The Next Track

As winter closes in, and the holiday season approaches, we discuss the strange ritual of listening to Christmas music for just one month a year. There’s got to be a German word for this. It’s that feeling, that first second, when you heard Jingle Bells in the middle of summer. Show notes: Episode #58 – David Weigel on the History of Progressive Rock Trio Mediaeval: Folk Songs Bruce Springsteen: Santa Claus is Coming to Town Do They Know It’s Christmas We Are the World Bob Dylan: Christmas in the Heart Bob Dylan: Must Be Santa (video) The Jethro Tull Christmas Album Apple Music Christmas Playlist Die Hard It’s a Wonderful Life A Charlie Brown Christmas Vince Guaraldi Trio: A Charlie Brown Christmas I Wish it Could Be Christmas (article) The Kinks: Father Christmas Nat King Cole: The Christmas Song Emerson, Lake & Palmer: I Believe in Father Christmas Mannheim Steamroller: Christmas Ghosts of Christmas Past Roomful of Blues: Roomful of Christmas Our next tracks: Kirk: Colin Currie Group: Steve Reich music live in Paris (videos) Doug: The Rolling Stones: On Air If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.

We bring back our regular guest Andy Doe to discuss some of the technical terms we read about with audio equipment: Ω and dB, also known as ohms and decibels. This week’s guest: Andy Doe Proper Discord Show notes: Ohm (Wikipedia) Resistor color code chart Episode #73 – Kirk Wants to Buy an Amplifier Decibel (Wikipedia) Comparative Examples Of Noise Levels dB SPL dBFS (Wikipedia) Episode #35 – Musician and Developer Peter Chilvers on Brian Eno’s Album and App Reflection Our next tracks: Kirk: Brian Eno: Another Green World Doug: Dixie Dregs: What If If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.Special Guest: Andy Doe.

We welcome Laura Kuhn, executive director of the John Cage Trust, to discuss the life and legacy of composer John Cage. “I am most interested in music that doesn’t say anything.” John Cage, 1991 This week’s guest: Laura Kuhn, executive director of the John Cage Trust Show notes: The Selected Letters of John Cage John Cage Unbound: A Living Archive (New York Public Library) Episode #69 – Brian Brandt of Mode Records on John Cage, Morton Feldman, and the Music Business Diary: How To Improve The World (You Will Only Make Matters Worse) (1991) John Cage / Morton Feldman: Radio Happenings I – V John Cage & Morton Feldman Radio Happenings (book and DVD) John Cage performing Water Walk on I’ve Got a Secret (1960): John Cale on I’ve Got a Secret (1963): Mesostics Begin Again: A Biography of John Cage 4’33” (Wikipedia) No Such Thing as Silence: John Cage’s 4’33” The Curious Score for John Cage’s “Silent” Zen Composition 4’33” 4’33” score Freeman Etudes (Books One & Two), Freeman Etudes (Books Three & Four) Number Pieces (Wikipedia) Ryoanji Drawings Recommended pieces; Apple Music links: String Quartet in Four Parts, Lasalle Quartet Sonatas & Interludes for Prepared Piano (first recording by Maro Ajemian) 74 Third Construction Cheap Imitation Ryoanji Our next tracks: Kirk: ECM playlist Doug: Ben Waters: Boogie 4 Stu – A Tribute to Ian Stewart If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.Special Guest: Laura Kuhn.

Doug and Kirk look at how 1977 was a watershed year for popular music. Show notes: ECM Records Now Available on Apple Music Eagles: Hotel California Billy Joel: The Stranger Sex Pistols: Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols The Clash: The Clash (UK version) The Clash: Give ’em Enough Rope The Clash: The Clash (US version) Four Manchester bands we owe to the Sex Pistols’ Lesser Free Trade Hall gig 40 years ago Elvis Costello: My Aim is True Elvis Costello: Less Than Zero > Radio, Radio on Saturday Night Live Saturday Night Fever Episode #76 – Mirror Balls and Polyester: Looking Back at Disco Music Grateful Dead Movie The Hobbit Abba: The Movie Episode #59 – 1967 and the Summer of Love 100K+ Descend Upon Central New Jersey For Grateful Dead Show On This Date In 1977 Photos from Englishtown 1977 Grateful Dead: Dick’s Picks Vol. 15, Raceway Park, Englishtown, NJ, 9/3/77 Beach Boys Turn Central Park Into California Dreamin’ (New York Times) Sha Na Na Aerosmith: Walk This Way Run-DMC: Walk This Way Fleetwood Mac: Rumours Meatloaf: Bat out of Hell 40 Years Ago: Bruce Springsteen Settles 10-Month Lawsuit with Manager Mike Appel Talking Heads: Talking Heads: 77 Television: Marquee Moon Marquee Moon (Wikipedia) The 1977 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll Okay, I’m not going to link to every album in the Chritsgau list… “Heroes” (Wikipedia) Laserium Our next tracks: Kirk: Tangerine Dream: Encore Doug: Eric Clapton: Slowhand If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.

Conductor Alexander Joel talks about the profession of conductor for operas and orchestras. This week’s guest: Alexander Joel Repertoire Show notes: Alexander Joel’s Wagner Ring cycle, Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden Alexander Joel on Operabase ARTE TV story about Alexander Joel (in German) Video of Alexander Joel conducting Verdi’s La Traviata Conductor killed by conducting staff: The ironic death of Jean-Baptiste Lully Our next tracks: Kirk: Tuxedomoon: Desire Doug: Mountain: Climbing If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.Special Guest: Alexander Joel.

Doug and Kirk discuss Apple Music, how it’s changed the way they listen to music, and how to get the most out of the service. Show notes: Chris Breen Bach: French Suites, by Murray Perahia Our next tracks: Kirk: Cage / Lutoslawski: String Quartets, Lasalle Quartet Doug: Greta Van Fleet: Black Smoke Rising If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.

Doug and Kirk were teenagers when disco hit. They didn’t care for it then, but has their opinion change after 40 years? Is it time to reevaluate disco music? Show notes: Chic: Good Times (12″ version) The Joy of Disco – BBC Documentary Marvin Gaye: What’s Going On Saturday Night Fever New York City blackout, July 13, 1977 Son of Sam Jumping the shark Why ‘Disco sucks!’ sucked Disco Demolition Night Saturday Night Fever soundtrack Readers’ Poll: The Best Disco Songs of All Time Apple Music: Essential Disco Hits Our next tracks: Kirk: Lounge Lizards: The Lounge Lizards Doug: Frank Zappa: Halloween 77 If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.

Doug and Kirk discuss their favorite music documentaries. Show notes: Synth Britannia (YouTube) Synth Britannia (BBC) Rock Family Trees (BBC) Episode #58 – David Weigel on the History of Progressive Rock Rock Family Trees (book) Sinatra: All or Nothing at All Long Strange Trip History of the Eagles No Direction Home: Bob Dylan Bob Dylan: No Direction Home, The Bootleg Series Vol. 7 The Wrecking Crew Gimme Shelter Sam Cutler: You Can’t Always Get What You Want: My Life with the Rolling Stones, the Grateful Dead and Other Wonderful Reprobates Bach: A Passionate Life Thelonious Monk: Straight, No Chaser The Beatles: Eight Days a Week – The Touring Years BBC Four How the Brits Rocked America: Go West Our next tracks: Kirk: Bruce Springsteen: March 19, 1996 – Belfast, UK Doug: Rolling Stones: Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out! If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.

We welcome Jeffrey Norman, who has been mixing, mastering, and restoring Grateful Dead recordings for more than 35 years. This week’s guest: Jeffrey Norman: Mockingbird Mastering Jeffrey Norman’s project list Show notes: Mid-side (MS) recording technique Owsley Stanley (Bear) What’s Become of the Bettys? The Fate of the Long-Lost Grateful Dead Soundboards Episode #67 – The Grateful Dead’s Legendary 5/8/77 Cornell Concert, with Author Peter Conners Plangent Process The Grateful Dead’s Europe ’72 box set Long Strange Trip Kirk’s Next Track pick of the Doc & Merle Watson release – Episode #70 – Movies about Music, Part 1: Fiction Owsley Stanley Foundation Grateful Dead – Cornell 5/8/77 Grateful Dead – Sunshine Daydream Veneta, OR, 8/27/72 Grateful Dead – Closing of Winterland, 12/31/78 Correction to Kirk’s next track selection. The New Riders of the Purple Sage came on after the Grateful Dead’s first acoustic set. Our next tracks: Kirk: Dick’s Picks Vol. 8 – Harpur College, Binghamton, NY, May 2, 1970 Doug: Hound Dog Taylor and the Houserockers If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.Special Guest: Jeffrey Norman.

Andy Doe helps Kirk and Doug understand “make louder boxes.” This week’s guest: Andy Doe Proper Discord “You are experiencing audio ennui.” Show notes: Yamaha R-N301 network receiver Recommended Components: Fall 2017 Edition Integrated Amps & Receivers Richer Sounds Grado headphones Episode #71 – Hi-Fi Separates, Part 1: Network Streamers Bentley Continental One note about the musical Girl From the North Country. Between the recording and release of this podcast, the show will transfer to the Noel Coward Theatre in London for 12 weeks, from December 29. See it if you can. Our next tracks: Kirk: Girl from the North Country, Original Cast Recording Doug: Dr. John: The ATCO Albums Collection If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.Special Guest: Andy Doe.

Doug and Kirk take a close look at changes Apple has made to iTunes in its latest version, 12.7. Sponsor: Rogue Ameoba’s Audio Hijack. If you can hear it on your Mac, you can record it with Audio Hijack. Download the free trial from Rogue Amoeba, then save 20% with coupon code NEXTTRACK. Check out Audio Hijack now. Show notes: This Is Where iTunes Is Bloated What’s New in iTunes 12.7 Here’s Why Removing Apps from iTunes Is Stupid How to Copy Apps, Ringtones, and Files to Your iOS Devices with iTunes 12.7 Script to Add or Edit a Playlist Description How to Share Your Listening History in Apple Music Doug Adams’ Apple Music profile Kirk McElhearn’s Apple Music profile Krystian Zimerman: Schubert Piano Sonatas John Foxx & The Maths: The Machine Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: Ghost Star How to Use Apple Music’s Personal DJ Feature to Create You Own Personal Radio Station Super Remove Dead Tracks Track Down Purchases Music Folder Files Not Added Find Empty iTunes Media Folders Apps By Apple ID Our next tracks: Kirk: James Blood Ulmer: Odyssey Doug: Sticky Fingers: Like a Rolling Stone If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.

Chris Connaker joins us to talk about hi-fi separates. Today, we discuss the network streamer. How does it work? Do you need one? This week’s guest: Chris Connaker, of the Computer Audiophile website Show notes: Yamaha R-N301 network receiver Episode #32 – Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about DACs (Digital-Analog Converters) Auralic Aries Mini Chris’s review of the Auralic Aries Mini Bosch, on Amazon Prime Video Manchester Rock (Apple Music playlist) Our next tracks: Kirk: Art Pepper: The Complete Maiden Voyage Concerts (Apple Music) Doug: Electronic: Electronic If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.Special Guest: Chris Connaker.

Doug and Kirk chat about their favorite movies about music, and some that they don’t like. This is the first of three parts; the other parts will be released in the next couple of months. Show notes: Almost Famous (The Bootleg Cut) The Almost Famous Stairway to Heaven scene Almost Famous: the Tiny Dancer scene 24 Hour Party People Control High Fidelity Still Crazy Amadeus (I said I saw the play Monday; that was a mistake, I saw it last January.) A Late Quartet Episode #20 – You Think You Know about the Blues? Eliah Wald on the History of the Blues Inside Llewyn Davis Bird Round Midnight Mo’ Better Blues Miles Ahead Lady Sings the Blues A Hard Day’ Night Our next tracks: Kirk: Bear’s Sonic Journals: Never the Same Way Once (Apple Music), CDs from the Owsley Stanley Foundation Doug: David Johansen: Live It Up If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.

We talk with Brian Brandt of Mode Records about releasing recordings of avant garde music, and the difficulties of the music business. Apologies for the audio quality of this episode. We had endless Skype issues for this interview. This week’s guest: Mode Records Show notes: John Cage Edition Morton Feldman Edition Morton Feldman: String Quartet No. 2 Episode #66 – Minimalist Pianist R. Andrew Lee Episode #48 – Musician Dave Harrington of DARKSIDE and the Dave Harrington Group on Music Between Genres Our next tracks: Kirk: LCD Soundsystem: American Dream Doug: The Knack: Get The Knack If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.Special Guest: Brian Brandt.

Andy Doe joins us to discuss hi-fi snake oil. In part one of a two-part series, we look at cables. This week’s guest: Andy Doe Proper Discord Show notes: A Gift for Music Lovers Who Have It All: A Personal Utility Pole UL Listed Hospital Grade Receptacles How Hi-Fi Magazines Write about Cables, Part 14: Ethernet Cables Ethernet Our next tracks: Kirk: Iron & Wine: Beast Epic Doug: Big Audio Dynamite: No. 10, Upping Street If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.Special Guest: Andy Doe.