I want to start this thread for members to list good sounding tapes that they've acquired that lie outside of the jazz and classical genres. Anyone who's been collecting tapes for any time will know that the sound on these range from very good to downright dismal. This is a real shame IMHO. Even though my music collection is heavily jazz and classical, there are plenty of rock albums that I'd love to have on tape and have deep personal significance.
I can recall a moment when the importance of some of these songs really struck home for me. It was 1979 and I was at the movies, popcorn in hand, and the film Apocalypse Now started. It probably took 2 notes on the guitar before I knew that the opening song was "The End" by the Doors. Goose bump time! That opening song, in that context, had such deep meaning to me that I could write a book about it. I think that many of us have had these moments. Songs that are like the title of a chapter in our lives.
One thing that I've found with these tapes is that some of the slower speed (3 3/4 ips) can be pretty nice. Not great, but they can still display that rich, textured midrange that tape is so good at. Of course at this speed the frequency extension and tape hiss will never be as good as if it had been made at 7 1/2 ips, but when the music is engaging, you don't really hear that after the first couple of beats. But, if the tape you're listing is at that speed, be sure to list it.
I'll start this out with a few of mine.
Jimi Hendrix Experience- Are You Experienced
This tape is pretty worn on side one. With Purple Haze, Manic Depression, and Hey Joe being cuts 1,2 and 3 that's not too surprising. But really, it should be. It's not like a record which only comes in contact with the stylus on the side you're playing. The tape is moving across the 1/4 track head which spans the entire tape width so this tape may have been played on a machine whose heads were worn to the point that the gaps were opening up and damaging just those tracks. That one for the tape detectives. All I know is that side two is fair-good sounding. I need to get my hands on some original vinyl of this but if memory serves me, this seems like a different mix from the one I'm used to. That could totally be my imagination though. So, if you can find a copy of this one that hasn't been trashed and thrashed, it's well worth it. Be advised that it is one of those fine Bell and Howell products and I haven't got a clue as far as the tape that it's recorded on (the back says American tape) as far as problems this tape is prone to.
Reprise RST 6261-C
Joan Baez/5
This is an early acetate that I got still sealed. It's on Vanguard/Stereolab and while from time to time, her voice is causing some hardness during peaks somewhere in the production line, the sound goes from good to very good. The recording was obviously done with minimalist mic techniques. Maybe even a single stereo mic as you can hear her move in and out and around the pattern. This was the in thing to do during live performances with folk singers at the time but sometimes this can get a little annoying on headphones. A good sounding tape with lots of charm and emotion.
I find that Vanguard tapes in general are very well made and stand the test of time well. Produced by Ampex on acetate (at least the copy I have).
Vanguard Stereolab VTC 1696
The Blues Project-A Compendium of the Very Best on the Urban Blues Scene 3 3/4 ips
This is not a recording of the band "The Blues Project" but does include songs by the guitarist Danny Kalb who played in that band and latter with Eric Burden and the Animals ( the album "Projections" by the band Blues Project is excellent BTW with my favorite version of " You Can't Catch Me" on it). This tape is similar to the Baez one in that it is also recorded in a minimalist way and produced on Ampex acetate. It is surprisingly good sounding for a slow speed tape but since most of the songs are just one or two guitars and a single vocalist, it doesn't exactly require much headroom and the frequency band is pretty limited. There is one cut with a washboard bass (I think) that's a little out of focus and off to the side but the eight different performers on the 16 cuts have all got that raw energy thing going. If Americana is your thing, I think you and Harry Smith will love it.
Electra Records EKX 7264
Well, you'll notice that I wouldn't grade the sound on any of these to be excellent or demo quality, but all the same, they do get plenty of listening time at my house.
