Copper


Where I Am, Part 2

Where I Am, Part 2

Picking up the story from Issue 87: a lot of water has gone by the bridge in the meantime. But someone in the forum asked for prayers, which motivated me to...

Where I Am, Part 2

AND OTHER ILLNESSESAUDIOIssue 95MUSIC

Picking up the story from Issue 87: a lot of water has gone by the bridge in the meantime. But someone in the forum asked for prayers, which motivated me to...

Four Hits, One Miss

Four Hits, One Miss

Iggy Pop – Free I have a fairly esteemed level of admiration for Iggy Pop; his work with the Stooges helped make him a punk icon. And working with Bowie over the...

Four Hits, One Miss

Issue 95TO BE DETERMINED

Iggy Pop – Free I have a fairly esteemed level of admiration for Iggy Pop; his work with the Stooges helped make him a punk icon. And working with Bowie over the...

The Adventures of Jeff Beck: Second Movement

December 1965 found the Yardbirds recording an album in America at the studios of Chess and Sun. For these blokes from Britain that must’ve been cool as hell. Beck was about to...

The Adventures of Jeff Beck: Second Movement

Issue 95MUSIC TO MY EARS

December 1965 found the Yardbirds recording an album in America at the studios of Chess and Sun. For these blokes from Britain that must’ve been cool as hell. Beck was about to...

Screws, Machine Tools, and the Invention of Sound Recording

Screws, Machine Tools, and the Invention of Sou...

How are the ancient Egyptians, Archimedes, Leonardo Da Vinci, and Henry Maudslay related to sound recording? There are inventions that make us wonder how anyone could have come up with...

Screws, Machine Tools, and the Invention of Sou...

Issue 95REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE

How are the ancient Egyptians, Archimedes, Leonardo Da Vinci, and Henry Maudslay related to sound recording? There are inventions that make us wonder how anyone could have come up with...

Miles Davis: Eight Great Tracks

Miles Davis: Eight Great Tracks

Here’s something you don’t hear every day: Miles Davis has a new album! Yes, the great trumpeter has been dead since 1991, but his record Rubberband was just released this September. And...

Miles Davis: Eight Great Tracks

Issue 95TRADING EIGHTS

Here’s something you don’t hear every day: Miles Davis has a new album! Yes, the great trumpeter has been dead since 1991, but his record Rubberband was just released this September. And...

Ear Candy

Ear Candy

Of the four strictly definable parameters of any musical sound—pitch, duration, loudness, and timbre—the last of these, also called color, may be hardest to define or describe. Think about it: a tone...

Ear Candy

Issue 95TOO MUCH TCHAIKOVSKY

Of the four strictly definable parameters of any musical sound—pitch, duration, loudness, and timbre—the last of these, also called color, may be hardest to define or describe. Think about it: a tone...

Getting to the Bottom of Things

I recently had the opportunity to spend an afternoon listening to records with a reviewer. In addition to an absolutely ridiculous record collection, he had an extraordinarily-resolving system. If I...

Getting to the Bottom of Things

Issue 95THE AUDIO CYNIC

I recently had the opportunity to spend an afternoon listening to records with a reviewer. In addition to an absolutely ridiculous record collection, he had an extraordinarily-resolving system. If I...

Leon Russell

One of his best-known songs was named after a science fiction novel. He sang while wearing a top hat and shades, and he sported a long, scraggly beard. His sound...

Leon Russell

Issue 95OFF THE CHARTS

One of his best-known songs was named after a science fiction novel. He sang while wearing a top hat and shades, and he sported a long, scraggly beard. His sound...

Second Verse, (Sorta) Same As the First

Second Verse, (Sorta) Same As the First

As senior year approached, I started sending out audition tapes to stations much larger than any which would have me—but my visits to WFIL had set my sights way too...

Second Verse, (Sorta) Same As the First

Issue 95TRUE-LIFE RADIO TALES

As senior year approached, I started sending out audition tapes to stations much larger than any which would have me—but my visits to WFIL had set my sights way too...

Cuba

Cuba

The colorful buildings in the narrow streets of Old Havana beckoned us. The ever-present music drew us into the courtyard. Hypnotized we sat down and let the sounds wash over...

Cuba

Issue 95MUSIC'AL NOTES

The colorful buildings in the narrow streets of Old Havana beckoned us. The ever-present music drew us into the courtyard. Hypnotized we sat down and let the sounds wash over...

Milky Way, Patagonia Mountains

Milky Way, Patagonia Mountains

Milky Way, Patagonia Mountains

Issue 94PARTING SHOT

Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad

I’ve just started working with an independent jazz distributor from NYC, Jim Eigo with Jazz Promo Services. I’m highlighting several of his recent and upcoming releases in this issue; there are...

Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad

Issue 94TO BE DETERMINED

I’ve just started working with an independent jazz distributor from NYC, Jim Eigo with Jazz Promo Services. I’m highlighting several of his recent and upcoming releases in this issue; there are...

Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2019

Things change. That’s inevitable, and occasionally, it is for the better. This year the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest moved from its familiar setting in the Denver Marriott Tech Center to the massive Gaylord...

Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2019

Issue 94FEATURED

Things change. That’s inevitable, and occasionally, it is for the better. This year the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest moved from its familiar setting in the Denver Marriott Tech Center to the massive Gaylord...

The Adventures of Jeff Beck: First Movement

Geoffrey Arnold Beck was a war baby, a term exclusively used for kids born during WWII, I think because of the sheer trauma of the times. He grew up in...

The Adventures of Jeff Beck: First Movement

Issue 94MUSIC TO MY EARS

Geoffrey Arnold Beck was a war baby, a term exclusively used for kids born during WWII, I think because of the sheer trauma of the times. He grew up in...

How Records are Made, Part 3: Quality Control

How Records are Made, Part 3: Quality Control

The telephone rings. “We have a few pallets for you, can we deliver tomorrow morning?” The next morning, an 18-ton truck with a hydraulic tail lift arrives. It is July...

How Records are Made, Part 3: Quality Control

Issue 94REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE

The telephone rings. “We have a few pallets for you, can we deliver tomorrow morning?” The next morning, an 18-ton truck with a hydraulic tail lift arrives. It is July...

Siouxsie and the Banshees

There once was a time before “goth” was a meaningful word to describe black-clad young people who viewed the world with deep irony and high curmudgeon. Singer Siouxsie Sioux (born...

Siouxsie and the Banshees

Issue 94OFF THE CHARTS

There once was a time before “goth” was a meaningful word to describe black-clad young people who viewed the world with deep irony and high curmudgeon. Singer Siouxsie Sioux (born...

The Bass That Phil Lesh Gave Me

The Bass That Phil Lesh Gave Me

In one’s early life as a musician, one tends to look for signs along the way that you’ve chosen the right path. For me, there were a couple early indicators...

The Bass That Phil Lesh Gave Me

AND OTHER ILLNESSESAUDIOIssue 94MUSIC

In one’s early life as a musician, one tends to look for signs along the way that you’ve chosen the right path. For me, there were a couple early indicators...

Copycats

Copycats

Today we’re talking about musical imitation and modeling. Also ripoffs, quotations, homages, sampling. Apologies to those who’ve read my previous rants on these topics; I realize I’m going back to...

Copycats

Issue 94TOO MUCH TCHAIKOVSKY

Today we’re talking about musical imitation and modeling. Also ripoffs, quotations, homages, sampling. Apologies to those who’ve read my previous rants on these topics; I realize I’m going back to...

In the Air Tonight

In the Air Tonight

Welcome to Copper #94! As this issue goes live, I'll have just returned from a quick trip to NY and back----so sorry, no analysis of the Phil Collins song. I'll leave that...

In the Air Tonight

Issue 94Opening Salvo

Welcome to Copper #94! As this issue goes live, I'll have just returned from a quick trip to NY and back----so sorry, no analysis of the Phil Collins song. I'll leave that...

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Ancestry

A while back, I started messing about researching into my ancestry. I can’t say I was particularly drawn to the subject, but my daughter Lorna subscribed to ancestry.co.uk and wanted me to...

Ancestry

Issue 94QUIBBLES AND BITS

A while back, I started messing about researching into my ancestry. I can’t say I was particularly drawn to the subject, but my daughter Lorna subscribed to ancestry.co.uk and wanted me to...

Drive, He Said Part 3

Part 1 of this series in Copper #92 covered idler-drive turntables; part 2 in issue #93 examined belt-drive tables. In this installment, we’ll look at direct drive turntables…and yes, they did exist before the Technics SP-10 was...

Drive, He Said Part 3

Issue 94VINTAGE WHINE

Part 1 of this series in Copper #92 covered idler-drive turntables; part 2 in issue #93 examined belt-drive tables. In this installment, we’ll look at direct drive turntables…and yes, they did exist before the Technics SP-10 was...

That One, Right There

That One, Right There

That One, Right There

Issue 94RODRIGUES

Inevitability

  I recently had an interesting conversation with a Very Famous Audio Engineer. I asked about his background, how he grew up, and the factors that made him choose his...

Inevitability

Issue 94THE AUDIO CYNIC

  I recently had an interesting conversation with a Very Famous Audio Engineer. I asked about his background, how he grew up, and the factors that made him choose his...

Dating

Leslie. “I’m breaking up with you. I have never been so humiliated in my life.” For a brief while I dated a woman with the wonderful name of Leslie Goldinger....

Dating

Issue 94MUSIC'AL NOTES

Leslie. “I’m breaking up with you. I have never been so humiliated in my life.” For a brief while I dated a woman with the wonderful name of Leslie Goldinger....

Haydn Symphonies

Haydn Symphonies

Talk about classical canon: conductors and record companies never seem to tire of the Haydn Symphonies. Not that I object—there’s plenty of material to delve into. Haydn wrote 104 of...

Haydn Symphonies

Issue 94SOMETHING OLD / SOMETHING NEW

Talk about classical canon: conductors and record companies never seem to tire of the Haydn Symphonies. Not that I object—there’s plenty of material to delve into. Haydn wrote 104 of...

In The Beginning

In The Beginning

Believe it or not, several people have encouraged me to write about my time in radio. Who cares about radio? Not even me, anymore. But I sure did then. As...

In The Beginning

Issue 94TRUE-LIFE RADIO TALES

Believe it or not, several people have encouraged me to write about my time in radio. Who cares about radio? Not even me, anymore. But I sure did then. As...

It's Showtime!

It's Showtime!

Welcome to Copper #93! By the time you read this, the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest will have come and gone. We'll have a feature on the show in our next issue. Leading off, Larry Schenbeck schools...

It's Showtime!

Issue 43Opening Salvo

Welcome to Copper #93! By the time you read this, the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest will have come and gone. We'll have a feature on the show in our next issue. Leading off, Larry Schenbeck schools...

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Yellowstone River

Yellowstone River

Yellowstone River

Issue 93Parting Shot

Batting .800

Rodney Crowell – Texas I grew up in the red clay hills of rural North Georgia; country music is in my blood, even though it probably represents a fraction of a percentage...

Batting .800

Issue 93TO BE DETERMINED

Rodney Crowell – Texas I grew up in the red clay hills of rural North Georgia; country music is in my blood, even though it probably represents a fraction of a percentage...

Emily Remler: Eight Great Tracks

When Emily Remler was a kid in Englewood Cliffs, NJ, she tried out her brother’s Gibson guitar and loved it. Soon she could figure out 1960s rock songs by ear...

Emily Remler: Eight Great Tracks

Issue 93TRADING EIGHTS

When Emily Remler was a kid in Englewood Cliffs, NJ, she tried out her brother’s Gibson guitar and loved it. Soon she could figure out 1960s rock songs by ear...

NRBQ

In 1966 two kids who were not being watched carefully started a garage band in their hometown of Shively, KY. Terry Adams played keys and sang, brother Donn played horns...

NRBQ

Issue 93MUSIC TO MY EARS

In 1966 two kids who were not being watched carefully started a garage band in their hometown of Shively, KY. Terry Adams played keys and sang, brother Donn played horns...

How Records are Made, Part 2: Plating and Pressing

How Records are Made, Part 2: Plating and Pressing

The disk mastering stage, discussed in detail in the previous issue, was the last stage permitting intentional changes to the sound of the final product, for aesthetic or technical reasons. While...

How Records are Made, Part 2: Plating and Pressing

Issue 93REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE

The disk mastering stage, discussed in detail in the previous issue, was the last stage permitting intentional changes to the sound of the final product, for aesthetic or technical reasons. While...

The Killers

Until the Killers came on the scene, the phrase “Las Vegas music” tended to conjure up images of late-career crooners in casino supper clubs. But in 2001, when singer and...

The Killers

Issue 93OFF THE CHARTS

Until the Killers came on the scene, the phrase “Las Vegas music” tended to conjure up images of late-career crooners in casino supper clubs. But in 2001, when singer and...

Muggings

It was the jostling that alerted me. I looked down and saw a hand removing money from my pocket. This was almost identical to an incident that had happened to...

Muggings

Issue 93MUSIC'AL NOTES

It was the jostling that alerted me. I looked down and saw a hand removing money from my pocket. This was almost identical to an incident that had happened to...

From Wallkill to Bethel

From Wallkill to Bethel

When last we met, I put forth my guess as to one of two reasons Woodstock, despite being the largest music and art festival ever, was also the most peaceful. The...

From Wallkill to Bethel

Issue 93MUSIC AUDIO AND OTHER ILLNESSES

When last we met, I put forth my guess as to one of two reasons Woodstock, despite being the largest music and art festival ever, was also the most peaceful. The...

Standard Time

It may seem like I seldom devote space here to repertoire favorites, e.g., Top Twenty World’s Greatest Concertos. Why is that? Well, some people are heavily invested in the Top...

Standard Time

Issue 93TOO MUCH TCHAIKOVSKY

It may seem like I seldom devote space here to repertoire favorites, e.g., Top Twenty World’s Greatest Concertos. Why is that? Well, some people are heavily invested in the Top...

Drive, He Said Part 2

In Part 1, Copper #92, we looked at idler-wheel turntable mechanisms. In this article, we’ll look at belt-drive turntables. The original Edison phonographs—cylinder players, not disc players—were belt-driven. Oddly, the first belt-drive turntable...

Drive, He Said Part 2

Issue 93VINTAGE WHINE

In Part 1, Copper #92, we looked at idler-wheel turntable mechanisms. In this article, we’ll look at belt-drive turntables. The original Edison phonographs—cylinder players, not disc players—were belt-driven. Oddly, the first belt-drive turntable...

A Turntable of my Own, Part 4

A Turntable of my Own, Part 4

Copper #90 , #91, and #92---Ed.> You are looking at the main aluminum plate that will support the entire table. It is resting on the aluminum plate that was previously...

A Turntable of my Own, Part 4

Issue 93IN MY ROOM

Copper #90 , #91, and #92---Ed.> You are looking at the main aluminum plate that will support the entire table. It is resting on the aluminum plate that was previously...

Douglas DC6, Tucson

Douglas DC6, Tucson

Douglas DC6, Tucson

Issue 92PARTING SHOT

Papa’s Got a Real Mixed Bag

Rickie Lee Jones – Kicks I have loved Rickie Lee Jones from day one; though the truth be known, early on probably more for the fact that she was the hot blond...

Papa’s Got a Real Mixed Bag

Issue 92TO BE DETERMINED

Rickie Lee Jones – Kicks I have loved Rickie Lee Jones from day one; though the truth be known, early on probably more for the fact that she was the hot blond...

Clara Wieck Schumann

Clara Wieck Schumann

September 13, 2019, marks the 200th birthday of pianist and composer Clara Wieck Schumann. The bicentennial year has already seen a number of recordings of her works, both on their own...

Clara Wieck Schumann

Issue 92SOMETHING OLD / SOMETHING NEW

September 13, 2019, marks the 200th birthday of pianist and composer Clara Wieck Schumann. The bicentennial year has already seen a number of recordings of her works, both on their own...

A Visit to a Linkwitz Open House

A Visit to a Linkwitz Open House

As the second day of the 2019 California Audio Show was taking place, a smaller, more intimate demonstration of the reproduction of recorded music was unfolding across the Bay in...

A Visit to a Linkwitz Open House

Issue 92FEATURED

As the second day of the 2019 California Audio Show was taking place, a smaller, more intimate demonstration of the reproduction of recorded music was unfolding across the Bay in...

The Wildweeds

“I’m listening to WDRC BIG D in Hartford!” In 1967 WDRC, a Hartford pop station (What’s Doing Round Conn.) 1360 on your AM dial, was running a promotional radio contest. Every hour the...

The Wildweeds

Issue 92MUSIC TO MY EARS

“I’m listening to WDRC BIG D in Hartford!” In 1967 WDRC, a Hartford pop station (What’s Doing Round Conn.) 1360 on your AM dial, was running a promotional radio contest. Every hour the...

Journey

Journey didn’t start out as a stadium band roaring out power ballads. It germinated in the progressive rock scene, an outgrowth of the bands Santana and Frumious Bandersnatch. The new group,...

Journey

Issue 92OFF THE CHARTS

Journey didn’t start out as a stadium band roaring out power ballads. It germinated in the progressive rock scene, an outgrowth of the bands Santana and Frumious Bandersnatch. The new group,...

Drive, He Said Part 1

Vintage Whine has previously looked at the micro-mechanics of record playback in the 9-part series, 50 Ways to Read a Record, which appeared in Copper issues #65-74 (and sorry, I’m not linking to all nine...

Drive, He Said Part 1

Issue 92VINTAGE WHINE

Vintage Whine has previously looked at the micro-mechanics of record playback in the 9-part series, 50 Ways to Read a Record, which appeared in Copper issues #65-74 (and sorry, I’m not linking to all nine...

The Sound Of Music

The entirety of the field of Philosophy arises from two fundamental questions – the Adam and Eve of Philosophy if you like. Adam asks “What is real?”, while Eve asks...

The Sound Of Music

Issue 92QUIBBLES AND BITS

The entirety of the field of Philosophy arises from two fundamental questions – the Adam and Eve of Philosophy if you like. Adam asks “What is real?”, while Eve asks...

Back to Basics

Back to Basics

I had a minor-league epiphany, courtesy of Waylon Jennings and my seven-month-old granddaughter. I sang in choirs and choruses for many years, floating between baritone and bass depending upon the...

Back to Basics

Issue 92THE AUDIO CYNIC

I had a minor-league epiphany, courtesy of Waylon Jennings and my seven-month-old granddaughter. I sang in choirs and choruses for many years, floating between baritone and bass depending upon the...

What Made Woodstock So Different?

What Made Woodstock So Different?

In several years of so very many noteworthy 50th anniversaries, two stand out: the July 20th, 1969 landing of humans on the Moon, and the Woodstock music festival. I admit, what made it...

What Made Woodstock So Different?

Issue 92MUSIC AUDIO AND OTHER ILLNESSES

In several years of so very many noteworthy 50th anniversaries, two stand out: the July 20th, 1969 landing of humans on the Moon, and the Woodstock music festival. I admit, what made it...

“Who the hell is Allan Pettersson?”

Not my words. Just the title of a 1974 TV interview with Pettersson (1911–80). The simple answer? Pettersson was the most significant Swedish symphonic composer of the late 20th century....

“Who the hell is Allan Pettersson?”

Issue 92TOO MUCH TCHAIKOVSKY

Not my words. Just the title of a 1974 TV interview with Pettersson (1911–80). The simple answer? Pettersson was the most significant Swedish symphonic composer of the late 20th century....

See You in September

See You in September

Welcome to Copper #92! With the last gasp of summer comes the start of school years, Labor Day outings and gatherings...and with any luck you won't be haunted by the...

See You in September

Issue 92Opening Salvo

Welcome to Copper #92! With the last gasp of summer comes the start of school years, Labor Day outings and gatherings...and with any luck you won't be haunted by the...

Read more