Playlist Week of 2013-03-09

* Monteverdi: Vespro della Beata Vergine (Gardiner) (Arkiv Produktion DVD)

* Vivaldi: Cello Sonatas (ter Linden/Mortensen) (Brilliant Classics 2CD)

* Vivaldi: The Four Seasons, etc. (Venice Baroque Orch./Marcon/Carmignola) (Sony Classical CD)

* Vivaldi: Late Concertos RV 177, etc. (Venice Baroque Orch./Marcon/Carmignola) (Sony Classical CD)

* J.S. Bach: Sonatas For Viola Da Gamba (Pandolfo/Alessandrini) (Harmonia Mundi CD)

* J.S. Bach: Trio Sonatas (London Baroque/Medlam) (Harmonia Mundi CD)

* John Coltrane: Side Steps (d.1-3) (Prestige/Concord 5CD)

* Sun Ra; The Soul Vibrations Of Man (Saturn LP)

* Sun Ra: Unity (Horo 2LP>CDR)

* Sun Ra: Taking A Chance On Chances (Saturn LP>CDR)

* Sun Ra: Piano Recital, Teatro La Fenice, Venezia (Leo/Golden Years CD)

* Billy Cobham: Spectrum (Atlantic CD)

* Rock Candy Funk Party: We Want Groove (J&R Adventures CD/DVD)

* Miguel: Kaleidoscope Dream (RCA CD)

* Elvis Presley: Elvis At Sun (RCA/BMG CD)

* Elvis Presley: Elvis (RCA-Victor/Friday Music LP)

* Elvis Presley: Loving You (RCA-Victor/Friday Music LP)

* Elvis Presley: A Date With Elvis (RCA-Victor/Friday Music LP)

* Elvis Presley: From Elvis From Memphis (RCA-Victor/Friday Music LP)

* Elvis Presley: Elvis As Recorded At Madison Square Garden (RCA-Victor/Sony-Legacy 2LP)

* Elvis Presley: Aloha From Hawaii via Satellite (RCA/Friday Music 2LP)

* Grateful Dead: Dick’s Picks Vol.30: Academy of Music, March 1972 (bonus disc) (GDP 4+1HDCD)

* Grateful Dead: Freedom Hall, Louisville, KY 1993-06-15 (selections) (SBD 3CDR)

* Grateful Dead: Freedom Hall, Louisville, KY 1993-06-16 (selections) (SBD 3CDR)

* Jimi Hendrix Experience: Are You Experienced (UK mono) (Experience Hendrix/Sony LP)

* Jimi Hendrix Experience: Are You Experienced (US mono) (Experience Hendrix/Sony LP)

* Jimi Hendrix Experience: Axis: Bold As Love (mono) (Experience Hendrix/Sony LP)

* Jimi Hendrix: Hendrix In The West (Experience Hendrix/Sony CD)

* Jimi Hendrix: People, Hell and Angels (Experience Hendrix/Sony CD)

* Nick Drake: Pink Moon (Island/Universal LP)

* Yes: Close To The Edge (Atlantic/Audio Fidelity SACD)

* New Order: Power, Corruption & Lies (Factory/Rhino2CD)

* Thurston Moore: Psychic Hearts (Geffen 2LP)

* Lee Ranaldo: Between The Times And The Tides (Matador LP)

* Chelsea Light Moving: Chelsea Light Moving (Matador CD/LP+7”)(†)

* Pavement: Slanted And Enchanted (Matador LP)

* Pavement: Watery Domestic (Matador EP)

* Pavement: Slanted And Enchanted: Luxe And Reduxe (selections) (Matador 2CD)

* Wilco: A.M. (Nonesuch LP)

* Wilco: Being There (Nonesuch 2LP)

* Wilco: Summerteeth (Nonesuch 2LP)

* Porcupine Tree: Signify/Insignificance (KScope 2CD)

* Steven Wilson: Insurgentes (KScope CD/DVD)

* Steven Wilson: Grace For Drowning (KScope BD)

* Steven Wilson: The Raven That Refused To Sing (KScope BD)

* Katatonia: Night Is The New Day (Peaceville CD)

* Katatonia: Dead End Kings (Peaceville CD)

* The Mars Volta: The Bedlam in Goliath (Gold Standard Labs/Universal CD)

* The Mars Volta: Octahedron (Warner Bros. CD)

* The Mars Volta: Noctourniquet (Warner Bros. CD)

* Baroness: Yellow And Green (Relapse 2CD)

* Riverside: Shrine Of New Generation Slaves (Inside Out 2CD)

* Fleet Foxes: Sun Giant (Sub Pop CDEP)†/‡

* Fleet Foxes: Fleet Foxes (Sub Pop CD)†/‡

* Dusted: Total Dust (Polyvinyl CD)

* Wild Nothing: Nocturne (Captured Tracks CD)

†=iPod

‡=car

Commentary:

I probably should have done a little research on these Jimi Hendrix monophonic reissues before plunking down the cash. If you’re thinking about picking these up, make sure you know what the deal is:

Unlike, say, The Beatles’ mono records, Hendrix apparently had little to do with these mixes, preferring to explore the incipient possibilities of stereophonic records. Moreover, Hendrix had little control over his first album, Are You Experienced, which was first issued on the Track label in the U.K. in May, 1967. As was the usual practice in those days, singles like “Hey Joe,” “The Wind Cries Mary” and “Purple Haze” were left off the LP. But when Reprise the U.S. version of Are You Experienced in August, it included these hits while omitting other tracks like “Red House,” “Can You See Me” and “Remember.” That means a completist needs both versions.

Worse, the original U.K. mono mixes were slapped together for quick release by an inexperienced engineer—and it shows. The vocals are way up front, the bass is bloated and indistinct and it sounds like a blanket has been thrown over the drums. Weird phasing effects are less psychedelic than just a sign of bad tape-head alignment. Some tracks start out sounding fine but then the high frequencies suddenly disappear for no discernible reason. Good grief!  The U.S. version is slightly better but those tracks which appear on the U.K. release are the same bizarre mixes. It wasn’t until the follow-up, Axis: Bold As Love that Hendrix was able to tailor an album from start to finish and while not as satisfying as the stereo mix, the mono LP at least has a consistent sound and character.

That said, these numbered, limited edition mono reissues from Sony-Legacy are very nicely done: all analog, 200-gram vinyl, original artwork—and only twenty bucks a pop. Originals go for big bucks on the secondary market. But be forewarned: Are You Experienced (particularly the U.K. version) is a mess—interesting historically, but a sonic disaster. Axis sounds superb but the only thing it reveals is how much better the stereo mix is. Caveat emptor!

+++

In other vinyl news, the recent Elvis Presley reissues on Friday Music are definitely worth checking out. Ever since bringing Kevin Gray on board, Friday Music LPs have taken a huge step up in mastering quality and have become the standard bearers for “budget” audiophile vinyl. Fetishists may object to the repackaged gatefold sleeves and there is some debate as to whether these are truly all-analog or taken from the high-res digital transfers prepared by Vic Anesini in 2007—but who cares? These things look and sound fantastic. I hope they do the whole damn catalog, stupid movie soundtracks and all. Long live vinyl! Long live the King!

Playlist Week of 2013-02-16

* Biber: Mensa Sonora (Musica Antiqua Köln/Goebel) (Archiv Prod. CD)

* Corelli: 12 Concerti Grossi, Op.6 (English Concert/Pinnock) (Archiv Prod. 2CD)

* Satie: Oeuvres pour Piano (Ciccolini) (d1-2) (EMI Classics 5CD)

* John Coltrane: Fearless Leader (d.1-4) (Prestige/Concord 6CD)

* Sun Ra: Fort Dupont, Washington, D.C. 1977-08-14 (AUD CDR)

* Sun Ra: Unity (Horo 2LP>CDR)

* Sun Ra: The Soul Vibrations of Man (Saturn LP>CDR)

* Grant Green: Idle Moments (Blue Note CD)

* Curtis Mayfield: Super Fly (Curtom/Rhino LP)

* Isaac Hayes: Shaft (Enterprise 2LP)

* D’Angelo: Brown Sugar (EMI CD)†

* D’Angelo: Voodoo (Virgin CD)

* Frank Ocean: Nostalgia Ultra (Frank Ocean MP3)†

* Frank Ocean: Channel Orange (Island/Def Jam CD)

* Miguel: Kaleidoscope Dream (RCA CD)

* Jimi Hendrix Experience: Live At Berkeley (Experience Hendrix/Sony Legacy 2LP)

* Jimi Hendrix: First Rays Of The New Rising Sun (Experience Hendrix/Sony Legacy 2LP)

* Grateful Dead: Compton Terrance, Tempe, AZ 1983-03-25 (selections) (SBD 2CDR)

* Grateful Dead: War Memorial Auditorium, Rochester, NY 1983-04-15 (selections (SBD 3CDR)

* Grateful Dead: Brendan Byrne Arena, E. Rutherford, NJ 1983-04-17 (selections) (SBD 3CDR)

* Grateful Dead: Sports Arena, Indianapolis, IN 1984-06-30 (selections) (SBD 2CDR)

* Fleetwood Mac: Rumours (Expanded Edition) (d.2-3) (Warner Bros. MP3)†

* Stevie Nicks: Bella Donna (Modern LP)

* Television: Marquee Moon (Elektra/Rhino LP)

* Sonic Youth: Smart Bar, Chicago 1985 (Goofin’ 2LP)

* Sonic Youth: EVOL (SST LP)

* Sonic Youth: Sister (SST LP)

* Sonic Youth: Daydream Nation (Deluxe Edition) (d.3-4) (Geffen/Goofin’ 4LP)

* Robert Pollard: Silverfish Trivia (Prom Is Coming EP)

* Boston Spaceships: Let It Beard (GBV, Inc. 2LP)

* Lambchop: Damaged (Merge CD)†

* Lambchop: Mr. M (Merge CD)†

* Porcupine Tree: Octane Twisted (KScope 2CD)

* Steven Wilson: Get What You Deserve (KScope 2CD/DVD/BD)

* Storm Corrosion: Storm Corrosion (Roadrunner CD/BD)

* Opeth: Blackwater Park (Music For Nations/Sony CD/DVD)

* Opeth: Ghost Reveries (Roadrunner CD/DVD)

* Opeth: Watershed (Roadrunner CD/DVD)

* Riverside: Shrine Of New Generation Slaves (Inside Out 2CD)

* Grails: Take Refuge In Clean Living (Important CD)

* Grails: Doomsdayer’s Holiday (Temporary Residence CD)

* Agalloch: The Mantle (The End CD)†

* Agalloch: The Grey EP (Agalloch/Bandcamp FLAC>CDR)†

* Agalloch: The White EP (Agalloch/Bandcamp FLAC>CDR)†

* Agalloch: “Fragments” (Agalloch/Bandcamp FLAC>CDR)†/‡

* Agalloch: Ashes Against The Grain (The End CD)†

* The Sword: Warp Riders (Kemado LP)

* The Sword: Apocryphon (Razor & Tie LP)

* Wild Nothing: Nocturne (Captured Tracks CD)†/‡

†=iPod

‡=car

Commentary: 

I’m not sure how I missed this. Last summer, Jimi Hendrix: Live at Berkeley was reissued by Sony/Legacy on CD, DVD, Blu-Ray and—most significantly—vinyl. Of course, that might not seem like such a big deal since this stuff was issued by MCA back in 2003. But I recently learned that the new 2-LP set was mixed and mastered all analog this time, pressed on 200-gram vinyl at QRP, the world’s premier record-pressing plant. Intrigued, I picked up a copy at my favorite local record store—a limited, numbered edition for only twenty bucks! How could I lose?

I was not familiar with the previous CD or the DVD, so the music is new me. In fact, as much as I love Hendrix, I am no expert. I have some live stuff and most of the posthumous compilations, but the core albums are where it’s at for me. While a lot of the live recordings suffer from rough sound, this LP sounds tremendous, with a wide, deep soundstage, superb instrumental and vocal balances and that rich, warm all-analog sound we all love. I thought it would sound pretty good, but not this good! Wow!

Recorded at the Berkeley Community Theatre on May 30, 1970, this version of the Experience features bassist Billy Cox in place of Noel Redding along with original drummer Mitch Mitchell. Cox was a more “in-the-pocket” kind of player and he grounds Mitchell’s busy, jazz-inflected drumming, creating a more solid foundation for Hendrix to soar over. It's not quite the dark funk of the short-lived Band of Gypsies, but close. The band was currently holed up in Electric Ladyland Studios, Jimi’s newly built studio, feverishly working on a new studio album and they open the set with a couple of embryonic versions of songs from the never-to-be-completed record (Hendrix tragically died from drug-induced asphyxia less than four months later on September 18, 1970; he was only twenty-seven years old).

The band sounds somewhat tentative on “Pass It On (Straight Ahead)” and “Hey Baby (New Rising Sun)” but Hendrix is relaxed and inspired, summoning a universe of tones from his guitar. Meanwhile, the revised rhythm section gives a new perspective on old favorites like “Stone Free,” “Hey Joe,” “Foxey Lady” and “Purple Haze” while the anti-war “Machine Gun” and a deconstructed “Star Spangled Banner” poetically reflect the political tensions of the era, epitomized by the People’s Park demonstrations happening down the street from the theatre. The set ends with a nearly eleven minute “Voodoo Child (Slight Return),” a stunning display of guitar heroics from Hendrix. He sounds like he’s having a blast and could play all night but a strict curfew cuts him off. Still, it’s a fairly generous seventy-minute set.

There was some grumbling when Experience Hendrix left MCA for Sony/Legacy and, indeed, the most recent digital reissues contain the exact same mastering as the last round, enticing a re-purchase only for the (brief) DVD content (I passed). But the recent vinyl editions of the studio albums are exquisitely well done: all analog, heavyweight virgin vinyl, beautifully reproduced jackets and nice oversized booklets with new liner notes—and very reasonably priced. Aside from being a more satisfying physical object, vinyl is the way to hear Hendrix in my opinion—none of the CDs (and I’ve owned them all) sound quite right. Add this new reissue of Live At Berkeley to the list of essential Hendrix LPs. Kudos to Experience Hendrix and Sony; this is catalog material done right. Now, where's the early show?

Speaking of Hendrix on vinyl, coming next month from Sony/Legacy are limited edition MONO LPs of Are You Experienced and Axis: Bold As Love, including both the British American versions of the debut, which have slightly different track listings. Now, we’re talking! Original mono editions are impossibly rare and offer a very different perspective on these iconic songs. I expect this vinyl renaissance will eventually fade but, for now, it’s a great time to be a record collector!

Playlist Week of 3-20-10

* Handel: 12 Solo Sonatas, Op.1 (AMM/Egarr) (Harmonia Mundi)
* Debussy: Piano Music, Vol.1 (Thibaudet) (Decca 2CD)
* Debussy: Orchestral Music (disc 1) (New Philharmonia, et al./Boulez) (Sony 2CD)
* Cecil Taylor: Jazz Advance (Transition/Blue Note CD)
* Cecil Taylor: Looking Ahead! (Contemporary/Fantasy CD)
* Cecil Taylor: Love for Sale (United Artists/Blue Note CD)
* Sun Ra: Delft, The Netherlands 11-11-71 (FM 3CDR)
* Anthony Braxton 12+1tet: 9 Compositions (Iridium) 2006 (d.2) (Firehouse 12 9CD+DVD)
* Mary Halvorson & Jessica Pavone: Thin Air (Thirsty Ear CD)
* Matthew Shipp: One (Thirsty Ear CD)
* Matthew Shipp Trio: Piano Vortex (Thirsty Ear CD)
* Bob Marley & the Wailers: Catch a Fire (Island/MFSL CD)
* Johnny Cash: Unearthed (d.3) (American 4CD)
* Jimi Hendrix: Valleys of Neptune (Experience Hendrix/Sony CD)
* The Mothers of Invention: Absolutely Free (Verve LP)
* Led Zeppelin: Mothership (d.1) (Atlantic 2CD)
* Grateful Dead: Fillmore East, New York, NY 4-27-71 (SBD 3CDR)
* Grateful Dead: Marin Co. Veterans Memorial Aud., San Rafael, CA 3-29-84 (SBD 2CDR)
* Reconstruction: The Keystone, Palo Alto, CA 7-07-79 (first set) (SBD CDR)
* Big Star: #1 Record (Ardent/Classic LP)
* Big Star: Radio City (Ardent/Classic LP)
* Big Star: Keep an Eye on the Sky (d.3) (Rhino 4CD)
* New Order: The Fulcrum, Slough, England 12-07-85 (SBD CDR)
* Pavement: Slanted and Enchanted (Deluxe Edition) (Matador 2CD)
* Beck: Odelay (Bongload Custom LP)
* Guided By Voices: Mag Earwhig! (Matador LP)
* Guided By Voices: “Bulldog Skin” (Matador CDEP)
* Guided By Voices: “I Am a Tree” (Matador CDEP)
* Guided By Voices: Do the Collapse (TVT LP)
* Guided By Voices: Daredevil Stamp Collector (FCS 12”EP)
* Guided By Voices: Isolation Drills (TVT LP)
* Guided By Voices: “Glad Girls” (TVT CDEP)

Commentary:

This week I finally picked up the “new” Jimi Hendrix CD, Valleys of Neptune. As much as I really wanted to purchase this from good old Grimey’s New & Pre-Loved Music, I was just too tempted by the two bonus tracks (totaling almost eleven minutes) tacked onto the limited edition version sold exclusively at Target -- of all places! It’s a good thing we made a last minute decision on the way home from work to exit the interstate and take a trip to a nearby strip mall. They only had a handful left -- and they were hard to find! If you want this, I suggest you act now. Anyway, Valleys of Neptune is a worthwhile collection of orphaned studio tracks that were either widely bootlegged or previously tacked onto posthumous LPs such as Crash Landing, Midnight Lightning, and War Heroes, all now long out of print. As such, this is a welcome addition to the catalog. But be forewarned, these are, for the most part, unfinished recordings that only hint at their ultimate potential as the elaborate studio creations Hendrix no doubt envisioned. Or, worse (perhaps), they are re-creations conjured up via digital wizardry (“Stone Free”) or the result of inexplicable 1987 overdubs by Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell on tracks recorded in 1967 (“Mr. Bad Luck”) and 1969 (“Lover Man” and “Crying Blue Rain”). That said, Hendrix’s own ineffable brilliance shines through on every track and it demonstrates his (semi)successful attempts to capture the improvisatory edge of a live performance in a studio setting. Hendrix’s meteoric career was brutally snuffed out at its peak, leaving behind only a handful of finished albums and if you don’t own these records, you really should; they are masterpieces of Twentieth-Century music. If you do, then I assume you also have the South Saturn Delta compilation and the monumental “purple velvet” box set on MCA, which are way more essential than this. In that case, I wholeheartedly recommend Valleys of Neptune as a useful appendix. Oh, and those bonus tracks are worth the trip to Target, especially the searing instrumental jam, “Trash Man,” an extended display of slash-and-burn guitar heroics over a proto-funky groove. Good stuff.