Needle Time

  Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms [MFSL 2-441 USA 2019 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] Originally released on Vertigo Records in 1985 and one of the best selling compact discs of all time. One of the biggest selling mainstream adult-orientated rock albums is also regarded as one of the best sounding Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab releases of recent years. Cut by Krieg Wunderlich from the digital clone of a Sony 1630 U-Matic digital master tape and mastered on an analogue desk to lathe, this release is cut louder at 45rpm than many other MoFi releases around the same period. In fact, it was cut in such a way that many pressings had to be swapped out due to stylus tracking issues on lower end turntables. The singles and their accompanying videos were perfect for the eighties MTV-era, pushing album sales through the roof across the globe. This was the England of new money where city barrow boys and sales reps lapped up Brothers In Arms . I do doubt if these days some of the homophobic lyr...

  Dire Straits - Dire Straits [MFSL 2-466 USA 2019 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] Originally released on Vertigo Records in 1978. For this week's Mainstream Tuesday, my hardcore indie-music followers may need to look away ....well at least until tomorrow. From the world of Blyth Spartans, Geordie country-inspired pub-rock, swinging sultans and Brewer's Droop comes the debut long player from British AOR's 'finest' Dire Straits.  Cut on an analogue desk using a DSD256 transfer of the original master tape, pressed up at Record Technology onto two 45rpm platters. I've read plenty online about this Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab reissue since release, including some who said it was one of the very best all-analogue releases available .....that has certainly changed sine the label were required to come clean about their digital step, however that doesn't alter anything about how this album sounds.  A1 Down To The Waterline A2 Water Of Love B1 Setting Me Up B2 Six Blade...