Getz/Gilberto

     My Pioneer PL-10 turntable now has a new belt but no counterweight. Luckily I was able to purchase a backup turntable at the local thrift store for $2.50. I have a copy of Getz/Gilberto's Girl from Ipanema on CD and now a copy of the same track on vinyl LP. A comparison of the two through the same receiver and speakers reveals the superior listening pleasure of vinyl. The tones are flattened on the CD despite the bolstered bass tones, while the vinyl reveals the sound of the room, the naked voices of the artists, and the mastery of the musicians of their respective instruments. You can almost feel Stan's breath travel from his lungs through the saxophone, and into the microphone. I am by no means an audiophile but this re-discovery of the romance of vinyl has been very pleasant and has slowed me down a bit to allow a more thoughtful enjoyment of the music I thought I knew.

Collecting Vinyl

     My vinyl collection has begun, though I have yet to find a proper turntable. None the less, I found it fun to photograph what I've collected so far, enjoying the LPs as objects. Here is one of the albums acquired, Blues Brothers - Briefcase Full of Blues.

Front Cover

     I love the details in the photograph on the front cover, the catch-light in Elwood's (Dan Aykroyd) eye behind his shades, and the smoke rising from Jake's (John Belushi) cigarette and curling past his tie and lapel.

Front Cover Detail

Back Cover

Side One Label

Side Two Label

     With any luck the collecting of vinyl records will keep my blog posts more frequent, records being cheap and plentiful enough to purchase regularly, providing subjects for more photographs.