Roy Harper - HQ: ~35 years unplayed.
Duffy Power - Blues Power: ~15 years unplayed.
There are more, but these two really stood out for me as suddenly being really great, having been, at best meh, when I first heard them. I couldn't cope with the Duffy Power album at all and really did only listen to it once. I had another go and really liked it and was sad to find he died in 2014. But I got a copy of 'Tigers' and thought it was rather fine and will be buying some more, though I'm sad I'm not putting money into his pocket.
With Harper I fell in love with Bullinamingvase at first listen, bought a lot of his LPs but never liked anything else as much. I've been digitising my LPs and got to the Rs and low it turns out I REALLY LIKE Roy Harper. All that stuff that seemed like lifeless out of tune self indulgent nonsense has turned out to be rather thoughtful and full of heart.
Was I a blind fool once or am I a sentimental old man now? God knows, but I still like the stuff I liked before, and if there's even more music to enjoy I'm all in favour of that. Particularly if I already own it 🙂
Duffy Power - Blues Power: ~15 years unplayed.
There are more, but these two really stood out for me as suddenly being really great, having been, at best meh, when I first heard them. I couldn't cope with the Duffy Power album at all and really did only listen to it once. I had another go and really liked it and was sad to find he died in 2014. But I got a copy of 'Tigers' and thought it was rather fine and will be buying some more, though I'm sad I'm not putting money into his pocket.
With Harper I fell in love with Bullinamingvase at first listen, bought a lot of his LPs but never liked anything else as much. I've been digitising my LPs and got to the Rs and low it turns out I REALLY LIKE Roy Harper. All that stuff that seemed like lifeless out of tune self indulgent nonsense has turned out to be rather thoughtful and full of heart.
Was I a blind fool once or am I a sentimental old man now? God knows, but I still like the stuff I liked before, and if there's even more music to enjoy I'm all in favour of that. Particularly if I already own it 🙂
In a "reverse" type situation, and perhaps this is an "off topic" subject, my parents had a big assortment of records, Connie Francis, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, etc etc...
All played many times over the years on their expensive 1963 RCA Victor console stereo, which had a "Studiomatic" record changer/ceramic cartridge tracking at 5.5 grams.
I now have those records since they've passed away decades ago.
And they still play great on my systems!
Goes to prove that that silly audiophile worry over "too many grams ruins records" is nothing but idle blabbering.
All played many times over the years on their expensive 1963 RCA Victor console stereo, which had a "Studiomatic" record changer/ceramic cartridge tracking at 5.5 grams.
I now have those records since they've passed away decades ago.
And they still play great on my systems!
Goes to prove that that silly audiophile worry over "too many grams ruins records" is nothing but idle blabbering.
Wouldn't argue. I've got my dads LPs that were played under similar circumstances. Most have survived really well. Some have clearly been damaged by mistracking and I've come to the conclusion that mistracking has damaged many more albums than an extra gram or two of downforce ever did...
I grew up listening to the Dorsey Bros. Miller, Goodman, Shaw, Basie and a load more and have always 'got' them.
I grew up listening to the Dorsey Bros. Miller, Goodman, Shaw, Basie and a load more and have always 'got' them.
I suspect that the damage was likely due to worn stylus, as people "back then" were not "audiophile-minded" and used their stylus to a worn-down tip of slop.
I also think that that's where the basis of the tale about "heavy" stylus pressure perhaps started, along with marketing hype. (it makes companies more money if they make up and lie about things)
My father was known to replace the stylus on a regular basis on the stereo, at least every year or so, depending on how much it was played.
Back then, the stylus cost $4.95 at our local record shop. LOL!
I also think that that's where the basis of the tale about "heavy" stylus pressure perhaps started, along with marketing hype. (it makes companies more money if they make up and lie about things)
My father was known to replace the stylus on a regular basis on the stereo, at least every year or so, depending on how much it was played.
Back then, the stylus cost $4.95 at our local record shop. LOL!
The likely explaination is you're using a smaller tip, eliptical, line contact etc but probably not conical or sperical... I have experienced the same thing after playing records with probably 12 grams of force? A BSR with a quarter taped to the headshell. The ST-9 tip was almost the size of a 78 stylus and the high part of the groove is worn. Lower down, nothing ever touched it and it sounds unplayed on a good setup 40 years later 🙂
That might likely be, however I've played those LP's with a conical MM cartridge and they do sound good.
I really think the fuss over record wear vs stylus pressure is overblown though - like I said, many people back then never bothered to change a worn needle, thinking "if it plays, it's still good".
Also, a lot depends on the tonearm and how frictionless it actually is.
The RCA Victor Studiomatic changer in this video is the same one my parents had in their console.
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I have a copy of Xavier Cugat One Two Three Kick on a 78 and it is pretty bad. The bass drum is clipped now. No doubt it was played with a Victrola and those steel record eating needles 🙂
In my "old stock" of cartridges and needles, I have some spring-loaded metal victrola needles.
The actual tip is inside the shank/tube and apparently it's got "give" when pressed.
Still, in the "ounces" range of course.
The actual tip is inside the shank/tube and apparently it's got "give" when pressed.
Still, in the "ounces" range of course.
Returning to the topic...Steely Dan, Gaucho ...very clean music, without all the artifacts common to that era of music, very listenable & wonderfully nostalgic.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Rick...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Rick...
