What are you listening to right now?

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Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture - Dorati/Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

Mercury Living Presence Stereo LP

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Beethoven: Wellington's Victory - Dorati/London Symphony Orchestra

Merucry Living Presence Stereo LP

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Frederick Fennell/Eastman Wind Ensemble: Screamers

Mercury Living Presence Hi-Fi (Mono) LP

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Gould: West Point Symphony - Fennell/Eastman Wind Ensemble

  Mercury Golden Imports LP

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John Pizzarelli and the George Shearing Quintet: The Rare Delight of You

  Telarc CD

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Mel Torme & Buddy Rich: Together Again for the First Time

  Tidal Streaming

Digital version of the Century Records Direct to Disc LP

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Graham Nash David Crosby

Classic Records 180g LP


I never thought of this before, but while listening to I realized that somebody should send a copy of this to Donald Trump. The last two songs on the album are "The Wall Song" and "Immigration Man." 

They had him pegged all the way back in 1972.

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My wife had major foot surgery yesterday and the post-op pain is just starting to kick in full force. I will need to keep the volume low tonight so she can try to sleep through some of it. That means that the new Neil Young album is off the playlist for tonight. But I remembered seeing something on the Mercury shelf that should fit the bill just fine.

Music for Quiet Listening: Howard Hanson/Eastman-Rochester Symphony

  Mercury Living Presence  (Mono) LP

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David Crosby: If I Could Only Remember My Name

  Tidal Streaming

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David Crosby & Graham Nash: Another Stoney Evening

 Tidal Streaming

I found this interesting comment on Amazon from the producer of this album:

Hi there. This post is from Stephen Barncard, the producer of all versions of Crosby-Nash's "Another Stoney Evening".

I've been reading the reviews here of this record, and delighted to see so many people enjoying this show. There were a few complaints about the sound quality of this product in places, and I'd like to address these concerns.

The version released today as Vinyl, CD or download is a NEW MIX made in early 2011 from a 24/96 transfer from the original 8 tracks .

To understand this issue it would be prudent for me to describe the various mixes of this show that are out there and what company was in charge of distribution:

1) Grateful Dead Records (1997) -- pre pro tools CD created from 2 track tapes mixed in A&M Studio A and edited in a 4 track DAW called DECK, and using an Audiomedia card. Mixed on a Mac Performa 650. I admit that I used too many 'tricks' to try and 'clean up' the show, and wasn't quite as skilled at digital editing in that year as I became later. Despite the technical shortcomings, we sold hundreds of thousands of copies through Arista / GD records. This was the first Crosby Nash project that used budget-cutting methods to make the project possible, and the first outside major labels.

2) In 2001 I convinced DTS records that ASE would be a great project for a surround release, and so the DTS surround version was created. This time the original 8 track one inch tapes were transferred to 24/96 digital using db labs a-d converters, under db labs supervision. Several months were spent with input and support from DTS. At the same time the MERIDIAN standard for DVD-A releases finally became final and Another Stoney Evening was released by DTS and showcased at the 2002 Surround conference. It was released at the conference to much fanfare. This disc featured a 5.1 mix with DVD-A, DTS encoded and Dolby versions. The stereo version was a folded in, downmixed version of the surround version.

3) In early 2011, I was contacted by Crosby Nash management, who wanted the 'master' of the original 1997 for a CD and download release. Auditioning the original CD masters, I was not happy with the quality of the audio and editing of the project. Additionally, review of the stereo version from the DTS release left me less than underwhelmed. Then I listened to the 24/96 transfer tracks from the original 8 track one inch. Wow. There was only one thing to do; mix the entire evening over again and make it the cleanest possible, using no added echo and carefully using room ambience for depth. No noise reduction tricks as mentioned earlier.

One week later, I had what I felt was the masterpiece, my final version for the ages, mixed specifically for stereo at 96k, 24 bit. This was to prepare for the mastering stage, but just in case the project might be offered as a high definition download, it was broken up into song files. At that time management had not informed me of the decision to offer the concert in LP form; I thought this a pipe dream, although I'd always thought that the LP record would be the ultimate media format for this concert.

Later I discovered there were plans for an LP, I requested and received test pressings, and discovered a couple of off-center issues and an couple of clicks and pops. and corrected a few other things. When I heard the final product, I was BLOWN AWAY by the depth and quality of the final result. Kudos to the mastering engineer and the pressing plant - a superior product. To me - and I am not kidding - on a good turntable this LP sounds BETTER than the digital output of my mastering rig!

Take it from me and my reputation - this is the REAL DEAL and a treat for your turntable.

stephen barncard - december 13 2012


Follow up -

OK, I spoke too  soon on this one. I posted this up just as I was starting to listen to this album on Tidal. I don't disagree that the new mastering sounds nice, but I just didn't think the perfromance was anything to write home about, especially the CSN tunes. I read that this concert took place shortly after CSNY broke up and Crosby and Nash had pretty much just started performing as a duo. And unfortunately it sounds it. On the old CSN songs I get the sense that they just have not yet figured out how to harmonize the songs with two voices instead of 3 or 4. While the SQ is credible, IMO,  there are definitely Crosby and Nash live performances out there that sound much better from a musical perspective. ... and after all, it's all about the music. (where have I heard that before?  )

[rpf]

Kate Rusby  -  20

[rpf]

Redbird  -  Live At The Cafe Carpe

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Ella Fitzgerald: Music & Moonlight, Songbook Selections 1956 - 1959

  Hear CD

Done for Starbucks, this is one of the best sounding Ella CDs that I own.

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The Rubinstein Collection, Vol 31, Liszt Mephisto Waltz, Hungarian Rhapsodies etc.

  RCA Red Seal CD

Jerome got me hooked on this series about five years ago and now whenever I see one that I don't already have I grab it.

Track listing and samples here:

http://www.allmusic.com/album/rubinstein-collection-vol-31-mw0001853273

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Lyn Stanley: Interludes

  A. T. Music SACD Hybrid

A  definite winner. 

This one has it all.

Good music.

Great performance.

Outstanding sound.