from our friends at SoundStageDirect
The Beatles in mono: This is how most listeners first heard the group in the 1960s, when mono was the predominant audio format. Up until 1968, each Beatles album was given a unique mono and stereo mix, but the group always regarded the mono as primary. The Beatles’ nine U.K. albums, the American-compiled Magical Mystery Tour, and the Mono Masters collection of non-album tracks will be released in mono on 180-gram vinyl LPs with faithfully replicated artwork. Newly mastered from the analogue master tapes, each album will be available both individually and within a lavish, limited 14-LP boxed edition, The Beatles In Mono, which also includes a 108-page hardbound book.
In an audiophile-minded undertaking, The Beatles’ acclaimed mono albums have been newly mastered for vinyl from quarter-inch master tapes at Abbey Road Studios by GRAMMY®-winning engineer Sean Magee and GRAMMY®-winning mastering supervisor Steve Berkowitz. While The Beatles In Mono CD boxed set released in 2009 was created from digital remasters, for this new vinyl project, Magee and Berkowitz cut the records without using any digital technology. Instead, they employed the same procedures used in the 1960s, guided by the original albums and by detailed transfer notes made by the original cutting engineers. Working in the same room at Abbey Road where most of The Beatles’ albums were initially cut, the pair first dedicated weeks to concentrated listening, fastidiously comparing the master tapes with first pressings of the mono records made in the 1960s. Using a rigorously tested Studer A80 machine to play back the precious tapes, the new vinyl was cut on a 1980s-era VMS80 lathe.
- Ranked #1 on Rolling Stone Magazine's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time!
- The Beatles’ Original Mono Studio Album Remastered At Abbey Road Directly From The Analogue Masters For Vinyl Release By Sean Magee and Steve Berkowitz
- Lacquers Cut Using Neumann VMS-80 Lathe
- Manufactured For The World At Optimal Media In Germany, The Beatles’ Albums Are Presented In Their Original Glory, Both Sonically And In Their Packaging.
Via Michael Fremer (Analog Planet) on the mastering process:
"The EQ applied was based upon the original cutting engineers’ notes as well as careful listening to original first lacquer, first mother, first stamper EMI pressings (-1, 1, G matrix). The cartridge used was Ortofon’s 2M Black.
It’s important to remember that the tapes have aged—some as much as fifty years—and the monitoring, playback and mastering equipment have changed as well, even though the work was done in the very same room in which the originals were mastered. Solid state has replaced tubes in the cutting chain.
Lacquers were cut using Abbey Road Studios’ Neumann VMS-80 lathe, equipped with a Neumann SX-74 cutter head. The originals were cut on a Scully lathe, perhaps with a Westrex cutter head."
Pre-Order at SoundStageDirect
Recorded and released in 1962, Go! is Dexter Gordon’s tenth studio album. Go! features Sonny Clark on piano, Butch Warren on bass, Billy Higgins on drums and Gordon himself on tenor sax. Remastered by Bernie Grundman, Go! will be reissued as part of an overall Blue Note 75th anniversary vinyl reissue campaign spearheaded by current Blue Note Records President, Don Was.
Remastered And Reissued As Part Of The Blue Note 75th Anniversary Vinyl Reissue Campaign
Order at SoundStageDirect
This Week's Bestselling Vinyl Records at SoundStageDirect
1. The Beatles Mono Box Set (Pre-Order)
2. Mark Kozelek & Jimmy Lavalle - Perils From The Sea (Pre-Order)
3. Fleetwood Mac Greatest Hits
4. Miles Davis - Bitches Brew
5. Beatles - Revolver (Mono) (Pre-Order)
6. Beatles - Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (Mono) (Pre-Order)
7. Lucinda Williams - Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
8. Led Zeppelin III (Deluxe Edition) (On Sale)
9. MFSL Original Master Record Sleeves (50)
10. Led Zeppelin I
=============
from our friends at AudioFidelity
Brilliant and innovative, Fire Down Under is the third album by Riot. One of the hardest metal albums done by an American band in the early 80's before it went big hair or thrash. The 1981 release finds the band at the peak of their melodic, riff-heavy and hard rocking power. Every song is like a greatest hits album, fast, catchy, with soaring guitars and great vocals. The combination of Mark Reale's Les Paul with Rick Ventura's bright-sounding Strat makes terrific use of the difference in sound between the two instruments. Pure early 80's raunch, just nasty sounding stuff - gloriously thick, tight and exciting. The playing is flawlessly crisp, which it needs to be at these speeds. Any band can play loud, but few can really be powerful. Many bands can play fast, but few have this kind of energy.
Guy Speranza's vocals are absolutely amazing, full of soul and emotion, a great vehicle for his vocal pyrotechnics. Standouts include the driving opening song "Swords and Tequila," the breakneck, breathless riff of the title track, the brilliant "Outlaw" - one of the best hard rock songs ever written, the catchy, melodic relief of "Feel the Same" and the mighty "Altar of the King."
"Fire Down Under" is one of the most revered metal albums ever - A true metal classic for the ages - one of the top 100 metal albums of all time.
Producer Steve Loeb and Billy Arnell. Mastered by Kevin Gray
Order at AudioFidelity
=============
from our friends at TheOmegaOrder
With a history of studio experience, Alex Loring in particular was determined to create the best album he possibly could. The whole band agreed that if they were to fight the good fight for proper musicianship then there could be no compromise. Their decision to pool their money and spend their life savings on the recording of their debut album resulted in much interest but they decided to sign with the label that is home to many of their heroes.
Recorded in the UK with experienced New York-based producer, Andrew Schneider (Cave In, Pelican, Old Man Gloom), the words that keep cropping up are “atmosphere,” “feeling,” and “vibe.” Their method of recording the music live, quickly, and as organically as possible has led to noticeable nuances within the record - details for the listener to pick up on after repeated plays - but, more importantly, it has led to the kind of natural feel to the music that cannot be replicated with a couple of extra weeks tweaking behind the scenes.
The result is a debut album for the ages. With lyrics that focus upon suggestive metaphors for the intangible minutiae of everyday life rather than relationships and lost love, this is a band of musicians as focused upon grooving together as one as they are on their songwriting and being able to relate to fans on an emotional level. Soothing and utterly crushing in turn, EMPRESS AD’s music juxtaposes gentle harmonies with frantic ferocity; relaxed strumming followed by thrash beats, time signature changes and other meanderings that you’ll just have to find out about for yourself.
Order at TheOmegaOrder
=============
Avenged Sevenfold are reissuing their second album, 'Waking the Fallen: Resurrected’ which includes the original 2003 album along with a ton of extras, and will be released Aug. 26 via Hopeless Records.
The release is now available for pre-orders in multiple packages
• 4 - 12” disc vinyl LP clear with white splatter in collectors box (exclusive color, only available here)
• Includes 11 never before heard demos & live tracks + expanded album artwork
• 7-inch containing *bonus tracks (exclusive, only available here)
• DVD: Featuring a 30 minute documentary with brand new interviews & behind the scenes footage, exclusive "Chapter Four" live footage video, the original first cut of the "Unholy Confessions" video
• Download card of audio tracks, 25 total tracks
PLEASE NOTE: This is a presale item set to ship shortly before the release date of 8.26.14
Order HERE
=============
Jimmy Eat World Vinyl Reissues – Pre-Order Now At ShopRadioCast
Jimmy Eat World – Static Prevails 2XLP Details
This is the first time Static Prevails has been pressed on vinyl since it was released in 1996. The original pressing was a single LP with a bonus 7″. The reissue pressing will see the album as a double LP including the bonus tracks, as well as deluxe gatefold packing. This reissue will also mark the first time the original artwork has been used for a vinyl release.
Pre Order Jimmy Eat World – Static Prevails 2XLP HERE
Clarity was pressed twice on vinyl – first pressing in 1999 released by Big Wheel Production and then again by Capitol in 2009. The first pressing contained no bonus tracks, while the reissue 2009 reissue contained two bonus tracks, “Christmas Card” and “Sweetness” placed on the C-Side between tracks “Clarity” and “Goodbye Sky Harbor”. The SRCvinyl version includes the two bonus tracks from the 2009 reissue, however they are placed at the end of the album (after “Goodbye Sky Harbor”) which maintains the flow of the original record. Likewise, the SRCvinyl version features slightly different artwork than the previous versions and the gatefold will be matte with a spot uv.
Jimmy Eat World – Clarity 2XLP
Futures was pressed on vinyl upon its release in 2004 as a double LP with a D-Side etching. The album contained a bonus track called “Shame” which is also included on the SRCvinyl release. However, the SRCvinyl version places “Shame” at the end of the album unlike the original which placed it near the middle (between “Polaris” and “Nothingwrong”). As well, there is no D-side etching on the SRCvinyl version, instead tracks are spanned across all four sides. The original version was housed in a gatefold jacket where as the SRCvinyl reissue will feature expanded artwork in a triple panel matte gatefold jacket with a spot UV.
Jimmy Eat World – Futures 2XLP
=============
=============
'Minecraft' Creator Buys Rare Aphex Twin Vinyl for $46,300 - Markus "Notch" Persson picks up test-pressing of hallowed 'Caustic Window'
=============
Amazon's Top Ten Best Selling Vinyl
1. Gimme Something Good (7" vinyl) ~ Ryan Adams
2. Led Zeppelin II (Deluxe Edition Remastered)
3. Portrait of a Legend 1951-1964 ~ Sam Cooke
4. In the Lonely Hour ~ Sam Smith
5. Led Zeppelin III (Deluxe Edition Remastered).
6. These Things Happen ~ G-Eazy
7. Sunbathing Animal ~ Parquet Courts
8. XSCAPE ~ Michael Jackson
9. What Is This Heart? ~ How to Dress Well
10. Led Zeppelin I (Remastered Original Vinyl)
=============
BecauseSoundMatters Top 10 Vinyl Best Sellers
1. Mastodon - Once More ‘Round The Sun (Deluxe 2LP)
2. Mastodon - Once More ‘Round The Sun (2LP)
3. The Orwells - Disgraceland (Clear Vinyl)
4. Alt-J - An Awesome Wave
5. Echosmith - Talking Dreams Vinyl
6. LP - Forever For Now (Vinyl + Poster Bundle)
7. Portugal. The Man - Evil Friends
8. Grouplove - Never Trust A Happy Song
9. Mastodon - Blood Mountain
10. The Orwells - Righteous One 12-inch Vinyl Single (RSD release)
