saxophones. ... the chase is eternal. This reissue holds the brass ring, for now." — Fred Kaplan, Stereophile, August 2021
"Quite clearly and obviously this new UHQR Kind of Blue sourced from Bernie Grundman's 1995 'live' mix from the 3-track master, directly to lacquer sounds best compared to two early '6-Eyes,' Classic's own double 180g set and that label's single-sided 45rpm set, and Mobile Fidelity's double 45 boxed edition, to which I compared the UHQR.

"Even the quietest original pressing creates a pleasing romantic blur over a soft bed of noise but compared to this issue the overall picture is distant and hazy (though the romanticized version still pulls). The UHQR offers the blackest, quietest backgrounds and unparalleled transparency, but more critically, the modified Finebuilt hand press produces unprecedented transient precision and instrumental focus and resolves low level details that will deliver surprises to even the most blasé KOB veteran, one of whom visited and exclaimed 'I've never heard that before.' This pressing allows you to see further into the mix and transports you back in time and into the 30th Street studios. I don't care what version you now have you've never heard Kind of Blue quite like this." — Music = 11/11; Sound = 11/11 Michael Fremer, AnalogPlanet.com, May 17, 2021. Read the whole review here.

Folk Singer / Muddy Waters Muddy Waters - Folk Singer

"After a long wait, my copy of Analog Productions Muddy Waters - Folk Singer (Ultra Tape) 1/4 Inch - 15 IPS Tape finally arrived today. Mamma Mia! I'll write in more detail in upcoming reviews in due course, but there is something fundamentally right about the sonic scope and raw music that comes through this format. The lack of a mechanical imprint, which even the best digital is not free of, and the dynamic freedom is simply the charts. The packaging, the quality of the printing, and the overall experience of this format scream quality at every turn. Extremely impressive! You can call me a convert! Analog Productions Ultra Tapes opens up a new realm for analog. Yes, these tapes are far from cheap, but in fact, some of the original vinyl pressings are even more expensive. " — Matej Isak, monoandstereo.com.

Awarded Positive Feedback Writer's Choice Award for 2018!
"My first reaction when Chad Kassem told me at a recent audio show that Muddy Water's Folk Singer would highlight Acoustic Sound's second series of 15-ips tape releases was complete shock. Not for long, though, as exhilaration rapidly starting coursing through my body. What audiophile in their right mind with a tape machine wouldn't want a 15-ips tape copy of this classic Chess Records recording? One that has an extra, unlisted tenth track of Waters's 'You Can't Lose What You Ain't Never Had' (taken from an April 1964 recording session) that's not on the original album. For good reason, too, as this new 15-ips tape copy lives up to and exceeds even the most lofty expectations. The tape just brings this 1963 recording to life in new and unexpected ways whether it be foot taps, the sound of Guy's guitar and reverb trails." — Myles B. Astor, Positive Feedback.com, Issue 100, Nov. 1, 2018. Read the entire review here.

The Dark Side Of The Moon / Pink Floyd Pink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon (SACD)

Hi-Fi News Album Choice for March 2022!
"You might wonder why 1) I'm giving this our Album Choice, and 2) the ace score of 95% if, like me, you'd rather pass a kidney stone than listen to Pink Floyd, and I've done both. But I rate it without contradiction because this page is focused as much on sound quality as content. So while not to my tastes, it's still sold over 45 million copies and is regarded as one of the greatest ever, permanently sited near the top of any polls. What Chad Kassem's crew delivers here is arguably the best-sounding digital transfer yet — in both stereo and 5.1 surround — even matching MoFi's 1981 UHQR LP for richness. Seconds into 'Money' or 'Time' and you'll click 'Buy Now,' whatever your preferred supplier. Astonishing, especially in 5.1" — Sound Quality: 95% — Ken Kessler, Hi Fi News, March 2022

 


And Then I Wrote / Willie Nelson Willie Nelson - And Then I Wrote

"...Stardust this is not but it's a collection of 12 Nelson tear jerkers like 'Darkness on the Face of the Earth' and 'Where My House Lives' that somehow turns 'down in the dumps' self-pity into excruciating pleasure-especially if you've ever been there. ... Matt Lutthans mastered at 45rpm on the finally fully up and perfectly running The Mastering Lab's tube-based cutting system now housed at Blue Heaven Studios in Salina, Kansas. How great it is to see the TML-M stamp on two brand new slabs of 180g QRP pressed records. Housed in gatefold Stoughton Press 'Tip on' jacket. Willie Nelson fans will want to have this." — Music = 7/11; Sound = 9/11 - Michael Fremer, AnalogPlanet.com. To read Fremer's full review, click here.


Ahmad Jamal At The Pershing / Ahmad Jamal Trio Ahmad Jamal Trio - Ahmad Jamal At The Pershing

"At The Pershing: But Not For Me was much more than a record: it was a phenomenon. Its fame and popularity spread like wildfire. It topped America's jazz charts for months and established a 107-week residence in Billboard's album charts. 'That album sold over one million copies and is still selling.' There is a palpable sense of incredulity in Jamal's voice, as if he still can't comprehend the record's success and astounding longevity." — Udiscovermusic. Pianist Ahmad Jamal Recalls 'At The Pershing.' Read the whole review here.


Head Hunters / Herbie Hancock Herbie Hancock - Head Hunters

"Listening to the opening track 'Chameleon' on any release will get you feeling funky, but the Analogue Productions 2LP 45rpm release will get you groovin'! ... Analogue Productions does an incredible job on this release, keeping you enveloped in the music while breaking down the barrier between your stereo and musicians. I'd previously had a run-of-the-mill reissue of this album that I thought was good and did the job, but because of how much I love this album I opted to spend some more bucks on the AP release, not expecting a huge difference. Boy was I wrong. There is so much more clarity to every instrument, and instead of the funk taking a backseat, it punches you in the face and demands your attention. Both of my discs arrived flat and without any pressing defects or jacket damage on the mighty journey from Salina to Edmonton. I would urge any record collector to buy this release." — Music = 10/11; Sound = 10/11 — Simon Guile, AnalogPlanet.com. To read Guile's full review, click here.


Give It Up To Love / Mighty Sam McClain Mighty Sam McClain - Give It Up To Love

A Stereophile - "Records To Die For" February 2021 selection!
"Give It Up to Love has been one of my all-time faves since its release in 1993. Producer Joe Harley correctly identified red-clay R&B vocalist Sam McClain as someone whose musical career was due for a new act. The album continues to be an audiophile go-to; this latest issue by Analogue Productions generously spaces out 11 tracks over two 45 RPM LPs. The sound was already standard-setting, whatever the format, thanks to engineer Michael C. Ross's superb 'get.' I can pretty much tell within moments how my system is sounding by hearing a few beats of Mighty Sam's vocals and listening to guitarist Kevin Barry sliding down over the frets at the top of 'What You Want Me to Do.'" — Sasha Matson, for Stereophile — "Records To Die For" — February 2021.

 


Are You Experienced? / The Jimi Hendrix Experience The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced?


"One forgets how weird, nay bizarre, was the stereo mix of this album in places, but the music transcends the extreme separation. This SACD — the sleeve and track listing follow the U.S. issue — includes the stereo version on both layers, with the mono mix a bonus solely for the SACD layer. Hendrix's debut still sounds radical and otherworldly over a half-century on, and every track is magnificent, with a surfeit of what would become his signature tunes, including 'Foxey Lady,' — yes, U.S. spelling with an 'e'! — 'Purple Haze,' 'Hey Joe' and my all-time Jimi fave, 'The Wind Cries Mary.' If you don't already own a copy, Analogue Productions' SACD will do the trick." — Sound Quality = 85% - Ken Kessler, HiFi News, March 2021

"Highlights for me at HiRez sit with 'The Wind Cries Mary,' and while it may have taken a couple of plays, '3rd Stone From The Sun' is incredibly detailed in a way I never heard or experienced before ... As per usual again with Grundman, Jimi's vocal is detailed and rich in tone and so real. Probably why I like Grundman's mastering on the Harbeth speakers so much as I know just how close to being real they reproduce vocal. If it is on the recording it will be delivered ... critical listening will always find fault especially with this recording. I'm just so pleased that those issues were not enough to prevent this Super Audio Compact Disc release. ... $35 for this set is a bargain and I cannot find any reason not to have this available to play for anyone interested in this record." Are You Experienced Hybrid SACD review, Gordon Johnson, jmhvinyl.co.uk, 2020


Country Hits...Feelin' Blue / Tennessee Ernie Ford Tennessee Ernie Ford - Country Hits...Feelin' Blue

"The sonics are the point here, or at least the main point. Ford's deep, resonant voice, with a bit of reverb, is very well recorded. You could consider this a voice-fetish record of the 'Wonderful world of ... Vocals' variety, and I'm sure many will buy it for that reason. But I hope some will buy it for the music: It may be an acquired taste for 21st century hi-fi sophisticates, but on its own terms, it's good, so broaden your horizons. Pressed on flat, quiet 200g vinyl." — Jim Austin, Stereophile, January 2021.


Witches' Brew / Alexander Gibson Witches' Brew/Alexander Gibson

Recording of The Year / Best Classical Reel-To-Reel Tape Reissue — 'Witches Brew,' Alexander Gibson (Conductor) and New Symphony Orchestra of London, Kenneth Wilkinson (Engineer), Recorded at Kingsway Hall, London, recording date 1957, Analogue Productions/RCA LSC-2225, RRAP 0023.

"Not too shabby for a 63 year old stereo recording. ... This 15 ips tape simply confirms the brilliance of Kenneth Wilkinson and further opens up this recordings' dynamic window, bass clarity and dynamics. String tone is ever-so-sweet without being syrupy. (Check out the harp playing at the end of Hansel and Gretel!)."


Beethoven: Sonatas No. 8, Op. 30, No. 3 / Brahms: No. 1, Op. 78 / Rubinstein and Szeryng Beethoven: Sonatas No. 8, Op. 30, No. 3 / Brahms: No. 1, Op. 78/Rubinstein and Szeryng

Best Classical Reissue LP — 'Beethoven: Violin Sonata No. 8, Op. 30, No. 3; Brahms: Violin Sonata No. 1, Op. 78,' Henryk Szerying (violin) and Artur Rubinstein (pianist), Max Wilcox (Producer) and Anthony Salvatore (Engineer), Remastering engineer: Ryan K. Smith, Analogue Productions/RCA LSC-2620, originally released in 1962.

"Of the two pieces, the Brahms on the second side (also known as the Rain Sonata) with its 16th notes emulating the sound of raindrops sees the most play time. Salvatore captures an almost perfect perspective on both players and the sound of both instruments—particularly Szerying's violin—are exemplary. A perfect LP for relaxing on non-football Sunday afternoons!"



Aqualung / Jethro Tull Jethro Tull - Aqualung

Best Rock Recording LP — Jethro Tull: 'Aqualung,' Analogue Productions UHQR 0003-45, Ian Anderson and Terry Ellis (Producers), John Burns (Engineer), Remastering engineer: Bernie Grundman. "...there's an abundance of low level information, a huge soundstage and most of all fabulous music. ... There's simply not a throw away song here starting with the riffs of the title track 'Aqualung' to the classic flute opening of 'Cross-Eyed Mary' to the timeless 'Wond'ring Aloud' to one of Tull's perhaps most well-known song 'Locomotive Breath.' Get this UHQR before it goes out-of-print! You won't be sorry!"

“Aqualung. Brilliant! I fell out of love with this record many years ago but listening to the UHQR release a little earlier today was a joy.” Aqualung UHQR review, Gordon Johnson, jmhvinyl.co.uk, 2020


At The Montreux Jazz Festival / Bill Evans Bill Evans - At The Montreux Jazz Festival

"(Analogue Productions) reissued this album once before, in 1994, on a single, 180-gram, 33.3 RPM LP. Mastered by Bernie Grundman, it sounded better than Verve's original pressing. The new 45, mastered by Matt Lutthans and stamped on the late Doug Sax's cutting gear, sounds better still. There is a fiercely live quality to this pressing. Instruments loom on the soundstage with 3D precision. Gomez's bass is vibrant with wood: you hear every pluck, and when he snaps a string, it makes you jump. DeJohnette's trap set is equally clear — every bass beat, stick stroke, and cymbal sizzle — and when he takes a solo, it gets loud but not muddy. Evans's color tones, shifting harmonies, counterpoints, and pedal shifts have never pierced the ambience so audibly, at least not on other pressings of this recording." — Fred Kaplan, Stereophile, October 2020

"Analogue Productions has done a superb job in re-mastering Bill Evans — At The Montreux Jazz Festival to audiophile vinyl. The utilization of 45 RPM speed is a revelation. The atmospheric 'quiet' is at studio-level clarity. (When the audience applauds at the end of a song, it is almost startling). The detailed, precise tonality of the instruments is incredible, especially with a good pair of stereo headphones. Evans' piano is percussive and crisp. All of the double bass sounds are crystalline, and small touches like brush on cymbal are showcased in the mix. The vinyl pressing by Quality Record Pressings is impeccable. ... This album is a jazz and audiophile historical document. This would be a valuable addition to any collection, especially jazz aficionados and vinyl enthusiasts!" — 5 stars / Robbie Gerson, Audiophile Audition, Aug. 17, 2020. Read the entire review here.


The Complete Plantation Recordings / Muddy Waters Muddy Waters - The Complete Plantation Recordings

"Limited to 1,000 numbered copies, Analogue Productions' deluxe release of these seminal Muddy Waters recordings is one of the coolest and most significant projects I've seen — not only in terms of the recorded content, but in conception and packaging, too. For the first time these LPs include all the songs captured by Alan Lomax's 'portable' field equipment — 350 lbs. worth custom rigged into a Ford sedan-during two sessions in 1941 and 1942, plus interviews with the 26-year-old Muddy that were considered an essential part of the Library of Congress's attempt to document the widest possible range of American folk music. The linen-bound gatefold jacket meticulously recreates the original Library of Congress releases, with historic photos of Waters, Lomax, his recording set-up, etc. The Library of Congress transferred the original metal disc recordings to a high-res 192kHz digital file used by Sterling Sound's Ryan K. Smith to master this edition, and the results are a revelation. While the sound is relatively primitive, it is also remarkably natural, pure, and immediate. By comparison the incomplete 1966 Testament release sounds like it was made under a blanket. This is a remarkable achievement. Get it while you can." — Music = 5 Stars; Sonics = 3 Stars - Wayne Garcia, The Absolute Sound, Aug. 19, 2020

"In 1941 and 1942, as part of the United States Library of Congress sponsored program to document and record America's 'folk' music, Alan Lomax travelled to Mississippi during 1941 and 1942 and made the earliest recordings of Muddy Waters on the Stovall Plantation near Clarksdale. The recording trip was the brainchild of Fisk University musicologist John Wesley Work III, who contacted folklorist Alan Lomax at the Library of Congress for funding. The two traveled to the Clarksville area in 1941 and recorded Waters, Son House, Honeyboy Edwards, and others. They loaded several hundred pounds of recording equipment, including a new Presto Model 'T' Recorder, that company's most portable disc-cutting lathe. The recordings were made on fragile aluminum and glass-based lacquers during two summer trips to Clarksdale.

"One of the 1941 lacquers broke during the road trip, but three of the four sides of this release are from the 1942 sessions. Other than a few short interview cuts, and two vocals from guest singers, the four sides are composed of Muddy's singing and playing a Martin guitar supplied by Lomax, and with sidemen on some cuts. Two of the 1941 performances, 'Country Blues,' and 'I Be's Troubled' were included in a 1942 five-disc 78 RPM Library of Congress album titled Folk Music of The United States, Album IV: Afro-American Blues and Games Songs, and this was Muddy's introduction to the world outside the Delta. The blues explosion had begun — soon after the first Lomax visit, Sonny Boy Williamson, and Robert Lockwood Jr. had talked radio station KFFA in Helena, Arkansas into hosting a regular blues slot, named the King Biscuit Time after its sponsor. Muddy's appearance on the radio had folks talking and he knew he was going places. In 1943 Muddy boarded a train for Chicago and in 1947 got a call to record for the Chess brothers.

"If Muddy Waters wasn't fully formed in 1941 and 1942 when he recorded his first songs, he was awfully close. He'd already established his unique blend of country blues and popular music. Just listen to "I Be's Troubled" and recognize that it's one of Muddy Water's evergreen hits, like 'I Can't Be Satisfied.'

"But how good can a field recording made in the early 1940s sound? While it doesn't have the dynamic slam and quite the richness of his Chess recordings from a half-decade later, it sounds really, really good. Early blues recordings from this period are obviously limited in frequency range, but unlike most recordings of classical music from the period they need not be demeaned with the disparaging term 'historic.' Yazoo Records sold a boatload of records of one man/one guitar LPs of Blind Blake, Blind Boy Fuller, and Blind Willie McTell (as well as sighted blues singers) that still sound pretty decent. And those were from the 1920s and 1930's! By 1941, Presto Recordings equipment and especially its recording disc (an aluminum plate coated with a cellulose nitrate based lacquer) technology was the radio industry standard.

"Until now, the complete plantation recordings were never available on LP. In 1966 Testament Records issued a one disc LP Down On Stovall's Plantation with 13 of the 19 songs from the session and none of the interviews. Chess released the complete sessions on CD in 1993. This new mastering by Analogue Productions make the earlier versions sound 'historic' by comparison. Ryan K. Smith at Sterling Sound, working from the original Library of Congress 16-inch acetate disc masters, cut a 24/192 source tape from which the LP was cut. Everything about the new transfer is simply stunning. Detail and rich texture replace the much thinner sound of the 1966 LP, and leave the sound of the CD versions in the dust.

"This gem is truly a limited edition pressing — only 1,000 copies will be pressed, 999 if you eliminate my copy. the fold-out cover is linen coated and the print and layout mimics the 1942 release. The inside cover includes outstanding notes; photos and the three inserts complete the handsome package. An essential blues library addition!" — Recording = 7/10; Music = 10/10 - Dennis D. Davis, Hi-Fi +, Issue 177


Pet Sounds / The Beach Boys The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds

"I just received my copy of the 33 1/3 RPM AP stereo version of Pet Sounds from you, and it completely blew me away in overall sound quality. Excellent job, Chad! BTW, the album cover is also top-notch — everything says quality. With Brian Wilson's talent, along with the musical versatility of the Wrecking Crew and their respect for Wilson's ideas, Pet Sounds demonstrates the brilliance of them both in a time capsule — and AP's remastering is the final excellent touch to bring that out and preserve this enjoyable, thrilling, listening experience. Some say it's the best they have heard of this title. I don't know how it could sound better, so I'll take their word for it — now knowing I own the best analog 33 1/3 RPM stereo recording of this LP." — Mark Swinford


Duets / Rob Wasserman Rob Wasserman - Duets

"It was a daring idea to suggest songs to some of his guests that were already available in exemplary interpretations. Lou Reed didn't risk any comparison with Frank Sinatra; instead he composed the hated-by-him 'One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)' from scratch completely new. Rickie Lee Jones sang as beguilingly as on the live recording 'Girl At Her Volcano,' Cheryl Bentyne and Jennifer Warnes offered their most beautiful bel canto qualities during the sessions, performing Leonard Cohen's 'Ballad of the Runaway Horse' and the standard 'Angel Eyes' as elegy or drama. The violin of Stéphane Grappelli sings and swings in 'Over The Rainbow.' Bobby McFerrin used 'Brothers' for five minutes of his notorious vocal acrobatics. Aaron Neville sounds much less melancholic on 'Stardust' than Nat 'King' Cole. Kevin Gray's 1:1 vinyl mastering was meticulously based on the original mix in terms of sound balance and dynamics. Surprisingly, they don't vary much from song to song (mastering: Joe Gastwirt), although the recordings were produced in more than half a dozen studios with certainly not identical acoustics. Moderate transfer level, excellent press quality." — Franz Schöler, Stereo Magazine, August 2020


Helen Merrill / Helen Merrill Helen Merrill - Helen Merrill

"Clifford Brown, probably the most acclaimed jazz instrumentalist in 1954, acts (here) as the perfect foil. ... He supplies the hot to Merrill's cool. His technical prowess is on display and he plays quick runs of notes with remarkable delicacy. ... the packaging is a tip-on jacket from Stoughton Printing. Unlike the original, it is a gatefold with session photos on the inside. An insert includes a bit of history about Robert Fine as well as detailed sessions notes. The pressing is a 200-gram slab of vinyl from Quality Record Pressings — enough said. This is a great reissue that, for all intents and purposes, is the only choice for serious listening. The original is priced out of reach for all but the wealthy." —  Recording = 4.5/5; Music = 5/5 — Dennis D. Davis, The Audio Beat, May 27, 2020. Read the entire review here.


Vivaldi: The Four Seasons / Societa CorelliBach: Suites For Unaccompanied Cello Complete/Janos Starker & Vivaldi: The Four Seasons/Societa Corelli

"I'm not in perfect agreement with my colleagues and friends who believe that RCA's Living Stereo LPs from the late 1950s and '60s are the best-sounding commercial recordings ever made. To me, the Decca SXL catalog outshines them sonically, in addition to showcasing the talents of an even greater roster of artists. But that's not to say I'm immune to their charms: The RCA catalog contains some real gems.

"Like some of you, my interest in RCA classical LPs was spurred by the writings of the late Harry Pearson, founder of the magazine The Absolute Sound. But by the time I began my own search, the titles Pearson pushed — Fritz Reiner and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's recordings of Rimsky-Korsakoff's Scheherazade (LSC-2446), Strauss' Also Sprach Zarathustra (LSC-1806), and Prokofiev's Lieutenant Kijé Suite (LSC-2150), to name just three — were difficult if not impossible to find. There were however lots of other great RCAs out there, many in shockingly good condition, and while at first I longed for the validation that comes with assembling a library of critically recommended titles, I soon learned the far greater pleasure of developing my own critical judgment.

"Even so, in the 1980s, when I found my own copy of Vittorio Emanuele and Societa Corelli's 1960 recording of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons (RCA LSC-2424), my first response was one of mild insecurity: This can't really be as a good a record as I think it is — can it? After all, no one else in the audiophile press seemed to have noticed it, and to make matters worse, the production and engineering team of Richard Mohr and Lewis Layton, whom we were told were responsible for all the great classical RCAs, was nowhere to be seen. In fact, this dry-sounding and starkly vivid Vivaldi recording was made in Italy, of all places.

"The original LP has now been reissued by Analogue Productions on 200gm vinyl, mastered at Sterling Sound by Ryan K. Smith and stamped at Quality Record Pressings. I compared my review copy of the AS release to my IS/IS original and found the two to be very, very close; if anything, I believe most listeners would prefer the AS reissue for its very slightly more rounded-off sound, which sacrifices nothing of the original's presence yet pulls the dry sound back an inch or two from the brink of brightness. Also, the reissue has a somewhat wider dynamic range: After matching its volume to the original during a quiet passage, forte passages on the reissue seemed to go louder than on the original. All around, a well-done reissue of a recording that deserves your love.

"Speaking of Fritz Reiner: In 1953, when he became the music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Reiner installed as principal cellist his fellow Hungarian-American János Starker, then only 30. (The two remained close until, as legend has it, Starker played the clam of all clams during a performance, in response to which the conductor threw his baton with such force that it broke in two.) During a long and storied career, Starker made five recordings of the Bach solo cello suites, beginning in the 1940s with a set for the Hungarian-owned (and ironically named) Period Records. His second set, recorded in mono for UK Columbia, was released in 1959, while his third was recorded in stereo for Mercury Records and released in 1966. That last one, long a favorite among audiophiles for its superb engineering by master recordist Robert Fine, was reissued on high-quality vinyl in the not-distant past — and now has come in for evern grander reatment, also by Analogue Productions: a six-LP box set (AAPC 3-9016-45), mastered at 45 RPM from the first-generation, 1/2" masters and pressed on 200gm vinyl, all under the supervision of Thomas Fine, son of Robert and Wilma Cozart Fine (apart from which, reissue credits are as above). The price is $150 per set.

"Compared to an approximately 15-year-old reissue of the original three-LP Mercury set (SR3-9016), the new six-LP box has the same abundance of rich tone and believable texture, along with superb musical momentum and flow. But here those qualities are enhanced by a larger sense of scale — much larger, in fact — and a greater sense of player and instrument being present between and in front of the loudspeakers. The effect is almost overwhelming.

"Musically/artistically, I prefer the 1959 recordings for Starker's somewhat more "romantic" approach, if one can say such a thing about performances of baroque music. As an example, I'd point to his playing in the heavily double- and triple-stopped Sarabande of the E-flat suite: In the 1959 recording, Starker's bowing is more halting, tentative, and, to my ears, thoughtful: effects that heighten the contrast when he shifts into the first of the two Bourrées that follow. In the 1966 performance, the Sarabande sounds bolder and altogether more modern — which, for some listeners, may put this music across more effectively. But no matter how you look at it, there's no arguing with the sound: It is not without reason that these recordings have enchanted audiophiles for decades, and to enjoy the new AS set on a good system is as close as one can get to being in Fine Recording's Ballroom Studio A with one of the greatest cellists of the 20th century. Highly recommended." — Revinylization by Art Dudley, Stereophile.com, June 2020


Taking The World, By Storm / Warren Storm Warren Storm - Taking The World, By Storm (CD)

"Taking the World by Storm is that rarest of recordings. It's made with love. Warren and the band aren't just playing music, they're taking you with them — deep into the timeless Louisiana swamps they know so well." — Scott M. Bock, Living Blues Magazine

"The setlist includes eleven tracks, mostly songs Storm has performed for years, songs like Earl King's 'Lonely Nights,' Dave Bartholomew and Fats Domino's 'Let The Four Winds Blow, Bobby Charles' 'Tennessee Blues,' 'Raining In My Heart,' Merle Haggard's 'My House of Memories,' and the swamp pop anthem, 'Mathilda.'" Also included are Storm's first two songs 'The Prisoner's Song' and 'Mama, Mama, Mama.' The opening track is new to his repertoire, however....Creedance Clearwater Revival's 'Long As I Can See The Light.' John Fogerty and CCR's sound were heavily influenced by swamp pop, so it seemed a wise choice and Storm does a fantastic job with it, even sharing the final verse of the song with Fogerty himself!...Warren Storm has been making this kind of music for over 70 years. At 82, he sounds as great as he did in 1958. If you're not familiar with the man or swamp pop, Taking The World, By Storm is a great place for new listeners to start, and it's a welcome addition to the genre for longtime fans." — Graham Clarke, Friday Blues Fix Blog / Blues Bytes

"At 82 years old, Warren Storm has more history behind him than in front of him. Fortunately, this stop along the way gives the world another chance to take a taste of the swamp pop that he is generally considered to have created- a steamy mixture of country, cajun, zydeco and New Orleans R & B. Think early CCR and you'll be in the right book, if not on the right page. Louisiana musician Yvette Landry coaxed Storm into the studio to revisit some of his career highlights such as 'Mathilda' and 'Prisoner's Song' as well as some takes on classics by others including CCR's John Fogerty who guests on his classic 'Long As I Can See the Light.' With an all-star band including Eric Adcock on piano, Roddie Romero on guitar, Derek Huston on sax, Chris French on bass and Gary Usie on drums plus special guests including Fogerty, Marc Broussard, Sonny Landreth and Willie "Tee" Traham, the stage was set for a fine release and this disc delivers. Storm's voice shows little signs of his aging as revealed by both ballads such as the Bobby Charles penned 'Tennessee Blues' and more upbeat numbers such as the Dave Bartholomew/Fats Domino classic 'Let the Four Winds Blow' and his 1956 hits, 'Mama, Mama, Mama' (where Landry adds some saucy vocals to the mix) and 'Prisoner's Song.' Merle Haggard's 'My House of Memories' aptly captures the anguish of unshakable loss while the bouncy, saxdriven 'Troubles, Troubles' is musically at odds with the misery and turmoil claimed in the lyrics revealing the loss of his lady isn't likely as bad as he protests. For those seeking to revisit swamp pop history this is a nice souvenir. For those new to the genre, this is a great introduction." — Mark Smith, Jazz & Blues Report, March • April 2020 • Issue 389

"Storm's robust, rough and ready vocals are more than ably accompanied by the core band of pianist Eric Adcock, guitarist Roddie Romero, tenor and baritone saxist Derek Hutson, upright bassist Chris French and drummer Gary Usie on, not only the two debut 45 titles above, but engaging covers of a raft of titles that followed in his wake. Particular corkers include the choogling 'Long As I Can See The Light,' where Creedence Clearwater's John Fogerty drops by to share the vocal with Storm, along with a rockin' 'Mathilda,' a mellow recall of Bobby Charles' 'Tennessee Blues' (with slide guitarist Richard Comeaux and fiddler Beau Thomas guesting) and Domino's carefree 'Let The Four Winds Blow.' Also noted are (producer Yvette) Landry's tempestuous vocal sharing on 'Mama Mama Mama' and an inspired reworking of Merle Haggard's bleak 'My House Of Memories'." — Gary von Tersch, Blues & Rhythm Magazine, April 2020.


The Wonderful Sounds of Female Vocals / Various Artists Various Artists - The Wonderful Sounds of Female Vocals

"At first, you might think this is simply a compilation promoting Analogue Productions' catalogue, which it does. But they packed it with 22 exalted distaff classics such as Patsy Cline's original 'Crazy,' Julie London's 'Cry Me A River,' and others of that calibre — no fillers. AP's artists also include Joan Baez, Shelby Lynne, Phoebe Snow, Rickie Lee Jones, Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Bryan, Jennifer Warnes, Diana Krall, Janis Ian, Joan Armatrading, Judy Collins and Holly Cole, so this really is A-list stuff. Best of all? You get two of the greatest performances ever: Dusty Springfield's 'Son Of A Preacher Man' and yes, 'The Look Of Love.' This isn't just a taster for AP: it's a phenomenal package by any standards." — Sound Quality = 90% - Ken Kessler, HiFi News Album Choice for October 2019

"(Kevin) Gray has few peers and the two-LP set is as sharp a calling card as exists for experiencing how good older recordings can be made to sound when the care and skill of an exceptional mastering engineer is at the helm. If this album doesn't make your stereo sound fantastic, don't blame it on the LPs!" — Music = 4.5/5; Sound = 5/5; Pressing = 5/5; Jacket = 3/5 — Dennis Davis, vinylreviews.com, August 2018

"Humungous conflict of interest alert! I wrote this compilation's liner notes and created the 22 song track order. ... The sources all were high-resolution files, some DSD, some PCM, depending upon what (Chad) Kassem was originally given in the digital domain, or in most cases what Gus Skinas produced in DSD using the original analog tapes. ... This double LP set works well as entertainment and as a great sampler of the LPs mostly released by Analogue Productions and mostly AAA (where there's tape to begin with). You can't go wrong." — Music = 10/11; Sound = 10/11 - Michael Fremer, AnalogPlanet.com. Read the whole review here.



What I Think About — When I Think About Analogue Productions

They say you never forget your first one – but I have to confess I cannot remember my first Analogue Productions reissue LP. I do remember my first order from Acoustic Sounds though. It was back in 2007 and I had just started to go back to vinyl after many years away. I was lucky I didn’t sell too many of my LPs during the 90s and early 2000s and so I had a collection to build on and build I did. But that’s another story and this story is about Analogue Productions – the greatest audiophile reissue label ever... To read James Ellis's full review, click here.


 

Taking The World By Storm / Warren Storm Warren Storm - Taking The World, By Storm (200 Gram Vinyl Record)

"Taking the World by Storm is that rarest of recordings. It's made with love. Warren and the band aren't just playing music, they're taking you with them — deep into the timeless Louisiana swamps they know so well." — Scott M. Bock, Living Blues Magazine

"The setlist includes eleven tracks, mostly songs Storm has performed for years, songs like Earl King's 'Lonely Nights,' Dave Bartholomew and Fats Domino's 'Let The Four Winds Blow, Bobby Charles' 'Tennessee Blues,' 'Raining In My Heart,' Merle Haggard's 'My House of Memories,' and the swamp pop anthem, 'Mathilda.'" Also included are Storm's first two songs 'The Prisoner's Song' and 'Mama, Mama, Mama.' The opening track is new to his repertoire, however....Creedance Clearwater Revival's 'Long As I Can See The Light.' John Fogerty and CCR's sound were heavily influenced by swamp pop, so it seemed a wise choice and Storm does a fantastic job with it, even sharing the final verse of the song with Fogerty himself!...Warren Storm has been making this kind of music for over 70 years. At 82, he sounds as great as he did in 1958. If you're not familiar with the man or swamp pop, Taking The World, By Storm is a great place for new listeners to start, and it's a welcome addition to the genre for longtime fans." — Graham Clarke, Friday Blues Fix Blog / Blues Bytes

"At 82 years old, Warren Storm has more history behind him than in front of him. Fortunately, this stop along the way gives the world another chance to take a taste of the swamp pop that he is generally considered to have created- a steamy mixture of country, cajun, zydeco and New Orleans R & B. Think early CCR and you'll be in the right book, if not on the right page. Louisiana musician Yvette Landry coaxed Storm into the studio to revisit some of his career highlights such as 'Mathilda' and 'Prisoner's Song' as well as some takes on classics by others including CCR's John Fogerty who guests on his classic 'Long As I Can See the Light.' With an all-star band including Eric Adcock on piano, Roddie Romero on guitar, Derek Huston on sax, Chris French on bass and Gary Usie on drums plus special guests including Fogerty, Marc Broussard, Sonny Landreth and Willie "Tee" Traham, the stage was set for a fine release and this disc delivers. Storm's voice shows little signs of his aging as revealed by both ballads such as the Bobby Charles penned 'Tennessee Blues' and more upbeat numbers such as the Dave Bartholomew/Fats Domino classic 'Let the Four Winds Blow' and his 1956 hits, 'Mama, Mama, Mama' (where Landry adds some saucy vocals to the mix) and 'Prisoner's Song.' Merle Haggard's 'My House of Memories' aptly captures the anguish of unshakable loss while the bouncy, saxdriven 'Troubles, Troubles' is musically at odds with the misery and turmoil claimed in the lyrics revealing the loss of his lady isn't likely as bad as he protests. For those seeking to revisit swamp pop history this is a nice souvenir. For those new to the genre, this is a great introduction." — Mark Smith, Jazz & Blues Report, March • April 2020 • Issue 389

"Trust me when the opener 'Long as I Can See the Light' begins you won't care how it was recorded. Mr. Storm (or Mr. Schexnider, however you wish to call him) does not sound like an 82 year old. No way. He owns the mournful, inspirational Fogerty penned tune... Now's the time for music that lifts the spirits and here's some that does just that! Mr. Schexnider is in fine voice here, soaring to hit all of the high notes and clearly enjoying the adulation coming from all of the participants.... Live to 2-track analog sound pleases the ears at low levels and no matter how loud you crank it. Go high, go low, have a party with this album of honest music making... thanks to Executive Producer Chad Kassem, the audiophile community's Alan Lomax. Perfectly pressed at QRP, Salina Kansas, USA." — Music = 8/11; Sound = 8/11 - Michael Fremer, AnalogPlanet.com. To read Fremer's full review, click here.

"At age 82, Warren 'Storm' Schexnider is a wonderful force out of Louisiana ... and still doing what he does best. His new album, Taking The World, By Storm, finds him revisiting some material he recorded earlier in his career, and proving he still has the vocal power and flair to make these songs work. Seriously, there are some fantastic vocal performances on this album." — Michael Doherty's Music Log

"He is a master of what is lovingly referred to as 'swamp pop,' an amalgam of traditional Cajun sounds mixed with blues, R&B, zydeco, and country ... Warren Storm has done it all - he's been a drummer, a singer, and a front man. ... All 11 tracks (on Taking The World By Storm) were laid down on half-inch tape, live-in-studio, the way they did back in the Fifties." — Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues and Roots Alliance

"Starting strong with a duet with John Fogerty on 'Long As I Can See The Light,' followed by Marc Broussard on 'Mathilda,' this made-with-love album from Louisiana mainstay Warren Storm doesn't slow down across eleven songs and 36 minutes. ... Storm still has the soul that made him the Godfather of Swamp Pop. Spend some time with him as he is Taking The World, By Storm." — Donald Teplyske, Fervor Coulee — Roots Music Opinion

"Who knows? Maybe it's the constant edible infusion of crawfish and Tabasco sauce, Dixie beer and moonshine diets that took their mortal toll on dedicated swamp pop practitioners. ... Luckily one of the original swampers, Mr. Warren Storm, is not about to give up the Holy Ghost anytime soon. 82-years-young, he's still singing for the ages and capable of working a backroom dance floor harder than anyone alive." — Bill Bently, Americana Highways

Bach: Suites For Unaccompanied Cello Complete / Janos Starker Bach: Suites For Unaccompanied Cello Complete/Janos Starker

"After receiving the final package, I am so proud of this product! I knew we hit a home run sound-wise when I heard the test pressings, but this packaging is super-deluxe and well manufactured, a whole other level. The production pressings are as good as the test pressings. This is just what you want in an all-analog vinyl reissue: superb sound and a collector-grade physical artifact. Great craftsmanship all around!" — Thomas Fine, remastering supervisor

"The Analogue Productions 25 volume, Mono Prestige set is an amazing achievement.  Take it from a first pressing Prestige collector:  these are some of the rarest and best Prestige releases  ever issued.   If you do find an original they could well cost hundreds or thousands of dollars each,  and will most certainly not be in Near Mint condition.  "Kevin Gray has done a superb mastering job and the pressing quality is outstanding. I compared the Analogue Productions pressings to some of my original Prestige mono pressings and it’s close, with the edge going to Analogue Productions at times due to the flawless condition. "I was very pleased to see some of my favorite Prestige artists well represented here including Hank Mobley and Jackie McLean both of whom never seen to get the credit they deserve.  Of course, this set had best titles from Prestige’s three giants: Coltrane, Miles and Rollins. "If you collect jazz, and don’t have the titles in this set, the Analogue Productions Prestige Mono series is a mandatory purchase to make. Congratulations to the Analogue Productions team." — Will Z. 

Temptation / Holly Cole Holly Cole - Temptation

"Not the first time a jazz singer has focused on a single composer — even Keely Smith did an all-Beatles LP, while Ella made an entire series of songbooks — but a double LP that's predominantly made up of Tom Waits material? You're forgiven if this seems like a Rickie Lee Jones album in disguise, rather than a sincere tribute. That, though, would be too glib because this 1995 release is entrancing and atmospheric. The arrangements offer a variety of experiences from Cole's trio in lean, unplugged form, to other tracks augmented by electricity, brass or strings. The transfer is superb, and Acoustic Sounds has expanded the original set with three bonus tracks." — Sound Quality: 90% — Ken Kessler, Hi Fi News, December 2019


Axis: Bold As Love / The Jimi Hendrix Experience The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Axis: Bold As Love

"Having had both of these records since issued back in April / May 2019 I have had plenty of opportunity to play them and that opportunity has been grasped with both hands! It's not often I feel we get so much from such a familiar record as we have done with this pair of pressings, from both mixes. I have been floored by just how good they both sound and impressed at just how much the most recent Bernie Grundman mono cut sounds on this Clarity vinyl." Axis: Bold As Love UHQR review, Gordon Johnson, jmhvinyl.co.uk, 2019. Scroll down to read the entire review here.

"AP's UHQR mastered by Bernie Grundman towers above the rest. During our listening session, I told (Michael Fremer), 'if someone doesn't like this record's sound, their listening situation is crap.' It's everything the SACD offers and more, minus the slight digital sheen, and shockingly quieter (Yes! The vinyl produced blacker backgrounds than did the SACD, hence the 'shock' — Ed). In addition, the packaging (which was sent in an unfinalized version) is stunning; the album itself is housed in a Stoughton tip-on gatefold while the outer two-piece box is of excellent build and features a beautiful wooden spine." — Malachi Lui, AnalogPlanet.com. Read the entire commentary, based on a pre-production copy of the album, here.


Dvorak: Violincello Concerto/Bruch: Kol Nidrei / Janos Starker Dvorak: Violincello Concerto/Bruch: Kol Nidrei/Janos Starker

"Chad Kassem never does anything half-way. It's either all in or nothing at all for today's acknowledged King of vinyl records. Here Chad gave Tom Fine (son of Mercury's original founders Robert Fine and Wilma Cozart Fine) and Ryan Smith (mastering engineer at Sterling Sound) free reign to give this famed Mercury Records recording the remastering it richly deserves. Nothing was left to chance. ... This new Acoustic Sounds reissue—whether it's the Fine/Smith treatment or the different master tape (or both?)—markedly improves on the original recording's sense of space, dynamics and solidity/stability of Starker's "image" while minimizing the Mercury string sound. One last thing. The time Tom and Ryan spent cutting multiple masters to get one quiet cut really paid dividends in the end. This is a super quiet recording allowing the tiniest nuances of the original recording to emerge unscathed. Highly recommended." — Myles B. Astor, senior editor at Positive Feedback magazine. Read the whole review and see the other winners from this year's PF Writers' Choice Awards here.



"I have been a customer of Acoustic Sounds for over ten years and have purchased over 700 LPs from your company with Analogue Productions releases alone accounting for over 400 LPs in my collection. Suffice to say I love what you are doing. ... AP is the No. 1 reissue label as far as I am concerned and I hope that this continues for many years to come." - James Ellis, Brighton (UK)


The Wonderful Sounds of Female Vocals / Various Artists Various Artists - The Wonderful Sounds of Female Vocals

"At first, you might think this is simply a compilation promoting Analogue Productions' catalogue, which it does. But they packed it with 22 exalted distaff classics such as Patsy Cline's original 'Crazy,' Julie London's 'Cry Me A River,' and others of that calibre — no fillers. AP's artists also include Joan Baez, Shelby Lynne, Phoebe Snow, Rickie Lee Jones, Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Bryan, Jennifer Warnes, Diana Krall, Janis Ian, Joan Armatrading, Judy Collins and Holly Cole, so this really is A-list stuff. Best of all? You get two of the greatest performances ever: Dusty Springfield's 'Son Of A Preacher Man' and yes, 'The Look Of Love.' This isn't just a taster for AP: it's a phenomenal package by any standards." — Sound Quality = 90% - Ken Kessler, HiFi News Album Choice for October 2019

"(Kevin) Gray has few peers and the two-LP set is as sharp a calling card as exists for experiencing how good older recordings can be made to sound when the care and skill of an exceptional mastering engineer is at the helm. If this album doesn't make your stereo sound fantastic, don't blame it on the LPs!" — Music = 4.5/5; Sound = 5/5; Pressing = 5/5; Jacket = 3/5 — Dennis Davis, vinylreviews.com, August 2018

"Humungous conflict of interest alert! I wrote this compilation's liner notes and created the 22 song track order. ... The sources all were high-resolution files, some DSD, some PCM, depending upon what (Chad) Kassem was originally given in the digital domain, or in most cases what Gus Skinas produced in DSD using the original analog tapes. ... This double LP set works well as entertainment and as a great sampler of the LPs mostly released by Analogue Productions and mostly AAA (where there's tape to begin with). You can't go wrong." — Music = 10/11; Sound = 10/11 - Michael Fremer, AnalogPlanet.com. Read the whole review here.


Dvorak: Violincello Concerto/Bruch: Kol Nidrei / Janos Starker Dvorak: Violincello Concerto/Bruch: Kol Nidrei/Janos Starker

"This new 45 RPM remastered reissue by Tom Fine and Ryan Smith might just be the first analog reissue that is hands down better than the original (and my original is a minty RFR P17 US cleaned before playing). No ifs, ands or buts. No excuses needed. ... Tom Fine and Ryan Smith turned to the original backup 1/2-inch master tape for this release. No detail was too small and Tom and Ryan had to cut several lacquers until they achieved the desired quietness. ... Dorati and the LSO have never sounded better. While the Dvorak captures everyone's attention, it's perhaps the performance of Bruch's Kol Nidrei that is the hidden gem on this recording. The low end, extension and the sound of Starker's cello is off the charts. Starker's cello is revealed like never before on this reissue; the detail, tone and solidity of his cello is stunning. ... Highly recommended!" — Myles B. Astor, senior editor, Positive-Feedback.com


Homemade Ice Cream / Tony Joe White Tony Joe White - Homemade Ice Cream

Hi-Fi News June 2019 Album Choice selection!
"This superb reissue is a fitting tribute to the finest purveyor ever of 'Swamp Rock,' White having passed late last year. Although best known for composing the Elvis hit 'Polk Salad Annie,' and 'Rainy Night In Georgia,' a smash for Brook Benton in 1970, his own LPs were also something special. Three seconds into this 1973 release and your jaw will drop: the most melodic, tactile lower registers this side of a Kodo album. Every composition mixes wit, wisdom and winsomeness, with musicianship of the highest order — it was recorded in Nashville with sidemen including David Briggs and Norbert Putnam. Above it all, though, is a voice so textured and deep that it makes J.J. Cale sound like Klaus Nomi." — Sound Quality: 95% — Ken Kessler, Hi Fi News, June 2019

"I have been tempted to buy a repress of this title ... I'm pleased I waited, very pleased! And I can stop looking for a quality used original too. This is one of those intimate albums that gets better the later in the day you happen to sit with it; I know it'll get even better with a glass of wine on a warm summer evening too. Kevin Gray mastered, nothing else need be said. ... I'm not so sure about this not being a top seller; anyone who enjoys music would be a fool to miss out on this. With only 1,000 pressed initially it may well be that it fulfills that prophesy, so get it while you can. I hope demand results in another pressing run. ... If you "do" 45 RPM cuts, what are you waiting for? You really can't go wrong or will regret picking this one up." — Gordon Johnson, Jimpress


Julie Is Her Name / Julie London Julie London - Julie Is Her Name

"Any reissue of a reissue of a reissue needs to add to the canon. This is a new version of the BoxStar edition in 2009, but as that was a truly spectacular release, how could it possibly be bettered? God knows what magic Bernie Grundman managed in remastering this from the original 1955 tapes, but it's even more open and detailed. The brilliance of this mono LP is that its minimalism — just Ms. London backed by Barney Kessel on guitar and Ray Leatherwood on bass — needs no directional component to up its presentation. You'll soon forget it's mono. 'Cry Me A River,' 'Can't Help Lovin' That Man' and ten more from the huskiest, sexiest voice... ever." Sound Quality: 90% — Ken Kessler, Hi Fi News, June 2019


Axis: Bold As Love / The Jimi Hendrix Experience The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Axis: Bold As Love

"What can you add about a masterpiece that hasn't already been said? By the time this was released in December, 1967, Hendrix was already recognized as the most inventive, accomplished guitarist, well, ever. The album, though, was something of a rush job by Hendrix's standards, and is considered to be the lesser of his three studio efforts. That said, so-so Hendrix is about a thousand times better than anything else. 'Little Wing,' 'If 6 Was 9,' 'Castles Made Of Sand' — we're talking 'genius' here. Should you think, well, I have the 1997 official CD, this ups the ante not just with an expanded booklet but the entire mono mix as well as the stereo." — Sound Quality: 95% — Ken Kessler, Hi Fi News, June 2019

"If you want to truly experience this album, Analogue Productions' new SACD, mastered to DSD by Bernie Grundman and including both the stereo and mono mixes (mono for the first time in the digital domain), is the only way to do it. ... Grundman's mastering has less bass than Marino's, as well as somewhat attenuated highs. There's much more air on songs like 'Spanish Castle Magic,' and the soundstage is also extremely wide. ... this release is a home run for Analogue Productions. If this is any indication, AP's upcoming stereo UHQR edition of this title (to be reviewed upon release by AnalogPlanet editor Michael Fremer) will be a sonic force to be reckoned with." - Music = 9/11; Sound 10/11 - Malachi Lui, AnalogPlanet.com. Read the entire review here.


The Next Hundred Years / Ted Hawkins Ted Hawkins - The Next Hundred Years

"This rich-sounding LP will make you shake your fist at the gods: cult hero Hawkins died, aged just 58, on 1st January 1995, mere months after this album's release and the promise of a new chapter to his patchy career. Older readers will recall him being championed by English DJ Andy Kershaw when roots music was all the rage, Hawkins producing an amalgam of soul, blues, R&R folk and gospel, appealing to fans across all genres. With hindsight, this is slicker if less intimate than his earlier LPs, but it's still a dream if you love textured vocals. Appropriately and ironically, the closer is a poignant version of Creedence Clearwater Revival's 'Long As I Can See The Light.'" — Sound Quality: 90% — Ken Kessler, Hi Fi News, July 2019


Wish You Were Here / Pink Floyd Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here

"Back in the quad era, if any band actually delivered worthwhile use of the enveloping experience surround sound offered, it was Pink Floyd. With SACD, we can now have it in true, discrete form, instead of messing about with barely workable quadraphonic vinyl, and while this isn't the first time it's been reissued in a multichannel digital format, this is the best-sounding version I have ever heard. 'Welcome To The Machine' is so massive that I had to switch off the subwoofer and listen in 5.0 for fear of destabilizing the recent underpinning to our home. Along with Dark Side Of The Moon, this is one of the band's most potent releases, presented here with respect." — Sound Quality: 90% — Ken Kessler, Hi Fi News, May 2019




Don't Smoke In Bed / Holly Cole Trio Holly Cole Trio - Don't Smoke In Bed

"Superlative, small-group jazz, as definitive a recipe for audiophile acceptance as a concept gets, this absolute stunner from 1993 has long demonstrated the worth of a sound system at shows. Remastered by Bernie Grundman from the original master tapes and pressed on 200g vinyl, it delivers immediate satisfaction on every level, a rare case of the music matching the sonics. Silky sound, seductive vocals, refreshing reworkings of 'I Can See Clearly Now,' 'The Tennesee Waltz' (covered so many times that it's a miracle one can find a new delivery), a cheeky but sincere 'Que Sera Sera' — this is a no-brainer purchase on every level: it's why we love LPs." — Sound Quality: 90% — Ken Kessler, Hi Fi News, May 2019



Father of Folk Blues / Son House Son House - Father of Folk Blues

"AP's reissue of this recording is extremely transparent, naturally balanced, and fulfills the 'it's like he's playing in my room!' audiophile cliché. The record sounds mono at times, but that is how the album was originally mixed. ... Ryan K. Smith used the original two-track stereo tape from the Sony archives and referenced an original Columbia '360 Sound' pressing to master this correctly and it shows. Never have I heard a blues recording that is so musically raw yet so sonically exceptional. Further, the QRP-pressed platters are silent and flat as pancakes." Music = 10/11; Sound = 11/11 - Malachi Lui, AnalogPlanet.com. Read the entire review here.



Arthur Lintgen reviews Classic Decca Recordings from Analogue Productions on SACD in the February 2019 issue of The Absolute Sound.

España • Rimsky-Korsakov, Granados, Chabrier & Moszkowski / Ataulfo Argenta España • Rimsky-Korsakov, Granados, Chabrier & Moszkowski/Ataulfo Argenta

"Analogue Productions has followed up on their highly acclaimed series of 25 RCA Living Stereo SACDs with a smaller group of 9 Decca SACDs. ... The original Decca LP entitled España, which contains Rimsky Korsakov's Capriccio Espagnol, Granados' Andalusia, Chabrier's España, and Five Spanish Dances by Moszkowski played by the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Ataulfo Argenta was designed to be a sonic showpiece. The performances are all excellent, but not at all garish or overdone." — Arthur Lintgen, The Absolute Sound, Feb. 8, 2019. Read the entire review here.



Schubert: Symphony No.9 / Josef Krips Schubert: Symphony No.9/Josef Krips

"Analogue Productions has followed up on their highly acclaimed series of 25 RCA Living Stereo SACDs with a smaller group of 9 Decca SACDs. ... Recorded in 1958 in Kingsway Hall, Josef Krips' performance of Schubert's Ninth Symphony is not controversial. Tempos are consistently slow to middle of the road, emphasizing Schubert's melodies, which blend gorgeously with the open and airy sound." — Arthur Lintgen, The Absolute Sound, Feb. 8, 2019. Read the entire review here.



Falla: Three Cornered Hat/ Ansermet / Teresa Berganza Falla: Three Cornered Hat/ Ansermet/Teresa Berganza

"Analogue Productions has followed up on their highly acclaimed series of 25 RCA Living Stereo SACDs with a smaller group of 9 Decca SACDs. ... Falla's The Three Cornered Hat is not frequently recorded complete, so this sensational performance by Ernest Ansermet conducting L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande is special. The music initially explodes out of the speakers and continues unabated to the end, a true and underrated sonic spectacular." — Arthur Lintgen, The Absolute Sound, Feb. 8, 2019. Read the entire review here.



Bruch: Scottish Fantasia / Hindemith: Violin Concerto (1939) / David Oistrakh Bruch: Scottish Fantasia / Hindemith: Violin Concerto (1939)/David Oistrakh

"Analogue Productions has followed up on their highly acclaimed series of 25 RCA Living Stereo SACDs with a smaller group of 9 Decca SACDs. ... Oistrakh's Hindemith Violin Concerto is a treasure." — Arthur Lintgen, The Absolute Sound, Feb. 8, 2019. Read the entire review here.



Albeniz: Suite Espanola / Fruhbeck De Burgos Albeniz: Suite Espanola/Fruhbeck De Burgos

"Analogue Productions has followed up on their highly acclaimed series of 25 RCA Living Stereo SACDs with a smaller group of 9 Decca SACDs. ... Albéniz's Suite Española has undeservedly stayed under the radar. Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos' orchestral transcriptions of Albéniz's captivating melodies are colorful but always tasteful. The sound serves the music just about perfectly. This SACD is sonically electrifying." — Arthur Lintgen, The Absolute Sound, Feb. 8, 2019. Read the entire review here.



Holst: The Planets / Zubin Mehta & the Los Angeles Philharmonic Holst: The Planets/Zubin Mehta & the Los Angeles Philharmonic

"Analogue Productions has followed up on their highly acclaimed series of 25 RCA Living Stereo SACDs with a smaller group of 9 Decca SACDs. ... Zubin Mehta's sensational interpretation of The Planets is probably the most famous (among audiophiles) of his excellent series of recordings with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. ... The performance itself is probably as good as any, and the sound, highlighted by a powerful, warm, and deep organ, is magnificent. The pedal effects at the end of 'Saturn' are stunning." — Arthur Lintgen, The Absolute Sound, Feb. 8, 2019. Read the entire review here.



Mahler: Symphony No. 3 In D Minor/ Forrester / Zubin Mehta Mahler: Symphony No. 3 In D Minor/ Forrester/Zubin Mehta

"Analogue Productions has followed up on their highly acclaimed series of 25 RCA Living Stereo SACDs with a smaller group of 9 Decca SACDs. ... Mehta has made a specialty out of Mahler's Third Symphony. The massive first movement, with its outstanding inner detail of the lower registers of the orchestra, may be the best ever recorded, especially if you are primarily considering the sound." — Arthur Lintgen, The Absolute Sound, Feb. 8, 2019. Read the entire review here.



Schubert: The 'Trout' Quintet/ Curzon / The Vienna Octet Schubert: The 'Trout' Quintet/ Curzon/The Vienna Octet

"Analogue Productions has followed up on their highly acclaimed series of 25 RCA Living Stereo SACDs with a smaller group of 9 Decca SACDs. ... Though Schubert's 'Trout' Quintet is obviously not a sonic showpiece, it was probably a good idea to include some well-known chamber music in this group of recordings." — Arthur Lintgen, The Absolute Sound, Feb. 8, 2019. Read the entire review here.



Herold/Lanchbery: La Fille Mal Gardee / John Lanchbery Herold/Lanchbery: La Fille Mal Gardee/John Lanchbery

"Analogue Productions has followed up on their highly acclaimed series of 25 RCA Living Stereo SACDs with a smaller group of 9 Decca SACDs. ... La fille mal gardée as conducted and arranged from the music of Ferdinand Hérold by John Lanchberry should be a delight for any music lover with even a remote interest in ballet. This Decca recording is a true audiophile legend, so its appearance on an Analogue Productions SACD should be an important event. It has never sounded better than it does here." — Arthur Lintgen, The Absolute Sound, February 8, 2019. Read the entire review here.



Surfacing / Sarah McLachlan Sarah McLachlan - Surfacing

"Marking the 20th anniversary of this U.S. hit's release (OK, a year-and-a-bit late...), this 45 RPM double LP shows off why it's a hi-fi show standard. Canadian McLachlan's vocals are inviting and intimate, sharing qualities with the likes of Lori Lieberman and Eleanor McEvoy while sounding nothing like them. The recording is sublime too, particularly notable its palpable sense of atmosphere and natural-sounding lower registers. There is a dichotomy in this release, however, which sounds like a pop music version of a Gainsborough Pictures costume drama, but covers much darker topics. That said, if you're a sucker for distaff singer-songwriters, you'll love it." — Sound Quality = 90% — Ken Kessler, HiFi News, January 2019



Keep It To Ourselves / Sonny Boy Williamson Sonny Boy Williamson - Keep It To Ourselves

"No mincing words: This is one of the best-sounding blues LPs ever. Recorded in Denmark for Storyville in 1963, it dates from the period when harmonica deity Williamson toured and released albums with British blues bands, The Yardbirds and The Animals. Here he's backed by bluesmen Memphis Slim, Billie Stepney and the great Matt 'Guitar' Murphy, who passed away in June and who is remembered for playing with The Blues Brothers. Via 45rpm double LP, the sound is vivid and natural, the small group nestling in an atmospheric seting, playing loose and easy. A superb cover of Elmore James' 'The Sky Is Crying,' familiar to Hendrix fans, opens the set. Magnificent." — Sound Quality: 90% — Ken Kessler, Hi Fi News, November 2018


Second Helping / Lynyrd Skynyrd Lynyrd Skynyrd - Second Helping

"Shame on me if I rave about this 1974 LP for just one song, as the southern rockers' second release is as good as anything they ever produced. In fact, it's just about as good a swamp rock/hard boogie masterwork as you can find. But, aided by 45rpm status, it delivers what is the punchiest, most visceral, kick-ass incarnation yet of a song known intimately to every air-guitarist worth his imaginary strings: 'Sweet Home Alabama.' When a new edition adds something indescribable to a track you might have heard a hundred times via a dozen formats, then that is reason enough to buy. Try not playing this as loud as your system allows" — Sound Quality: 90% — Ken Kessler, Hi Fi News, September 2018


Little Girl Blue / Nina Simone Nina Simone - Little Girl Blue

"MoFi's One-Step aside, 200g vinyl at 45 rpm appears to be the ultimate in audiophile formats. On the strength of this edition — which I've heard countless times on standard pressings — one could easily be converted to 45rpm, despite the cost. Even as a regular LP, Simone's 1957 debut is a milestone among jazz vocal albums. Her 'Porgy' would have brought tears to the Gershwins' eyes, while 'My Baby just Cares For Me' is one of the genre's most celebrated titles. Backed by bass and drums, her piano is as big a star as her voice, while 'You'll Never Walk Alone' will cause you to shudder at the thought of the Liverpool supporters massacring it." — Sound Quality: 90% — Ken Kessler, Hi Fi News, October 2018



Midnight Rider/These Days Single / Gregg Allman Gregg Allman - Midnight Rider/These Days Single

"Gregg Allman's voice came sailing clear throughout the room, the band punched through the air with force and clarity. Impressively, the dial was only set at 11 o'clock-and by the time I pushed the envelope up to around two (just for the heck of it), there wasn't a drop of distortion created-just more clean air in the volume. As far as my ears were concerned, Chad's special single release of these two Gregg Allman performances turned out to be a sonic victory." — Wayne Goins, Positive-Feedback.com, Issue 98, Aug. 22, 2018. Read the whole review of the full album and 45 RPM single "Midnight Rider" / "These Days" here.



Laid Back / Gregg Allman Gregg Allman - Laid Back

"Gregg Allman's voice came sailing clear throughout the room, the band punched through the air with force and clarity. Impressively, the dial was only set at 11 o'clock-and by the time I pushed the envelope up to around two (just for the heck of it), there wasn't a drop of distortion created-just more clean air in the volume. As far as my ears were concerned, Chad's special single release of these two Gregg Allman performances turned out to be a sonic victory." — Wayne Goins, Positive-Feedback.com, Issue 98, Aug. 22, 2018. Read the whole review of the full album and 45 RPM single "Midnight Rider" / "These Days" here.



The Best Of The James Gang / James Gang James Gang - The Best Of The James Gang

"With the exception of one track, The Best of the James Gang was assembled from analog tape and sounds outstanding. The music demands to be played loud, and the fine mastering by Kevin Gray allows you to turn it up as much as your ears and system allow without any signs of stress from the vinyl." — Music = 4/5; Sound = 4/5; Pressing = 5/5; Jacket = 3.5/5 — Dennis Davis, vinylreviews.com, August 2018



The Original King Bee / Slim Harpo Slim Harpo - The Original King Bee

Hi-Fi News "Album Choice" selection for September 2018

"Mastered by Cohearent Audio from the best analogue tapes, this compilation covers 1957-1969, so judgments about sound quality are not meant to be taken as sonic absolutes. Rather, it reflects what care and integrity can do with iffy "historic" originals. Harpo was a blues legend revered by the British — The Rolling Stones covered "I'm A King Bee," while The Yardbirds, The Kinks, Them and others also plundered his catalogue. This disc gives you 14 original recordings from the Excello label, including the 1957 takes of 'I'm A King Bee,' 'I Got Love If You Want It,' and 1960s 'Moody Blues' which may have inspired the band that left blues for Prog, sounding almost too good to be true." — Sound Quality: 90% — Ken Kessler, Album Choice, Hi Fi News, September 2018

"A flat, quiet pressing on 200g vinyl, nicely packaged in a tip-on jacket from Stoughton Printing, it's typical of AP's quality work. ... Chad Kassem did find and use, as the source for his compilation, a 1983 analog tape that had been used by Rhino Records for the original 1983 LP version of this reissue: The Best of Slim Harpo: The Original King Bee. ... Kassem's latest passion is a classic piece of American roots music." — Robert Baird, Stereophile, May 2018

"Analogue Productions' 'greatest hits' package is in the spirit of early blues releases, and it's a much better packaging than Excello's own 'best of' release from 1969. ... The new reissue was mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio and is pressed on 200-gram vinyl by Quality Record Pressings. It easily beats the fine Rhino mastering from Richard Simpson (of RCA fame). Original pressings of Slim Harpo's Excello albums — from which these songs were culled — sound thin, bass shy and two-dimensional compared to Gray's new mastering. But that doesn't begin to describe how good this LP sounds. ... This is big raw sound that grips you and won't let go. It succeeds because Slim Harpo was one of the underrated great blues singers and hopefully this great sounding reissue will remedy that failing. Highest recommendation for sound and music." — Recording = 9/10; Music = 10/10 - Dennis D. Davis, Hi-Fi +, Issue 155


Dusty In Memphis / Dusty Springfield Dusty Springfield - Dusty In Memphis

"Analogue Productions' reissue functions as a case study in what careful remastering and good pressing can achieve-even if the single-jacket package means both 45RPM LPs get crammed into one space. Sonically, it doesn't entirely erase the lack of fill, but adds such a three-dimensional frame to the picture that the holes begin to disappear. Additionally, it creates a much larger soundstage than found on the original, and the improved pitch stability makes it seem you've acquired a better turntable-not just a better pressing." — 4.5/5 stars, Dennis Davis, vinylreviews.com. Read the whole review here.



Saxophone Colossus / Sonny Rollins Sonny Rollins - Saxophone Colossus

"Since 2002, mastering facilities like those helmed by Kevin Gray have improved. Analogue Productions' 33RPM mastering produces an even larger soundstage with better depth. Add to that the fact that the new packaging is far superior to the 45RPM issue, and this one-disc package is Sonny Rollins nirvana. — 5/5 stars, Dennis Davis, vinylreviews.com. Read the whole review here.



Pet Sounds / The Beach Boys The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds

"...the 2006 'Capitol Stereo LP' allowed a plausible argument that Wilson only mixed to mono because he ran out of time. It lacks the mono's dynamics and shares the 'Passions' LP's somewhat thin tonal quality. Analogue Productions' 45RPM stereo cut resolves these issues, presenting a continuous soundstage with a tonal signature similar to the label's mono version — even if the soundstage sounds quite different in stereo." — 5/5 stars, Dennis Davis, vinylreviews.com. Read the whole review here.

"Produced, composed and arranged by Brian Wilson, Pet Sounds stands as the Beach Boys' pinnacle. The album is brimming with beautiful ballads, exotic instrumentation, lush five-part harmonies, and aching sentimentality. Recorded largely with session players from L.A.'s fabled Wrecking Crew, Pet Sounds was Wilson's chance to step away from songs about surfing and cars, instead crafting tender songs about adolescent love, both newfound and lost, as well as innocence and bewilderment. Analogue Productions' two-disc 45 RPM, 200-gram stereo album boasts exceptionally detailed separation and aptly showcases Pet Sounds' shimmering sonics. Mark Linett produced this stereo mix with an assembled digital multi-track master that synched the original four-track instrumental master with the four- and eight-track vocal overdub master. It was then mixed to 15 ips 1/4-inch analog tape with SR noise reduction. How good is it? Carol Kaye's picked Fender P-Bass is tight and punchy on the intro to "God Only Knows," and the clarity reveals the swelling emotion of Carl Wilson's angelic lead vocal to announce that you've entered the Church of Rock 'n' Roll. Say amen." — Music 5/5, Sonics 4.5/5, Greg Cahill, The Absolute Sound, December 2017


Stardust / Willie Nelson Willie Nelson - Stardust

"While more expensive, Analogue Productions' 45RPM reissue makes the piano seem more life-sized and restores all the overtones missing from the earlier reissues — all the while delivering enhanced percussion detail and tauter bass. I'm certain that somewhere ahead of the master tape, recording engineers Bradley Hartman and Donivan Cowart slowed down the tape in places for effect. Listen to the opening bars of 'September Song' where the knobs got turned a little too slow. No matter. Analogue Productions' Stardust again earns a super disc designation by today's higher standards." — 5/5 stars, Dennis Davis, vinylreviews.com. Read the whole review here.

"This is a vocal record that even opera lovers treasure. ...these were unexpected vocal knockouts from a shaggy source. ...The 45 RPM pressing on 200g vinyl shows the impeccable care that Analogue Productions lavishes on all its reissues. The higher speed means shorter sides (in this case, 45 minutes of music spread over two discs), and while it may be an audio mirage, the sound is more alive, more present than on a 33 1/3 RPM LP." — Editor's Pick, Recording Of The Month — Performance = 5/5; Sonics = 5/5 — Robert Baird, Stereophile, March 2018


Duets / Rob Wasserman Rob Wasserman - Duets

Hi-Fi News' Album Choice for August 2018!

"Far be it for me to renege on my doubts about 'audiophile' LPs, which are usually played to the point of nuisance at shows, but the middle volume of Wasserman's trilogy deserved acclaim. This 30th anniversary edition follows his death in 2016, adding to the poignancy: since its original release, we've also lost collaborators Stephane Grapelli, Lou Reed and Dan Hicks. Wasserman was a hugely popular composer and bassist, and a much-admired sideman, associated especially with The Grateful Dead's Bob Weir. Along with the above three are Jennifer Warnes, Aaron Neville ('Stardust'!), Bobby McFerrin, Cheryl Bentyne and Rickie Lee Jones. But Reed doing 'One For My Baby'? You gotta hear it." — Sound Quality: 95% — Ken Kessler, Hi Fi News, August 2018


Nuthin' Fancy / Lynyrd Skynyrd Lynyrd Skynyrd - Nuthin' Fancy

"AP's Chad Kassem clearly loves this band, one I wouldn't have thought warrants, as far as absolute sonic values are concerned, the ultimate in audiophile reissuing: 200g vinyl at 45rpm. But if swampy, southern rock is your thing, their third album, from 1975, will satisfy your cravings. Though not their best — its predecessors were close to perfect — this remains a classic example of the genre, with all-original material ranging from slow blues to heavy metal — in places, it could be mistaken for a Bad Company LP. Soaring guitars, rock-solid rhythm section, gravelly vocals, Al Kooper at the helm: this lives up to its title, which is exactly as it should do." — Sound Quality: 85% — Ken Kessler, Hi Fi News, August 2018



Lightnin' / Lightnin' Hopkins Lightnin' Hopkins - Lightnin'

"For music once treated so cavalierly by the major labels, the blues yielded numerous magnificent recordings, light years away from the primitive sonic quality of, say, Robert Johnson's pre-WWII sessions. In a similar vein to Muddy Waters' oft-reissued Folk Singer is this superlative acoustic session from rural blues legend Lightnin' Hopkins, from late 1960. Playing guitar and backed by just bass and drums, he delivered ten tracks of which at least half are staples of the genre, timed just as the folk revival was giving the blues a much-needed boost. 'Automobile Blues,' 'Mean Old Frisco,' 'The Walkin' Blues,' — for those who crave unvarnished authenticity, but with in-the-room presence, this is a tonic." — Sound Quality: 90% - Ken Kessler, Album Choice Hi Fi News, July 2018



Buddy Holly / The Crickets/Buddy Holly The Crickets/Buddy Holly - Buddy Holly

"...this reissue sourced from the original analog tapes still in superb condition and cut by Kevin Gray is by far the best sounding edition ever. Lubbock, Texas born Buddy Holly was 21 when he recorded this collection that includes 'I'm Gonna Love You Too,' 'Peggy Sue,' 'Everyday,' 'Words of Love' and a few other originals and covers including Leiber and Stoller's 'You're So Square' and Fats Domino's 'Valley of Tears.' ...The gatefold 'Tip-on' packaging features an 'outtake' cover photo inside and an iconic black and white shot of Buddy and The Crickets under which is a Graham Nash (The Hollies) quote. I think Chad Kassem got it from Graham when he was in town to play a gig and got a tour of the QRP pressing plant. (This is) a must for everyone who collect American rock'n'roll...or any kind of music for that matter." — Music = 10/11; Sound = 10/11 - Michael Fremer, AnalogPlanet.com. To read Fremer's full review, click here.

"...the choice to purchase these Analogue Productions reissues boils down two considerations: whether you want the music configured as it was first released and whether these LPs sufficiently improve on the sound of earlier releases. ... Analogue Productions presents the original running order and artwork, and the covers, from Stoughton Printing, are first-rate. If all of that doesn't have you reaching for your wallet, then the improvement in sound should. Kevin Gray's remastering breathes new life into the music, enhancing tonality, dynamics and retrieval of inner detail. The sound of these reissues easily outstrips that of any prior releases." — Sound = 4/5; Music = 5/5 - Dennis Davis, The Audio Beat, April 28, 2017 Read the entire review here.


Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd / Lynyrd Skynyrd Lynyrd Skynyrd - Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd

"It's not the first time the ill-fated band's astounding debut has been 'audiophiled' but this version is arguably the best. OK, for some of you, the two-LPs-at-45rpm shtick may seem overkill, especially applied to a hard rock release, but it does remind us that there may be more in the grooves than we think. If anything, it's a physical manifestation of what drives us as audiophiles. Everything here is enhanced: detail, space, tonal balanc, the sense of mass, transient attack. Perhaps the biggest benefactor of the format is vocalist Ronnie Van Zant, who could purr or growl. Southern rock at its finest, this LP closed with the aching, majestic 'Free Bird' — here, it overwhelms, filling a side. Sublime." — Sound Quality: 95% — Ken Kessler, Hi Fi News, June 2018

"The idea of two-disc, 45 RPM 200-gram audiophile LP reissues of Lynyrd Skynrd's first and next-to-last studio albums, each selling for $55, may seem an odd mix of high-brow sound with low-brow music, but doubters should suspend judgment until they hear the results. ... such classics as the riff-rockin' 'Gimme Three Steps,' the power ballad 'Simple Man,' and the, um ... immortal (or is that unmercifully deathless?) 'Free Bird' have a previously unheard clarity and depth. No longer do the guitars of Gary Rossington, Allen Collins, and Ed King all run together in a sonic wash. A new level of definition makes Ronnie Van Zant's always surprisingly good vocals even more so. ... As is usual with Analogue Productions reissues, the heavyweight packaging is lush — and the pressing quality, from AP sister company Quality Record Pressings, is excellent. Best of all, these editions are the final sonic words on these albums. ... These albums have never sounded better, and it's not much of a leap to say they never will." — Performance = 4/5; Sonics 4/5 — Robert Baird, Stereophile, May 2017


Getting Ready... / Freddie King Freddie King - Getting Ready...

"I took a listen to King's original version of his 'Same Old Blues' appearing on his 1971 LP, Getting Ready, re-issued by the always-reliable audiophile quality label, Analogue Productions. Here was Good Sound embodied: the tactile dynamic shadings and amplified heat from King's electric guitar were captured in an airy recording space; his vocals were clear and natural and he joined the chorus of background vocalists (and the twinkling of Leon Russell's piano) in a layered, dimensional space." — Nelson Brill, bostonconcertreviews.com, April 15, 2018. Read the mention, included in Brill's review of Marcia Ball In Concert, here.



Hope / Hugh Masekela Hugh Masekela - Hope

"How sad, if timely: this stunning reissue of the 1994 live album arrived in the very week that trumpeter Masekela passed away. One of the most successful ambassadors ever for African music, his fusing of the continent's rhythms and instruments with contemporary jazz and rock proved irresistible. Nearly every one of you has heard him, thanks to guess spots with The Byrds and Paul Simon. His breakthough hit from 1968 — the infectious "Grazing In The Grass" — is here, along with another 11 tracks recorded at Blues Alley, the U.S. club that gave us Eva Cassidy. Notably, despite its early-1990s origins, this is all-analogue." — Sound Quality = 90% - Ken Kessler, HiFi News, May 2018



The Chirping Crickets/Buddy Holly / The Crickets/Buddy Holly The Crickets/Buddy Holly - The Chirping Crickets/Buddy Holly

"The variety in Holly's first two albums reveal why he's an icon of American popular music. There's no self pity or pathos in his voice, just an unmistable clear tone and that wild hiccup. Almost every cut has some striking characteristic, like the wordless, swaying harmonies in 'Words of Love.' He walks between raw rock 'n' roll and a polished pop sound, and even in his most sentimental songs he's believable. Keven Gray mastered this mono SACD (preceeded by last year's LP versions) from the original master tapes and, due to the limitations of the sources, did as good as could be expected. Erick Labson's 2004 remasters for Geffen are too compressed and bright, and the bass is artificially prominent. Steve Hoffman stayed faithful to the first-generation masters he used for his 1985 compilation on MCA, From the Original Master Tapes. Though it's not a track-for-track match, I mention it because it's held in high regard by collectors, and the SACD bests it with a more spacious soundstage. I have an early pressing of Coral's 1959 The Buddy Holly Story, and the SACD is equally well-balanced while offering even better vocal presence." — Music = 4/5; Sonics = 3.5/5 — Stephen Estep, The Absolute Sound, May-June 2018.

"Amazing largesse from the label: Chad Kassem says the albums had too-short running times to issue as separate SACDs, so he created the most desirable two-on-one rock 'n' roll SACD ever. This is the essence of Buddy Holly and The Crickets, two of the three albums released during his lifetime and containing 'Oh Boy!,' 'Not Fade Away,' 'Rave On,' 'Words Of Love,' 'That'll Be The Day,' 'I'm Gonna Love You Too,' 'Everyday' and 17 others that didn't just inspire but empowered the entire British Invasion, from The Beatles to The Hollies to The Searchers to The Stones. This pair of milestones from 1957-8 is as responsible as any body of work for shaping the path music followed from then onwards. Utterly magnificent." — Sound Quality: 95% — Ken Kessler, Hi Fi News, April 2018


Gold: Their Great Hits / Steppenwolf Steppenwolf - Gold: Their Great Hits

"Perhaps the biggest surprise about this 1971 compilation, nearly a half-century after the band's heyday, is not the quality of the music — that's obvious — but the sonic impact. Most of us were introduced to this paradigm of gusty, semi-psychedelic rock via AM radio (or a certain hit road movie about two biker/hippies...), so few of us listened to 'Born To Be Wild' or 'Magic Carpet Ride' over good sound systems. But damn, the sound is solid, visceral, raunchy and detailed. John Kay's snarl, a wall of guitars, those much-loved pedal effects and 11 sure-fire classics... This reissue is truly a fitting tribute to keyboardist Goldy McJohn, who passed away last August." — Sound Quality: 85% — Ken Kessler, Hi Fi News, April 2018



Breaking Silence / Janis Ian Janis Ian - Breaking Silence

"It was a joy to make, and a joy to regain ownership after many years of its being out of print. I was thrilled with the work Analogue Productions did on this!" - Janis Ian

"The LP version has been used as a large-scale show demo for as long as I can remember. ... This famous Analogue Productions reissue is the Limited Edition 45 RPM version. ... Yes, it's better than the vaunted 33 RPM. Mainly in the effortless dynamics and bass department." - Anthony Kershaw, audiophilia.com, March 7, 2018. Read the entire review here.





The Chirping Crickets / The Crickets/Buddy Holly The Crickets/Buddy Holly - The Chirping Crickets

"An equally impressive, classics-laden album to pair with Buddy Holly's eponymous LP, this included 'Oh Boy!,' 'Not Fade Away,' 'That'll Be The Day,' and nine others which inspired The Beatles, The Hollies, The Rolling Stones, The Searchers and every other British Invasion band. Sixty years after it appeared, this still sounds fresh and innovative, while Analogue Productions' superlative transfer is one of the best sounding I've heard yet — and I have been collecting Holly LPs for 52 years. Apparently this and its sibling will be issued as 45 RPM doubles — how can they possibly sound even better? This ranks as one of the greatest debut LPs ever." — Sound Quality: 90% — Ken Kessler, Hi Fi News, February 2018.

"When The Crickets' "That'll Be the Day" exploded on the radio in 1957 and the absolutely geeky looking 21 year old Buddy Holly and group appeared December 1st on The Ed Sullivan Show, a generation of kids were moved the way the next one was by The Beatles. You didn't have to look like Elvis. Anyone could be a rock'n'roll star. In fact, "That'll Be the Day" was the first demo cut by The Quarrymen, the skiffle group that eventually morphed into The Beatles." — Michael Fremer, AnalogPlanet.com. To read Fremer's full review, click here.

"...the choice to purchase these Analogue Productions reissues boils down two considerations: whether you want the music configured as it was first released and whether these LPs sufficiently improve on the sound of earlier releases. ... Analogue Productions presents the original running order and artwork, and the covers, from Stoughton Printing, are first-rate. If all of that doesn't have you reaching for your wallet, then the improvement in sound should. Kevin Gray's remastering breathes new life into the music, enhancing tonality, dynamics and retrieval of inner detail. The sound of these reissues easily outstrips that of any prior releases." — Sound = 4/5; Music = 5/5 - Dennis Davis, The Audio Beat, April 28, 2017 Read the entire review here.


Once In Every Life / Johnny Hartman Johnny Hartman - Once In Every Life

"This is a record fans of it have long hoped would be reissued but I'd been told that (Clint) Eastwood had gone beyond licensing the tracks and had bought the tapes. Leave it to Chad Kassem to get the tapes ... In any case the sound here is even better — way better than the already fine original. If you are a fan of this kind of 'Great American Songbook' style singing, you'll love this record. How great was Hartman? He's the only vocalist John Coltrane recorded with, but you probably knew that. An easy to recommend reissue!" — Music = 9/11; Sound = 10/11 - Michael Fremer, AnalogPlanet.com. Read the whole review here.

"Analogue Productions rose to the challenge and reissued this gem in ever better balance, clarity, and focus of instruments. Hartman's voice is pure velvet smoothness. His mellow baritone at times is amazing in his breath control. Instruments come out of darkness, and yet blend and support Hartman to perfection. ... This entire album is not to be missed. It is a valuable example of how to produce a recording that literally takes the listener on a journey through the ups and downs of love and romance. Analogue Productions has done it yet again. This recording is ageless, and is a top recommendation from me!" — David Nemzer for Positive Feedback Online, November 2016. Read the whole review here.


The Reiner Sound / Fritz Reiner The Reiner Sound/Fritz Reiner

"Between the Classic Records and Analogue Productions reissues I have, the Classic Records version has EQ that emphasizes the bass frequencies for colossal bass trombones you feel as much as hear, while the Analogue Productions version sounds more neutral and emphasizes the woodwinds and the idiosyncratic textures that come from reeds made by the players themselves, so that no two are truly alike. Overall I prefer the Analogue Productions version as it fully preserves the dramatic stereo imaging of the era when records tried to capture the space the orchestra performed in as well as the orchestra itself." Rating: 95% — vintagevinylgarden.com



Prokofiev: Lieutenant Kije/ Stravinsky: Song of the Nightingale / Fritz Reiner Prokofiev: Lieutenant Kije/ Stravinsky: Song of the Nightingale/Fritz Reiner

"One area where the tape truly stands (out) with both pieces lies in its ability to reveal subtleties during louder passages. Not to mention the tone in the lower registers of reed instruments. The attack and decay of individual instruments and mood swings on a dime. The strike and ringing of triangles (are) unlike you'll ever hear on LP. Plus the recording's crystalline-like transparency allows more of the sense of Chicago Symphony Hall to emerge." — Myles B. Astor, Senior Editor, Positive Feedback magazine, January 12, 2018. Read the whole review here.



"I have to lead off with Chad Kassem and his team from Acoustic Sounds. Not only has Analogue Productions and QRP been producing a solid stream of grand-slam LPs, but Analogue Productions has been doing the same with reference-grade SACDs throughout the year. And if you don't want physical media, then SuperHirez.com has the great downloads in both DSD and PCM formats. And now:  The Ultra Tape series, which has now set the global benchmark for the highest level of reel-to-reel tapes for audiophiles and music lovers. Chad's company is, in my estimation, the leading provider and producer of audiophile-grade recordings in all key formats. This 2017 Brutus Award is richly deserved!" — David W. Robinson, editor-in-chief, Positive Feedback online, 2017 Brutus Awards for excellence in high-end audio and music

Cafe Blue / Patricia Barber

Analogue Productions (RCA Living Stereo) SACDs

"Is there a reason your RCA Living Stereo SACDs sound better than the original ones I have???

Seriously, even the CD layer sounds better!!" — Harry Weisfeld, Owner VPI Industries Inc.



Positive Feedback Writers' Choice Awards for 2017

Prokofiev: Lieutenant Kije/ Stravinsky: Song of the Nightingale / Fritz Reiner Prokofiev: Lieutenant Kije/ Stravinsky: Song of the Nightingale/Fritz Reiner

Number six on Sid Marks' all time RCA Living Stereo list (Ultimate Audio, vol.3, no.4, pgs.72-76, 2000) and for good reason. To quote Sid, "From tonal qualities to dynamics, staging and ambience, this beauty has always been among the brightest of stars in the RCA analog heaven." Sid might even after hearing this 15 ips reel-to-reel tape reissue rank this recording even higher. Two of the greatest Russian composers. Two great tales. One of a fake soldier and the other a fake nightingale. Reiner and the CSO at their best and unbelievable sonics some 60 years ago all wrapped up into one.

This tape is a system buster! Word of warning! Play the tape the first time through at lower than normal volume levels. There isn't another tape, LP or CD with greater dynamic range. A very few recordings may equal but none will surpass the feeling of an orchestra playing in your listening room. Oh, those Chicago strings! Buy the Acoustic Sounds remastered LP if you don't own a tape machine! - Myles Astor, Senior Editor, Positive Feedback magazine


Winds Of War and Peace / Lowell Graham Winds Of War and Peace/Lowell Graham


"It's a sonic spectacular and while perhaps you are skeptical about this, it makes for damn entertaining listening. ... If your system is capable of wide dynamic swings and deep bass, you'll definitely enjoy cranking up this record! The original, cut by Doug Sax, ... is obviously no 'slouch,' but this Kevin Gray-mastered reissue is even better overall. The bottom remains solid and dynamic while the midrange is far more transparent, having lost a 'milky' quality that made it sound as if it had been recorded in an airplane hangar. ... if chamber is more your style and/or more suited to your system I'd recommend Sonatas For Violin and Piano (Analogue Productions APC-8722) performed by David Abel (violin) and Julie Steinberg (piano). Incidentally, Wilson's catalogue numbers begin with the release year, so this one was issued in 1987. These chamber music recordings were designed to create the sensation of the performers playing in your room as opposed to you being in a venue. ... The QRP pressings produce pitch black backgrounds with which the originals cannot begin to compete. Plus the music is sublime and/or bombastic!" — Michael Fremer, AnalogPlanet.com. Read the whole feature article here.

Winds of War and Peace might be Kevin Gray's best remastering effort to date. That's saying something too given his impressive resume!

I could never—despite Winds of War and Peace being long time resident of Harry Pearson's Super Disc List—work up any enthusiasm for the original LP release. The original album always had an amorphous and washed out quality. (And I bought several copies at the time just to check out the problem didn't lie with just the one copy.) Not with the Kevin Gray/Acoustic Sounds remastered version! If you like marching band like music a la the old Fennell Mercury classics—and even if you don't—this is a must have recording. While many will get easily hooked on the first cut Liberty Fanfare (and its massive bass drum whacks!), the adventurous will continue onto tracks like Commando Marches, El Camino Real and Symphonic Dances-No. 3. Me? I am waiting with baited breath for the soon to be released Acoustic Sounds 15 ips Ultra Tape release that promises to be an absolute blockbuster! - Myles Astor, Senior Editor, Positive Feedback magazine


Bloodlines / Blood, Sweat & Tears Blood, Sweat & Tears - Bloodlines (Vinyl)

"There you have it! The first four BS&T records cut by Ryan K. Smith at Sterling Sound from the master tapes and pressed on 200g vinyl at QRP. I thought a 1A pressing of the first album couldn't be bettered but that was wrong. This one does. ... I did compare the second album here to the double 45 from ORG cut by Bernie Grundman from a copy of the master and it's somewhat warmer and softer, particularly in the mid-bass but I prefered this newest version. The other two (albums) are equally good compared to nothing because I don't have originals. ... That said, this boxed set gives you the first four albums packaged better than ever with gatefold jackets containing great photographs and as best as I can tell, also sounding better than ever as best as I can tell. Ryan K. Smith did a great job here for sure." Music = 8/11; Sound = 10/11 - Michael Fremer, AnalogPlanet.com. Read the whole review here.



Bloodlines / Blood, Sweat & Tears Blood, Sweat & Tears - Bloodlines (SACD)

"As responsible as any for inventing 'Big Band Rock' — following the Buckinghams but beating Tower of Power, Chicago and the Flock by a year or more — BS&T showed snooty cynics that serious musicianship worthy of jazz aficionados could blend seamlessly with blues-y rock, without sinking to the excesses of prog-rock. This set contains the group's first four albums (1968-71), from the Al Kooper / Blues Project orgins of their debut, Child Is Father To The Man, to the height of their hit-making period with BS&T 4, with increasing quantities of classical content, eg. Satie. Prescient selection of material from Nilsson, Tim Buckley, Laura Nyro and Randy Newman, sublime performances, superb sound. A triumph." — Sound Quality = 90% — Ken Kessler, HiFi News, December 2017, Digital Album Choice of the month!


Riverside Recordings / Bill Evans Bill Evans - Riverside Recordings

"The new set is struck from the same parts but pressed on 200-gram vinyl at Kassem's own QRP plant. ... judging from other comparisons I've done, I'd guess the QRPs have an edge. But I will say this: these are, for the most part, extraordinary-sounding recordings, better than any you're likely to find. If you love the music, you should consider the purchase." — Fred Kaplan, Stereophile, Nov. 1, 2017



HIFi News' "Years Best" 2017 includes three Analogue Productions titles! Surf's Up, Smiley Smile and Hatari!

Surf's Up / The Beach Boys The Beach Boys - Surf's Up

Surf's Up AAPP 070P (200g vinyl) / CAPP 070 SA (SACD) — "While the consensus deems Pet Sounds to be The Beach Boys' greatest achievement, I derive much more joy from this 1971 release. Issued when the band was considered so unhip as to be beyond redemption, it featured Bruce Johnston's heartbreakingly gorgeous 'Disney Girls (1957),' famously covered by Art Garfunkel, 'Long Promised Road,' 'Til I Die,' 'Feel Flows' and the luscious title track. Surf's Up restored the band's credibility, despite Brian Wilson not dominating the proceedings. It sounds equally glorious on SACD. It was recorded for surround sound, to be heard via a Dynaco Quadaptor. Pity Acoustic Sounds didn't issue that mix, too!" — Sound Quality = 91% - Ken Kessler, HiFi News, "Years Best" Yearbook 2017


"History will never respect this album because of the mythical status of Smile, of which this is the compromised surrogate issued in 1967. The Smile tracks were spread over later LPs, and a reconstruction of what it might have been appeared in 2004, but this is still something special: it contains, after all, 'Heroes And Villains,' 'Vegetables,' 'Good Vibrations,' 'Wind Chimes' and 'Wonderful' — five tracks from the Smile project. This album is simply gorgeous and superior to much of the highly-praised dreck of the era. Acoustic Sounds also has released this as two LPs: stereo (APP068) and mono (APP068M), while both mixes are on the SACD." — Sound Quality = 92% - Ken Kessler, HiFi News, "Years Best" Yearbook 2017

Hatari! - Music from the Paramount Motion Picture Score / Henry Mancini Henry Mancini - Hatari! - Music from the Paramount Motion Picture Score

"A hat trick for Analogue Productions, this is the third of their Mancini soundtrack reissues and it's another audiophile-friendly gem. Back in 1996, I reviewed a vinyl reissue of this magnificent album from Germany, one of Audiophile Record Service's RCA 'Shaded Dog' reissues of long-worship LPs. Their Hatari! is now a hard-to-find collectable, so this takes care of the absence, albeit digitally. However, this SACD is so punchy, open and lifelike that its credentials as demo-worthy remain intact. This film was a 1962 Oscar-winner and remains best known for the bouncy 'Baby Elephant Walk' and i's one of Mancini's finest. It will make you smile as much as listening to the Pink Panther theme." — Sound Quality = 92% - Ken Kessler, HiFi News, "Years Best" Yearbook 2017

"Hatari! (originally released in 1962) contains more dramatic underscore (primarily in the nearly seven-minute 'The Sounds of Haatari' cue) than most of Mancini's formulaic 'soundtracks.' The musical highlights are the theme from Hatari! with two incredibly catchy classic Mancini funky pop cues ('Baby Elephan Walk' and 'Your Father's Feathers). All of this sounds amazing on one of Mancini's best Living Stereo recordings. The musical and sonic centerpiece for most listeners will be the 'Baby Elephant Walk' with its shrieking woodwinds that still manage to sound musical and are not distorted despite the close miking." — Arthur Lintgen, The Absolute Sound, April 2017


Masterpieces By Ellington / Duke Ellington Duke Ellington - Masterpieces By Ellington

"Analogue Productions has some of the best stuff. If I had to pick one record label, it would be them." – Colleen Murphy, founder of Classic Album Sundays.

 

"Why Vinyl Matters" is a new book where author Jennifer Otter Bickerdike interviews iconic artists, Djs, producers, label founders, record store owners and others influential in vinyl's resurgence. Bickerdike spoke with Colleen Murphy, the founder of Classic Album Sundays, which hosts listening sessions of vinyl albums in their entirety, on world-class audiophile gear, around the globe. Prior to this, she was known as "Cosmo," an American radio and club DJ. Colleen offered her high regard — as shown above — for Analogue Productions reissues when asked the question: "Crucial release for an audiophile to have because it sounds so much better on vinyl?"

She continued: "They do a lot of reissues. They have The Doors, The Beach Boys, Duke Ellington — all sorts. There's a Duke Ellington album called ‘Masterpieces' — if I was on a desert island and I could only have one album, that would be it. It's all unedited arrangements and concert arrangements. ‘Sophisticated Lady' is on there. I'm not even a massive jazz buff. But when you hear this album on vinyl, it's just astounding. It's the foundation of everything. You hear more and more every time you listen to it." The book is available for purchase on Amazon.com.


"...while the 33 was a startler, the new (45 RPM) version — spread out on two LPs, to accommodate the wider grooves — will leave you breathless. There's more sparkle to Ellington's piano, more wood in Wendell Marshall's bass, more breath and reed and romance in Johnny Hodges' alto sax, more force in Jimmy Hamilton's hard-blown clarinet. Each player in the horn sections sounds more distinct; I hear more of Duke's playing, underneath those sections, too. And soloists — palpable enough in 33 1/3 RPM — are holographic at 45. In short, the 45 lets us hear more of the music, more of the detail, more of the human presence; it transports us more completely back in time." Read the whole review here. — Fred Kaplan, Stereophile.com, June 17, 2017


Power Of The Orchestra / Leibowitz, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Power Of The Orchestra/Leibowitz, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Kind words from a customer appreciative of our Analogue Productions Ultra Tape reissues.

"Chad, Good Thursday Morning! Several days ago, we had over a 'Reviewer' who wanted to listen to AP's Master-Tapes. He thought very HIGHLY after listening. His suggestion, as well as others in attendance, do more Classical tapes that have a bombastic, exciting, explosive, sweeping musical presentation. These tapes were wonderful and I am happy that you decided to become part of the 'PURE ANALOG-MOVEMENT'. We played both 'SCHEHERAZADE' & 'THE POWER OF THE ORCHESTRA'. Stupendous musical presentations!! Great job Chad. Kudos to yourself and your Team!!" — Bernard Ginsberg


Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade / Fritz Reiner Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade/Fritz Reiner

Kind words from a customer appreciative of our Analogue Productions Ultra Tape reissues.

"Chad, Good Thursday Morning! Several days ago, we had over a 'Reviewer' who wanted to listen to AP's Master-Tapes. He thought very HIGHLY after listening. His suggestion, as well as others in attendance, do more Classical tapes that have a bombastic, exciting, explosive, sweeping musical presentation. These tapes were wonderful and I am happy that you decided to become part of the 'PURE ANALOG-MOVEMENT'. We played both 'SCHEHERAZADE' & 'THE POWER OF THE ORCHESTRA'. Stupendous musical presentations!! Great job Chad. Kudos to yourself and your Team!!" — Bernard Ginsberg


"It certainly wouldn't be going out on a limb to say that Scheherazade and The Pines of Rome were two of the most anticipated Analogue Productions Ultra Tape! Series releases. High expectations sometimes lead to disappointment, but not here! Both reel-to-reel tape releases live up to and exceeded expectations, especially in terms of recreating the original recordings dynamics, spatiality, and resolution." — Myles B. Astor, Positive Feedback magazine, Issue 93, Sept. 1, 2017. Read the entire review.


Respighi: Pines Of Rome & Fountains Of Rome / Fritz Reiner Respighi: Pines Of Rome & Fountains Of Rome/Fritz Reiner

"It certainly wouldn't be going out on a limb to say that Scheherazade and The Pines of Rome were two of the most anticipated Analogue Productions Ultra Tape! Series releases. High expectations sometimes lead to disappointment, but not here! Both reel-to-reel tape releases live up to and exceeded expectations, especially in terms of recreating the original recordings dynamics, spatiality, and resolution." — Myles B. Astor, Positive Feedback magazine, Issue 93, Sept. 1, 2017. Read the entire review.



Recently / Joan Baez Joan Baez - Recently

"A 30th anniversary reissue, this set from 1987 was recorded after an eight-year hiatus. As typical of her career, it reminds us of Baez's impeccable taste in material. While she wrote two tracks and one is a traditional folk anthem, the rest includes sincere renditions of Dan Penn's magnificent 'Do Right Woman, Do Right Man,' U2's 'MLK,' Dire Strait's Brothers In Arms' and Jimmy Webb's 'The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress.' Backed by ace musicians including Caleb Quaye and Abe Laboriel, Baez was doing what she always did: preaching and protesting and guilt-tripping the audience. If you can swallow the right-on politics, musically this is pure class." — Sound Quality = 90% — Ken Kessler, HiFi News, September 2017



People, Hell & Angels / Jimi Hendrix Jimi Hendrix - People, Hell & Angels

"Another superlative posthumous package made better by Analogue Productions, the perfect companion to Machine Gun, this gathers together 12 tracks from 1968-9. The reason it mates perfectly with Machine Gun is the lineup: this is the precursor to Band of Gypsys, with primary players Buddy Miles and Billy Cox. The link to The Experience, then nearing its finish, is Mitch Mitchell on a few tracks; and Steve Stills guests too. All unreleased material, including some delicious blues and fresh interpretations of known songs, all superbly recorded, this is a truly rare occasion when one can tell even the hard-core Hendrix fan that it's a must-have." — Sound Quality = 90% — Ken Kessler, HiFi News, August 2017



The Sound Of Jazz / Various Artists Various Artists - The Sound Of Jazz

"The only reason Classic Records failed to reissue this one back in the 1990s and 2000s is because the reel containing one side had gone missing. For this reissue Sony/BMG located the original 3 track recording from which this stereo record was sourced so it's one generation ahead of the mixed two track master. This tape probably hadn't been played in almost sixty years and so sounds remarkably fresh. ... Analogue Productions reissued this in a tip-on gatefold sleeve with great black and white photos taken at the recording session of Count Basie, Billie Holiday and Ben Webster. A moment in musical time perfectly captured that's easy to recommend for the music, the sound and the packaging. The reissue sound is somewhat drier than the original, which makes it all the more intimate and less dated. A great lacquer cut by Ryan K. Smith." — Music = 9/11; Sound = 9/11 — Michael Fremer, AnalogPlanet.com. To read Fremer's full review, click here.


Breaking Silence / Janis Ian Janis Ian - Breaking Silence

"This is the 50th anniversary of Ian's eponymous debut, and while she's only averaged an album every two years, when she does emerge after long silences the results are stunning. This aptly-named release from 1992 arrived after a 10-year hiatus. Ian compelled to issue it when she was outed as gay. It's a sparse, sensitive, thought-provoking set, and you'd be forgiven for mistaking it in places as early Joni Mitchell. As her first success — 1965's "Society's Child" — was about a controversial topic, this set upheld her tradition in social commentary, yet it's utterly unpreachy. Gorgeous sound, a tonic for those who are partial to singer-songwriter intimacy." — Sound Quality = 89% - Ken Kessler, HiFi News, July 2017



The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get / Joe Walsh Joe Walsh - The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get

"An outstanding new 200gm LP reissue from Analogue Productions, with improved sound thanks to a sparkling new remaster by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio, makes it clear that this 1973 release remains — with the possible exception of 1978's But Seriously, Folks . . . — the undisputed highlight of Walsh's solo career. ... Another week, another beautiful-sounding, wonderfully packaged reissue from Analogue Productions." Read the whole review here. — Robert Baird, Stereophile.com, May 2017

"(Side one) ends with the appropriately titled 'Happy Ways,' a Latin-tinged guitar-fest with lovely chunky bass lines that sounds absolutely glorious on this Analogue Productions pressing. The zing of steel string guitar almost sounds dead on the CD and tired on my ancient vinyl pressing, so this is clearly not one of those remasters that's based on an umpteenth generation copy of the tapes. ... You owe it to yourself to hear this album — and it will not sound any better than this spectacular pressing." — Recording = 8/10; Music 10/10 — Jason Kenedy, Hi-Fi+, Issue 148


Machine Gun: The Fillmore East First Show 12/31/1969 / Jimi Hendrix Jimi Hendrix - Machine Gun: The Fillmore East First Show 12/31/1969

"Hendrix devotees are finally served with a full, unedited Band of Gypsys performance, unlike the eponymous album assembled from the second night's shows at Fillmore East: this is the complete debut of the Dec. 31, '69. While Hendrix-ologists may debate which is superior, this has an undeniable fluidity and coherence, and it's evident that Hendrix had a lot more to offer. Those who love Jimi as a bluesman — and who felt he should have done more with the genre — will feel chills when he cuts loose on 'Hear My Train a Comin' and 'Bleeding Heart.' One of the best posthumous Hendrix releases, it's like a bonus disc for one of the greatest live sets of all time." — Sound Quality: 90% - Ken Kessler, Hi-Fi News, June 2017



Gimme Back My Bullets  / Lynyrd Skynyrd Lynyrd Skynyrd - Gimme Back My Bullets

"The idea of two-disc, 45 RPM 200-gram audiophile LP reissues of Lynyrd Skynrd's first and next-to-last studio albums, each selling for $55, may seem an odd mix of high-brow sound with low-brow music, but doubters should suspend judgment until they hear the results. ... First released in February 1976, the perpetually underrated studio album Gimme Back My Bullets, which has yet to sell itself into platinum status, had much-improved sound over Skynyrd's earlier studio albums, due to the engineering skills of producer Tom Dowd, who served in the same roles for the original band's last studio album, Street Survivors (1977). By the fall of 1975, when Gimme Back My Bullets was made at the Record Plant, in Los Angeles, and Capricorn Studios, in Macon, Georgia, the sextet had also become a far more professional band. The arrangements were tighter, the playing more focused, and their mix of country and rock, tilted forever toward rock in tunes like 'Cry for the Bad Man,' had been honed to a fine edge. The newly vivid, intense sound is thanks to the remastering by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound. While all the live tracks included on the 2006 CD/DVD reissue were genuine bonuses, this LP reissue will always be the way to hear this album. As is usual with Analogue Productions reissues, the heavyweight packaging is lush — and the pressing quality, from AP sister company Quality Record Pressings, is excellent. Best of all, these editions are the final sonic words on these albums. ... These albums have never sounded better, and it's not much of a leap to say they never will." — Performance = 4/5; Sonics 4/5 — Robert Baird, Stereophile, May 2017


Gil Evans and Ten / Gil Evans Gil Evans - Gil Evans and Ten

"On a fine new Analogue Productions 200gm stereo LP reissue of Gil Evans and Ten, (Prestige 7120) ($35), his first recording as a leader, the man's many strengths combined to create a tour de force. This is first time these recordings have been released in stereo on LP. For starters, there's the material, an impeccable selection of covers that opens with Irving Berlin's "Remember" and continues on Side A with Lead Belly's "Ella Speed" and finally "Big Stuff" from Leonard Bernstein's ballet, Fancy Free. The second side is equally distinguished, opening with Rodgers and Hart's "Nobody's Heart" and adding Cole Porter's "Just One of Those Things," Tadd Dameron's "If You Could See Me Now," before closing with Evan's own, "Jambangle."" — Robert Baird, Stereophile.com, Mar 28, 2017. Read the whole review here.

"Part of Analogue Productions' series of 25 of the rarest and best sounding Prestige titles recorded by Rudy Van Gelder, this important reissue dates to 1957 and presents for the first time on vinyl in stereo Gil Evans' debut as both the leader of his own recording session as well as the pianist. ... Remastered by Kevin Gray and impeccably pressed at QRP, the sound is excellent. Tonally rich and warm, but not overly fat or golden, with an airy and expansive soundstage in which the main instruments occupy the front section, layering back to the supporting players, with the drums and bass (mostly) at rear. The horns, especially, are creamy-lush, drums have plenty of snap, and there's a terrific sense of balance and completeness to the whole." — Music = 4/5; Sonics = 4/5 - Wayne Garcia, The Absolute Sound, May-June 2017

Henry Mancini - The Pink PantherHenry Mancini - The Pink Panther


"OK, it runs to less than a half-hour, it's a tad corny and we're talking about one of the funniest farces ever to star the incredible Peter Sellers, so you probably think you will never listen to it minus the visuals. But so sublimely well recorded is this 'golden era' RCA original, and so perfectly captured here on SACD, that it's enough to make you invest in the format if you haven't already. The theme tune is so instantly recognizable as to be a cliché, and the only reason it's not the release of the month is because I suspect you already own it. This is so gorgeous that you might find yourself bitten by the soundtrack bug ... and that can be expensive. A gem." Sound Quality = 91% - Ken Kessler, HiFi News, March 2017.




Peter Gunn / Henry Mancini Henry Mancini - Peter Gunn

"Soundtrack buffs are in for a treat because Chad Kassem's label is reissuing a number of Henry Mancini discs, and this gem from 1959 stands proud as much for being a stunning big band/jazz album as it does a score for a TV show. The first Grammy recipient for Album of the Year, it's an evocative, moody set that perfectly suited the noir atmosphere of the hugely successful detective series that ran from 1958 to 1961. I'm old enough to recall the soundtrack — it signalled my bedtime — and it still sends chills, images of rainy nights, trench coats and other private eye tropes. The orchestra included Victor Feldman, Paul Horn, soundtrack-wizard-to-be John Williams, Shelley Manne and other studio maestri. Fabulous!" — Sound Quality = 94% Ken Kessler, Hi-Fi News, October 2016



The Royal Ballet Gala Performances / Ernest Ansermet The Royal Ballet Gala Performances/Ernest Ansermet

"Analogue Productions' Classic Records buyout brought with it metal parts for many albums, cut by Bernie Grundman, including for this record. ... AP chose to produce a new stamper using the "mother" cut from the original master tape by Bernie Grundman. ... I compared this 33 1/3 reissue to the Classic 33 1/3 reissue and to an original pressing that I'm lucky to own. ... The QRP pressing was definitely more open, extended and focused on top and transients were sharper though in a completely natural way. The Classic sounded somewhat softer and veiled. If you've got both, you'll hear it in the percussive transients first and then consistently throughout. ... If this is one of your "go to" sonic spectaculars and you have other versions, you ought to consider adding this one, though you'll have to wait for the re-re-press. Both the sound, including dead quiet vinyl, as well as the packaging are first-rate." — Music = 11/11; Sound = 11/11 - Michael Fremer, AnalogPlanet.com. To read Fremer's full review, click here.



Carney / Leon Russell Leon Russell - Carney

"Carney, produced by Denny Cordell, is Russell's best studio album until his final closing statement, 2014's Life Journey, though 1975's Will O' The Wisp also has its charms. ... Chad Kassem's Analogue Productions has wisely followed Russell's death with this superfine 200-gram, 331/3 reissue of this craggy 1970s landmark ... As is always the case with Analogue Productions records, great care was taken right down to replicating the original purple and green labels. Russell was a great low-key genius, the kind who would never get a second look in the hits-driven, teen-focused, desiccated music business of today." — Robert Baird, Stereophile.com, Feb. 9, 2017. Read the whole review here.



Quiet Kenny / Kenny Dorham Kenny Dorham - Quiet Kenny

"I've never heard an original pressing, but this reissue by Chad Kassem's Analogue Productions — a 200-gram QRP pressing, mastered at 33 1/3 RPM by Kevin Gray — is every bit the equal of Van Gelder's Blue Note LPs from the same era: the trumpet's brash brass and bushels of air, the pluck and wood of the bass, the sizzling hi-hat and smashing snare of the trap set. ... Listen to 'Blue Friday,' and you'll be reminded of the trumpet-led passages on 'Stolen Moments,' the high point of Oliver Nelson's The Blues and the Abstract Truth. There's a similar sound, and it's no accident." — Fred Kaplan, Stereophile, Feb. 8, 2017. Read the whole review here.




"I was so pleased with the job Analogue Productions did with their reissue of Out of the Cool, Evans's 1960 Impulse! album, that I immediately ordered their vinyl edition of Gil Evans & Ten when it became available. This is the recording's first release on vinyl in stereo ... The new LP more sharply presents Steve Lacy's soprano sax in Cole Porter's "Just One of Those Things," and the instrument plays better against Evans's percussive piano lines. I could hear the band easing in behind Evans in the early moments of the track, and it sounded more dynamic as the arrangement built. Evans's high notes about two-thirds of the way through sound fuller, rounder toned, and more emphatic on the Analogue Productions LP. ... this new pressing reveals more depth and warmth in the sound, and lets me feel as if I'm closer to the band, and able to hear more of what's going on in the music." Musical Performance = 4 1/2 Stars; Sound Quality = 4 1/2 Stars; Overall Enjoyment = 4 1/2 Stars — Joseph Taylor, SoundStageUltra.com. Read the whole review here.



"I'm not exaggerating about the sound quality: It's amazing nor am I overstating the 'pure novelty' aspect of the arrangements. This is not 'serious' music but it is serious fun and so 1950's kitschy that as time passes it becomes more treasured as a 'moment in time' never to be repeated. I have original and Classic Records reissues but more recently Analogue Productions has reissued this cut from the three-track original tape by Ryan K. Smith at Sterling Sound. Originals still go for well over a hundred dollars (I snagged one years ago at Record Surplus, Las Vegas for three bucks) so the new reissue, which I'm sure sounds great and is pressed on 200g vinyl at QRP, is reasonably priced." — Michael Fremer, AnalogPlanet.com. To read Fremer's full take on "Three Percussion Records You Should Own," click here.



"In the late 1990s, Taj Mahal went on a 42-city tour with a gang of old, pure blues musicians. The producer, Tim Duffy, recorded several sessions on audiophile gear, but the tapes were stashed away, until a couple years ago, when the two took a listen, popped their eyes, and arranged with Chad Kassem, proprietor of Analogue Productions and owner of some of the world's best vinyl pressing plants, to put it out on LP. The music is a thorough delight; the sound quality is you-are-there vivid." — Fred Kaplan, Slate.com, December 2017

"Of course this music and this project is at the core of what Analogue Productions' Chad Kassem has been about since he began producing vinyl reissues so it was only natural and fitting that these two LPs have been released on the Analogue Productions label, lacquers cut by Kevin Gray, pressed at QRP and housed in gatefold 'Tip-on' Stoughton Press jackets festooned with evocative black and white session photos. Even if you know these chestnuts like 'Creole Bell,' 'John Henry' and 'Hambone' by heart, you'll experience them here with fresh life breathed into their musical arteries. ... Among my favorites is Taj's instrumental 'Zanzibar,' but really, every track is a treasure. ... Don't be a fool and let the resolution stop you. These are probably the best sounding damn "field recordings" you're likely ever to hear and the stripped-down music is transportive and magical." — Music = 9/11; Sound = 9/11 — Michael Fremer, AnalogPlanet.com. To read Fremer's full review, click here.

"Labor of Love is a time capsule. Even if 1998 doesn't seem that long ago, it was. Stripping down a record to voices and acoustic instruments will cause anyone to think throwback, yet few can pull it off as genuine and procure it quite like Taj Mahal and friends. Proof positive that all it takes is a soul with something to say and a way to catch it on tape to light that fire in the listener. If you're akin to the blues, God bless you. If you're not, let this be your easing in, you'll find that at the heart of any Labor Of Love there's a definitive true blues." Read the whole review here. — Glide Magazine, January 2017

"Music Maker Foundation founder Tim Duffy has managed to capture Mahal at his most skeletal on this vinyl-only release, culled mostly from Duffy's archives of off-the-cuff performances recorded in 1998 on a 42-city Music Makers tour with Mahal headlining. Some of the cuts were recorded after the shows, late at night in hotel room jams, and some were taped at Duffy's Pinnacle, North Carolina, Music Makers studio/residence. ... Music Maker Foundation releases are always special, but this one should be on your Christmas list and receive your attention all year long. It's a gift that keeps on giving." — Grant Britt, nodepression.com. Read the entire review here.

"Mahal's 47th (no, not a typo) album, Labor of Love, features some of the blues musician's greatest tunes. It consists of solo favorites from almost twenty years ago, and collaborations with the Music Maker Relief Foundation artists. ... He's a storyteller who incorporates his deep musical history in every note that's played. Stack-O-Lee" is timeless, really... talking about that 'bad man.' Collaborations on Labor of Love include 'John Henry' with the late Etta Baker. Baker's Piedmont blues experiences flood the listeners with a chilling journey into the Mississippi Delta. This stripped down release matches that photo of Taj Mahal on his website — laid back, at ease, welcoming listeners to pull up a chair and leave their cares at the door." — Brenda Hillegas, Elmore Magazine, January 2017

"The album is Taj Mahal's 47th. On it are six solo performances by Taj and seven more duets recorded with Music Maker Relief Foundation artists. All of the songs are previously unreleased performances recorded in 1998. ... Taj states that he enjoyed getting to know the musicians lives and 'how they made things work' while getting 'closer to the source.' — Richard Ludmerer, makingascene.org

"The solo acoustic tunes rank among some of the most relaxed and intimate that he has recorded in the latter part of his career. Even on 'Fishin' Blues' — familiar territory that he has traversed countless times in a career — Taj sounds spontaneous and genuine, often improvising quick guitar fills that substitute for words in some of the verses. ... A noteworthy album by any measure, the stripped-down vibe of these recordings also makes Labor Of Love a nice counterpoint to Taj's last (and more stylistically diverse) full-length studio release, 2008's Maestro." — Roger Gatchet, Living Blues Magazine, February 2017

"Taj Mahal has been tapping into his traditional blues roots since the '60s, but these intimate acoustic sessions from the mid '90s, released here for the first time (and on 200-gram vinyl-only format to boot) are something special. ... The audiophile presssing makes a big difference too: if you've ever longed to have Taj Mahal in your living room this is as close as you're likely to come." — Jim Allen, CultureSonar.com, December 2016

"What we have here is magic: classic blues tunes — 'Stagger Lee,' 'My Creole Bell,' 'Mistreated Blues,' 'Zanzibar,' 'John Henry' and more — treated with such love and wit and heartache and (to use a tired term that's appropriate here) authenticity. Few field-hand recordings are drenched with this much sweat. And none of those field-hand recordings (few live or studio recordings, period) sound so vivid." — Fred Kaplan, Stereophile.com, March 6, 2017. Read the whole review here.

"It's delicious stuff. Mahal was miked up close, allowing every crisp nuance of his voice and guitar to be recorded cleanly and clearly; that guitar work, especially, is so in-your-face that you'll feel like you're sitting at the artist's feet. Some of the material will be familiar to anyone who's followed Taj Mahal, or at least his brand of acoustic blues, for any length of time. The opening number, 'Stagger Lee,' is given a reverential traditional treatment, and 'Fishin' Blues,' regardless of how many times he's cut it, still delights. Mahal takes lyrical and rhythmic liberties with 'Walkin' Blues,' presented here in a bare-bones rendition even starker than the familiar Robert Johnson version; and Mississippi John Hurt's' 'My Creole Belle' is sweet and tasty. The duets, for the most part, are enjoyable as well-the slide guitar on 'John Henry,' with Etta Baker, is sharp and sleek-but in the end, you may end up wishing that the entire set could've been just pure Taj and nothing but Taj." — Jeff Tamarkin, Relix, April 11, 2017. Read it all here.


Diamonds and Rust in the Bullring / Joan Baez Joan Baez - Diamonds and Rust in the Bullring

"... this Analogue Productions release captures an impassioned performance with much-better-than-expected sonics. ... Impeccably mastered from the original analog tape by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio, the 200-gram vinyl was plated and pressed at Quality Record Pressings. This small treasure preserves the essence of what makes Baez such a beloved figure on the world stage." - Music = 4/5; Sonics = 4/5 - Neil Gader, The Absolute Sound, November 2015. Read the whole review here.



The Trinity Session / Cowboy Junkies Cowboy Junkies - The Trinity Session

"Regardless, sonics are first-rate, as is Analogue Productions' knockout reissue. The sound is exceptionally ambient and airy, with a remarkable sense of depth and a seemingly endless stage. Instruments are creamy-rich in texture, as is Timmins' come-hither vocal style. If you love Trinity Sessions, you'll want this edition." - Wayne Garcia, The Absolute Sound, February 2017. Read the whole review here.



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