Analogue Productions · Acoustic Sounds
Acoustic Sounds
40th Anniversary.
Your next favourite record.
Start with a record you love.
Discover where it takes you.
Sometimes the first few bars are enough: a voice brings back memories, a guitar holds us in place. This anniversary series invites you to give those moments time – and to find new music between familiar albums.
A familiar name is
only the beginning.
In short
The Acoustic Sounds 40th Anniversary Series celebrates 40 years of Acoustic Sounds: together with Rhino, Analogue Productions brings classics from the Warner Music Group catalogue back to vinyl – from the archives of Warner Records, Reprise, Sire and Atlantic, pressed at Quality Record Pressings. 40 titles have been announced. Michael 45 carries 25 of them as 45 RPM editions, from Van Morrison’s Astral Weeks and Moondance to America, George Benson and Little Feat, the Ramones, Genesis and Trio, and ships throughout the EU and to Switzerland, Norway and the UK.
01 / Follow your taste
What are you in the mood for?
A musical way in.
No fixed pigeonholes.
02 / One record leads to the next
You like …
Every recommendation has a reason: shared musicians, another album by the same artist, or the musical path the record belongs to.
More from the artist
Homecoming
America
More America: Homecoming was released in 1972, one year later.
Homecoming in our shop ↗
Same direction
Summer Breeze
Seals & Crofts
From the same era (1972), on the same path “Guitars & harmonies”: Harmonies with a wide horizon.
Summer Breeze in our shop ↗
A step somewhere new
Trio
Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris
Something deliberately different, from “Guitars & harmonies” to “Country & great voices”: Three voices, one shared space.
Trio in our shop ↗03 / The record collection
Acoustic Sounds 40th Anniversary:
discover the albums.
This selection from Analogue Productions’ anniversary series ranges from folk and country to soul, funk and rock. Each record shows its current availability and price; the product page lists source, mastering and pressing.
Chicken Skin Music
Ry Cooder
Blues with open doors
Ry Cooder joins blues and American roots music with Hawaiian and Tex-Mex colours. A way in for anyone who wants to hear familiar songs from a new angle.
Have a listen “Chloe” – follow the exchange between guitars – Gabby Pahinui on steel guitar, Atta Isaacs on guitar.
Connection Ry Cooder can also be heard on Trio – guitar.
Also as hybrid SACD →
Paris, Texas
Ry Cooder
One guitar, one landscape
The soundtrack to Wim Wenders’ film lives on Ry Cooder’s sparse slide guitar. Pauses and ringing notes carry the music as strongly as its melodies.
Have a listen “Canción Mixteca” – sung by Harry Dean Stanton.
Connection Ry Cooder can also be heard on Trio – guitar.
Also as hybrid SACD →
His Band And The Street Choir
Van Morrison
Soul on the street
Horns, backing vocals and rhythmically direct songs shape this side of Van Morrison. An easy way into his blend of soul, folk and rhythm & blues.
Have a listen “Crazy Face” – Van Morrison himself contributes tenor saxophone.
“This voice is an earthquake, in my opinion.”
Sundown
Gordon Lightfoot
Stories in the evening light
Gordon Lightfoot’s calm storytelling voice meets acoustic guitars and precise song forms. Sundown is a perfect starting point for a journey through folk and singer-songwriter music.
Have a listen “Sundown” – the title song became a US number-one single in 1974.
“This calm record is so immersive when you listen to it.”
Montrose
Montrose
Four musicians, full tension
The Montrose debut is built on striking guitar riffs and Sammy Hagar’s vocals. The raw energy of a rock band takes centre stage.
Have a listen “Bad Motor Scooter” – Ronnie Montrose does more than accompany here – he invents its entrance.
“You get more detail, more richness, more punch – especially in the guitar-driven sound. Brilliant.”
Summer Breeze
Seals & Crofts
Harmonies with a wide horizon
Summer Breeze combines the voices of Jim Seals and Dash Crofts with acoustic colours and memorable melodies. An album for the road from folk to Californian pop.
Have a listen “Summer Breeze” – the Isley Brothers and, much later, Type O Negative made strikingly different versions.
“I was really stunned – and enjoyed the whole album in all its softness and beauty.”
America
America
The start of a journey
Acoustic guitars and harmony vocals give America’s debut its signature. Between folk and pop, it is a great starting point for more albums full of harmony singing.
Have a listen “A Horse with No Name” – its original working title was “Desert Song”, an apt description of its imagery.
“You very rarely hear the advantage of 45 RPM as clearly as on this pressing.”
Breezin’
George Benson
When the guitar sings
George Benson brings jazz guitar, soul and pop together. Breezin’ offers melodic instrumentals and, with This Masquerade, a famous vocal track.
Have a listen “This Masquerade” – by Leon Russell – Benson’s vocal performance won Record of the Year.
“It has so much clarity, dynamics and punch – and such beautiful timing.”
Dixie Chicken
Little Feat
The rhythm takes the scenic route
Little Feat blend blues, country and the rolling pulse of New Orleans. Dixie Chicken is for listeners who love the interplay of piano, guitar and rhythm section.
Have a listen “Roll Um Easy” – its restrained presentation changes the perspective before the band closes in again.
Connection Lowell George can also be heard on Rejuvenation – slide guitar.
Also as hybrid SACD →
Sailin’ Shoes
Little Feat
Blues with a mind of its own
Sailin’ Shoes shows Little Feat’s mix of rough rock, blues and idiosyncratic songwriting. Lowell George’s voice and guitar hold the different moods together.
Have a listen “Tripe Face Boogie” – written by Payne and Hayward – brings the band’s rhythmic workings to the foreground.
Connection Lowell George can also be heard on Rejuvenation – slide guitar.
Also as hybrid SACD →
Astral Weeks
Van Morrison
Songs that breathe freely
On Astral Weeks, Van Morrison unfolds his lyrics over acoustic, jazz-touched arrangements. The music follows long arcs and an open, flexible accompaniment.
Have a listen “Cyprus Avenue” – connects the album’s imagery with a specific Belfast place name.
“Astral Weeks. Oh my God, I so love this album.”
Moondance
Van Morrison
Between jazz and soul
Moondance distils Van Morrison’s songwriting into clear, varied forms. Swing, soul and folk open several ways into the album.
Have a listen “Crazy Love” – with backing vocals from Cissy Houston, Judy Clay and Jackie Verdell.
“A wonderful Van Morrison – once again at his best.”
Tony Joe White
Tony Joe White
A voice from the South
Tony Joe White’s deep voice and guitar lead through a mix of blues, soul and country. The rhythm matters just as much as the stories he tells.
Have a listen “Copper Kettle” – Albert Frank Beddoe’s song among his own collection of narratives.
Also as hybrid SACD →
Rejuvenation
The Meters
New Orleans in motion
Rejuvenation puts the interlocking rhythms of The Meters centre stage. Bass, drums, guitar and keyboards can be followed one by one, yet constantly lock together.
Have a listen “It Ain’t No Use” – nearly twelve minutes – try following the bass or drums throughout instead of melody and refrain.
Connection Lowell George can also be heard on Dixie Chicken – vocals, guitar.
Also as hybrid SACD →
Fire On The Bayou
The Meters
Funk with street life
Fire On The Bayou combines the rhythmic precision of The Meters with vocals and the musical language of New Orleans. Another road into the band’s world.
Have a listen “Mardi Gras Mambo” – makes the connection to New Orleans explicit.
Also as hybrid SACD →
Diamond Girl
Seals & Crofts
Folk-pop in motion
On Diamond Girl, Seals & Crofts add a livelier band sound to their harmony singing. The album continues the path of Summer Breeze with new rhythmic accents.
Have a listen “We May Never Pass This Way (Again)” – released as a single alongside the title track.
Also as hybrid SACD →
Paradise And Lunch
Ry Cooder
Old songs, new neighbours
Paradise And Lunch takes Ry Cooder through blues, gospel, soul and other American song traditions. The selection invites you to listen beyond familiar genre labels.
Have a listen “Ditty Wa Ditty” – the final number: Earl “Fatha” Hines plays piano in a duet with Cooder.
Connection Ry Cooder can also be heard on Trio – guitar.
Also as hybrid SACD →
Ramones
Ramones
Straight to the point
Short songs, straight rhythms and dense guitars define the Ramones’ debut. A deliberate counterpoint to the longer forms of other rock albums in this selection.
Have a listen “Let’s Dance” – an outside composition in the programme: Jim Lee’s song, familiar from Chris Montez’s recording.
Also as hybrid SACD →
KC & The Sunshine Band
KC & The Sunshine Band
Music that moves
KC & The Sunshine Band combine funk, disco and soul with recurring vocal hooks. Here the path leads through the rhythm and the energy of the whole band.
Have a listen “Let It Go” – frames the album in two parts – at the start and at the close.
Also as hybrid SACD →
Black Rose
John David Souther
Songwriting between country and pop
Black Rose puts John David Souther’s voice and melodic songs centre stage. A great next step for anyone drawn to where country meets Californian pop.
Have a listen “Faithless Love” – appeared on Linda Ronstadt’s album in 1974, before Souther released his own version here.
Connection Linda Ronstadt can also be heard on Grievous Angel – backing vocals.
Also as hybrid SACD →
Grievous Angel
Gram Parsons
Country as a dialogue
On Grievous Angel, Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris make the interplay of two voices the heart of the music. Country tradition and a personal choice of songs meet head-on.
Have a listen “Love Hurts” – closely tied to the interaction of Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris.
Connection Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt can also be heard on Trio.
Also as hybrid SACD →
Wind & Wuthering
Genesis
Rock in long arcs
Wind & Wuthering leads through multi-part songs, changing moods and extended instrumental passages. With it, Genesis open the progressive path in this selection.
Have a listen “Blood on the Rooftops” – co-written with Phil Collins – a particularly useful introduction to Steve Hackett’s contribution.
Also as hybrid SACD →
Foghat
Foghat
Blues, amplified
Foghat’s debut puts the blues into a powerful rock band format. Guitars and driving rhythm make it a natural next stop after Montrose.
Have a listen “Trouble, Trouble” – according to Roger Earl, made with Todd Rundgren at AIR Studios in London – Rundgren also played piano.
Also as hybrid SACD →Trio
Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris
Three voices, one shared space
Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris shape Trio with alternating lead vocals and shared harmonies. The selection brings together country, folk and traditional song forms.
Have a listen “Telling Me Lies” – written by Linda Thompson and Betsy Cook.
Connection Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt can also be heard on Grievous Angel.
Also as hybrid SACD →Homecoming
America
Harmony singing becomes band music
Homecoming expands America’s acoustic starting point with additional instrumental colours. The voices remain the thread that ties the songs together.
Have a listen “Ventura Highway” – the most familiar point of entry – then “To Each His Own” (Beckley) and “Don’t Cross the River” (Peek) bring in the band’s other two writers.
Also as hybrid SACD →No album found. Try another name or reset the selection.
From Michael’s videos
What Michael 45 says about the series
“Astral Weeks. Oh my God, I so love this album.”
“You very rarely hear the advantage of 45 RPM as clearly as on this pressing.”
“This voice is an earthquake, in my opinion.”
“It has so much clarity, dynamics and punch – and such beautiful timing.”
A musical thread
Three voices.
Many connections.
On Grievous Angel, Emmylou Harris sings alongside Gram Parsons. On Trio, she meets Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt. And Linda Ronstadt appears three times: on Grievous Angel, on Trio and on John David Souther’s Black Rose. Follow these voices and you will hear three kinds of singing together.
Discover Grievous Angel ↗Discover Trio ↗Discover Black Rose ↗04 / Music deserves our attention
A good record stays.
So does the love of music.
Pull the sleeve from the shelf. Put the record on. Wait for the first note. Small gestures – and an invitation to be fully with the music for one side of an album.
Acoustic Sounds 40th Anniversary: an anniversary to listen to
The Acoustic Sounds 40th Anniversary Series from Analogue Productions celebrates four decades of Acoustic Sounds. Together with Rhino, a programme from the Warner Music Group catalogue is taking shape: 40 titles have been announced, including music from the archives of Warner Records, Reprise, Sire and Atlantic. The vinyl editions are pressed at Quality Record Pressings in Salina, Kansas. The collaboration continues the path begun with the Atlantic 75 Series.
For us, the appeal of this selection lies in its different personalities. The open space of an acoustic guitar, three voices holding together, a band whose rhythm carries you at once: these are good reasons to get to know a record. An anniversary gives the occasion. The music gives us a reason to come back.
Quality starts with care
Our love of high-quality records comes from the music. We want to hear how a voice shapes a line, how musicians respond to each other and how an arrangement builds tension. That is why we care about the decisions behind an edition: the source, the mastering, the cut and the pressing.
America shows what this means in practice: for the anniversary edition AAPR 001-45, the manufacturer names the original master tape as the source and Matthew Lutthans at The Mastering Lab for the mastering. The album comes on two 180-gram LPs at 45 revolutions per minute, pressed at QRP and packed in a tip-on gatefold sleeve by Stoughton Printing.
For Paris, Texas, the source is an EQ tape copy, also mastered by Matthew Lutthans at The Mastering Lab. Genesis’ Wind & Wuthering even spreads across three 180-gram LPs. These details are listed for every record on its product page.
What excites us about an audiophile record
A beautifully made sleeve is a joy before the needle even reaches the groove. A carefully produced reissue makes you curious to hear an album anew.
Michael 45 has presented several editions from this series in his videos and compared them with early pressings, including America, Breezin’, Sundown, His Band And The Street Choir and Montrose. You will find his impressions right next to the records.
From one favourite record to the next discovery
Perhaps your path begins with America’s harmony singing and leads to Seals & Crofts. Perhaps Emmylou Harris’ voice draws you from Grievous Angel to Trio. Or you get hooked on Little Feat and discover that Lowell George also plays slide guitar on The Meters’ Rejuvenation.
The 25 albums on this page are a starting point. Take a familiar title and look for something you do not know yet. A collection is at its best when it has room for surprises as well as memories.
Good to know
Questions about the 40th Anniversary Series
How many titles are in the Acoustic Sounds 40th Anniversary Series?
40 titles from the Warner Music Group catalogue have been announced. Michael 45 carries 25 of them, all on this page with their current availability.
Are all editions mastered all-analogue?
Analogue Productions names the source for each record individually: for America it is the original master tape, for Paris, Texas an EQ tape copy, for Astral Weeks a 24-bit/192 kHz transfer of the original master tapes. Source, mastering and pressing are listed on every product page.
Are these all 45 RPM vinyl editions?
Yes. All 25 albums on this page are 45 RPM vinyl editions pressed at Quality Record Pressings. Most come on two 180-gram LPs, Wind & Wuthering on three.
Are the albums also available on SACD?
Yes, Michael 45 also carries all 25 albums as hybrid SACDs. You will find the link next to every record. The SACD is a separate product.
How are the album recommendations made?
From real connections: shared musicians such as Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Lowell George or Bill Payne, other albums by the same artist, and the musical path an album belongs to. The musicians come from the line-ups on the product pages.
Has Michael 45 presented these records?
Yes, eight of them in his videos on the YouTube channel 45 RPM Audiophile: Astral Weeks, Moondance, America, Breezin’, Sundown, His Band And The Street Choir, Montrose and Summer Breeze. His comments are shown next to the records.
Where can I see price and availability?
Right next to every record on this page, live from our shop. We ship throughout the EU and to Switzerland, Norway and the UK.
The portraits are illustrations, not photographs. The original covers come from the editions in our shop.
