Stefan Wood

I agree that some of those guys go a bit overboard. Many of them are great guys whose opinion I value. Don't put too much into reading one thread, particularly this one. Why? This thread is an example of when it's a bad idea to solicit an opinion over at the Steve Hoffman forums: when SH has worked on the master for another label. NEVER talk about another version of a session if there's a SH version. You'll never get anyone to agree with you and you'll likely get booted for disagreeing with Steve. In my experience, Hoffman never seems to "like" any other version of a recording he worked on. Proof? Check his post #172 in the thread in question. Hoffman says, "Well, I have not heard the new mix but I understand what you mean by "space" or lack of it." Say what?? He's posting on a thread about a newly remastered CD and comes on and tells everyone, "Try and find the common and cheap "old" Fantasy CD", when HE'S NEVER HEARD THE NEW REMASTER?? I love Steve Hoffman's work but sometimes, he's wrong. I have to say, this may be one of those cases. The worst thing about topics like this is that you simply cannot argue this with SH. If you do, you'll be "gorted" off the site quicker than you can say, "Steve, aren't you wrong to...". That's a big weakness at those forums. Steve's opinion is gospel, even if he has never even heard the CD being discussed. Kevin You are right, Kevin. It is just one topic -- though I have seen variations of this discussion regarding jazz, classical and rock cds as well. The world of audiophiles is an eclectic mix. No more than any other obsession. But the posts in that topic were really trite!

After reading several pages of this topic on Hoffman's forum, I realize that those guys are a bunch of old hens clucking away. I really question how those guys "listen" to music -- bunch of anal retentives.

Happy Birthday!

While I have been listening to jazz and classical, I have begun to find the late 60's/early to mid 70's rock scene fascinating. I'm going at it backwards, since a lot of my friends who are also jazz fans began by listening to fusion or jazz rock first. I have been listening to "lesser" known (at least here in the States) prog or hard rock groups like Van der Graaf Generator, Eloy, Egg, If, Buffalo, Leaf Hound, Groundhogs, and Family.

I used to have the Roots of a Revolution set, and I consider this to be a sonic upgrade. Better liner notes as well.

No, based on the various djs tastes that seems about right. Its a mixture of hard bop programming with creamy smooth jazz or vocals. They do have a killer latin music line up several times a week.

Cyndi Lauper's "Time after Time" (as done by Miles Davis)???

According to their website, their online shop is down while they are relocating their entire inventory to another place. Hmm......

So what's wrong with itunes?

Yah. The only audiophile upgrade that I did was to change the outlet - there are audiophile outlets. It does make a difference.

I received this email last night: Rufus Harley - Courage: The Atlantic Recordings The late Rufus Harley didn't take “no” for an answer when it came to music. As a youngster in Philadelphia, the novice saxophonist twice retrieved his instrument from a pawn shop to which his mother had tried to consign it. But after November 25, 1963, the sax would play second fiddle in Rufus' jazz career. That was the day of John F. Kennedy's funeral procession, and leading the solemn march through the streets of the nation's capital were nine pipers from the Black Watch of The Royal Highlanders Regiment. Listening to them play, Harley dreamed up a whole new kind of music... Jazz bagpipes. On paper, it was a pretty unlikely combination, but for anyone who gave them a fair hearing, Rufus' performances quelled all skeptics. When he won over local Philly DJ and aspiring record producer Joel Dorn, Harley earned a contract with Atlantic Records, which issued his debut in 1966. Bagpipe Blues was a success, and through the remainder of the decade, Harley and Dorn completed three more albums for the label: Scotch & Soul (1966), A Tribute To Courage (1967), and King/Queens (1970). Though he was also a skilled sax player and flutist, Rufus was seen at the time as a novelty act -- “the world's first jazz bagpipe player.” But in hindsight his music is of a piece with the sonic boundary-breaking of such greats as Rahsaan Roland Kirk and Pharoah Sanders in the 1960s - a time of heightened interest in exotic sounds and styles from around the globe. In the years since his innovative Atlantic releases, Harley toured with his idol Sonny Rollins, and made guest appearances on recordings by the likes of Laurie Anderson and The Roots. The Rhino Handmade collection Courage: The Atlantic Recordings gathers all four of the jazzman's albums for the label, along with a previously unreleased version of “Where Have All The Flowers Gone?” from the King/Queens sessions and “Pipin' The Blues” from Sonny Stitt's 1967 LP Deuces Wild, a track which prominently features Harley's bagpipes. Featuring remastered sound, rare photos, and producer Daniel Goldmark's insightful liner notes, this ear-opening 2-CD set goes a long way toward proving Rufus' contention that “this thing about the bagpipes not being for jazz is all in the mind.” Courage: The Atlantic Recordings is available for $39.98 as an individually numbered limited edition of 3,000 copies. Get it now at: Rhino Handmade Rufus Harley box set

Shit man, that is a classic Willie Colon lp. Mandatory purchase!

Wasn't this the performance where the Rolling Stones were scheduled to follow and after seeing JB perform they were too scared to go on stage?

This recent compilation satisfies my Traffic fix:

Hopefully this is a restart of the reissue program.

A belated happy birthday!

Took advantage of the 40% off for latin titles. Fania, Alegre, Tico, all at $8 a pop.

The Towers are still restocking. Went to a couple of stores in Northern Va, and one was depleted, while another still looking full. Perhaps different locations will close on different dates? I really went after the latin cds, as they were 40% off. Picked up a bunch of the Fania/Tico/Alegre reissues at $8 each.

If it ain't broke, fix it........ I like the previous version.

Just picked this up recently. Friggin mind blowing stoner rock from early 70's. Why this never took off in the States I'll never know. They should be ranked up there with Zeppelin, Sabbath, or Deep Purple.

I got lucky. Got it for $35 on store credit. This is a great box set.

Nothing wrong with the Stooges. CHIC? I dunno........

Just checked the online site. You wouldn't know that they were liquidating. Everything looks as normal.

Highly recommended! Isle of the Dead is also very good, as is the Seventh Victim, a remarkable movie not only for its content but its downbeat resolution. Those and Cat People and I Walked with a Zombie are fun watching. His son, Val Lewton Jr., sometimes goes to the same figure art drawing sessions that I go to here in DC. Nice guy, who is thrilled about this set.

You know, I don't know if anyone has done that yet.