Audiophile Vinyl

Norman Greenbaum
Spirit In The Sky
Craft CR00893 (180g vinyl)

At last, one of the most neglected albums of the 1960s gets the treatment it deserves. Everyone knows the title track, which has been oft-covered but it’s the original heard here like never before which merits kudos as one of the greatest rock songs ever. From the entry of the fuzzy bass guitar to the lush backing vocals, it’s as close to perfect as any global No 1 single ever to grace the airwaves. With AAA lacquers remastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, it sounds better than you’d ever imagine. The great news is that the rest of the LP is superb tail-end-of-the-1960s material worthy of any A-list singer-songwriter. Hippiesque in excelsis? Yes, but it’s so musical and, indeed, superb-sounding. KK

Sound Quality: 90%

The Doobie Brothers
Walk This Road
Rhino R1 727362 (140g vinyl)

Gracefully regrouping every few years – this is their 16th studio album and the first since Liberté (2021) – The Doobies have maintained the qualities which have made them firm faves in the genre now called ‘yacht rock’ for Boomers. Although it seems a backhanded compliment, it stands for quality writing, superb musicianship and, here, excellent sound. For long-term fans worried about hearing aged performers and too many changes in personnel, rest easy: the line-up includes stalwarts Tom Johnston, John McFee, Patrick Simmons and, crucially for a certain segment of their fan base, Michael McDonald. Like Little Feat’s recent return, it’s a delight. KK

Sound Quality: 90%

New York Dolls
New York Dolls
Mobile Fidelity MFSL 2-580 (two 45rpm discs; 180g vinyl)

Now this is a surprise: though produced by Todd Rundgren, the band’s eponymous 1973 debut was never an intrinsically ‘fine sounding’ album. Instead, it’s said to have captured their live energy and true rock ’n’ roll spirit. But MoFi’s treatment reveals greater depths to what just might be the most important precursor in the development of punk – a US invention whatever Sex Pistols and The Damned devotees say. Among the revelations? The Dolls played with real finesse, and the songs – especially ‘Jet Boy’ and ‘Personality Crisis’ – show skills beyond mere attitude. Fifty years on, it’s no longer a shocker, but it remains an undeniable rock milestone. KK

Sound Quality: 85%

Chalino Sanchez
Nieves De Enero
Craft CR00783 (140g vinyl)

Perhaps the most tragic tale from the world of Latino music, Sanchez’s possibly cartel-related murder in 1992 remains to be solved. But in his short span – 1960 to ’92 – Sanchez, aka the ‘Godfather of the Corrido’, who released only cassettes in his lifetime, left us with around 20 albums. This, therefore, is the first time Nieves De Enero has been issued on vinyl, and it’s a raw ear-opener mainly for purists rather than easily accessible material for newcomers. A Top 20 entry on Billboard’s Regional Mexican Albums chart, this contains the love ballad title track, along with some of his best-loved ‘corridos’, all as earthy and as authentic as it gets. KK

Sound Quality: 80%