Vinyl Review: West of Oz – Sheffield Lab 15 – Released 1981
Lab 15 – West of Oz – Amanda McBroom & Lincoln Mayorga – 1981
Vinyl surface noise: 4 (not pops and clicks)
Dynamic Range: 4+
Stereo Imaging: 4+
Image depth/perspective: 4
Overall frequency response: 4
Side One
- Over The Rainbow
- Dorothy
- Dock Of The Bay
- Not Gonna To Say I’m Sorry
- The Walk To Chattham Corners
- Gossamer
Side Two
- Happy Ending
- Only With You
- Kitchicker
- Reynosa
- My Father Always Promised
This album was recorded in the Sheffield Lab Studios at MGM, Culver City, California between April 24-28, 1981.
Cover sticker quote: “McBroom’s singing is a joy for listeners and her talent is beautifully show-cased in this direct disc production…..The scoring, arranging, playing, microphoning and mixing are some of the finest heard anywhere….For talent that sparkles and production to match – this is definitely the place” – Billboard.
Although this was technically a good recording with Amanda and Lincoln providing a well produced, tight, musical and well integrated performance, it just didn’t quite do it for me.
Overall vinyl surface noise was good and was never intrusive during any track or between tracks. However, it has been quite some time since I played this album, so I am not too sure where the few objectionable pops and clicks came from that were on the first track of both sides.
This is a mix of nine vocal, and two instrumental tracks and even though there were six tracks on side one and five on side two, no compression was apparent, and replay levels seemed to be normal.
T3S1 probably being the most lively and impactful, making for a good demonstration track. The guitar, harmonica and piano solos standing out with a solid electric bass line and a tight punchy kit and kick drum.
Amanda’s voice was similar in nature to Growing Up In Hollywood, being open and natural, as were her backing singers, but didn’t quite have the same authority and room presence, being a little harder in the upper registers. I was surprised that on several occasions her sibilance, which I didn’t feel was excessive, actually caught my cartridge out. I am now wondering what I used to play the album with the last time I listened to it.
Stereo imaging was good with the kit being center stage sitting just behind Amanda, and her backing vocalists located to her left and right. Instrumentation was crisp and clear with piano, guitar, harmonica-S1T5, clarinet-S1T5, tambourine etc. all providing realistic, uncolored images of the instruments, but had little depth placement, all being up front. Good bottom end punch from the kit and kick drum and solid electric bass lines ran through many of the tracks with a refined and detailed top end showing no hardness or edge to the sound.
This is a good recording that was well performed and engineered and is certainly a pleasure to listen to. With several of the tracks, depending on your musical taste, standing out for their vocals and instrumental lines.
If you are a fan of Amanda McBroom’s vocals and Lincoln Mayorga’s piano playing, this is yet another album that should be in your collection.
Available on vinyl and CD from Discogs, and CD from Sheffield Lab.
