Category: Music

Left vs. Right Coast Cartoons

For most of the 1930’s, the contrast couldn’t have been greater between the cartoons of the Disney brothers in California, and the Fleischer brothers in New York. While Disney pursued realism, the Fleischer cartoons were unreal.

Something that persisted at both studios was the depiction of cultural and racial stereotypes. To the credit of the Fleischers, they would feature black performers, including Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, and the Mills Brothers.

The Fleischer studio wasn’t the same after Max moved the operation to Florida. That was his first big mistake. His second big mistake was deciding to compete head-on with Disney by producing feature-length cartoons, leading Paramount to call in its loans and take over the business.

Dare to Compare

Compare the sound of speakers, online, while listening to headphones?? HUH?? Audio retailer Crutchfield says yes! You’ll need a pair of headphones that’s in Crutchfield’s database, like the inexpensive Audio-Technica ATH-M20x’s I have.

This setup, created by a couple smart guys with doctorates, is causing quite an online buzz. I’m having a lot of fun playing with it, using WAV files of my own, made over the years. Some music has striking differences between speakers, while other samples sound surprisingly similar.

Love Me Do-lby

In 1982 I bought a British import 12-inch 45 reissue of the Beatles’ first Parlophone single, “Love Me Do.” Side 1 has the take with Andy White on drums. It was mastered from the original tape, and to me it sounds fab and gear.

Side 2 is the take with Ringo on drums, and it was mastered by necessity from a 1962 Parlophone 45. Compared to the first side it sounds like you’re playing it on speakers while wearing headphones that aren’t plugged in. It’s all explained here, in exhaustively delightful detail. Or is it delightfully exhaustive detail?

Barber Shop

I first heard Chris Barber’s recording of Sidney Bechet’s “Petite Fleur” about 40 years ago on a favorite LP of mine, “Roots of British Rock.”

Hugh Laurie, who I know from “Blackadder,” but you may know from “House,” talks about, and with, Chris Barber.

This is a little Paul McCartney ditty…

… that Barber recorded. It’s on another favorite LP.