I just received my latest vinyl fix from Acoustic Sounds (and in case you are wondering, these aren't freebie samples, I buy them at full retail price just like you do).
My order for this paycheck was Mobile Fidelity's 45RPM version of Rickie Lee Jones' first album, Rickie Lee Jones; Mobile Fidelity's 45RPM version of Miles Davis' Kind Of Blue; and Capitol's re-release of Frank Sinatra's holiday classic, A Jolly Christmas From Frank Sinatra.
Rickie Lee Jones on 45RPM by Mobile Fidelity
I always worry a little bit when I order a Mo-Fi release, as they seem to favor an audiophile 'special effects' balance over sheer musicality at times, but with Rickie Lee Jones they've struck a reasonably nice balance between the two extremes to give good sound quality along with pleasing musicality, although I think it would have even been better with a little bit richer & warmer balance.
The original Rickie Lee Jones album released in March of 1979 by Warner Bros has long been one of my favorite jazz-tinged pop albums, and I've had a crush on Rickie Lee ever since I first heard it! I love this album!
If you haven't yet heard Rickie Lee's first album yet, I'd say the Mo-Fi version of Rickie Lee Jones would be a great way to go, and I'm really enjoying hearing it again as I write this post.
Kind of Blue at 45RPM by Mobile Fidelity
Miles Davis' Kind of Blue is one of those gifts from the heavens dropped on humankind. There's a bit of controversy surrounding Mo-Fi's chosen balance (no surprise there) on this 45RPM version of Kind of Blue, as discussed in Michael Fremer's excellent review, so I was curious to hear what Mo-Fi had done with/to one of the greatest jazz albums of all time.
Overall I think the Mo-Fi version is pretty good, but then the music is so good that it's hard not to like Kind of Blue in whatever version you are listening to it on. It's a typical Mo-Fi balance, and it's not quite as rich & warm as I'd like it to be, although it sounds damn fine in its own right. I doubt there'd be many who would be disappointed in Mo-Fi's 45RPM version of Kind of Blue overall, and I am glad I bought it. I think you would be too.
A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra
A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra was first released by Capitol in 1957, and I've been listening to it and enjoying it all my life (I mean that quite literally, I was born in 1957 ten days before Christmas). It's a wonderful holiday album and always brings back a lot of great memories of Christmas with Mom & Dad & Bobby when I listen to it. My original version is a bit worn, with that familiar 'fire-side' noise from years of playing.
It's Frank Sinatra's voice, it's jazzy, it's classic holiday songs, and it's a must have for the holidays if you don't have a copy. The sound is fantastic, better even than the Mo-Fi's with due to its dimensional, warm, and rich balance (Mo-Fi are you listening?). This is how albums should sound! I'm going to have to start investigating the rest of these Sinatra albums ...
Cheers!
It's time to mix up a hot toddy with a little Jack Daniels, put on A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra, and get into a happy holiday mood!
From my home to yours, may the music playing bring joy into your life.
Thanks for stopping by!
