Clapton, Eric - Self-Titled - Hot Stamper (Quiet Vinyl)

Clapton, Eric - Self-Titled - Hot Stamper (Quiet Vinyl)This is not your usual Clapton album, and thats a good thing because most Clapton albums are full of filler. Not so here almost every song is good, and many are superb. This vintage Polydor pressing has the kind of Tubey Magical Midrange that modern records can barely BEGIN to reproduce. Folks, that sound is gone and it sure isn't showing signs of coming back. If you love hearing INTO a recording, actually being able to "see" the performers, and

The strings are rich and full

both the sound and the music here are wonderful

a second version of the Goldberg Variations by Glenn Gould was recorded in this studio

Tuba -- Ya Gotta Love It

It still holds up today

And most of the time those very special pressings are just plain more involving

Athena was a godawful audiophile label that lasted all of five records

The complexity of the instrumentation required more multi-tracking and overdubbing

Act III of the William Tell is played with breathtaking orchestral vigor and skill

Transparency Is Key

We will investigate further of course

The behind-the-scenes discussion of these artists and their recordings was a thrill for someone like me who has been playing and enjoying the hell out of most of his albums for more than forty years