Wilson Audio W8212 MARK P. WETCH Ragtime Razzmatazz VOL. II Legendary AUDIOPHILE

$

36

MARK P. WETCH Ragtime Razzmatazz Vol. II
New & Sealed Audiophile Vinyl Record

Record Label: Wilson Audio W8212

1982. Hard to find second installment of Wetch's nostalgic ragtime piano performances recorded for audiophile label, Wilson Audio.

Boutique audiophile label, Wilson Audio, is responsible for some of the best sounding recordings ever made. David Wilson, famous for his incredible speaker line, is at the helm and the sounds are amazing. Recorded with all custom made analog gear and half-speed mastered to perfection, these were pressed in very small quantities and are now considered to be highly collectable.

Condition: LP is still in it's original opened shrink wrap. Record cover shows no wear. Corners are sharp. Spine, top and bottom are solid and show no signs of shelf wear, chipping or splits. There are no spindle marks on the label. Vinyl is clean, shiny and plays like new.

Side One
The Entertainer
Alexander's Ragtime Band
Darktown Strutters' Ball
Wild Cherries Rag
Al Jolson Medley
Solace

Side Two
St. Louis Blues
Keystone Rag
I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles
Westward Ho!
Silent Movies Medley
Finale: Maple Leaf Rag/ 12th Street Rag

Review: Recorded with with the utmost attention to image focus, placement and tonal balance. Extremely well-produced record on the TAS (The Absolute Sound) List of extraordinary recordings.

Dave Wilson shut down his recording operation several years ago, presumably to concentrate on his speaker building. While we can be grateful he is still making speakers, we must all feel the loss of his recordings. He was one of the few people in the business still trying to duplicate the authentic sound of a live experience rather than creating something known only to the mind of an engineer in a control room. Dave recorded Ragtime Razzmatazz, Volumes I & II, back in 1980 and 1982, at which time I reviewed them on LP. The ragtime piano in the Cattlemen's Restaurant, a "Mighty Kroeger," may sound overly large, but I've heard it live and that's pretty much the way it is. And as the cover says, pianist Mark Wetch plays these rags and blues with great success. I only wish he had recorded a whole album of Scott Joplin exclusively. Some audiophile shops and mail-order houses may still carry back copies of the disc, and there are always used record stores you could try. This album and the others in Wilson's repertoire are well worth seeking out.