Audiophile Vinyl

Van Halen
Women And Children First
Mobile Fidelity UD1S 2-034 (two 45rpm One-Step LPs)

Thanks to the most unlikely track on this set from 1980, no more proof is needed that Van Halen’s hard rock albums warrant the lavish One-Step treatment. Their third studio release is classic power rock of the era, with ample vocal posturing from David Lee Roth, room-filling lower registers from Alex Van Halen on drums and Michael Anthony’s bass, and Eddie’s fiery leads. But ‘Could This Be Magic?’ is the band’s stab at Delta Blues, and oh wow, is it an ear-opener! Recorded with just a pair of Neumann microphones, the stereo imaging is breathtaking, while the song is so arresting I played it three times in a row. As for the rest? Some fans rate this as one of Van Halen’s best, and I won’t argue. KK

Sound Quality: 90%

Mississippi John Hurt
Today!
Vanguard/Craft CR00837 (180g vinyl)

In contrast to Van Halen’s take on acoustic blues, this was the real deal, the hugely influential Hurt recorded in 1964 not long after he was ‘rediscovered’. Like 1950s jazz LPs, all-acoustic rural blues LPs of the 1960s have a characteristically warm sound, and this is no exception. Easily one of the most important of back-from-obscurity artists, ace finger-picker Hurt inspired a host of folk and rock musicians, including Bob Dylan and Bonnie Raitt, while The Lovin’ Spoonful took their name from the lyrics of ‘Coffee Blues’ included here. This is gentle, elegiac blues, and it will be doubly appreciated by those who have seen the Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown. KK

Sound Quality: 90%

Rush
Presto/Roll the Bones
Atlantic/Rhino RD1 83736/RD1 83737

Two more from Rush’s mid-period, Presto their 13th studio title and their first for Atlantic, released in 1989, with Roll The Bones the not-too-dissimilar 1991 follow-up. Both have been remastered, though there was nothing wrong with Bob Ludwig’s original efforts, and the sound is, well, epic. Presto was noted for the change of focus from synths to guitar while fans of British prog rock will appreciate that ex-Quantum Jump Rupert Hine produced it. He also produced Roll The Bones, the more commercially successful of the two. Of course, this being Rush, the musicianship is spectacular, especially Peart’s breathtaking percussion and Lee’s bass work. KK

Sound Quality: 90%

Santana
Amigos
Mobile Fidelity MFSL 1-557 (180g vinyl)

Early Santana – the group’s efforts as opposed to Carlos’ solo releases – emphasised the Latin content over rock or jazz, and this, their seventh studio LP from 1976, actually amps it up so much that the appropriately named Amigos could have been released on the Tico label with little change. In addition to the usual extended instrumental segments, the album also featured some fine vocals, resulting in the hit single ‘Let It Shine’ (the LP itself hit No 1 in Italy and Spain). Like Rush, Santana were all about phenomenal musicianship and world-class percussion, so an audiophile LP pressing is welcomed. Then again, has there ever been a bad-sounding Santana LP? KK

Sound Quality: 90%