Rare pressings. Big opinions. Honest listening.
On February 28, we welcomed renowned audio journalist Michael Fremer to our Montgomeryville showroom for a special vinyl listening event—an afternoon dedicated to hearing records the way they were meant to be heard.
Fremer, editor of Tracking Angle and longtime contributor to The Absolute Sound, has spent decades evaluating turntables, cartridges, tonearms, and record pressings, championing analog at a time when many had written it off. Few people have heard as many records, across as many systems, as critically as he has. For collectors and music lovers alike, it was a rare opportunity to hear vinyl through his perspective.
Across two sessions, Fremer played a carefully curated selection of records—some classic, some unexpected, and several that very few people have ever heard before.
But in true crate-digging fashion, the day actually started across the street. Before the event even began, Fremer walked across the street to the Montgomeryville Goodwill store and returned with a small stack of records.
A few $2.99 finds later, he was already telling stories—about pressings, recording techniques, and the unexpected gems that can still be hiding in thrift store bins.
The haul included:
- Joe Jackson – Jumpin’ Jive (A&M, rice paper sleeve)
- Virgil Fox – At the Organ Plays J.S. Bach (Command 35mm recording)
- Doug Kershaw – The Cajun Way (Warner Brothers)
- Ralph Towner – Solo Concert (ECM)
Our own staff member who accompanied Fremer scored a surprise: what appeared to be a mint original U.S. pressing of Days of Future Passed by The Moody Blues.
Not bad for a quick pre-event crate dig.
The Listening Session
Inside the showroom, Fremer walked attendees through a wide range of recordings, highlighting how mastering, pressing quality, and playback setup can dramatically shape what we hear.
Some were beloved classics. Others were rare test pressings, acetates, and audiophile editions that demonstrated the nuance and power of great vinyl playback.
Each record came with commentary—stories about the artists, the recording process, and why certain pressings stand above the rest.
Below is the full playlist from the event.
Michael Fremer’s Listening Session Playlist
CLICK FOR THE PLAYLIST ON SPOTIFY →
Frank Sinatra – In the Wee Small Hours
Tone Poet test pressing
Nina Simone – Little Girl Blue
Analogue Productions reissue
The Beatles – Abbey Road
Original U.K. Apple pressing
Duke Ellington – Masterpieces by Ellington
Analogue Productions 45RPM reissue test pressing
Buddy Holly – Buddy Holly
MCA Records “Heavy Vinyl Series” 1995 acetate
Rufus Reid / Caelan Cardello – Rufus Reid Presents Caelan Cardello
Liam Records test pressing
Caelan Cardello – Chapter One
Jazz Bird / Liam Records
The Who – Tommy
Classic Records 2006 45RPM acetate
Led Zeppelin – Stairway to Heaven
Classic Records 45RPM single test pressing
Wadada Leo Smith & Amina Claudine Myers
Central Park’s mosaics of reservoir, lake, paths and gardens
Red Hook Records 45RPM
The Who – Who’s Next
45RPM UHQR Clarity Vinyl (unreleased)
Art Blakey – A Night in Tunisia
45RPM Music Matters acetate
Why Pressings Matter
One of the themes Fremer returned to throughout the afternoon was that not all records are created equal.
Different masterings, cutting engineers, pressing plants, and vinyl formulations can dramatically change the listening experience—even when the album title is the same.
Through the listening session, attendees could hear firsthand how details like:
- mastering choices
- lacquer cuts
- pressing quality
- and playback setup
combine to shape the final sound.
It’s a reminder that vinyl collecting is as much about discovery and curiosity as it is about the music itself.
Keeping Your Records—and Your Turntable—in Top Shape
Alongside the listening sessions, our own “Turntable Doctor,” Brayton Robinson, took a few moments to walk attendees through proper turntable care and record preservation.
Brayton covered the fundamentals that can make a surprising difference in both sound quality and the longevity of your equipment—from properly cleaning records and maintaining your stylus to understanding when it’s time to replace or upgrade it.
Even small steps, like regularly cleaning your stylus or removing debris from a record before playback, can dramatically improve what you hear while also protecting the delicate components of your cartridge and grooves of your records.
For collectors who want to make sure their systems are performing at their best, Brayton also offers turntable setup and tune-ups at our showrooms every Thursday—helping ensure everything from cartridge alignment to tracking force is dialed in properly. When it comes to vinyl playback, great sound doesn’t just come from great records—it also comes from proper setup and care.
For a turntable tune-up, drop off your turntable at our Montgomeryville showroom, or call us with your turntable model and any issues you’re having for a quote. A tune-up includes:
- Component Condition Checks
- Stylus Inspection
- Tonearm Balance and Condition
- Stylus Force Anti-skating
- Cartridge Output and Crosstalk
- Cartridge Alignment or Replacement
Thank You to Everyone Who Joined Us
We’re grateful to everyone who joined us for this special event—and to Michael Fremer for sharing his time, expertise, and incredible record collection.
From rare test pressings to $2.99 thrift store finds, the afternoon captured what makes vinyl culture so compelling: great music, great systems, and the stories behind the records.
Stay tuned for more listening events and experiences at our showroom.
