Author: niu1970

John Coltrane – The John Coltrane Quartet Plays

More of the Music of John Coltrane

The John Coltrane Quartet Plays appears on the site for only the second time ever, here with solid Double Plus (A++) grades or close to them on both sides of this vintage Impulse stereo pressing – remarkably quiet vinyl too
No other copy earned 2+ on both sides, meaning this is the best Super Hot Stamper we have to offer this time around
Full-bodied, energetic, and tonally correct from top to bottom, this pressing is guaranteed to bring Coltrane’s music to life (particularly on side one) – it’s possible that you would not own any Coltrane record that sounds as good as this one
The sound is everything that’s good about Rudy Van Gelder‘s recordings – it’s present, spacious, full-bodied, Tubey Magical, dynamic and, most importantly, alive in the way that modern pressings never are (also particularly on side one)
4 stars: “One of the turning points in the career of John Coltrane came in 1965. The great saxophonist, whose playing was always very explorative and searching, crossed the line into atonality during that year, playing very free improvisations (after stating quick throwaway themes) that were full of passion and fury.”

Herold-Lanchbery – La Fille Mal Gardee (Excerpts) / Lanchbery

More Classical and Orchestral Recordings

This early London pressing (only the second copy to ever hit the site) of Lanchbery’s sparkling orchestral arrangement of Herold’s 1828 score boasts incredible Nearly Triple Plus (A++ to A+++) grades from start to finish – just shy of our Shootout Winner
It’s also remarkably quiet at the high end of Mint Minus Minus, a grade that even our most well-cared-for vintage classical titles have trouble playing at
So transparent, dynamic and real, this copy raises the bar for the sound of ballet music on vinyl
A record like this lets you get lost in the world of its music, and what could be more important in a recording than that?

The best sounding quiet copy we have ever heard!

If you are looking for quiet vinyl, you will have a hard time finding it on this title.

Robin Trower – Long Misty Days

More Rock and Pop

Trower’s fourth solo studio album debuts on the site with STUNNING Shootout Winning Triple Plus (A+++) sound from first note to last – remarkably quiet vinyl too
This glorious early UK pressing is huge, rich and powerful, with guitar solos that soar like few others you’ve heard
If you want to make your speakers disappear, this is the album that can do it
Brilliant engineering by Geoff Emerick at George Martin’s AIR studios – it’s shocking to contemplate the idea that he became an even better recording engineer in the 70s, post-Abbey Road (for which he won a Grammy!)

Terry Gibbs and Bill Harris – Woodchoppers’ Ball

More Jazz Recordings of Interest

Woodchoppers’ Ball makes its Hot Stamper debut on this rare Premier stereo pressing that boasts an INCREDIBLE Shootout Winning Triple Plus (A+++) side one mated to a solid Double Plus (A++) side two
Full-bodied, warm and natural with plenty of space around all of the players, this is the sound of vintage analog – accept no substitutes
The sonics here are rich and Tubey Magical, which is the only way this music makes any sense on record
Problems in the vinyl are sometimes the nature of the beast with these early pressings, but once you hear just how killer sounding this copy is, you might be inclined, as we were, to stop counting ticks and pops and just be swept away by the music

Rachmaninoff / Dohnanyi – Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini / Variations On A Nursery Tune / Katchen

More Classical and Orchestral Recordings

This early London pressing (the first to ever hit the site) of Katchen and the London Phil’s performance boasts lush and tubey Shootout Winning Triple Plus (A+++) sound or close to it from first note to last
It’s also impossibly quiet at Mint Minus to Mint Minus Minus, a grade that practically none of our vintage classical titles – even the most well-cared-for ones – ever play at
The piano is huge and weighty, the strings rich and highly resolving, and the overall presentation is powerful, balanced, dynamic and exciting
These sides are doing practically everything right – they’re rich, clear, undistorted, open, spacious, and have depth and transparency to rival the best recordings you may have heard

Chet Atkins – Hometown Guitar

More of the Music of Chet Atkins

Hometown Guitar makes its Hot Stamper debut with INSANELY GOOD Shootout Winning Triple Plus (A+++) grades throughout this original RCA pressing
Both of these sides are sweet and rich with plenty of Tubey Magic, wonderfully breathy vocals, deep punchy bass, and a super extended top end
Full-bodied and warm, exactly the way you want your vintage analog to sound – the guitar is surprisingly real here

Pentangle – Reflection

More British Folk Rock

Reflection debuts on the site with a KILLER Shootout Winning Triple Plus (A+++) side two mated to a solid Double Plus (A++) side one of this original UK Transatlantic pressing
We shot out a number of other imports and the midrange presence, bass, and dynamics on this outstanding copy placed it head and shoulders above most others we played
Exceptionally present, real and resolving, this pressing is guaranteed to murder any remastering undertaken by anyone – past, present and future
“Pentangle were always great at creating musical fusions, and on this album, they once again came through. The opening song, Wedding Dress,is a fabulous meeting of Celtic, country, and, believe it or not, funk. It’s one of the few songs of theirs that actually rocks. The rest of the record is classic Pentangle, with Bert Jansch’s and John Renbourn’s acoustic guitars intermingling so well that it would make even Neil Young and Stephen Stills a little envious.”

Suzanne Vega – Self-Titled

More Rock and Pop

Suzanne’s debut LP appears on the site for the first time ever, here with solid Double Plus (A++) grades from start to finish
Both sides are big, rich and sweet with wonderfully present and breathy vocals, excellent clarity and a plenty of bottom end weight
Remarkably present, real and resolving, this pressing is guaranteed to murder any remastering undertaken by anyone – past, present and future
4 stars: “Though early comparisons were made to Joni Mitchell, Suzanne Vega’s true antecedents were Janis Ian and Leonard Cohen. Like Ian, she sings with a precise, frequently half-spoken phrasing that gives her lyrics an intensity that seems to suggest an unsteady control consciously held over emotional chaos. Like Cohen, Vega observes the world in poetic metaphor, her cold urban landscapes reflecting a troubled sense of love and loss.”

Taj Mahal – Recycling the Blues & Other Related Stuff

More Soul, Blues and R&B

Taj’s 1972 release appears on the site for only the second time ever, here with a STUNNING Shootout Winning Triple Plus (A+++) side two mated to a solid Double Plus (A++) side one
The sound is huge – big, wide, deep, and open, with a punchy bottom end and rhythmic energy to spare, as well as cleaner, smoother, sweeter upper mids and a more extended top
“The first side features laidback in-the-studio work with some nice gospel-inflected back-up from the Pointer Sisters. The second… side offers a good look at Mahal’s stage show.”

Janos Starker Plays Works By Debussy, Bartok And Others

More Mercury Classical Recordings

Starker and Sebok’s virtuoso performances debut on the site with the rich, dynamic, and tubey sound we were hoping for, earning STUNNING Shootout Winning Triple Plus (A+++) grades or close to them throughout this early Plum Label Mercury pressing
Both of these sides are big, full-bodied, clean and clear, with a wonderfully present and solid piano, and plenty of 3D space around it
The cello is present and immediate, with sound that is remarkably textured, full and harmonically natural
Not only is this the best sounding copy we have to offer from our recent shootout, but we are happy to report that the vinyl is reasonably quiet for a vintage Plum Label Mercury stereo pressing