Learn More About Your Music, Your Stereo & Speaker Building. To Make The Best Of Your Listening Experience

Gentle reader,

A NOTE ON THIS PHOTO: While it looks like these books are leaning outward at each end, they are not. The camera I used has the "35mm film equivalent" of a 25mm wide angle lens. Thus the bowed out effect.I first saw it in a self-timer photo I took of the family seated on our couch and the taller ones standing behind it. The wooden arms which are at a 90 degrees angle to the back and bottom of the couch appear to be curving outward. One of the drawbacks of wide angle lenses.

Long, long before the Internet was even the spark in the scientists eyes that came up with it, people learned everything they needed to know through written media. On paper in real books. When we were kids, if our parents didn't know the answer, they'd pull out the encyclopaedia and we'd look it up. If we wanted more than that, off to the library we went.
My parents were early adopters of home computers. This despite the incredible cost to buy such novelties. In my case, I didn't even have a computer until the late 1990s, and it was one my new wife had when we married. We didn't hook up to the Internet right away either. At first it was dial-up, used a noisy modem and the house's telephone line and connected at 28.8Mhz a second. The point I'm making is there is SO much information out there that one can learn from with no "device" nor electricity involved whatsoever.

What I am talking about is books, of course. My wife and I have quite an extensive library and have probably donated five times what we have now over the years. We love books. We both grew up in homes with books and music and both love reading and listening. To music and audio books. The best audio books are performed, not merely read to you. Many, many a long trip or commute was shortened by being transported by a talented author and reader. One quickly forgets that it is one person doing all those different voices.

I personally have read thousands of books and have learned a tremendous amount of information and journeyed to faraway places and had great adventures all without leaving the comfort of my favorite chair. And stereo system.

So, I decided to share the small library of books I have related to one of my passions which is enjoying music that sound's as realistic as my budget allows. The photo above is short one book, it being the newest which I'd placed upon the to-be-read shelf. So, I'll start with that one.

The cover is a little wrinkled due to an overzealous Post Office worker's determination to shove the package into my P.O. box. I'd read about this book in a magazine, TIME I believe it was. Oh, yes, a real, hold-it-in-your-hands and turn the actual paper pages magazine. 

By David Sax, it came out in 2016, so I'm not sure why it was just written about....But I digress, the author starts the front flap with this, "A funny thing happened on the way to the digital utopia. We've begun to fall back in love with the very analog goods and ideas the tech gurus insisted that we no longer needed. Businesses that once looked outdated, from film photography to brick-and-mortar retail, are now springing up with new life. Notebooks, records and stationary have become cool again. Behold the Revenge of Analog."

Hmm, looks like it's time for me to start reading this one. If you've read my blog, you know I collected cameras. I shot hundreds of rolls of film and the excitement and anticipation upon picking up the packet of photos was palpable as I opened the envelope and started looking through them. I never stopped using analog things: LP records, cassette tapes, tape measures, binoculars, hand tools (verses powered tools) and I have a real honest-to-goodness dictionary on my bedside table to look up new words.And, I have four rolls of film in the freezer.

As stated above, we grew up in music filled homes and our parents read to us and we have read to our kids and grandkids. In the case of my family, dad was a Presbyterian Minister and mom, being the dutiful preacher's wife sang in the choir and we kids were all involved in various church groups and activities. As a child, mom played the trumpet, which I attempted to do too, but not very well. Dad played the guitar at home and we all liked to sing along. Sound's decidedly Last Millennium, now that I think about it. But, it was what the TV shows at the time showed Real American Families were supposed to do. Could a TV show come out today and be accepted and successful that was called, Father knows best? Well, there was one then and a whole lot of other "wholesome" family shows.

On that note, we had THREE TV stations: ABC, CBS and NBC. Oh, there might have been some VHS stations too, depending upon where we lived. The worst time was every four years when all that was on were the presidential conventions. That was on ALL THREE STATIONS! The only time cartoons were on was Saturday morning. Can you imagine, no Cartoon Network? No streaming? No Internet? That was life. We knew of no other.

So, other forms of entertainment for kids were reading, coloring, building model cars, riding our bikes, going for a hike, visiting the library or playing outside. My parents even let us dig a hole in the back yard! But I digress. 

There were two mainline magazines devoted to HiFi and stereo as I grew up: Stereo Review and AUDIO. I subscribed to the former for years. It was folded together with a home theater magazine several years ago and I stopped taking it. The Absolute Sound and Stereophile while they too existed, my local sources for magazines must not have carried them. I subscribe to both nowadays, but mostly skim them since so much of what they cover is too expensive for me and a lot of what they review is written about like a wine review. 

Obviously, since this is the 32nd annual directory, and it's from 1989, AUDIO had been at it for a while. I have looked for others of these from time to time, but never found any. This hardbound book is, the magazine's annual edition, and filled with shiny full color ads. Most equipment had joined the "dark side" as a very large percentage of what is seen in this guide is black, with the occasional silver or perhaps golden faces seen. It came with a sheet of tabs which I duly attached to the appropriate pages. The guide covers all the equipment the magazine reviewed in the last 12 months. Great fun to thumb through. I had ADCOM equipment when I got this and they cover many of what I had and so much more from 1989.

This is a very thick volume and frankly, most is over my head. 820 pages, and it delves into such topics as: Sound waves, microphones, studio and control room acoustics, principals of digital audio, digital and analog recording, and all the equipment for both recording and listening to music. Edited by Ian R. Sinclair, this Second Edition came out in 1993. Not recent, but not the oldest book in the collection, either.

At 14 1/2 bu 10 1/2 inches this is one of the larger books in our library and it was essential in the choosing the equipment for my first stereo in 1976. By Mark Tobak, it, as the title implies, is the alternative to the mass media, advertiser-driven magazines on the subject. It came out in 1975 and I saw an ad for it in the back of Stereo Review and ordered a copy. I had it for decades and then decided to sell it on eBay. And of course a couple years later decided to find another copy. I paid a LOT more for this one than I sold my copy for. Oh well, it's fantastic. Mr. Tobak had the help of George Ritscher who was an audio engineer and no less than J. Gordon Holt Editor of Stereophile magazine. Others are acknowledged as well. 

It starts out as a primer on the subject of HiFi and stereo reproduction and has some crude illustrations and excellent black and white photos of equipment from the time. He delves into the pros and cons of various types of equipment, and makes recommendations based upon performance and value per dollars spent. All aspects of the hobby of listening to music in the home are covered. He even gives contact information for all the manufacturers too. Remember, there was no such thing as a "web site" or even e-mail then! Highly recommended for those interested in vintage audio equipment.

This is a FUN book! David Atwood is a Brit and studied electronics and the history of science and published a UK magazine called Which? And he's written two other books on design: The Radio and The Pen. Published in the UK in 2002. Subjects are: 1945-1959 radio culture, 1960-1969 stereo takes off, 1970-1979 decks & disco, 1980-1989 digital delivery and 1990- a converging world. A wonderful look at the musicians, music and equipment both portable and in the home from the various eras. A must-have for anyone interested in vintage audio and radios. Gorgeous photographs abound.

Came across this in a thrift store and just had to buy it. Even though this came from Rolling Stone magazine, which I always thought is an American publication, it covers only the UK releases from the Beatles. It is very thorough and informative with really more information than the casual fan may need. 

This is another book I'd read about in a magazine and ordered immediately. Being slightly OCD, I know a thing or two about obsession. Daniel J. Levitin, once a rock musician went straight (that once meant giving up a life of crime, NOT that he was no longer gay) and studied neuroscience. He then did a bunch of studying and, well, if you want to find out what he did, you should read the book! I did and enjoyed learning why I love music and other things in my life so much.

Speaking of music, I seem to recall creating a database of my LPs and the few 10 inch and 7 inch records too (and writing here about it) and found, not surprising at all, that I had more classical LPs than any other genre. Well, it was played quite a bit by dad as we were growing up. 
PLUS, every 4th of July in Richmond, Virginia, coincidentally like another 4th of July celebration a hundred or so miles north, musicians from the Richmond Symphony gather in a place called Dogwood Dell which is a small amphitheater and play music. They close with Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture Unlike the other place, there are no fireworks. 

BUT, there are cannons, and not the 19th Century variety and not far away, no these are howitzers from the good U.S. Army folk at Fort Lee. AND they are right behind the stage! 

I found out there are three senses involved in artillery. I deliberately climbed to the top of the facility so I could see the cannoneers doing there thing. So, First, there is sight: the flash of the muzzle. Second, there is sound: the boom of the charge exploding. Third, there is tactility: the feeling of being slightly crushed by the concussion of the exploding charge hitting you full on. But I digress.

This is only one of several books I have on collecting and enjoying the type of music that was once called "long hair music". Some call it Western music, to separate it from Eastern. But then, most of Russia IS part of Asia, so I'm sure several Russian composers probably were Asian, so that throws that theory out. 

True story: A man signs up for a course in Western Music. He struggles with the class and at the end of many weeks of study, takes the test. The instructor, in this case a very learned man, asks for comments from the students. This man said, and I'm not making this up,"Well, I learned a lot, but I wish you'd covered Western music like the title said.". But we did from the Renaissance all the way through the 20th Century composers." "Well what about Hank Williams, Loretta Lynn, Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Tex Ritter, Bob Baker and all the other great Country and Western musicians?" 

Then there was the old guy who was asked what kind of music he liked. "Well, I like both kinds." "Both kinds? I don't understand." Both Country and Western."

BACK to this book. Which weighs an astounding 4 pounds, nine ounces. It is from 2007 and there are a bunch of contributors. 35 in fact, from around the world. Quite an extensive tome, too. I actually have a whole lot of bookmarks in it for the many recommended CDs that I want to get. This book too, was one I read about in a magazine, sensing a trend here? I'm just looking at the rear flap and turns out they did one called 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Plus one about books, another about buildings and a third about paintings. 
Well for that last one, it would have to be coffee table sized, they could just put a big photograph on each page and that would save you an awful lot of time and money traveling the world to see these great paintings.

I've got to stop going off on tangents. BTW, I once had some Tangent speakers.

Thought I was kidding, didn't you? Well, the book, is quite good and has photos of every CD cover as well as the composer or soloist or conductor, or all three if that applies. Quite a good source to not only learn about Classical, but chock full or recommended CDs. 1001 of them.

Now this book which is smaller and softbound, is also quite long. From 2002 by Fred Plotkin, who is quite the expert on Opera as well and has written the 101 on that as well. Of course, anyone who's been to college can tell you, "101" is the very first class one takes in any course of study. So, if you are "classical-curious" this is the book for you. He gives you a piece of music to play, and if you have it, you are to read his descriptions of each movement as you listen. There's so much more than that. So, give it a go!

This book by Bill Parker is quite light reading compared to the previous book's 673 pages. This revised edition from 1985 is only 232 pages. Quite a lot more than I've written, for sure, well, you have a long way to go to get to the bottom of this article....

Anyway, like most if not all books on the subject, it starts with the oldest music. Yet, he is teaching you to build your classical record library. Hey, he could call it, oh, he already did. 

I knew that. I have gone through and highlighted ones I want to get. No mention of format on the cover, but CDs were just born and he stuck to LPs and cassettes.

Now this book, is really for the uninformed who wants to collect and enjoy Classical music. This updated version is from 1990. On the back, he quotes himself: "The means for listening to classical music have never been greater than they are today. Through CDs, LPs and Cassettes it is possible to hear the world's greatest orchestras and soloists at any time you wish, in any work you wish, almost anywhere you wish." This is of course before the invention of the MP3 and music downloading and streaming. Things I do not participate in. He is brief and to the point and covers all the major and some of the minor composers and their better known works. 

Now this is by far the most extensive of the books I have on the subject. Britain's Gramophone magazine is behind this annual guide. This 2011 issue has more than 3000 reviews from critics the world over.  This too is a UK publication and is over 1400 pages! The Brits are serious about this, aren't they? Being so recent they devout a chapter to downloading Classical works. They also cover concerts available on DVD. Now, I'd like those. Normally I frown upon folding book's corners down. But, this is mine and I have folded a LOT of corners down for music I want to have in my collection.

Another big, heavy and hardbound book on the subject. This from no less that NPR. Yes, National Public Radio. Something the current administration, oh never mind. Written by Ted Libbey who also authored a guide to Classical CD library building. This is an exhaustive look at all angles and the types of information to help one become more informed and rounded in the music that endures. Ted Libbey really knows his stuff and it is quite encyclopedic in it's scope.

The final book in my library on Classical music is from "The Record Shelf" which is the author's weekly radio show. I have never heard it, nor of Jim Svejda. Well, the book is from 1990, so that might explain it. He takes the strictly alphabetical approach to the composers. He gives specific recommendations based upon years of playing these recordings and includes label names and numbers. A good read.

As you can tell, this is a HUGE book! It is as implied by the title an encyclopedia (did you notice I spelled it the American way this time?) of music. I like it. It is well illustrated in full color with period prints too. The descriptions are excellent and it goes into great detail in the variations of certain instruments. If you are interested in this, it's a great one to have. From 2002, it too is, wait for it, from England! Oh those saucy Brits!

Look! Another music encyclopaedia! While not as imposing or colorful, in fact there are no photos or illustrations at all, it IS concise and informative as it should be. This is my second most recent purchase. From 1998, it is: "...the first one-volume reference work designed to meet the needs of virtually every music listener, from the occasional concert-goer seeking succinct, clear explanations to the more serious student and professional". And it is that.

Now, I'm going to jazz things up! What name is synonymous with excellent documentary films in the U.S.A? Why Ken Burns, that's who. Along with one of the preeminent experts on the most American of music, Geoffrey C. Ward. Big, thick and heavy, this book hails from 2000 originally but was so popular, it came out again five years later. And no, it was not gay this time. Sheesh! Many people, if you mention Jazz to them, get an image in their mind of a smoke filled dark room crowded with people of color, enjoying the trio or quartet putting out music from their very souls. Well, actually while many of the originators of Jazz were black, there are Jazz musicians of all stripes over the 100 plus years it's been made. Big Band music is Jazz. Some would argue it was pop music. But then I love Big Band music and what is called "Smooth Jazz" too. So, like, other Jazz is rough? I readily agree that some "traditional" Jazz is hard to get into. But once you do start to get it, you really get into it! Anyway, this is a wonderful guide to the genre. Expensive when new, but worth it.

Another thick one at 1514 pages! Another made-in-Great-Britain book. From 1994 and written by Richard Cook and Brian Morton. Strictly alphabetical as to the artist or band's name. Most entries also list individual albums and delve into the style and influences of the artists. Quite a wonderful book for the Jazz lover.

I came upon the CDs first in a thrift store, intrigued, I searched online for the accompanying book. The CDs cover from 1925 through 1995. Quite the spectrum of the genre. Gary Giddins and Scott DeVeaux were very smart to offer CDs with their excellent history of Jazz. Gary is a well known leading Jazz critic and Scott is a nationally recognized Jazz scholar.

The New York Times is world famous and well regarded by most, present "leader of the free world" excepted. I like reading it, but a mail subscription is crazy expensive not to mention wasteful. So, Ben Ratliff of the Times wrote this book as part of their Essential Library. He chose the 100 most important recordings to focus on. I'm halfway through it, and unless I want to do an Internet search while I read it to listen to the recordings, I am leaning towards the previous book to round out my knowledge.

With the advent of Discogs and Soundtrack Collector web sites, it seems that real paper books on the subject are unnecessary. But they are not. At least to me and other traditionalists. John Stanley's collecting vinyl is a quick read and very informative. Although it is from 2002, it is a valuable resource to the budding or seasoned record collector.

Ah, price guides. Certainly, the Internet and especially eBay have changed collecting forever. Gone the way of the Dodo? Perhaps. But still I enjoy looking through this guide and highlighting all the records in my collection. A lot are not listed. But then, is there ever, outside the Library of Congress, going to be a COMPLETE guide to anything like records? Not likely. For instance I have the LP Introducing the Beatles on VeeJay. I'd bought it along with every other Beatles LP someone donated. All the rest turned out to be bootleg LPs. Made a whole lot of eBay buyers happy with those. Anyway, this guide quickly told me my copy was counterfeit. Didn't bother me in the least. For those not in the know, this LP is the outside-of-the-UK release of the Beatles Please, Please Me. I was able to inform someone in the FaceBook Vinyl Freaks group that they did have a genuine copy. Boy was he thrilled!

Ah, yes. Annual catalogs. Quickly becoming an unnecessary cost to sellers, was once a staple of the U.S. Mail for decades. What joy it was when the Sears Christmas catalog arrived! Even better to me, was the Radio Shack and J.C.Whitney catalogs. Being a car guy and stereo nut as I was and am still. I bought this pristine one via eBay since 1975 was the year that began my quest to enjoy music to the best of my humble budget.

Speaking of Radio Shack, while it is in death throes once again, it was an important part of the electronics retail world for many, many years. And yes, they did sell some cheap stuff, they also made some wonderful and sought after electronics. Our local one was one of those chopped in the latest attempt to save the chain. I miss it. This book, one of many one could buy from them, is all about making your own speakers with their components. Parts Express took their idea and they still thrive today. But back in the day Radio Shack was pretty much it for raw speakers and crossovers. On the cover is their Mach Two speaker. I had a pair and, well, was unimpressed. Still, this is a great book for anyone interested in building speakers.

A more extensive book on the subject is this one by David B. Weems. It is from 1978, so definitely dated. But there are plenty vintage audio fans out there. A really excellent guide that goes much farther than the humble book above it does. Lots of plans with step-by-step guides and parts lists, charts, schematics, etc.

This book came out in 1979 and although it's not very long, it is informative on the subject. Simple but clear drawings accompany the text.

So, who else sees Radio Shack equipment on this cover? Another oldie-but-goodie from 1978. It goes far beyond the title explaining the science behind the text and explaining and illustrating things that only a professional would know about today.

I spent the money for this book and am very glad I did. I have recommended it numerous times in various FaceBook audio groups I belong to. I can not emphasize enough how knowledgeable Jim Smith is. You can hire him if you can afford him and he will set up you system to blow you away with how amazing it can sound. Or, simply order the book or 3-DVDs that he also sells.

These two are the same book. The Institute of High Fidelity (did YOU know there is such a thing?) wrote the one on the left and Radio Shack arranged to sell it in their stores with their cover on it. Otherwise, the same book. It originally came out in 1974 just as Quadraphonic was coming out. Mine is the third printing from 1979. The Radio Shack version I have is from 1981. Great information inside.

And last, but far from least, FREE for TAS readers, this is a concise guide based upon articles and experts in the high end audio industry. For doubters, see if you can find a copy and read it. I believe a lot of what that industry attempts to sell is smoke and mirrors. Yet, an awful lot is not. These people have put their heart, soul and sweat into their products. As long as there are buyers out there with the cash, they will keep improving the product to finally achieve THE ABSOLUTE SOUND.

Thanks for looking,

Scott