Category: Music

MoFi Records claimed its expensive reissues were purely analog reproductions. It had been deceiving its customer base for years.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/music/2022/08/05/mofi-records-analog-digital-scandal

All of my purchases from Music Direct, the parent company of MoFi, have been excellent. The one time I required customer service it was also excellent. But false advertising is bad, and I assume there will be repercussions.

The deception regarding MoFi’s “all analog” releases aside, this is a non-issue for me. I have assumed for years that new vinyl releases are cut from digital masters. Why wouldn’t they be?

MoFi has been using DSD source material, which is as good as it gets digitally. Assuming it isn’t something that was simply scaled up to meet the specifications of the format, because the original analog master tape was lost in the infamous Universal Studios fire. If there’s a scandal to be found in music mastering, that’s where to look.

Record Swap

The “problem” with lossless digital audio sources is also their strength — there is precious little difference between players in the way they sound. You press or click Play and that’s it. Playing records is, well, more fun!

One of the things that makes records so attractive, beyond their physical appeal, is that changes in the turntable, tonearm, cartridge, and pre-amp can have significant audible differences. As with speakers and headphones, finding the sonic characteristics of a turntable setup that best suit your taste is a big part of the enjoyment.

So while I’m not pleased that MoFi’s customers were deceived, I don’t see the company’s use of digital masters as invalidating their commitment to quality. Perhaps today I’ll play my 1979 all-analog LP of Mobile Fidelity’s Original Master Recording of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon.

https://www.discogs.com/release/416621-Pink-Floyd-The-Dark-Side-Of-The-Moon

Driving home from getting my teeth cleaned, I played “The Best of the Five Americans” CD. “I See the Light”, released New Year’s Day ’66, hit me as if I was hearing it for the first time. What a perfect Garage Band sound!

The Five Americans are best known for their #5 hit “Western Union”, released more than a year later. It’s likewise very creative in its construction and production. Music Mike has the single cued up.

Western Union ended its telegram service, but how to update the song’s lyrics? E-mail? Not anymore. Texting? Nope. She’d simply ghost him!

Speaking of advancing technology, cassette decks are long gone from cars, and I should be prepared for my next car not having a CD player. I’ve read there’s even been talk among auto makers that Bluetooth may become the only radio receiver they will offer. No AM or FM, no CD, no Aux jack? Just Bluetooth, for use with Android Auto and Apple Car Play.

The SiriusXM app on my phone, played in the car over Bluetooth, is better than the car’s built-in XM receiver. The app can be set to maximum sound quality, and it doesn’t suffer from reception drop-outs when going under bridges or driving along wooded areas. I’m going to assume that SiriusXM has already decided they won’t go to the trouble and expense of replacing their satellites.

This is the complete Five Americans collection, compliments of Bob Irwin at Sundazed Records. Bob and Gina are on Big Planet Noise tonight at 9 ET. See my Links selection section.