Lyn Stanley Interludes – 45RPM Vinyl Review

Lyn Stanley Interludes – 45RPM Vinyl Review

Vinyl surface noise:  5- (not pops and clicks)

Dynamic Range: 5-

Stereo Imaging: 5

Image depth/perspective: 5-

Overall frequency response: 5-

Side One

1. How Long Has This Been Going On
2. Just One Of Those Things
3. Whole Lotta Love

Side Two

1. More Than You Know
2. Boulevard Of Broken Dreams
3. Nice n’ Easy
4. Black Velvet

Side Three

1. In A Sentimental Mode
2. It’s Crazy
3. Don’t Explain

Side Four

1. Last Tango In Paris
2. The Island
3. I Was A Little Too Lonely
4. I’m A Fool To Want You

Originally released by A.T. Music in 2015.

The tracks were recorded on analog 24 track 2″ ATR tape at Capital Recording Studios A &B and United Recording Studio A, Hollywood, CA; Big City Recording Studios, Granada Hills, CA and LAFx, and mixed by Al Schmitt. All tracks were mastered from the original 1/2″ analog master tape by Bernie Grundman at Bernie Grundman Mastering and pressed on 180gram vinyl by Quality Record Pressings.

This is a numbered limited edition release, mine being 1589.

Musicians:

• Lyn Stanley – Vocals
• Drums – Ray Brinker & Paul Kreibich
• Percussion – Brad Dutz
• Bass – Chuck Berghofer
• Guitar – John Chiodini
• Piano – Bill Cunliffe & Mike Garson
• Trombone – Bob McChesney
• Harmonica – Henry Meurkens
• Cello – Cecilia Tsan

Reviewed using my new Hana SL and new MX-VYNL pre-amp.

After reading a number of reviews and having been mastered by the infamous Bernie Grundman I had high hopes for the sonic quality of this album. My hopes were fulfilled. Another great album in the mold of Shelby Lynne’s Just a Little Lovin’,

Both 180 gram discs are ruler flat, perfectly concentric and looked to be pristine pressings. In my eagerness to hear this album, and yet agin, I forgave cleaning them prior to their first play. As soon as the stylus hit the vinyl I just new this was again going to be a memorable experience. The surface noise, pops and click were very low, almost matching what I had heard on the Shelby Lynne album.

The recording provides a very intimate performance by Lyn, and having only three or four tracks on each side there seemed to be no compression to the dynamics of her vocal range or any of the instruments. Her voice was very natural, having perfect annunciation, with no distracting emphasis to any part of the vocal range. By comparison to Shelby’s vocals sounding a little harder and more forward in the mid-range. Lyn’s miking in no way accentuating any sibilance or HF detail. Turning my lights off and with no visual distractions Lyn’s presence was positively palpable, standing just in front of my center speaker with the entire musical line up laid out behind her.

Musicianship and vocal performance were first rate providing a tight, very enjoyable and entertaining musical experience. Stereo imaging was rock solid with the musicians nicely spread between my speakers and the depth of image and placement well defined. Reverb and its tail out could be clearly heard on all instruments and vocals. The few instrumental solos for the piano, guitar, trombone, harmonica and double bass were all excellent being very open and natural, with the trombone and harmonica exhibiting a clean bright edge and excellent detail and transparency.

The entire instrumental lineup was wide open with plenty of detail, refinement and ‘space’ around around each one but lacked a little ‘sparkle’. Double bass, cello, kit, trombone and harmonica all providing realistic representations of the instruments natural sounds. The double bass being tight and extended with no boom and the kit providing plenty of top end detail especially for the snare, cymbals and hi-hat. The kick drum was deep and tight but generally well set back in the mix except on a handful of tracks like S1T3, S2T4 and S4T3.  Percussive instruments included wood blocks, congas and chimes on several tracks.

Recommended tracks? All of them! They are all very well recorded, with many of the tracks giving the session musicians a chance to show their own musical prowess and instruments acoustics. All of which take a back seat to Ms. Stanley’s vocals.

This recording is, to my ears, all about Lyn Stanley’s vocal performance. Taking front and center stage Lyn provides a more intimate performance for the listener, with all the backing instruments taking a more reserved back seat feel, providing the album with its more laid back gentle appeal.

Despite the softer musical approach the albums recording, mastering and pressing are all top notch and the album rates in my reference class. 

Available on vinyl and CD from Elusive Disc, Acoustic Sounds, Discogs and the Lyn Stanley web site.

See my other vinyl reviews here.