The Next Track

As the new year rings in, we take a look at our music listening habits and think about how we may want to change them. Show notes: SwinsianRoon PlexTidalQobuzEssential Bollywood playlistThe A-List: K-PopOur next tracks: Kirk: Daniel Lanois: For the Beauty of Wynona Doug: The Bryan Ferry Orchestra: The Jazz Age If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.Support The Next Track

As we amass music in our physical or digital libraries, it can reach a point where it doesn’t make sense to keep adding more music. How much really is too much? Sponsor: ChronoSync, by Econ Technologies. Whatever your backup or sync scenario, ChronoSync has got you covered! Download a free 15-day trial version, and get 25% off ChronoSync on the Econ Technologies website. Show notes: Play Random Albums AppleScript Collecting Music in an Analog Age High Fidelity The Deadhead’s Taping Compendium, Volume 1: An In-Depth Guide to the Music of the Grateful Dead on Tape, 1959-1974 The Deadhead’s Taping Compendium, Volume 2: An In-Depth Guide to the Music of the Grateful Dead on Tape, 1975-1985 The Complete Bitches Brew Sessions Yes: Progeny: Seven Shows from Seventy-Two Searching for the Perfect Recording Discogs Paul Badura-Skoda: 90th Anniversary Edition Gramophone Hyperion Records Naxos Records Grateful Dead: Dave’s Picks Volume 24: Berkeley, Ca, 8/25/72 Our next tracks: Kirk: Bill Nelson: Rosewood Volume 1 and Volume 2 Doug: Pseudo Echo: Live at the Viper Room, Pseudo Echo: Nutbush City Limits (single) If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.Support The Next Track

We answer a few listener questions about Apple’s AirPods, how to rip optical discs (other than CDs), and moving and merging iTunes libraries. Sponsor: ChronoSync, by Econ Technologies. Whatever your backup or sync scenario, ChronoSync has got you covered! Download a free 15-day trial version, and get 25% off ChronoSync on the Econ Technologies website. Show notes: Apple AirPods Sennheiser PX 100-II i headphones Episode #57 – Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Optical Discs iTunes Now Hides CD Action Settings if No Optical Drive Is Detected Rip audio tracks from your DVDs How to rip audio from your Blu-ray discs Audio Hijack Episode #50 – Streaming Music in Your Home Audacity Philip Glass: Einstein on the Beach (Blu-Ray) Fission Take Control of Audio Hijack How To Move Your iTunes Library to an External Hard Drive How To Combine or Merge Two iTunes Libraries Dupin Super Remove Dead Tracks Track Down Purchases Our next tracks: Kirk: Bach: Art of Fugue, by Ottavio Dantone and Accademia Bizantia Doug: Ella Fitzgerald: Ella at Zardi’s If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.Support The Next Track

We welcome Daniel Spreadbury to discuss the software that composers use to put their notes onto virtual paper. This week’s guest: Daniel Spreadbury, Dorico Dorico Show notes: Sibelius ARM processor An original score of a fugue by Johann Sebastian Bach A score by William Byrd German organ tablature French-style lute tablature Bach’s unfinished fugue Real book Newzik A shakuhachi score Our next tracks: Kirk: Stan Richardson: Shakuhachi Meditation Music Doug: 10cc: Sheet Music If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.Special Guest: Daniel Spreadbury.Support The Next Track

As winter closes in, and the holiday season approaches, we discuss the strange ritual of listening to Christmas music for just one month a year. There’s got to be a German word for this. It’s that feeling, that first second, when you heard Jingle Bells in the middle of summer. Show notes: Episode #58 – David Weigel on the History of Progressive Rock Trio Mediaeval: Folk Songs Bruce Springsteen: Santa Claus is Coming to Town Do They Know It’s Christmas We Are the World Bob Dylan: Christmas in the Heart Bob Dylan: Must Be Santa (video) The Jethro Tull Christmas Album Apple Music Christmas Playlist Die Hard It’s a Wonderful Life A Charlie Brown Christmas Vince Guaraldi Trio: A Charlie Brown Christmas I Wish it Could Be Christmas (article) The Kinks: Father Christmas Nat King Cole: The Christmas Song Emerson, Lake & Palmer: I Believe in Father Christmas Mannheim Steamroller: Christmas Ghosts of Christmas Past Roomful of Blues: Roomful of Christmas Our next tracks: Kirk: Colin Currie Group: Steve Reich music live in Paris (videos) Doug: The Rolling Stones: On Air If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.Support The Next Track

We bring back our regular guest Andy Doe to discuss some of the technical terms we read about with audio equipment: Ω and dB, also known as ohms and decibels. This week’s guest: Andy Doe Proper Discord Show notes: Ohm (Wikipedia) Resistor color code chart Episode #73 – Kirk Wants to Buy an Amplifier Decibel (Wikipedia) Comparative Examples Of Noise Levels dB SPL dBFS (Wikipedia) Episode #35 – Musician and Developer Peter Chilvers on Brian Eno’s Album and App Reflection Our next tracks: Kirk: Brian Eno: Another Green World Doug: Dixie Dregs: What If If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.Special Guest: Andy Doe.Support The Next Track

We welcome Laura Kuhn, executive director of the John Cage Trust, to discuss the life and legacy of composer John Cage. “I am most interested in music that doesn’t say anything.” John Cage, 1991 This week’s guest: Laura Kuhn, executive director of the John Cage Trust Show notes: The Selected Letters of John Cage John Cage Unbound: A Living Archive (New York Public Library) Episode #69 – Brian Brandt of Mode Records on John Cage, Morton Feldman, and the Music Business Diary: How To Improve The World (You Will Only Make Matters Worse) (1991) John Cage / Morton Feldman: Radio Happenings I – V John Cage & Morton Feldman Radio Happenings (book and DVD) John Cage performing Water Walk on I’ve Got a Secret (1960): John Cale on I’ve Got a Secret (1963): Mesostics Begin Again: A Biography of John Cage 4’33” (Wikipedia) No Such Thing as Silence: John Cage’s 4’33” The Curious Score for John Cage’s “Silent” Zen Composition 4’33” 4’33” score Freeman Etudes (Books One & Two), Freeman Etudes (Books Three & Four) Number Pieces (Wikipedia) Ryoanji Drawings Recommended pieces; Apple Music links: String Quartet in Four Parts, Lasalle Quartet Sonatas & Interludes for Prepared Piano (first recording by Maro Ajemian) 74 Third Construction Cheap Imitation Ryoanji Our next tracks: Kirk: ECM playlist Doug: Ben Waters: Boogie 4 Stu – A Tribute to Ian Stewart If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.Special Guest: Laura Kuhn.Support The Next Track

Doug and Kirk look at how 1977 was a watershed year for popular music. Show notes: ECM Records Now Available on Apple Music Eagles: Hotel California Billy Joel: The Stranger Sex Pistols: Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols The Clash: The Clash (UK version) The Clash: Give ’em Enough Rope The Clash: The Clash (US version) Four Manchester bands we owe to the Sex Pistols’ Lesser Free Trade Hall gig 40 years ago Elvis Costello: My Aim is True Elvis Costello: Less Than Zero > Radio, Radio on Saturday Night Live Saturday Night Fever Episode #76 – Mirror Balls and Polyester: Looking Back at Disco Music Grateful Dead Movie The Hobbit Abba: The Movie Episode #59 – 1967 and the Summer of Love 100K+ Descend Upon Central New Jersey For Grateful Dead Show On This Date In 1977 Photos from Englishtown 1977 Grateful Dead: Dick’s Picks Vol. 15, Raceway Park, Englishtown, NJ, 9/3/77 Beach Boys Turn Central Park Into California Dreamin’ (New York Times) Sha Na Na Aerosmith: Walk This Way Run-DMC: Walk This Way Fleetwood Mac: Rumours Meatloaf: Bat out of Hell 40 Years Ago: Bruce Springsteen Settles 10-Month Lawsuit with Manager Mike Appel Talking Heads: Talking Heads: 77 Television: Marquee Moon Marquee Moon (Wikipedia) The 1977 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll Okay, I’m not going to link to every album in the Chritsgau list… “Heroes” (Wikipedia) Laserium Our next tracks: Kirk: Tangerine Dream: Encore Doug: Eric Clapton: Slowhand If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.Support The Next Track

Conductor Alexander Joel talks about the profession of conductor for operas and orchestras. This week’s guest: Alexander Joel Repertoire Show notes: Alexander Joel’s Wagner Ring cycle, Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden Alexander Joel on Operabase ARTE TV story about Alexander Joel (in German) Video of Alexander Joel conducting Verdi’s La Traviata Conductor killed by conducting staff: The ironic death of Jean-Baptiste Lully Our next tracks: Kirk: Tuxedomoon: Desire Doug: Mountain: Climbing If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.Special Guest: Alexander Joel.Support The Next Track

Doug and Kirk discuss Apple Music, how it’s changed the way they listen to music, and how to get the most out of the service. Show notes: Chris Breen Bach: French Suites, by Murray Perahia Our next tracks: Kirk: Cage / Lutoslawski: String Quartets, Lasalle Quartet Doug: Greta Van Fleet: Black Smoke Rising If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.Support The Next Track