Audiophile Vinyl

Patrick Leonard
It All Comes Down To Mood
Ruudy 6 Recordings (n/a cat. no.; two discs, 180g vinyl)

This stunner features immaculate pressings with lacquers cut at Bernie Grundman’s by Chris Bellman, while the mastering was one of the last tasks to be undertaken by the legendary Bob Ludwig before retiring in 2023. The sound quality? Casino Royale level. But the music… Songwriter Leonard’s stylistic smorgasbord will remind you he’s composed for Madonna, collaborated with Leonard Cohen and worked with so many A-listers that the group of musicians on this labour-of-love include Wendy Melvoin (of Prince and Wendy & Lisa fame), Martin Barre (late of Jethro Tull) and more. I was reminded of Billy Joel, Joni, Elton… yes, captivating, melodic songs of that calibre. Just buy this – now. KK

Sound Quality: 95%

Howard McGhee
Maggie’s Back In Town!!
Craft Recordings CR00710 (180g vinyl)

With a title that six decades later could trigger Labour supporters, this stunning 1961 release has trumpeter McGhee backed by Shelly Manne on drums, Phineas Newborn Jr on piano and Leroy Vinnegar on bass. All share the spotlight as well as the cover, this bebop gem a late entry for a genre which had started to fade by the mid- to late-1950s. With Vinnegar’s sublime walking bass lines and Manne’s superlative drumming supporting trumpet and piano, the resultant session yielded superb renderings even of chestnuts like ‘Summertime’ and ‘Willow Weep For Me’. As expected, the sound is superb. ‘Maggie’, of course, was McGhee’s nickname. KK

Sound Quality: 90%

Santana
Abraxas
Mobile Fidelity MFSV 1-539 (180g vinyl)

Mobile Fidelity has taken pity on those who missed out on its limited edition One-Steps by issuing 33rpm single-LP alternatives. This is at least the second time MoFi has released Santana’s second album, from 1970, and for my money the group’s finest. The genius cover of Peter Green/Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Black Magic Woman’ segued with Gábor Szabó’s ‘Gypsy Queen’ and the sublime reading of Tito Puente’s ‘Oye Cómo Va’ were enough to earn it five stars by any measure. This is Latin-rock at its best. Also available is Carlos Santana’s first non-Santana project, 1973’s instrumental duet with Mahavishnu John McLaughlin Love Devotion Surrender [MFSL 1-536]. KK

Sound Quality: 90%

Truth
Truth
Sundazed Music LP5668

Not to be confused with Jeff Beck’s solo debut of the same name, this incredible find is a long-lost album from a trio with links to Motown and the fabled ‘Wrecking Crew’ session musicians. The music is all original save for a cool cover of Joe South’s ‘Walk A Mile In My Shoes’, but the sound is purely late-’60s West Coast – not surprising as it was recorded in Los Angeles in 1970. Truth actually seems a bit dated even by the standards of that year: its slightly anachronistic, sitar-y sounds recall the circa-1966/7 proto-psychedelia of Peanut Butter Conspiracy, pre-Grace Slick Jefferson Airplane and Spanky & Our Gang, all with female vocalists. But still delightful. KK

Sound Quality: 85%