To 33 or not to 33? That is the question

The April edition of JazzTimes which I've belatedly got around to reading cover to cover rather the peripheral glance I initially gave it includes an interesting article on the pros and cons of digital v analogue/CD v LP etc. which I know some of our contributors feel strongly about.

This got me to thinking about where I stood in this debate and, to tell you the truth, I don't know!

When I first started listening to music it was via 78rpm single shellac records on a wind-up gramophone. There was lots of surface noise and, as I'd frequently bought them second hand, often much worse! But, did this deter me from the enjoyment? It didn't, I knew no different. Likewise, I'd also listen to jazz on the radio via some obscure continental station or the American Forces Network (AFN) station broadcast from Munich. Again, against all odds and despite the atmospherics, the music shone through.

I remember reading a novel, I can't remember the author - it may have been Peter de Polnay but probably wasn't. In the book, a couple are listening to a very average performance by, I'm guessing, an out of tune violinist playing a well-known concerto. The woman says, "Isn't that dreadful?" To which the man replies, "No, irrespective of the performance, I only hear what it should sound like." Those may not have been the exact words but I can relate them to the present day.

When stereo came along, I recall a salesman coming into the music shop where I worked with a demo record in which a bowling ball could be heard rolling from one side of the room to the other. We all gasped in awe although, with the odd exception, when applied to music I remained quite happy with mono recordings.

I was also quite happy with LPs until CDs came along and, suddenly, the long player with its beautiful artwork and easy to read sleeve notes became passé - file alongside piano rolls and cylinders.

The way things are going, CDs will soon be joining them as streaming and downloading become the norm. And yet, we now hear that cassette tapes are making a comeback and a recent Lockjaw and Johnny Griffin recording has been dished up on reel to reel so who knows?

Let's hear your views.

Lance