VALVE Magazine Online!

Editor's Thing
Article By Dan 'Doc B." Schmalle
From VALVE Volume 2 Number 8

  Sitting here writing this in a heat wave. Somehow those pretty fire bottles that keep the basement shop warm in the winter seem like a real liability this 90 degree day. But if this isn't blues weather, I don't know what is. So I pull out Elmore, B. B. and Blind Lemon, and pretend I'm the third Blues brother.

Man, after listening to stuff like Living Stereos and Telarcs, this stuff is funky. Makes your system sound like one of those Rockola's (you know, that was really the guy's name) with the tail fins. I love it. This is listening that has nothing to do with the word 'audiophile'. Yes, the Muddy Waters redo has fabulous so nice (by the way, I found the CD and the vinyl very close in quality) but a reissued 1951 Elmore James has the same stuff a 20 year old Bordeaux has, that real warm, soft velvety kind of presentation, that gives you the intensified essence of the thing rather than the clarity of the original offering. Sort of an aural patina.

So dig out some of your funky stuff this summer and enjoy the way it creates a new sound out of your system. Your ears will enjoy the new surroundings.

Speaking of funky things, don't forget that the big Puget Sound Antique Radio Association swap meet is Sunday August 20th, from 9 to 1 at the Shoreline Museum (one block west of Aurora Ave. on 175th). There is always some great stuff to buy and lots of BS being shoveled I Bring some stuff to sell, we never see enough vintage gear out there. And wear your track shoes if you want to get to the good deals first, as Eric and Rick are pretty speedy!

Don't let the blue smoke out,

   -- Dan 'Doc B' Schmalle