This past Saturday we decided to go on a road trip to a new, to us, Half Price Books & Music in the Chicago suburbs. After searching the vinyl and CD bins I was thinking I was about to go scoreless until I found this gem in the “M” section. An unused, still sealed We Live Here on CD in mint condition for only $6.99. It sounds every bit as good as I remembered it. This album from Pat Metheny Group is still available in record and CD stores and, also on streaming sites. Check it out, I doubt you’ll be disappointed. Enjoy!
Thanks very much for reading our site. I hope you enjoy it. BTW, if you want to let me know what kind of content you would like to see me write more about please don’t hesitate to leave a reply. - Doug
Before Stevie and Lindsey joined Team Mac the band, fronted by blues guitar wizard Peter Green, was an accomplished blues band. Now there is a hardcover book chronicling these historic sessions with Chicago blues masters joining the band at Chess to record some classic music together. Written by Robert Schaffner, photos by original photographer Jeff Lowenthal.
This synopsis from the B&N website: A book showcasing the legendary Fleetwood Mac blues session at Chicago’s Chess Studios in January 1969 This book focuses on a crucial moment in the history of one of the most popular bands in music history and its beginnings as a blues band in the late 1960s. It includes many never-before-seen color and black-and-white photos from this legendary session.
High quality images show founding Fleetwood Mac members Peter Green, Danny Kirwan, Jeremy Spencer, Mick Fleetwood, and John McVie with the major Chicago blues musicians - Willie Dixon, Otis Spann, and Buddy Guy – of the time. Also featured throughout the book are recollections by many of Fleetwood Mac’s contemporaries, such as Kim Simmonds, Aynsley Dunbar, and Martin Barre, as well as a new interview with Buddy Guy.
The book is available on Amazon and now it is also available on the Barnes and Noble website and in their stores. https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fleetwood-mac-in-chicago-jeff-lowenthal/1141022998?ean=9780764364952
Fleetwood Mac in Chicago 1969 up on the bookshelves at Barnes and Noble!
As always thank you very much for visiting Hear More Music!
Doug
For those attending AXPONA High-End Audio Expo this year opportunities abound to learn, not just to see and hear. AXPONA's Master Class Theater promises many great opportunities to gain insight into subject matters that many audiophiles and music lovers alike find interesting and of value. Subjects include:
Limiting Factors of Modern True-to-Life Audio Reproduction.
How to choose Ortofon cartridges and Ortofon Phono Cartridge Technology.
(Speaker) Cable length parameters.
Ten Ways to Optimize Music Streaming.
Back to the Future with RTM Tapes.
How does your playback system stack up?
Discoveries and advances in vinyl optimization.
You can see the complete Master Class Theater schedule and register for AXPONA EXPO here -----> https://axpona.com/masterclass/
AXPONA EXPO exhibitor list here -----> https://axpona.com/exhibitors/
With so many manufacturer exhibitors as well as Ear Gear and RecordFair (and CDs) plan on spending at least one whole day or two or...three.
Bring plenty of money for Record Fair!
Thanks for reading Hear More Music,
Doug
Keyboardist Sam Fribush is on the frontlines of the Hammond organ revival. His debut release, the SF Organ Trio, was produced by Charlie Hunter and recorded over quarantine in North Carolina. Fribush became a member of Hiss Golden Messenger in 2021. Currently based in Greensboro, NC, Fribush has brought his fonky, soulful vibe home to the town where he was born and raised.
My initial listening notes- Wide stereo image Natural bass drum with a kick! Keyboards nice further back in soundstage mix. Natural guitar work not strident. Big soundstage and imaging!! Not overly compressed. 5 stars. Those keyboards gradually sneak up in the mix. Fun! Toe tapping! Pleasent, solid bass guitar. Wish this EP was a full album! Mix of depth, large soundstage & center image is very balanced. Is that a Hammond B3? Yes it is! Percussion on “Fat Nap” clean and snappy!
The Music 🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵 The Sound 🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵
Hear More Music: Sam Fribush Organ Trio Vol. 1: Riverboat
Check out these on your favorite streaming service. Film music by orchestra and two styles of jazz from Remy Le Boeuf and Pat Metheny. Enjoy! 🎵 #music #jazz #orchestra
I use Apple's Time Machine to back up all of the music that I've purchased, be it off of music CD or legal downloads (Bandcamp.com). If you're like me you own many CDs and downloads so some sort of backup system is necessary in case your computer fails. In my case I use a hard drive which is connected to my Mac.
An aside. Back when we were installing music systems in people's homes it seems that the majority of our clients were Mac users. With that in mind I'm thinking many who are reading this may also be Mac users and in need of a reliable way to back up their Mac. I found two sources that explain how to implement Time Machine on your home system and believe me it is well worth learning about.
Check out this YouTube video for a very good intro to Time Machine and how to set it up ---->
And...Apple's own user manual on Time Machine backup ---> https://support.apple.com/en-us/104984
If you are a Windows or Chrome user you'll want to learn about how to effectively back them up also. I'm not a user of either so I can't be of much help here.
Thanks much for reading and don't forget to subscribe on the left hand side of this blog.
Doug
#backup #reviewing #apple #mac #bandcamp #youtube
The Spring, 2024 edition of Record Store Day is soon upon us...the day we are forced to visit our local independent record store and sift through the great new special edition releases while taking in the vinyl and CD retail culture. Great times! https://recordstoreday.com/Home
Some of the titles on my long list-
Kelly Watch The Stars by Air
Chet Baker and Jack Sheldon make sweet vibes on Imperfect Harmony
Count 'em...Five 3" releases by The Beatles, two from George Harrison, one from John Lennon and even a new EP from Ringo Starr entitles "Crooked Boy"
Bill Evans may have the best album title of all...Everyone Digs Bill Evans.
A 50th Anniversary Edition of Elton John's Caribou on double vinyl.
Another 50th Anniversary set, this one is Sweetheart Of The Rodeo by The Byrds members.
The Birds, The Bees and The Monkees (and the second place album title!) by The Monkees (thank you to Friday Music!)
The Rolling Stones (UK) on ABKCO.
Pharoah Sanders, Harvest Time on Luaka Bop Records.
There is a long list of releases for this Record Store Day and you can see them all on the Record Store Day website. Some releases are regional, some very local and some are national. Below is the complete RSD listing but check with your local independent record store to be sure the titles that you are interested in will be carried locally. Good Times!
https://recordstoreday.s3.amazonaws.com/2024/2024_RSD_PUBLIC.pdf
There is a trend by audio electronics brands of offering a separate component, a 'streamer'. This component usually has its own display and connects to your home wifi. These component streamers connect to your streaming service of choice (Qobuz, Tidal, Deezer, Spotify, etc) and send that music stream onwards ho to your audio receiver, integrated amplifier or pre-amplifier via a cable interconnect. Easy enough...but not always.
An Apple iPad can act in the same fashion as said streamer. Using an Apple Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter* you can connect the iPad to your stereo and stream high-res and standard CD quality sound from your favorite streaming app. I've included some photos to help visually explain how to connect the cable spew.
The white Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter is white and looks like this:
Connect the Adapter into your iPad's lightning port. Then connect a USB A-to-C cable from the Adapter into your amplifier's DAC (digital-to-analog convertor) or, to your own free-standing DAC. In my case I'm using an outboard Modi DAC from Schitt Audio**:
Then connect the Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter to power. Here is a photo of mine connected to an extension cord:
In this configuration AC powers all three, the USB 3 Camera Adapter, the iPad and the Modi DAC***. No need to run separate power supply to the Modi.
Open the App(s) of your choice and stream the music via wifi into the iPad and out into the DAC and your audio amplifier. This also allows you to enjoy and higher resolution music streams if you subscribe to such.
*https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MK0W2AM/A/lightning-to-usb-3-camera-adapter
**https://www.schiit.com/products/modi-plus
***https://www.schiit.com/public/upload/PDF/modi%20plus%20manual.pdf
Good luck and enjoy!
Doug
#ipad #streaming #hirez
American Pie - United Artist Records released in October, 1971 with words and music written by Don McLean and dedicated to Buddy Holly ~ CDP 7 46555 2. 2003 Capitol Records 72435-84279-2-9.
Many music fans have a favorite song or favorite album in which they remember all the lyrics to. They remember when it was first released, where they purchased it from and the impact it made upon them. For me that song has always been American Pie.
Don McLean had released his first album, Tapestry, in 1970 with little notice. With a larger record label behind him American Pie (the album) was released in October 1971 and literally shot up the charts based on the strength of the song American Pie. The song was unique, dealing with loss and years of social upheaval, musical changes, religion and war. (Sounds like current times, doesn't it?) Through the song McLean recalled and honored Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson (The Big Bopper), musicians that McLean looked up to and had passed away. The song struck a nerve with the American public, most of whom were tired of war, social ills and all the other stressful issues of the day.
In 2003 Capitol Records reissued the album in along with two additional songs and a nice booklet in which McLean describes how he came to write the album as well as his concept of the history of the times in which it was written. It’s a great addition to anyone’s music library.
Interesting American Pie facts: At 8:32 it is the longest song to reach #1 on the Billboard music charts. In 2001 American Pie was voted the #5 Most Memorable Song of the Century. The original vinyl 45 single, due to the song’s length, had the first half of the song on side one, the second half on side two. The only way to hear the song in its full length was to buy the vinyl album.
Years ago we attended a wedding and to close out the reception the new bride and groom asked everyone to hold hands and to form a circle around the dance floor. While we all faced each other they closed the reception by asking everyone to sing American Pie in unison…the full eight minute and thirty two second version. I belted it out as best I could and I admit it brought serious tears to my eyes. The sound of a room full of people singing that song was such a great experience and one I obviously still remember. It was so cool to hear everyone, younger and older alike, sing it together.
THAT is what music is all about.
And, I still remembered all of the words. Thank you, Don.
Thanks for reading and listening,
Doug