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Every physical media music fan needs a similarly minded friend to share with. Sharing makes our hobby more meaninful and enjoyable. The subject of this post's 'friend' happens to live in the digital domain, in one's pocket, purse or backpack and organizes your vinyl and CD collection for you. A music buddy of sorts. Enter the Music Buddy app. I discovered Music Buddy in the Apple App Store Edit: I previously wrote there was no Music Buddy Android App in the Google Play Store. I was wrong...there is. Sorry, Android fans). This free App promised to organize my CD/LP library with the additional benefit of taking my visual library with me each time I visit the record store or shop online. Even box sets are welcome here. No more "do I have this title on CD?" stress.

Once you've downloaded the App simply scan the barcode using your iPhone or iPad's camera. If an album has no barcode you have other options such as searching for it online, by UPC//EAN-13 number or manually entering the data. Choose whether or not to scan a single item or multiples. The 'Scan Multiple Barcodes' is especially useful if you have a fairly large physical music collection and are just beginning your Music Buddy relationship.

If your music buddy is unable to locate the album online choose the manual entry feature. This process takes more time but it ensures a higher level of library accuracy. The ability to take a photo with your device of the unfound title is a nice touch.

Under the My Albums screen you can view your entire CD/LP collection. This screen gives you information data such as the number of titles (as you can read I have 412 so far...), favorites, tags, even those gems that you've loaned out! Music filters include by Series, Artist, Genre, Performers and Release Year. Let's say you want to know all of the albums in your collection that guitarist Lee Ritenour played on. 

I just discovered that you can even scan cassettes and identify them as such!

Once you've downloaded the App you can add up to fifty titles for free. There is no cost for the App itself. Try it. If you like the App's functionality and your library of compact discs and records exceeds fifty you can, for a one-time $9.99 purchase, add more with no limit (at the time of this blog post).

The next time you are music shopping and you see that album that you just must have, check with your Music Buddy first to be sure you don't already own it. 

*I make no commission nor do I receive any reimbursement or advertising for this article.

Thank you for reading Hear More Music,

Doug

p.s. If I'd had Music Buddy I wouldn't now own two copies each of Kacey Musgrave's 'Starcrossed' or Amy Grant's 'Unguarded'! LOL.

As in vinyl records. Here is a list of great sounding and in many cases, older, recordings. If you're a collector check the vinyl versions out if you can find them. If you prefer to stream first, buy later search for these on your streaming music service of choice. As to whether or not you enjoy the music itself your mileage may vary of course. Go ahead and explore. You may find some gems and that you've not considered nor heard of before before I pulled on your coattails with this list.

Make It Easy On Yourself by Burt Bacharach (on the original A&M Brown label)

Winners: Featuring Go Away Little Girl by Steve Lawrence on Columbia 360 Sound Stereo. Remember 360 audio?

Ruby Baby by Dion on Columbia Guaranteed High Fidelity Mono. Remember mono? It can sound fantastic.

The Lady and the Unicorn by John Reborn on Reprise Orange Steamboat Records.

Emerson, Lake and Palmer on Cotillion Blue Label Original. ELP anybody?

Big Bad John and Other Fabulous Sings and tales by Jimmy Dean on Columbia 360 Sound Stereo.

Striking It Rich by Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks on Blue Thumb Original.

Walk Right In bt The Rooftop Singers on Vanguard Black Label Stereolab.

Mr. Lucky Goes Latin by Henry Mancini on the RCA Black Living Stereo Nipper label.

Island Paradise: Exciting on the Spot Recordings. The Authentic Sounds and Music of Hawaii, The 50th State. Wesley Edwards Presents (Capitol Black Label Dynagroove Stereo.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly from Hugh Montenegro and His Orchestra. RCA Black Label Dynagroove Stereo.

Ambush by Marc Benno on A&M Brown Label Stereo.

Visions: American Legends" A New Look and a New Sound by Larry Elgart and His Orchestra on MGM Black Lion Label Stereo.

Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful on Kama Sutra Mono.

America The Beautiful: An Account of its Disappearance by Gary McFarland. Skye Black Label Stereo.

The Spectacular Johnny Horton, Columbia Stereo 360 Sound

Hang 'Em High: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack from Dominic Frontiers on United Artists Orange and Red Stereo.

Wildflowers by Judy Collins on Elektra Gold Label Stereo Original

My Lord What A Mornin' by Harry Belafonte on RCA Victor Black Label Nipper Living Stereo.

Center Of The Circle by Roger Kellaway on A&M Brown Label Stereo.

Jesse Winchester on Ampex Ble Label Stereo.

Enjoy finding this new music from older, established artists who cared not only for the music but the sound quality of their records as well. Start searching...

Thank you for subscribing to my Hear More Music gear and music site!

I first learned of Hania Rani during the pandemic while learning how to find my way around the Bandcamp website. Mesmerized by her music samples I downloaded "Live From Studio S2 (Complete Sessions)" which has become one of my go-to albums ever since. Rania is a pianist, composer and vocalist from Poland and her piano playing often times seems inspired 'in-the-moment'. Her music is well recorded and inspiring.

Ghost is a new album, just released this early May. I encourage you to check out her new music and back catalog on Bandcamp. Some albums are available via download (in a variety of formats) as well as vinyl and CD (not all are available in a physical format). While my preference is for CD or vinyl the shipping costs from European artists are prohibitive. Therefore thus far my Bandcamp purchases have all been downloads in AIFF format and all sound wonderful. Other formats are available if AIFF is not for you.  A splendid album, here are the notes from Hania's Bandcamp website regarding this fine album:

Hania Rani announces her new album, Ghosts, bringing her songwriting and beautiful vocals to the fore and featuring special guests Patrick Watson, Ólafur Arnalds and Duncan Bellamy (Portico Quartet). 

For vinyl and CD lovers, this is a reminder of the upcoming Spring edition of Record Store Day on April 20, 2024. Visit your local independent record store and pick up some great new releases from some of your favorite artists or, find new music from artists you've not heard before. 

Here is a PDF of the April 20th releases. Enjoy!

Thanks again for subscribing to my music blog!

Doug

Hear More Music

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

I've seen advertisements for Spin-Clean in various audio and music magazines for more years than I can remember. I'd notice the bright yellow plastic photo out of the corner of my eye and...turn the page, interested but not enough to explore further. When I first began listening and collecting records I'd clean them with a dry, soft cloth which I found only increases the amount of static electricity and static cling. Pulling the record out of the record sleeve and wiping with a dry cloth only became a magnet for dust. But, we all have to learn somehow.

When I worked in stereo retail we sold Dishwasher record cleaners. I quickly learned that applying a small amount of the magic Discwasher fluid (slyly hidden inside the hand held brush) on one edge of the brush was a much better way of cleaning. The fluid and fine brush hairs seemed to pull dirt, dust and grime from the grooves and an efficient and affordable manner. We sold tons of Discwasher products along with extra fluid. And that little brush, to clean the larger brush!

I finally decided in 2023 that I wanted to try the Spin-Clean. At only $79.00 including fluid, special cleaning cloths, rollers and the basin itself it seemed like an economical way to try a manual record cleaning machine. No, it doesn't plug into the wall. It's an all analog and manual process. The Spin-Clean Kit comes with the basin and basin lid, a pair of adjustable snap-in rollers, 'thick & plush' velvet cleaning brushes, two cotton cloths for drying and a bottle of their secret sauce record washer fluid. You supply the distilled water*. Thanks to the lovely Moneypenney for the wonderful Christmas gift!

Simply fill the basin up to the line with distilled water and pour two caps full of their fluid over the cleaning brushes. Before filling the basin slide the two cleaning brushes and snap in rollers in place. Fill the basin. Then manually place the LP in the water, lined up with the two rollers and in between the two brushes. Manual spin the record three times left and three times right. Done. Pull out the record and (this is where each person may wipe and dry in their own preferred way), I lay the record down on one cotton cloth, hold it into place with one hand while cleaning the LP with your other hand and cloth in a circular motion.

I write this review because I've found that the Spin-Clean is a fantastic, low cost product for cleaning records. Cleaning your old, tired records with a Spin-Clean will bring them back to life, resulting in much better clarity and sound. Will Spin-Clean fix scratches? No, but you'll be amazed at just how the clicks and pops you hear are simply from static electricity, dust and grime. I found the differences to be amazing. Spin-Clean also suggests cleaning your brand new records- during the stamping process there may be some residue left on them before they are inserted into the record sleeve.

All the above said and done, the process can be a bit tedious however the results can be stunning. Clean, shiny black discs brought back from the used bin dead. Dial up some music and spin your old, tired and new vinyl clean.

Extra Spin-Clean fluid, rollers and cleaning rags are available on their website and HINT: only use the Spin-Clean cloth rags. They make a big difference in your results. I found that following their directions in the manual are very important in order to experience the best results.

And by the way. once cleaned consider ridding yourself of the original paper sleeve and replace it with an inner sleeve from Mobile Fidelity for added protection and cleanliness.

Spin-Clean. Made in the USA. Highly recommended.

Spin-Clean https://www.spinclean.com/

Mobile Fidelity Inner Record Sleeves https://www.amazon.com/Mobile-Fidelity-Sound-Inner-Sleeves/dp/B001LQSFKY/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3C2Q4XB6DI4EL&keywords=mobile%2Bfidelity%2Binner%2Bsleeves&qid=1705609084&sprefix=mobile%2Bfidelity%2Caps%2C91&sr=8-3&th=1

*Distilled water...1.40/gallon at my local grocery store.

Vinyl is back!

Many people still have vinyl records that they no longer play and some of that great music is still not available on CD or todays streaming music services.  If it is older music from the 50s and earlier it may never have made it to CD.  Vinyl is back- both older artist's albums and today's new music is available so why not add a quality turntable to your Sonos system? Fun!

VinylPlay turntables gives music fans a best-of-both-worlds solution: an excellent record player that's easy to use and can be simply integrated into a modern streaming system such as Sonos.  VinylPlay's integrated analogue-to-digital converter and phono amp makes it simple to connect up to a wide range of modern music systems. For example, you can plug it straight into active/powered speakers to create an instant system. VinylPlay also works with conventional hi-fi and AV systems and if you want to enjoy your records in every room, you can easily connect it into a SONOS system. VinylPlay can be connected directly to the SONOS PLAY:5 speaker, or into a SONOS CONNECT/CONNECT AMP, and onto any speaker on the network!  Enjoy your vinyl records in any Sonos room or zone!  Unlike inferior 'USB' turntables that can damage precious records, VinylPlay uses high-quality components, which also means better-quality sound. VinylPlay is a true hi-fi product - precision made in the UK - but with none of the fiddle or fuss of 'audiophile' turntables. VinylPlay is easy to use - a quick-start guide on the platter will have you set up in seconds; you're only minutes away from music when you open the box! Its sleek, monochrome design - which matches the black and white of SONOS speakers - is kept protected and clean by VinylPlay 's clear, hinged lid. VinylPlay is brought to you by Flexson, the British specialist in high-quality accessories for SONOS.

• Looks good, sounds great
• Set up in seconds; enjoy music in minutes
• Just add powered speakers for instant music system
• Pair with SONOS (directly into a PLAY; 5, or via CONNECT/CONNECT AMP) to stream records around your house
• Make back-up, digital copies of precious records
• Sleek monochrome styling with protective lid
• Plays singles and albums; 33 & 45rpm speed
• Just $599. Can be special ordered in either black or white.
• Free delivery and set up in the Hear More Music service area!