Latest Articles

The Classicaliszt

Immaculate Recordings: Emil Telmanyi “Bach Sonatas” (Decca/London, 1954)

There is so much contention in classical vinyl collecting over “THE” definitive version of a piece. The interpretation, the recording and the pressing all have an impact and then the historical factors and musical expertise come into play. This, however,  Read more  »

Sample SaturdayVersion Excursion

Version Excursion: “Home is Where The Hatred Is” (Original by GSH)

I’ll always remember when I heard Esther Philips‘ cover of the Gil Scott-Heron masterpiece Home is Where the Hatred Is. I was mesmerized by the melody and arrangements, but it was the lyrics that truly floored me. A junkie walking  Read more  »

Forgotten Treasures

Forgotten Treasure: David Porter “The Masquerade is Over” (1974)

To say that David Porter‘s Victim of the Joke LP was an ambitious album is an understatement. Billed as a soul opera, the album is full of overproduced arrangements and spoken word scripted excerpts between and during songs. Most of  Read more  »

Rakim the microphone soloist (The post Eric B era)

There is no doubt Rakim is a living legend. I will never forget when my older sister dubbed Paid in Full on cassette for me or when I bought my first issue of The Source magazine. The special issue #100  Read more  »

Music Documentaries

Breakbeat Lou’s amazing Record Collection on “Boiler Room Collections”

Breakbeats are the foundation of HipHop and also the medium where record collecting and beatmaking first melded together. Impeach the President, Funky Drummer, the Amen Break; the list is endless and chances are they were all first heard (and sampled)  Read more  »