Pure Analog Sessions – Bedford Green and Kingsize Playboys

Bedford Green and The Kingsize Playboys - Pure Analog Recording Session

On this tape, you will hear 13 tracks performed by Bedford Green and the Kingsize Playboys recorded during this Pure Analog Recording Session.

Rediscover Analog Sound On Tape, you will find:

1. The warm sound, that acoustic instruments possess on their own but is often not captured by sound technicians.
2. Acoustic placing and recognition of the musicians in the recording space.
3. Phase purity of a recording, both the electric phase (good cable/fibre connections etc), and the acoustic phase must be acquired through the proper placement of the microphones.
4. Symmetry in the recording; this means always placing the microphones in such a way that on both the left and the right side there’s an equal division of signal, and not placing mono support microphones on the extreme left and right.
5. Transparency and clarity in a recording. This does not mean an overly sharp recording, but one of softness in tone and clarity, in which especially the 3-dimensional recording space is being displayed.

The return of the most delicate, but most considered, kind of audio format for true audiophiles. The most dubious audiophiles know the truth about reel-to-reel tape. The truth is that it just sounds better than vinyl.

The ultimate reel-to-reel tape is the latest retro-trend for audiophiles, it has a greater dynamic range than vinyl, is capable of producing extraordinary sound for the treble and bass and there is less signal processing which is the enemy of a hi-fi extraordinaire. Nothing sounds better than music on audio reel-to-reel tape.

This is a special edition of a pure analogue recording. I once had an idea how could the sound of those old, 1950s recordings be recreated. By using only vintage sound recording equipment. So I asked my good friend Hans Ettema to make this recording in his farmhouse. In fact, he has completely adapted his living room to this kind of vintage recording. And also has a large collection of vintage microphones. Like the Neumann CMV3, the U47 and several types from the fifty series of small microphones. Then several RCA types and a Philips EL6023 for the kick base. Hans also has special Telefunken microphone pre-amps from the 1960s. The whole thing was recorded by me on a Nagra T recorder. The mixer was a Soundcraft LM1. Used pure copper Van den Hul microphone cables. The nice thing about this session was that I had invited many friends. To be present at these recordings, but mostly to record on their own recorders they brought along. Via an XLR coupling block, they were all connected to the mixer. The friends' recorders included a Nagra 4S, a digital Nagra D-II, a digital Sound Device 722. In short, a wide variety of recorders.

The bands came from Belgium namely: The Bedford Green and The Kingsize Playboys. We also used a second recorder the Telefunken M28 for slap-back echo. Just like they did in the 1950s. I thought it was a great and fun day with all the analogue friends. Which included A.J. van den Hul with his digital Nagra D-II.

I hope you find the results satisfactory. If so, I wish you lots of listening pleasure.

Fritz de With

Pure Analog Sessions

ARTIST: BEDFORD GREEN AND KINGSIZE PLAYBOYS
TITLE: PURE ANALOG RECORDING SESSION
RECORDING LIVE 2007 ANALOG ON NAGRA T WITH FRITZ DE WITH – RECORDING ENGINEER

1. When down to see my baby
2. Boogie and minor
3. So lonesome
4. Getting nowhere with you
5. I’m going to be different
6. Keep on loving
7. Lay me down beside my darling
8. Let me love you just a little
9. Rocky hall
10. Moon so pretty by the break of the day
11. Sixteen ton
12. Smoke that cigarette
13. That’s the way it’s going to be