We interviewed John Cale in issue #156 around the time of his previous release, Mercy. He has just released POPtical Illusion, a collection of synth and keyboard heavy tunes that carry a heavy, and at times angry message about the state of the world. That is not to say that that Cale has lost all hope and there is optimism that we can still bring about change. POPtical Illusion was produced by Cale along with longtime artistic collaborator Nita Scott.
Joe McGinty has Carousel Studio in New York. Here his pal Amy Hobby gathered 20 young ladies to knock out a great version of Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells" on film featuring Joe's INSAME collection of vintage keyboards. This film is the best...
Many Tape Op readers likely can’t imagine that issue #1 was Xeroxed and hand-folded 28 years ago, but it was. People may think of us as DIY, but there’s a long history of so many helping this magazine be its best, beginning with friends...
A lot of you have probably heard the term “microphonic tubes.” But have you ever heard one in action? They actually turn into little microphones. (Hence the name).
So, this week I decided to replace the input tubes on my Manley...
Woodland is the name of Gillian Welch and David Rawling’s studio in Nashville, and it’s also the name of their new album. On Woodland, the duo continue to show their deep connection as collaborators. The album has a wide open sound that...
With the release of Lawrence "Larry" Crane's Craniostomy Vol. Two, Tape Op's founder gives us a glimpse into his home recordings from 1983 to 1985. Cassette decks and odds and ends were harnessed into making these tracks, and revisiting them in...
THE GREAT BRITISH RECORDING STUDIOS
Howard Massey, an excellent author and recording engineer, is putting together what should be an important book on the British record studio scene of the sixites and seventies. If you were involved in this...
So here's a pile of CDs I'm supposed to be listening to right now instead of enjoying The Skids' Sweet Suburbia album. Some of these I actually bought (so I should be enjoying them I guess) and some were handed over by friends (yes, the Scott...
Al Kooper produced this band in the '80s. They really knew how to argue - with him, with each other and probably with anyone in a ten-mile radius. Al edited out the music and kept the wonderful conversation, releasing it on one of his limited (300...
Below is a Guest Post from Jim Janik:
Album Credits Are Just As Important As the Money We Make (maybe more so)
by: Jim Janik
Have you ever googled yourself? I have. In fact, I have to. Like many freelancers in the music industry, it's just one of...