Herb Alpert's Music Should Be in Every Collection

Alpert has crammed 2 lifetimes into one with his accomplishments

When you think of the greatest selling acts of the 1960's, artists like The Beatles, Elvis Presley, and Frank Sinatra come immediately to mind.

Most people would be surprised that just those 3 artists sold more records during the decade of the 1960's than Herb Alpert did, a whopping 60 Million records sold!

Since I discovered The Tijuana Brass digging for vinyl records in the thrift stores, the Tijuana Brass have become one of my guilty pleasures, a solid instrumental group that keeps it upbeat and on the lighter side.

The arrangements are always clean and professional with expert playing.

Herb as a trumpet player is underrated with a very clean and recognizable tone. I appreciate the reworkings of standards of the day, most covers of classics are tastefully done.

Herb Alpert and The Tijuana Brass' sound is a bit dated, but that's one of the reason for listening in the first place

This Guy's in Love With You (#1 Vocal hit)

"RISE" #1 Instrumental Hit from 1979

In October of 1979 Herb Alpert did something that has never been equaled in Pop Music History; His self titled single for the album Rise went to #1 on the Billboard singles charts.

"Rise" was an Instrumental; In 1968 Herb went to #1 with the Burt Bacharach and Hal David written tune "This Guy's in Love With You".

Herb Alpert is the the only artist to go to #1 with a vocal and an instrumental piece.

"This Guy's in Love With You", was also the first #1 hit for Alpert and Jerry Moss' A&M Record label.

The song was first sung on an ABC Television Special with Herb singing the song to his first wife Sharon (Alpert is now married to Singer Lani Hall) The viewership response was so powerful, Alpert decided to release it as a single.

It was then included on the LP The Beat of the Brass, Alpert readily admits he is not a singer, and feels very self conscious about singing the song. In my opinion, this is what gives the song its charm.

Alpert comes across as an authentic regular guy, singing to the one he loves without any hint of put on. "This Guy's in Love With You" stayed at #1 for an astounding 10 weeks on the Easy listening chart, and 4 weeks at #1 on the Top 100 chart.

When you consider how Herb Alpert was already a household name, with several #1 albums under his belt, and had up till that point sold over 50 million records worldwide, this must have pushed Herb into the stratosphere popularity speaking.

Ironically enough, this chart success was a sort of last ride for the Tijuana Brass, as Herb would never again be at the top of the mountain again like this as a recording artist.

With the 60's counter culture, and a new breed of popular music completely taking hold, Herb's positive happy good time music just ran out of steam.

Herb Alpert's Ninth: His Best Album?

Herb Alpert's Ninth is an album released in 1967, It was the last album Alpert released in both mono and stereo.

No doubt if you have heard anything about Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, It will be be the album, "Whipped Cream and Other Delights" and not this album.

After listening to his entire discography, I have decided that Herb Alpert's Ninth is his best fully realized album for my tastes. Though it's not a landslide, with Going Places and Whipped Cream and Other Delights not being at all lesser albums, I just happen to really like "Bud", "Cowboys and Indians, and "The Trolly Song".

My favorite Alpert tune "Bud" is on Ninth, so it edges out those other 2 very good albums slightly. In fact I don't think Herb Alpert ever released a bad album in the 1960's, They all have a similar feel and I am not ashamed to admit it, I like it, it's feel good music.

Alpert's music does have the ability to lift your spirits, and there is nothing wrong with that. The arrangements are little more Jazzy on Ninth as well, which I suppose heightens the credibility of the music for me.

"Bud" is a gorgeous tune, the sparse guitar and the unison horns, with Julius Wechter's Marimba adding to the melancholy nature of the song.

"A Banda" is also a great little shuffle tune, with vibrant upbeat trumpet. He and The Brass never made a better fully realized album than Herb Alpert's Ninth.

Going Places: With "Tijuana Taxi" and "Spanish Flea"

Going Places is an album from Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass that has the distinction of knocking The Beatles Rubber Soul out of the #1 spot on the top 100 chart in march of 1966.

Coincidentally, "Rubber Soul" knocked Alpert's Whipped Cream and other Delights out of the top spot. Going Places stayed at #1 for 6 weeks, eventually being knocked out of the #1 spot itself by Ssgt. Barry Sadler's Ballad of the Green Beret.

Alpert, who had just released Whipped Cream and other Delights 6 months earlier was on a real winning streak, with Whipped Cream selling 6 Million copies and Going Places almost as much.

Going Places featured several tunes that were used as TV theme songs, or incidental music on various game shows as well.

"Spanish Flea" was used as the theme song for the Dating Game, and "Tijuana Taxi" was used for an Oscar winning animated short, and "A Walk in the Black Forrest" was used in a television commercial for super market chain Piggly Wiggly.

"Tijuana Taxi" features a bicycle horn effect that is more exaggerated on the released single. The entire album is very good, with up lifting happy tunes. and a few romantic style numbers like "Mae" and "Felicia".

Whipped Cream and Other Delights

Whipped Cream and Other Delights is a classic of the 1960's, complete with the controversial and racy album cover. The cover, very racy by mid 60's standards has become one of the most recognized covers in music history.

A pair of tunes from the album were used on the TV show The Dating Game, "Whipped Cream" and "Lollipops and Roses" respectively, then "Bittersweet Samba" was used on the radio show All Night Nippon.

I have really grown to respect Herb Alpert more and more as I have learned more about him, and how at nearly 80 years of age he is still releasing great music with his wife singer Lani Hall. Herb Alpert is not only a great musician, his a national treasure.

Herb and his wife Lani Hall discussing their careers

*All photos are LP covers from my own collection*

What Ever Happened to Singer Claudine Longet?

.99 Cent find at a Local Goodwill thrift store

Finding good music for less than a dollar

The above is a perfect example of the type of music you can find digging the record bins in your local thrift store. It's an educational experience too, look what I have learned about Claudine Longet.

Claudine Longet is a French born model, dancer, and singer. The album cover pictured is Longet's 1967 album Colours, and a stunning photograph at that. Claudine's life Reads like a Great Hollywood epic, since 1977, she has been almost completely out of the public spot light.

 Had I not discovered this particular album cover at a thrift store, it is likely I would have never discovered the smooth and soothing vocals of Claudine Longet. Claudine was the wife of entertainer Andy Williams from (1961-1975), they remained friends until his death on September 25, 2012.

 During 1976 she became embroiled in a Huge media firestorm, she was convicted of negligent homicide when she shot and killed her live in boy friend, former Olympic skier Spider Sabich. Claudine maintained that it was an accident while the gun was being demonstrated.

 Many people at the time were critical that she received only a 30 day jail term, partly because of police errors handling the case, much of the evidence was thrown out. Since this was the last thing in the public's mind about Claudine, much of her musical career has been forgotten.

Claudine's Marriage to Andy Williams:

 In 1960 Andy was driving around Las Vegas, when he happened upon an 18 year old dancer by a broken down car on the side of the Road.

On December 15 1961 they were married, they had 3 children together and were separated by 1970, ultimately they divorced in 1975. Andy stayed by Longet's side all throughout the trial for the shooting death of Spider Sabich, saying: "She is the mother of my children" .

Williams went on to say he wanted to get his children to a safe place then get her good legal representation. Andy maintained he believed Claudine, that the shooting was an accident. Andy also said at the time they still loved each other, but they just didn't want to be married anymore.

The Death of Olympic Skier Spider Sabich:

Former Olympic Skier Spider Sabich was fatally wounded when he was shot in the bathroom of his Aspen Colorado home, He died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital with Longet by his side. Claudine said that the gun accidentally went off when he was demonstrating it.

The sheriff's department investigating the case, took blood samples and confiscated her diary, reportedly cocaine was in her system and the diary showed things were not all that great with Longet and Sabich, a search warrant had not been obtained, all of this circumstantial evidence was thrown out.

There have been any number of stories reported over the years to what actually happened, and why. I won't spread potentially libelous rumors or anecdotes, those articles always mention they were friends of the family etc... without any real proof. With the absence of that proof, I will take Claudine at her word, only her and God know the truth.

Is Claudine Longet's music any good, can she sing at all?

I discovered Claudine's music when I stumbled across this very attractive lady browsing the thrift store record bins, it's those eyes for me.

The style of music she is known for is pop mixed with bossa nova, her voice is soft and relaxing, probably how she speaks as well. Make no mistake about it though, we aren't talking about Aretha Franklin here, Claudine has a limited vocal range, and rarely goes out on a limb trying to be more than she is.

 What she is, is the perfect soft-pop singer, who usually seems right on the mark. The late 60's Psychedelic influences also creep in with some of the arrangements, which do add a lot, and at least in my case, really surprised me on first listen. The style is jazz, bossa nova, 60's pop, a little bit of kitsch, a real varied back drop for her Vocals.

Herb Albert was not an idiot, he made sure that she was put in situations that would be successful, and he didn't ask her to go beyond what her vocal range could do. Claudine does have sort of a cult following these days, probably just as much for her past as for her singing ability. I find her records all the time in nice playing shape in the thrift store bins for no more than a dollar or two.

Gil Scott-Heron Pieces of A Man Vintage Vinyl

I found this copy at a local Goodwill, rough cover, but nice play copy.

No amount of praise for this musical masterpiece would be too great, and surely no early soul funk album was more lyrical and honest, in its story telling and revolutionary musical ideas.

Pieces of a Man may be the perfect rare groove classic, Gil Scott-Heron (1949-2011) does it all here, he tells urban inner city tales with biting realism and sung with a sarcastic smile.

Heron was a warrior poet, literally. An absolute genius.

The fact that the man practically invented rap music, and hip hop sprang up through the crack on the sidewalk it caused.

Pieces of a Man really knows how to grab you by the shirt and pull you in.

Home is Where the Hatred is:

"Home is Where the Hatred Is" is a chilling tale of junkie running from home, and while he's looking in the rear view mirror seeing nothing worth staying for.

Perhaps "they" are the source of his reason for self medication? Been there for sure.

Pieces of a Man is every bit the equal of Marvin Gay's opus What's Going On. It's real, never pretentious, and revolutionary.

You have to love the jazz and funk melding of styles, "bluesology" as Heron calls it. He's right, his music does tell stories the same way Howlin' Wolf's  "Forty Four"  or "Evil" do.

"The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" is the most important proto rap number here, and shows some in your face political jabs, all recited in a semi spoken word style, this sure does remind you of rap. Dig it below!

The title track is a heartbreaking tune about a little boy witnessing his father being humiliated by losing his job, the storytelling here is just so on the money, you can almost feel the fathers shame.

Also a nice upbeat ballad, "Lady Day and John Coltrane" is a nice homage to how music can be used as a tension release, and a way to liberate one's self from the restraints of this cruel world.

Heron can sing too, don't forget about that, this dude has got soul, bluesy and Motown without a doubt.

I am here to tell you, Pieces of a Man is very important album, if you were striving for the Rosetta Stone of hip hop as we know it today, Pieces of a Man is certainly as important as anything else released at the time.

3 Cheap Record Players With Great Sound Quality

You Can Get a Quality Affordable Turntable

Many wrongly believe that you have to pay a fortune for a true affordable turntable with audiophile quality sound. I have chosen 3 quality turntables that I have personally tested that put that myth to rest.

 Sure you could spend thousands of dollars on a turntable, but why when you can spend no more than 300? If you have the money, why get the cheapest record player?

There is no reason to start at the bottom of the heap. There are many great turntable options that won't ruin your budget. Read on for my turntable picks with great sound.

Pro-Ject: An Audiophile Turntable Without a Doubt

The Pro-Ject Debut Carbon is really an audiophile quality record player. It just so happens you can get one of these for less than $400. I have used mine since 2013 and love it.

The one thing I always mention when discussing the Pro-Ject is: Surprisingly, the Pioneer PL 990 I had earlier was not nearly as inferior as you might think.

 For the 120 bucks I paid, it was a pretty good record player. The Carbon though, had 2 major positives I noticed right away, the crystal clear highs, especially the crisp high-hat and cymbal clarity on certain jazz records; and the crisp and true bass.

Usually with lesser record players, the bottom end gets a little muddy, not with the Pro-Ject Carbon A great high-end tester in my opinion is Miles Davis' Miles Smiles.

 Drummer Tony Williams' cymbal work is ridiculously good, I could hear it rise above the mix, Miles trumpet sound was warmer and less distorted too. You will need to make a separate pre amp buy for the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon by the way, if your receiver doesn't have a dedicated phono pre amp.

U-Turn Audio Turntables

Might Be the Best Quality Turntable For the Price


What a fantastic minimalist design this record player has. Nothing here to distract from what it is, just a good record player. Why do you need bells and whistles on record player any way? I like a clean design myself.

The Orbit Basic and Plus come in 4 different colors: You get the black and white of course, as well as green and blue. But with a minimalist design, you're obviously hoping that sound quality is the focus here. As far as sound quality, I think it's pretty good.

 I tested the $179.00 U-Turn basic turntable. I played a new reissue copy of Miles Davis' Kind of Blue and an original 1970 Columbia 2 eye version of Bitches Brew from Davis, and I have to say they both sounded very good.

 The U-Turn had a better higher end sound, or at least I perceived clearer highs I should say, than both of the lower end Sony turntables I have tested. I still prefer my Pro-Ject, but considering this basic U-Turn was half the cost of the Pro-Ject, I do recommend this for the beginner or any level of audiophile.

 I realize you just want something that's easy to assemble and sounds good. A good value is what's expected. The U-Turn does all 3 of those easily. I am sure this will be a popular record player for bargain hunters, the price is just too reasonable for the quality.

 I hope they can keep costs down going forward, only time will tell. Like the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon below, you will need to buy a separate phono preamp unless you have that built-in to your receiver; the U-turn does not have that built-in to the record player its self. Uturn does now have a turntable that has a built-in pre amp, see directly below.

Pioneer Turntables:

As mentioned above I am a fan of these Pioneer Turntables. The PL-990 was my first turntable, and honestly not nearly as inferior as you might expect to the Pro-Ject I upgraded to. 

For the price the PL-990 is the best beginner record player on the market in my opinion. You will probably have to buy that on the secondary market or used.

 The new pictured Pioneer PL-30 has the price hike comparing to the PL-990, but what do you get for the increase in cost?

 The PL-30 has dual capabilities, meaning you can use a phono amp if you want. You can use the built-in phono amp as well, the PL 990 had a built-in phono amp. As a reult you can not turn it off if you wanted to use your own amp.

 The PL-30 Also has a detachable RCA connectors, the PL-990 did not. The PL-30 also has an anti skating dial, and phono equalization, so you can tweak the sound as you want.

A Few Things to Consider Before a Purchase:

Don't forget the possible need for a phono preamp when you budget for the turntable. A good pre-amp will probably run you about 70 dollars.

 The Pioneer might be a better option with that pre amp being built-in, it is one less cost to worry about. You could upgrade the sound quality with a purchased pre amp on the Pioneer.

 The U-Turn and The Project both come with a fine Ortofon stylus, but the Pioneer comes with a Audio-Technica 3600L cartridge, which is still pretty darned good, but you might want to upgrade to a grado or something.

 Truthfully it's all just a matter of preference, I like the Ortofon just fine, and the stock Audio Technica cartridge sounded good on the cheaper PL 990 I can attest to that. Don't forget there are many more beginner turntable options, at a much cheaper price too. You can check out some reviews for those right here.

 Whether you spend 50 dollars or a 1000 dollars on your first record player is up to you. The point is, you want something that will keep you spinning vinyl for years to come.

Direct Drive Turntables: Better than Belt Drive?

Which is most reliable, the direct drive or belt drive turntables?

DJ's swear by the direct drive turntable, both for reliability, and the ability to stand up to heavy use... but, do YOU really need that type of heavy-use durability? Maybe a Shouldn't your primary concern be sound quality?

 I think at the lower price points you wouldn't sacrifice too much in the way of audio fidelity with a direct drive as opposed to a belt driven table, if you decided to go in that direction. I have always thought, and heard from audiophiles for years, that the belt driven turntable sounded best.

My own experience with direct drive is very limited, but I didn't think the sound was all that different. If you are doing any scratching/sound manipulation, with sudden starts and stops, going in reverse, you really can't do that with a belt drive turntable, you would need a durable direct drive turntable.

 Of course with a direct drive record player you would not need to worry about replacing a belt, but maybe that's where you should pay a little more when shopping for that direct drive option? Make sure you get a direct drive that is going to last a while?

Options for direct drive turntables

The Audio-Technica AT-LP 120 USB Direct-Drive Professional Turntable has to be the best deal right now, in the $250.00 or less price range, its hard to beat a turntable with a high torque motor and adjustable pitch control.

 This turntable has a built-in pre-amp, and can be by passed if you want, the AT LP-120 Direct Drive can also be plug into an aux jack on just about any other source. You can also record your LP's to CD and or mp3 if you want, and actually enjoy your vinyl on the go, understand though, you will hear any imperfections on those mp3 files that might be present in the vinyl grooves.

 Almost all receivers today have the aux jack on the back or front, as long as it's the red and white RCA jacks you should be OK, don't forget this unit has a built-in phono pre- amp. As mentioned above, the main complaint with these direct drive turntables is the noise level of the machine it's self.

If you were out in a club or playing some bass thumping jammin' music at home, this would not be a concern. If you want to sit and listen to acoustic jazz or something at low volume, and this table was humming like an idling car, you wouldn't be happy with that.

What do you really want?

It's important to know exactly what you are wanting here: Do you want quiet or very low noise, then get a belt driven turntable.

If you want sturdy, takes a beating, but could not be ideal for quiet intimate listening, go direct drive then. Now I will try to explain why most audiophiles prefer the belt driven turntable without making your eyes roll back into your head...

What do audiophiles think about direct vs belt drive?

Understand this fact: There is a breed of listener, the super-duper audiophile, who spends every waking hour worrying about things like low-level hum, and noise floors. They run A/B tests on everything under the sun sonically.

 For me it's a simple proposition with my music listening: I like crisp highs, natural deep bass, and as little distortion as possible.

Obviously if you can hear a direct drive motor underneath the music you're listening to, that's a noise no one could live with, unless you were playing in a club setting under high volume conditions. That underlying noise is a major complaint of many audiophiles who swear by the belt driven turntable to avoid those complications.

The quieter the motor the better the sound. I believe if you are new to the world of vinyl, you probably wouldn't notice the type of sound issue that many of the audiophiles claim with direct drive units, are you going to run A/B tests, I doubt it?

So what do I recommend for a beginner?

Just get a decent name brand whether it's a direct or belt drive turntable and start spinning some vinyl you can upgrade down the road., here are three reviewed belt models that cost a little more than most entry-level turntables, but at least you know you'll get a quality table at the start.

 If you have a little more cash, you might want to check out what type of bargains that are out there for audiophile quality turntables. You may be shocked at the reasonable prices out there on good name brands.

Climate and Turntables?

Some people have even sought out the direct drive players because of unusual weather conditions where they now live.

In drier climates, the South Western United States for instance, their belts were drying out quickly and causing distortion. In the eastern U.S. this seems to not be as big of an issue. Here is some more light reading on the subject.

Video comparison.

 All photos used with permission of Amazon.com.

This is Why You Should Dig the Vinyl Record Crates

Is it worth the effort?

Let's face it, getting down on your hands and knees in a dirty thrift shop to dig through bin after bin of vinyl records isn't the most romantic thing in the world.

 Spending a Sunday afternoon breaking your back might not be your thing. There is a lot of grunt work involved with digging in those stores: Lots of water damaged garbage you have to wade through, a lot of records that should have seen the dumpster instead of the donation box.

 When you find that occasional gem, or that very rare run of consecutive keepers, it can be a thrilling experience, that's why we do it. Actually Goodwill has done a wonderful job in the Dayton Ohio Area remodeling older locations, and opening up newer cookie cutter locations that are very clean, and not nearly as cluttered as they used to be.

 I have also noticed this in Columbus Ohio and Indianapolis Indiana as well, so I will assume this is something that Goodwill focused on at a national level? Though Goodwill and other thrift shops just stack em' up, no real rhyme or reason to how they do it.

At least with the record shops you're dealing with some sort of organization. Though, most record store bargain bins don't exactly alphabetize the selections for you. I have found some really nice surprises in the record shops; and I like, that most time the record will be in good to great playing shape. The shops tend to be much pickier about what they even bring in.

 Thrift stores like Goodwill or the Salvation Army Thrift stores are notorious for putting unplayable junk out on the floor. But don't get me wrong, that's part of the fun of it, the thrill of the hunt. You never know what you're gonna get.


  *Are you looking for a quality affordable record player?*

Here's a more detailed run down of my Goodwill experience

I found a $400 Original Art Blakey Blue Note 4003 LP at a local record shop for $30, just pure luck that the shop didn't care about jazz much and didn't bother to dig into the minutia of Blue Note record label identification.

 This is info that does a seller and collector good, the more you know huh? You'll find Pink Floyd records, Beatles Records, Kiss, and Rolling Stones records, lots of classic rock and easy listening of course, country music is another one I see all the time.

 If I see a 60's or 70's Johnny Cash or Merle Haggard records I grab them, they are sellers. These records will bring you 5-10 dollars easy if they are in good playing shape. The Johnny Cash records like At Folsom Prison can bring 20 dollars or more easily.

 Jazz and progressive rock is harder to come by, I think you just quite simply don't have as many records out there, as pressing runs were so stingy to begin with.

 Jazz and prog lovers tend to hang on to their stuff too, and perhaps are savvy enough to get top dollar out of them rather than give to a thrift store? Most every record cover on this page was found in thrift stores or the bargain bins of record shops in the Cincinnati or Dayton Ohio Area.

You can get a much more detailed run down of all the places I find cheap vinyl records for my eBay business and my personal collection by visiting this page.

It's Not Just the Baby Boomer Reliving the Past

It's definitely not just "old guy" buying vinyl on eBay, or on their knees at the thrift stores. I see teenagers digging through the crates at the local Dayton Ohio shops.

 Half Price Books is another popular destination for record collectors, I see an equal mix of older "over 40" and younger, "16-40" in there. I see mostly men, but some woman too, maybe 4 to 1 male to female would be a good estimate.

 Most of the females I see are very young, perhaps college age? OK, enough about them, huh? I think in a way the record shop or thrift store is like the iPod shuffle brought to real life. Think about it: The iPod really was the greatest invention since sliced bread. I know when I came to understand the storage capacity of the iPod I was blown away.

 The iPod Classic in my opinion is still the best iPod ever made. People's musical tastes have grown too as a result of so much music at your disposal. I personally can listen to Metallica's Ride The Lightning, and then consecutively Johnny Cash's At Folsom Prison, James Brown the Payback, and Miles Davis' In a Silent Way.

 The internet age has definitely expanded people's musical pallets, so it's natural for the frugally minded to hunt for music at the same place they hunt vintage cloths or furniture. Point is you never know what you might find in those record bins.

 I know that the days of the neo conservative music listener are just about over. The mocking of ones listening habits is an outdated thing to do. So many diverse people and musics to discover.... and the records are right there in those crates waiting for YOU to spin them on your new record player.

  All photos are my own

Affordable Options For Vinyl Record Cleaning

You don't need a high-end cleaning machine

If you are a thrift store scrounger like I am, no doubt you realized long ago a good record cleaner and brush is of the utmost importance. Those 2 things really are all you need to keep your vinyl playing properly.

 Honestly, every record needs to be cleaned. Thrift store vinyl, and other finds from yard sales and flea markets can be brought back to life with a good wet cleaning. As long as you are careful to pay attention to deep marks ahead of a buy, you’ll realize that a dusty or soiled record can be easily salvaged for your own collection, or even to re-sell online.

 If you’re new to the hobby, I would not waste my time on mildew smelling items, water damaged, or warped vinyl. These records should have been thrown away instead of donated to the local Goodwill anyway.

 I have found records from labels like Blue Note, Prestige, and Columbia, that at first looked unplayable, but after a good wet cleaning turned out to sound almost noise free.

 Also this bares mentioning: Some times a record can end up being a bad pressing, and no amount of cleaning will make it sound good, It does happen. Also groove wear or “over played” records will not benefit much from cleaning if the grooves themselves have been worn out.

Cleaning new and near mint vinyl

New vinyl also needs to be cleaned, as it is thought to be important to get a thin residue from newly pressed vinyl that might affect overall sound quality.

 Also if you buy reissue or sealed vintage albums, keep them cleaned and dusted regularly with a carbon fiber anti static brush.

You should also place them in a clear plastic LP sleeve, your vinyl will stay in good shape for years to come. As an avid collector of vinyl records myself, I have come to realize that the carbon fiber anti static record cleaning brush, “see above” is without a doubt my most used record cleaning device.

 I use my brush on a daily basis before every LP I play just to touch up the record. The fibers are designed to get down deep into the grooves, and actually attract the dust, so it “jumps out” at the brush. I can’t complain because the fibers do seem to do a good job without causing any scuffs.

Spin Clean Demonstration

This demo below is by far the best of the many demos out there for the Spin Clean.

Vinyl is not exactly convenient

If you portend to be a serious vinyl record collector, you should understand that one of the realities of the hobby is keeping the vinyl surface clean. Some connoisseurs go to extremes cleaning their LP’s, buying heavy-duty vacuum cleaning machines that can cost hundreds and even thousands of dollars, do you have that kind of cash lying around?

 You probably don’t, I know I don’t have the kind of coin to afford a VPI or a Nitty Gritty machine, but there are many options available that won’t completely break your bank, they will do the job that needs done. You will need a carbon fiber anti static record cleaning brush, this brush will dry clean and actually attract dust particles out of the grooves, they will actually jump out at the brush as you gently brush the vinyl’s playing surface.

 I believe at a least you should have the above tools to assure quality playback of your vinyl, you can of course check out the many other options to cleaning vinyl, ranging from cheap to ridiculously expensive.

Sometimes I do get tired of turning the record over after 20 minutes or so, and yeah, every once in a while the dreaded sticking repeat will pop up, and remind you why people went to the cassette and then the CD over vinyl. For me though, it's more about a connection with the past, my past... and vinyl is the only format that makes me feel those closely held emotions.

 I don't mind having to clean those records, even if it does get tedious at times, it's a small price to pay for the reward the hobby brings.

  *Photos used with permission via Amazon.com.*

Are Retro Themed Record Players Worth Buying

Some Useful info for someone shopping for a retro themed turntable

Most people I know when shopping for a turntable, care more about sound than how it looks. I don't think I ever cared whether the colors or style matched a room. All of my turntables were black and pretty neutral anyway.

 There are many affordable record players available for all types of room decor. Everything from 50's and 60's era styles to earlier 19th Century phonograph designs.

 If optimal audiophile sound quality is your main concern, you do need to be realistic about these new vintage looking units. They are not going to give you sound quality on the level of a $500 turntable would... You could try an authentic retro turntable too, but it will cost a mint.

You might be buying cute over sound quality when considering a retro themed turntable

Most of these turntables shouldn't be considered an audiophile's dream. If you are expecting the booming bottom end, and a crystal clear sound stage, you will be sorely mistaken. Brands like Electrohome do offer better sound quality for a reasonable hike in price.

Those still aren't close to being audiophile. Being able to play many forms of media is very cool too: Cassettes, LP's, and 45's, as well as Compact Discs. Many have a jack to plug your mp3 player in and listen to that music too if you want.

Not to mention AM FM radios can also be found built right in for a multiple Crosley is the perfect first record player for a kid or even an adult who only has a passing interest in vinyl.

 You should realize that these units have a basic entry-level stylus, but usually have eye-catching designs that will compliment almost any style of room.

 If you understand you get what you pay when it comes to sound quality I think you could have a use for these very affordable record players, you can check out a big list of them right here. Make sure you consider an extended protection plan which I cover below, those now have more coverage at a better rate than they did years ago.

Maybe an actual "vintage" turntable is what you are looking for?

There are lots of places you can find vintage record players. eBay is probably the best way to find a deal. If you are careful to make sure that the seller is reputable, you can get a great sounding vintage record player.

 Sony, Pioneer, and JVC are name brands that seem to show up the most at reasonable prices.

 One thing to understand though: You probably will need to make a second purchase of a phono amp to give the turntable the boost it needs for quality sound. These new "retro" record players are usually equipped with built-in phono amps. They can also be plugged directly into the auxiliary jack on your receiver.

All in one entertainment units with a turntable

There are many fine record players out there that offer everything. Cassette CD, LP, MP3, and eve AM FM radio if you want.

 If you are a thrift/second-hand store fan and relentlessly dig through those places like I do, you may have a reason to get one of these. Cassettes are usually dirt cheap at place like Goodwill or the Salvation Army thrift store.

LP's might be a little more expensive as some thrift stores. Many are trying to jack up the price to take advantage of the popularity of vinyl now.

 I think .50 cents for a cassette and 1.00 for an LP is reasonable for a vintage item like that.

I have noticed one thrift store here in the Dayton Ohio area raise prices to $2.00 a record, that's a bit out of my range.

 These all in one record players do seem to have decent sound for the most part, some models are better than others, like the Teac LPR550. The Teac is on the high-end of quality and price.

If room decor is a major consideration

While these all in one record players and retro-themed turntables are geared more to the people who are concerned most with the next cool thing, perhaps the decorative nature comes first; many times they can still serve as a very good first record player.

 You can upgrade to an affordable audiophile set up down the road if you want. Yes, audiophiles and seasoned crate-diggers will roll their eyes and scream in your face about plastic parts and ceramic needles.

 As long as you know what you want, and the reason you want it, go for it. There are people out there, they usually hide behind avatars that will scoff at any turntable that you haven't paid a thousand dollars for.

Who cares about them right? Don't be intimidated by those detractors. If the hobby is going to thrive we need to foster positive feelings for it, and have a welcoming attitude.

 I say welcome to the record playing/collecting community, you have to start somewhere. It might as well be with one of these retro themed turntables.

Needles tend to wear out quicker on these cheaper units as well, perhaps buying replacements upfront, which are very cheap is a good idea? If you aren't a heavy user, this is not a major issue.

*Photos used with permission via Amazon.com*

Can You Find an Audiophile Turntable on a Budget

An audiophile turntable is not as expensive as you think

I originally had the mistaken assumption that an audiophile turntable was so far beyond my price, that I didn't even attempt to look into it.

 You could spend thousands of dollars, I probably would if I could afford it. I am more than happy with the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon I have. The difference between the Pioneer I was using and the Pro-Ject was noticeable, but not as wide as you might think.

 The vibrancy of the music, the clarity is what I remember the most looking back at that first few records I played on it. I have friends who told me that they thought the Debut Carbon was nearly as good as a 1,000 dollar system they had.

 You can always upgrade stylus down the road too if you want, the Ortofon that came with mine sounds good to my ears.

The Sony record player was OK

I thought the Sony I had before the Pioneer was pretty good for the money, but once I stepped into the audiophile turntable realm, I experienced the difference.

There is definitely a next level of sound quality, when jumping up to the 300 dollar price range. If you have spent a lot of money on your vinyl record collection, it's probably a good idea to have a decent sounding turntable right?

 The Pro-Ject only cost me $399.00 brand new, the Pioneer was $150.00, so not too expensive. Also if you're new to vinyl,  you will need a phono preamp of some sort for most audiophile turntables, this will be a separate purchase that you will need to make for most audiophile turntables to play through your receivers.

Set up of a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon

Things to consider if you do upgrade

I finally upgraded to what I call an audiophile quality turntable was less than $400, it sounds great to me, but a word of warning to you thrift store scroungers: When you start dealing with the high-end tables, they pick up everything!

Detail that is noticeable when you listen to mint or near mint vinyl, you will quickly realize what you have missed. On the other hand, thrift store vinyl, less than VG+, might be more tolerable on a Sony or Pioneer $100 player because of the less sensitive stylus.

Those records are noisier on my Pro-Ject. I can't imagine what an extreme high-end player's sensitivity would be? I believe if you want to enjoy lesser condition vinyl, and you are super sensitive to surface noise.

 You need to have both an audiophile turntable and a cheap record player. Probably smart not to wear that good needle out on rougher vinyl too. Of course if you have the funds, you wouldn't have to lower yourself to less than near Mint records to begin with. Here is a large list of audiophile turntables you can check out.

A few things to remember:

1. 1. Some of these higher end turntables may not include both a needle and cartridge.
   2. Most likely you will need to buy a separate phono pre-amp.
   3. Surface noise is more pronounced on lesser grade used vintage records, pops and clicks may be too much to take. Anything VG+ or above is OK.

If you're just now making your first audiophile turntable purchase, consider what it is you want, you must ask questions:

Do you really need top dollar audiophile sound quality? well, you will have to pay for that. If you're some one who can't really, or never cared to pay that close attention to the detail in sound, but would like a cheap decent sounding player?

A Sony or Pioneer might be to your liking If you're someone who just has a few records left over from yesteryear, and now you want to play them once in a while, a cheaper more convenient option might be best.

 You will sacrifice sound quality on these all in one, or built-in speaker turntables though. If you buy a 50 dollar turntable with speakers built-in, likely the sound will be sub-par. Personally I would stick to the plug and play Sony or Pioneer tables as an absolute minimum starter option.

Splitting hairs with sound quality on audiophile record players

Personally I can't stand distortion or compressed sound, I like the music to breathe, I want a wide spacious sound stage. Muffled, or muddy sound is the also a problem I find with the cheaper record players.

 This muddy sound is usually heavily noted on the bottom end bass sound. I like the nuances of the vintage music I listen to, I don't mind a bit of static, or some tape hiss. I can live with "some" snap crackle pop during playback of vinyl, there are limits of course, and each person develops their own tastes.

 If you're like me, and just like good bass, and nice clear highs, but don't fine tune every  nuance. I think any Pro-Ject would be perfect for both types of people without going beyond your budget.

 If you would rather have something that's less about sound, and more about the way it looks, perhaps one of these vintage style record players is what you need, they cost a fraction of an audiophile turntable and could be used to test worn vintage vinyl to protect your audiophile unit.

Photos used with permission: Via Amazon.com

Collecting Vintage Blue Note Records

You don't have to be rich to collect Blue Note

I now have amassed a modest collection of 350 Blue Note records, with the majority of them costing me less than $25, the most I have paid was $72, and many I've paid only a few dollars for. Only forty of my 350 are deep groove pressings, the rest are second or third pressings, and about half are 70's reissues.

 Blue note changed its label design completely under the before mentioned Liberty records, to a dark blue label with a black lower case b. These 70's issues are still highly collectible, with very good sound, and the same nice vintage covers.

The black b pressings can be had in the ten to twenty-five dollar price range.

Read on for some helpful info to those just starting out collecting Blue Note records.

What is dead wax?

Dead wax refers to the area of a vinyl record between the grooves and the label, in this area, when you hold the record up to bright light you can see catalog numbers or "matrix" numbers, and many other little tells.

 Why would collectors need this info? Well, to a serious collector, the original first pressings, or as close as you can get to it, is what those collectors strive for. It is a matter of taste of course.

I have run into a few originals with such bad groove wear, that I would rather listen to the CD. If you need to know more about the ins and outs of what's in the dead wax/run off area check out my blog where I compiled many help articles in one place.

Really, better sound with earlier pressings?

I tend to agree with the avid collector, even some of the lesser condition original copies of Blue Notes I  have, display a power and clarity not in later pressings. It is true, there is enough of a difference to really notice it.

 In my instance, the difference between Art Blakey 4003 original and say a NY USA copy was noticeable, but the NY USA copy still sounded quite nice. Admittedly though, you do reach a point where your splitting hairs, and it seems pointless to strive for even better sound.

 I have actually as of 2017 begun to think that perhaps reissue are the way to go, with so much groove wear out there, and the prices going to level where I know I likely will never get my hands on any.

Van Gelder in the Dead Wax

Rudy Van Gelder was the main recording engineer at Blue Note after 1952, and many times his stamp will be in the dead wax, RVG, RVG STEREO, or just VAN GELDER will be in the dead wax.

 Usually the plain hand etched RVG is mostly sought after, indicating this as an earlier pressing, all though any pressing with a Van Gelder stamp is worthy in my opinion.

 Rudy really knew how to record drums, many say that his recording of piano was sub par though. In fact, Herbie Hancock's Maiden Voyage is possibly one of the worst of Van Gelder's masterings piano wise, Herbie's piano sound is way down in the mix, very thin, but normally the Rudy's Piano sound is good enough to my ears.

Ear in the dead wax?

Another thing you will see in the dead wax on an early Blue Note pressings is the EAR, or cursive p. This means the record was stamped by Plastylite, the pressing company Blue Note used prior to the Liberty Records Buy out of 1967.

 This also can show a superior quality record sonically, but of course sound quality is always a matter of preference, and sometimes the gap isn't so wide to call for extreme prices in my opinion.

Don't ignore the late 60's and 70's Liberty pressings

Many collectors ignore anything released after the Liberty buy out, especially the more commercial organ soul jazz. I freely admit I love this music itself more than the vinyl.

 If I had to unload my collection someday, I could live with it, knowing I still have CD's and Digital copies of the music I love.

The hardest thing would be missing those 12 inch covers and that connection of feeling closer to the artists themselves. I have found Dozens of fantastic artists on the cheap, Big John Patton, Brother Jack McDuff, Lou Donaldson, and  Jimmy McGriff, all worthy of enjoyment.

 Also one of my best liberty label discoveries was Tyrone Washington, the mysterious tenor saxophonist who has almost disappeared from jazz, he made one Blue Note in 1967.

  Natural Essence, an album that seems out-of-place on Liberty's Blue Note, a throw back to earlier albums in the decade. A mildly avant-garde session that sounds more in line with what Jackie McLean was doing in the early to mid 60's.

 There are albums by Candido, Grant Green, and Chico Hamilton from the early 70's that are stellar, plus some funk albums from Ronnie Laws and Bobbie Humphrey that I have enjoyed a lot. Michael Cuscuna and Charlie Lourie of Mosaic Records fame put out some fantastic 2 fer reissues in the mid 70's of unreleased music in the blue note vaults, much of this same music has shown up in their award-winning reissue box sets.

 I nearly have all of these double albums, Freddie Hubbard, The Jazz Crusaders, Andrew Hill, Sam Rivers, Thelonious Monk, Art Pepper, Jackie McLean and many more.

 Much of this music was released in single CD form, Lee Morgan's The Procrastinator and Freddie Hubbard's Here to Stay come to mind. These 2 fers have expanded liner notes inside the gate fold covers and can be found for usually 7-15 dollars, an incredible bargain indeed.

The track below "Moanin" written by pianist Bobby Timmons may be the quintessential example of the Vintage Blue Note sound. Moanin' is the lead off track from the self titled Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers Blue Note 4003.

Buying Blue Note Vinyl on eBay

You will see many deep groove original pressings fetching well over a thousand dollars, some near $5,000, these are way beyond my level, so I focus on finding bargains, taking some risks, and understanding, that lesser condition first press Blue Notes are not necessarily bad.

 In fact, many times I have gambled on an LP lot of 5 or more, listed as very good minus with some marks you can feel with a brush of the finger. One thing about these deep groove mono copies, they seem to withstand moderate wear quite well, many of these sound astonishingly good, and almost always play better than they look.

 The other day I found a copy of Freddie Roach's Mo Greens Please, a microgroove with the NY USA address on the label, it had moderate marks and scuffs, and 1 pretty deep mark on side 2, it played well, with only a few ticks.

 Perhaps the heavier vinyl was made so well, that the defects aren't enough to hurt the music laying inside the grooves. This does depend on your surface noise tolerance, if you have zero tolerance, you had better stick to Near Mint or sealed reissues, or pay the hundreds or even thousands of dollars for vintage originals in near mint condition.

 I paid $3.99 for the Roach record, a mint copy would have cost well above a 75 dollars. My point is, if you search, and realize that even a scratched deep groove Blue Note may still play fine, and will sound very good usually.

It is a great way to get the real deal, even if it is lesser in condition. You will need a basic understanding of what features distinguish early and later pressings of course. One of the more frustrating aspects of Blue Note hunting on eBay is: The seller who lists a record with a generic VG, VG+ or EX, with no details what so ever, and just a cover shot, no pictures of the labels.

 You have no idea what pressing it is, and when you ask about it, they have no idea either. So obviously you can't trust the record grading as well. Make sure you educate yourself in-depth on the labels.

 The main point is this, just be careful, ask questions, ask about deep possible sounding marks, did they grade under bright light?

 Ask for more photos, don't be shy about making sure. Sometimes this can work against you, if you give the seller all this info: Very likely he is going to add more photos, then the record you could have gambled on for 15 bucks, shoots up to 200 bucks, that has happened to me.  Now I am a little more careful about asking too many question.

Blue Note Jazz on Vinyl Can't Be Beat

I love the Blue Note sound, I have listened and collecting the music in CD form for nearly 20 years now. Back around 2005, I started thinking about the original vinyl, and how cool that would be having a piece of the past in my possession.

 I was one of those vinyl's better than digital skeptics, not that I had any proof one way or the other, but I sure didn't believe vinyl would sound that much better. Boy was I wrong! Just a good reissue on vinyl won't have that shrill top end many CD reissues have, as I've mentioned, I am not a hard-boiled audiophile, but to my ears I could tell a difference.

 Be careful though, some reissues are only using a digital copy burned to vinyl if you will, meaning your only getting the CD you already have in vinyl form.

Not just hard bop jazz

Undoubtedly the music most identified with Blue Note is the classic 50's and 60's hard bop of Art Blakey, Horace Silver, and others. But that sure isn't the end of the story, many great artists from that era like Jackie McLean, Andrew Hill, and Bobby Hutcherson created some of the best avant-garde music of the era.

Music that is out there, but has just enough of the hard bop/classic jazz flavor to draw in those adverse to atonal free jazz of say Coltrane's later period, or Albert Ayler. Eric Dolphy created his masterpiece Out to Lunch for the label, his only record for Blue Note.

When Liberty purchased the label in the late 60's, the focus of the label changed to a more contemporary jazz approach. Funk grooves, and soul jazz became the norm, with the Hammond B-3 organ becoming the house instrument if you will, dance grooves over chamber jazz for sure.

 Organists like Big John Patton, Brother Jack McDuff, and  Jimmy McGriff made big bucks. Classic artists like Lou Donaldson also did well with a funky commercial style.

What to Know When Buying Your First Turntable

What Do You Want From Your First Record Player?

Since vinyl made its 21st century comeback, many electronics companies have scrambled to take advantage of the market.

 As a result there are so many turntable options out there, it's hard to know what's good and what's not. Below I offer a few simple facts about these record players, that I think the beginner should understand before they make a purchase.

 If you just have a passing interest, and just want to spin the records in the back of the closet again, and don't expect an audiophile experience. This list of affordable turntables will be a big help finding quality on a budget.

The Most Important Thing to Know...

The first rule to remember: The cheaper the price is, the cheaper the sound quality will be. That's not to say there aren't some very good lower priced turntables out there, there are. For a decent audiophile experience, you should expect to pay at least $399.00. For something adequate, and not at all bad, something in the 100 dollar range can be more than acceptable.

 I would stay away from anything under 100 dollars, unless you can find something on the secondary market used. You could really make out like a bandit buying newer stuff used, or vintage stuff frankly dirt cheap.

What's Wrong With the Cheaper Turntables?

The main issue is poor quality needles. Some of the cheaper stuff can have crummy ceramic needles that need to be replaced every few months.

 I wouldn't spin the most worn Herb Alpert records on those record players. Those cheaper needles can damage the vinyl, and reproduce a tinny and even in some cases grainy sound. By the way, I love Herb Alpert, but you sure do see a lot of well used vinyl of his in the thrift store record bins.

Plug and Play For the Easiest No Fuss Start Up?

Most receivers these days have begun to install the phono jacks back into the mix. You can usually use the auxiliary jack on earlier models though if you get a turntable with a phono amp built-in. Unless you don't mind the extra cost of a phono amp on the higher end audiophile turntables, I suggest you strongly consider one with the phono amp built-in.

Here is one I recommend. Personally I would stick with brands like Sony, Pioneer, and Audio Technica for the bargain priced turntables. I would stay away from the Crosley brand, unless you really are not a stickler for the best sound possible for the price.

One Question I get a Lot:

"Do these record players have built-in speakers, do I need a receiver?"

Understand, even if the record player has a built-in phono amp, you will need to plug into a stereo receiver of some kind. As mentioned, most receivers have the ability of receiving your record player either via a phono jack, or the AUX, Tape, DVD, or CD jacks.

 You CAN NOT plug directly into a set of speakers. Though some of the cheaper units do have their own built-in speakers, those are not going to be high fidelity at all. You will need some sort of receiver/stereo system to actually plug the record player into.

Audiophile Sound Quality?

Everything is about personal tastes of course. You need to know what it is exactly you need out of the player. When considering sound quality, there are plenty of reasonably priced turntables out there that are a step up from Sony or Pioneer turntables.

 Please understand though, I personally believe Sony and Pioneer are much better sound wise than you'd think for the price. In fact, the Pioneer Turntable I used as my first table had sound quality nearly as good as the so-called audiophile Pro-Ject Debut turntable I use today.

 If you are a true audiophile, brands like Pro-Ject, U Turn, and Technics offer very good options for less than 400 dollars. I simply can not speak badly about the Sony and Pioneer options that cost hundreds of dollars less. You just need to know what you actually expect from the record player.

 *Photos are from the author*