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Album Reviews
The Late, Great Les McCann’s Never a Dull Moment! – Live From Coast to Coast 1966-1967 180g 3LP RSD Collection Is One Sweet Soul-Jazz Swan Song
Mark Smotroff  |  Jan 12, 2024

Les McCann — the noted pianist/singer/composer who passed away at age 88 on December 29, 2023, just before the new year arrived — enjoyed a long, celebrated career that began in the late 1950s and continued well into the 21st century. We celebrate his legacy by taking a look at Never a Dull Moment! – Live From Coast to Coast 1966-1967, a 180g 3LP set released on Record Store Day back in November comprised of many dynamic, galvanizing live tracks culled from of-era performances in Seattle and New York City. Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see why Never a Dull Moment truly lives up to its name. . .

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AAA VinylNews
Craft Recordings and Acoustic Sounds Announce the Next 12 AAA 180g LP Titles in Their Contemporary Records Acoustic Sounds Series That Will Be Released Throughout 2024, Commencing February 23
Mike Mettler  |  Jan 11, 2024

Craft Recordings and Acoustic Sounds have just announced the latest entries in their rightly acclaimed Contemporary Records Acoustic Sounds series. An even-dozen AAA 180g 1LP titles will be released all throughout 2024, starting on February 23. Read on to see which titles will be in this rightfully acclaimed AAA LP reissue series, and when they’re coming. . .

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Analog Gear News
Music Hall MMF-9.3 SE Turntable
Mike Mettler  |  Jan 10, 2024

While CES 2024 rolls on, we wanted to take some time to tip our collective analog hat to Music Hall — the brainchild of noted product designer Roy Hall — a company that has been making sweet music, er, sweet gear for us all since 1998. Back in December 2023, the company announced a change in ownership — a new venture named Turntable USA, who plan to uphold Music Hall’s reputation for making high-quality products. Read on to see how we honor the company’s 25-year-plus legacy and what’s to come with our look at what Music Hall’s penultimate MMF-9.3 SE turntable has to offer right here, right now. . .

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Analog Gear News
Transparent Turntable
Mike Mettler  |  Jan 09, 2024

As CES 2024 continues ever onward, we wanted to take a moment to highlight quite the cool turntable that perfectly reflects the M.O. and core identity of the company that makes it. Meet the Transparent Turntable from the same-named Swedish company initially known for making (you guessed it) Transparent Speakers. Read on to see all the specs and features for the duly and quite accurately labeled Transparent Turntable. . .

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Analog Gear News
Seen at CES 2024: Victrola Stream Sapphire Turntable
Mike Mettler  |  Jan 08, 2024

The press day for CES 2024 is officially underway, and one of the first analog-centric product announcements comes from Victrola, who are officially unveiling their new Stream Sapphire turntable. Read on to see all the specs are features for the storied company’s latest vintage-styled and streaming-capable model, and when it will be available. . .

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Album Reviews
Hot House: The Complete Jazz at Massey Hall Recordings Receives Ultimate 70th Anniversary 180g 3LP Restoration of Complete 1953 Performance by The Quintet in Toronto, Including the Original Tapes Without Charles Mingus’ Bass Overdubs
Mark Smotroff  |  Jan 05, 2024

The May 15, 1953 performance at Massey Hall in Toronto by The Quintet, five of the most important mid-century change agents who transformed jazz music as we know it today — Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Charles Mingus, Bud Powell, and Max Roach — is incredible on so many levels. Celebrating that historic concert’s 70th anniversary, Craft Recordings have issued a 180g 3LP package called Hot House: The Complete Jazz at Massey Hall Recordings, and it may well be the final word on this iconic moment in music history when five titans of jazz performed on the same stage together for the first and only time. Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see why the expanded Hot House belongs in your collection and on your turntable. . .

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Analog Gear News
Groovetracer Subplatters
Mike Mettler  |  Jan 04, 2024

Happy 2024, everyone! We here at AnalogPlanet central hope you all had a great holiday season, and are ready to tackle a new year ahead that is sure to be met with many great gear and LP options for us all to peruse, review, discuss, and share together. In the meantime, I want to look into something that was mentioned briefly in passing in a story we posted back in December — Groovetracer subplatters. Read on to see more about Groovetracer’s way-cool subplatter options, as well as their other accessories of interest. . .

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FeaturesThe Gruvy Awards
The Gruvy Awards: AnalogPlanet Selects the Best Reviewed Products of 2023
Mike Mettler  |  Jan 03, 2024

The Gruvy Awards are back yet again! An annual event, The Gruvys are given to the best products AnalogPlanet reviewed in the most recent calendar year. This time around, the Gruvys honor the gear we tested in 2023 and subsequently found to possess a combination of high build quality, exceptional sonics, and in the case of less expensive gear, provide great value for the money. Read on to see what products made the 2023 AP Gruvy Awards cut. . .

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AAA VinylAlbum ReviewsFeaturesShort Cuts
AnalogPlanet’s Top LPs of 2023
Mike Mettler,  |  Dec 30, 2023

Looks like another year has gone by with a seemingly endless release-cycle parade consisting of scores of brand-new LPs from both known artists and untested newcomers alike, along with a myriad of archival vinyl reissues and overstuffed box sets galore — a good number of them presented in the much-preferred AAA form to boot. With the calendar set to turn over to 2024 any day now, that means it’s high time to assess the best of what we’ve heard on wax during the past 12 months. Read on to see AP editor Mike Mettler and chief LP reviewer Mark Smotroff’s respective lists of the top archival and new LP releases of 2023. . .

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AAA VinylAlbum Reviews
The White Stripes’ Heavy-Hitting 2003 Album Elephant Delivers Hard-Rock Power and Unbridled Glory in Its New, Mightily Impressive AAA 200g 2LP 45rpm UHQR Analogue Productions Edition
Mark Smotroff  |  Dec 28, 2023

The inherent quality of Jack White’s songwriting and production skills ultimately elevated The White Stripes’ much-celebrated April 2003 LP Elephant to the next level — and Analogue Productions’ new AAA 200g 45rpm 2LP version takes it even higher. Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see why Elephant sets yet another benchmark in the ever-expanding UHQR series. . .

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