Just got word this morning that J. Gordon Holt, founder of Stereophile Magazine, passed away at his home in Boulder, CO yesterday (July 20). Stereophile was one of the first “audiophile” magazines, and was launched by Holt in the 60s. While he hasn’t been associated with the magazine for years, he is still fondly remembered by the audiophile community. After Stereo Review and Audio, Stereophile was the first audiophile magazine I subscribed to, back in its smaller format. While I could never afford all of the megabuck equipment, the music reviews were often worth the price of the magazine alone. R.I.P, Mr. Holt!
Yearly Archives: 2009
Gino Vannelli’s “Crazy Life” (A Retro Review)
It’s a crazy life, a hazy life, a mixed-up, jumbled phasey life…a crazy life for people who want to smile…
Many readers know that I tend to favor albums from a decade or two ago, over newer ones. I do occasionally find gems among newer releases, but it’s even more of a surprise to find a new favorite album among a collection that I’ve overlooked in the past. Gino Vannelli was listed for a local gig, but that turned out to be a false alarm. Nonetheless, I figured I would listen to more of his catalog, as I’d picked up just about everything at used record shops. Starting at the beginning, I decided to give Crazy Life a try…
Continue reading Gino Vannelli’s “Crazy Life” (A Retro Review)
Google Maps GPS (an idea for Google)
As some readers may recall, I’m a big fan of many of Google’s free applications, including Google Maps (and its “home” edition, Google Earth). Awhile ago, I was using an older Magellan GPS unit in the car, which helped with sales calls. Its shortcomings over Google Maps became readily apparent the longer I used it. The Amazon Kindle, XM Radio, and Google’s own Android-based “Google phones” gave me an idea of “mashing” a few existing technologies to make some thing new. I know this makes no sense yet…but read on for more on “Building The Perfect GPS”!
Ubuntu On A Second Computer
With Ubuntu being as stable as it’s been for me, I decided to install it as a backup OS on another computer here. This one is a Biostar iDeq 200N from a few years ago. The challenge this time was to install to this computer, which has an integrated video chip on the motherboard (the nVidia GeForce4 MX), along with wireless networking. Not only that, the CD-R/DVD drive has been acting up, so I had no way to install it from my LiveCD. Given my issues, I’m glad I was able to boot into Windows XP for troubleshooting!
Gino Vannelli: “A Good Thing”
I’m wondering if any of Rudy’s Corner’s audience has heard, or heard of, Gino Vannelli’s new album, A Good Thing.
I’m a bit perplexed: it seems like it was released briefly in Europe this past February, but it’s now out of print. Gino’s site still shows that the CD is a “new release”, but you can’t yet buy it (unless you find one from Amazon). 
I can’t find anything online regarding the reason for its delay, or it being pulled from the market, but I’ll post an update here when I find out a worldwide release date.
Anyhow, I got ahold of a copy back at the end of May, and it’s pretty good so far. Many of the songs (including the first single, “Measure Of A Man”) bring to mind his pop music successes of the 70s and 80s, but filtered through the acoustic jazz stylings of Yonder Tree and Slow Love (both on Verve, from the mid 90s). Gino’s pop sensibilities are still intact, but the synthesizers from the 70s and 80s are gone for the most part. (They’re used more for sweetening.) His voice is still as good as it’s always been–in fact, it is richer and more expressive than on his earlier recordings.
For now I’ll leave you, dear readers, with this little teaser, and will return with a formal review of the rest of the album’s songs once it gets worldwide release. This is a very solid album so far, and I must say that the acoustic angle is very refreshing. And it’s nice to know that Gino still “has it”. With a forthcoming U.S. tour, this is shaping up to be a good year for Gino Vannelli fans! Be sure to visit Gino’s official site for news about the tour and (hopefully) updated information on the release of this new album.