Teasing the Korean

Of course they're related.

Agree completely. I think music criticism in the 1970s played a role in this. For many of those critics, sociology was more important that musical content.

I have no recollection of preparing your vegetables.

He obviously knew the mono records were going to be made from the stereo masters, and mono was the dominant format. The piano and bass come in the mix relative to drums and horns when you play back those records in mono, and overall, the balance is better. I don't need to work with him; I have ears. Whether I'm right or wrong about his intentions, the records are better balanced in mono (in most cases).

That's debatable. Plus most (not all) of BN mono is simple stereo fold downs. You're right, but the fold down process improves the mixes considerably. I'm convinced RVG set his levels for an optimum mono balance.

Curious as to why they didn't do these in mono. Most BN stuff is better in mono.

I agree with what you're saying, but I'm sure you can at least understand that cultural politics can get in the way of one's initial appreciation of something, can't they? The sad part is that the opposite also occurs - People who appreciate what in enshrined as "fine art" but who dismiss other types of art because they're not "supposed" to like it or take it seriously.

Winning - Dave Grusin - Late 60s soundtrack from a racing film w/Paul Newman. Decca stereo. Some nice early 70s sunshine-through-the-treetops moments.

Jackie and Roy - A Wilder Alias - CTI This album is INCREDIBLE!!! Nothing like their other albums. Dig Roy's manic Wurly playing!

Swingle II - UK CBS madrigals with jazz rhythm section, moog and arp!

One could argue that this is also the case with going to orchestra concerts in the US. Not among everyone in the audience, of course, but a significant percentage.

Right. And we can come full circle to the original meaning of the word "album." PT Barnum, baby.

Two steps forward, one step back...

Completely understand where you're coming from. One of my issues with many opera singers - including some highly regarded ones - is that they develop these uncontrolled vibratos that are so wide you can't even tell what note they're aiming for. One of the reasons I love Gigli's voice so much is that his vibrato never lost control. It was always subtle, so his pitch was dead on.

Curious, how do you rate Gigli for bel canto singing in relation to Bjorling or Pav?

An original near mint "Reflections in the Sea of Nurnen" for 50 cents

I almost always listen to Blue Note stuff in mono, so the narrowing of the spectrum is not an issue with me. All those recordings have a better balance in mono, to my ears at least.

Doesn't one of the tunes on the Willow LP fade abruptly also? Like the engineer said, "That's enough of that" and just yanked down the faders?

That would make sense. Some of those Scorpio pressings sound good, despite the digital sources.

So do you think they reissue either from CDs or from clean LPs? For example, I have several of their reissues of obscure Columbia material. This is stuff that has not been reissued on CD. I can *usually* tell if an LP was mastered from another LP. These sound like they're taken from a very clean source. If it's a digital source, it sounds like it's from the masters.

Are you sure about this? Scorpio has released lots of stuff that has never been available on CD...

The only people who would buy a new Eagles album would be fat Americans wearing American flag t-shirts who shop at Walmart anyway. It makes perfect sense.

Piero Umiliani - To-day's Sound - Easy Tempo reissue of an Umiliani library LP.

Bola Sete - Goin' to Rio - Columbia (1973)

Thanks. I'll have to check this out...