What are you listening to at the moment?

I just bought a new amplifier since my old one faded out recently. Even though I mostly listen to iTunes downloads which are not the highest fidelity, I'm happy to report improved sound quality out of my old B&W speakers. It's as if my old recordings are new to me.

While I haven't watched this video, I love Lizz Wright and this song sounds so much better on my stereo today than it has.

 
As a retired OAP (= Old Age Pensioner), I try to make the best possible use of the bounty kindly provided for us by The Universe. So a lot of free online resources have come and are still coming my way.

Many (okay, a few) may not be aware that Spotify now has a free version. I use it daily for all sorts of music. Currently playing old Doris Day love songs from th 1950s. Also a lot of often difficult to source jazz and much excellent classical, some of it amazingly not available on CDs.

For old movies and educational sites, YouTube is my second favorite. A mostly 'visual' site, I know, with far too many crackpot posts about aliens walking our streets and nut job political ideas, but also mountains of good music there also, hence it rates a mention.

My home stereo is a TDK I bought new in 2006. Still plays beautifully and is a super good looker, almost German in its styling. Which it may be.

Charity shops in Australia are selling mountains of CDs from older donors who are downsizing or moving to assisted who are downsizing or moving into assisted care, sadly for them. Prices from $1. Last week I lucked into six Miles Davis CDs, original 1980s pressings so likely 30+ years old, hardly played, cases unscratched so lovingly cared for, at 50 cents each. Good value for half a buck apiece. So win-win. Also DVDs, many music performances as a fair few jazz festival concerts, even Newport, have made it to DVDs. Good one!

When my time comes and I get toodled off to a home for the aged, my CD and DVD collection to go to our local 'op shops' will need a truck.
 
I'm not fully awake quite yet so I'm listening to nothing but my fingers tapping computer keys. But yesterday was a real treat for me because I discovered a whole batch of CDs I don't remember buying or hearing. Like DownUnder alludes to above, I need to join the crowd getting rid of a mountain of CDs but it's kinda thrilling to find some treasures in that mountain.

Yesterday was a piano day. Found a wonderful recording on the Hyperian label by Marc-Andr Hamelin of Alkan's "Concerto for Solo Piano".
 
Good one, Dogman. I like the buzz of buying a good CD for 50 cents at one op shop and then donating it to another to be sold for $3. It's a win for the shop and a good feeling for me, so also a win. Hence a win-win.

In a way it's sad to be acquiring nice things from people who've bought them for their full price (so I assume) and have enjoyed them, even loved them, but then had to part with them. But it happens to us all in real life, and it's good to be able to pass on things while one is still able to. I've had several friends who left it all too late and when they were no longer with us, their executors had a devil of a time trying to sort out the tangled messes of their estates. They had let things go and not made any sensible preparations for the inevitable journey across the universe...

My goal in later life, when I ultimately reach the 80 year mark in a few more years - with a little good luck I hope to extend my time by a few more years from then, but we will see - is to be living a pleasant minimalist life with only cherished objects around me, CDs, DVDs, books, music and a few of my favorite cameras and lenses. Saying farewell to my darkroom will be no great loss to me, I've been laboring with films and papers in the dark since 1961 so it's time to say goodbye to all that. Admittedly my partner has other ideas about what will happen to my possessions, and to keep the peace at home I defer to those, so for the time being it's all a sort of cherished fantasy on my part. And life's good and all's well.

Keeping all this on topic, tonight's music (YouTube) is piano recitals from the 1950s by Vladimir Horowitz. Every now and then I revisit Artur Rubinstein, I saw him in live performances in eastern Canada in the '60s when he was still touring the world, for a high school student with a part-time job as a reporter-photographer for a local daily paper an evening of Rubinstein at the piano was a unique event. A few years later I also had the pleasure (and privilege) of hearing Sviatoslav Richter in a live recital in Montreal, another cherished moment. His recordings are also on YouTube and I play them often.

Such a blessing is ours, to be given all these great solo artists and orchestral works on YouTube.
 
Last edited:




Just focus on the guitar players--Bill Frissell and Albert Collins. Great playing. The concept? I dunno I like it but....

"... and he's got an icepick in his neck, so I'll be checking out."
 
The Exciting Sounds of Martin Denny, Exotica Volume II, Island of Dreams

It's the ultimate in transistorized Stereophonic Hi-Fidelity Sound!

Mike
 
Dogman said:

Just focus on the guitar players--Bill Frissell and Albert Collins. Great playing. The concept? I dunno I like it but....
"... and he's got an icepick in his neck, so I'll be checking out."
Click to expand...


Dogman, once I started listening it was hard to stop. What a great recommendation!

Mike
 
Yokosuka_Mike said:
Dogman, once I started listening it was hard to stop. What a great recommendation!

Mike
Click to expand...

I started reading Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer books when I was in high school so the title of this got my attention immediately. I have heard of this piece of music for years but only recently did a download from iTunes and heard all the compositions. And then found it on YT. I love it. My tastes are weird, I know. But the guitars are so great on their own and Zorn's sax just gives the whole thing an eerie quality.

Glad you liked it, Mike.
 
Yakushimaru Hiroko 薬師丸 ひろ子 was scheduled to be on this year's 'NHK Red White Song Contest' on Dec 31, 2023 at 7pm,

performing her iconic song 'Sailor Suit and Machine Gun'; originally titled 'Into a Dream',

This is the song she is going to sing on this New Years Eve, i love the song, the arrangement here was full and fresh,

in 2019, Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo

Yakushimaru Hiroko
'Sailor Suit and Machine Gun'; aka '夢之 途中'
 
I came across this song quite by accident...not the biggest Neil Young fan but I do like this one and this version is very nice...


 
Last edited:
X-Japan probably was the most popular rock band in the '90 in Japan, since then two of the original six members has died...

'Endless Rain' was their 'kanban' 看版 song, the song was written by Yoshiki (on piano), sung by Toshi...

if you like 'Gun N Roses's 'November Rain'...

excellent performance as all,

Endless Rain
 
Yoshiki of X-Japan performs in Carnegie Hall 2020 (?)

'Endless Rain', song written by Yoshiki


very good sound quality with my Aiyima tube amp and Elac speakers (German)
 
the song was written by Pu Shu for the movie; 'Path of the Soul' ( 2016 dir by Zhang Yang 張揚 ); a Docu-drama about 11 Tibetans walking 1,200 km/ 750 miles ( they spend a year ) to Lhasa to worship their god...

really great movie, great photography ( the movie was put off for two years (reason; no commercial vale) before commercially released in China, and briefly in US)

Pu Shu 'No Fear in my Heart' for 'Path of the Soul' ( 岡仁波齊 )... great song
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom