sidewinder

Just starting Barbara Thompson’s autobiography. Very nicely done, with lots of pics and memorabilia.

Definitely get plenty of demos - or even better, home demo loans if the dealers are willing.

Arrived from HJs. This is a really excellent reissue - Pretty good facsimile. I’ve not compared with the Regal Zonophone but likely not a lot of difference, doesn’t sound like a needle drop. Surprised it hasn’t already sold out at 500 copies. Definitely in the same zone that Keith Tippett’s groups were in during this period - Charig being a common factor.

Big plus also that the Tone Poets are much more widely available over here. When I subscribed to MM for their 45s there was international shipping and increasingly onerous import taxes to pay. MM used to hold mine back and ship in batches, which helped, but still a bit of an ordeal and increasingly big hit on the pocket. Didn’t bother with the 33s.

More from the Ardley archive.

I guess this thread was overtaken by the Tone Poet series..

Sorry to hear that, get well soon. That’s a first - Music Matters 45s as a covid remedy !

The sound is a bit clipped so I guess they used a backup tape not from Dennis Preston but from the Neil Ardley or Jon Hiseman archives. Quite passable though and superb music all round. Updated - turns out the origin was the Neil Ardley archive, also used in the Dusk Fire CD.

First group I thought of was this one.. Glad I’ve avoided it then. It looked potentially intriguing.

Remember seeing that exact band lineup, on what must have been the same European tour. Blakey in his usual dungarees. Superb debut. I always wondered what a cartoon full of Uncle Fester athletes at the Ministry of Silly Walks had to do with Miles Davis and his Horns..

Good man ! ‘The Kicker’ is one of the ones I need to get hold of in the Tone Poet series.

For those that are interested in HJ shipping status, just heard that my latest shipment is on its way so they are shifting them !

Yes, anti-skate.

I’m just glad that I bought stuff from the US and EU when I did. Golden era, in retrospect. It will be by exception for me, going forward. We are also locked down now apart from critical workers, so that will affect things. Likely to be until Easter.

With turntable updates it tends to be increments and then very big jumps - the latter for things like major armboard/chassis updates, power supplies, tonearms/bearings and cartridges. Ultimately, you tend to get what you pay for. As you spend more on your turntable though you tend to need to spend more on the rest of your system in order to get the best out of it. Matching of capability at the system level is important. So - go for the deck which best matches the rest of your setup.

I spoke with them regarding an order over the last few days and it sounded like they were run off their feet with the current quantity of shipments. My order was placed earlier this week and as yet, no shipping note. From the conversation, looks like it might be shipped next week. Business is obviously booming !

Looks great - reminds me though of one of my 1st year Elec Eng labs... Just needs a scope and set of patching leads.

CD2 - ‘Waiting’. A very appropriate title for our times..

An essential Mosaic, IMO !

She was great ! Caught her in performance on one occasion at the Hollywood Bowl with a Cannonball Adderley tribute group backing her (George Duke on piano). Still first rate back in the late 90s. Side 1 sonics sublime ! The rest - very acceptable.

That title will be an immediate buy on vinyl for me (have the Conn CD). As for the rest on the 2021 list, have either originals or very good LP reissues so will ‘pass’. Wish they would do ‘Demons Dance’ !

Just spinning ‘Oblique’ and for the first time I hear a bit of wow on Herbie’s piano solo on ‘Till Then’. Hadn’t noticed that before. Otherwise, it sounds stunning. Must run a comparison check against the King GXK. It most definitely is - thought that from the first time I heard it.

Yes, I have a copy of that CD release too. White sided case ‘Collectors Choice’ issue from the 1990s. As distinct from this RVG travesty -

Yes, it does sound very good I’m afraid !

UK HMV mono