The words “musician,” “record collector” and “audio-phile” do not necessarily find themselves used in the same article. In the case of my latest story on the history of Mobile Fidelity, they all come together, because I am all three of them.
Most musicians are to some degree record collectors, but not necessarily audiophiles. Most audiophiles are not musicians but are usually record collectors. Most record collectors are not musicians, but may, on occasion, be audiophiles.
I came to all three at about the same time (at age 12) and have grown into a huge record collector, a longtime audiophile and, of course, as the guitarist for Twisted Sister, a musician.
The first album that I bought was Meet the Beatles! in 1964 for $3.99, my first guitar was a Hagstrom bass in 1965 for $25 and the first stereo I bought in 1967 (turntable, receiver and speakers) for $600.
Mobile Fidelity is the story of a company that wants to bring a better listening experience to those of you who desire to have it. To those of you who collect for the sake of rare album covers, original pressings of vinyl, CD or cassette and/or albums that coincide with a special time in your life, then this may not matter to you. For the rest of you who desire to get closer to what the artists heard when they were in the studio, listening back at the recording console, the Mobile Fidelity experience aims to get you there.
Can you hear the difference between an original label release and a Mobile Fidelity version of an album that you may own and is considered a classic? That really depends on the quality of your music system.
This story is from the September 2020 edition of GOLDMINE.
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This story is from the September 2020 edition of GOLDMINE.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
THE GRAND POOBAH!
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THE MAKING OF PEARL
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The SAGA Continues
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Ten Years After MORE THAN 50 YEARS LATER
DRUMMER RIC LEE TALKS TO GOLDMINE ABOUT A TEN YEARS AFTER DELUXE EDITION OF THE A STING IN THE TALE ALBUM AND HIS RECENTLY RELEASED MEMOIR, FROM HEADSTOCKS TO WOODSTOCK.
SUZI QUATRO IS BACK!
WITH A NEW ALBUM, THE DEVIL IN ME, THIS PIONEERING FEMALE ROCKER REMAINS AS DRIVEN AND DETERMINED AS EVER
RE-SHAKE & RE-MAKE
WITH THE RERELEASE OF THEIR DEBUT ALBUM, SHAKE YOUR MONEY MAKER, THE BLACK CROWES FLY HIGH BY REFLECTING ON THEIR ROOTS.
LOVE FOR PEARL
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Q&A WITH JANIS' SIBLINGS, LAURA AND MICHAEL JOPLIN
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CHERISHING CITY TO CITY A timeless classic by GERRY RAFFERTY
It’s early 1978 and the new single by Scottish singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty, “Baker Street,” is blasting out on the airwaves on my small transistor radio.
