This Movie May Bore You "Tho" If you Collect Reel to Reel Tapes, Prolly Not!

A few weeks ago I visited a woman in Portland, OR whose husband ran tape duplication services for GRT Records (GRT owned the Chess catalog in the early 70s and provided tape duplication services for many labels).
She's had a rough few years and needed help with this collection of 200+ 10" reels. I flew out to Portland to help her. Glad I did. This video is a reel by reel video catalog of the tapes and nothing more. You might find interesting some of what I found! Or you might be bored. You have been warned!
Also, I flew in and arrived late at night the evening before I started shooting this and it took me a few minutes to get up to speed as you'll see and hear.
I'll say this: she baked and played some of these tapes and they are wow!

[@jacoblarson3650]

Michael your videos are never boring. When I get the notification for a new video, it pretty much makes my day. Keep it up!

[@TheVinylGuru]

Right? He could never bore me.

[@analoguecity3454]

I love all these cool videos!

[@nrod66]

I just can´t get enough of your videos, Michael. Keep 'em coming.

[@bigrecord]

I am always blown away by the history...love this!!

[@cyprianalexzander6628]

This is so much fun to watch. Thanks for sharing!

[@deeg8849]

Michael. Always dig the intros of your Mom ribbing you about buying records. Gotta expand on that some day. I’m sure there’s great stories there

[@PaulStewartPositivePaul]

Love it! It would be great if all of that was available in DSD or a fresh pressing in vinyl. Great video!

[@jazzbumsmike]

you made my friday. watching now and already love it. #teammalachi

[@TheGB1950]

I had a lot of these LPs back in the day and you reminded me of a lot of music I have totally forgotten about, thanks!,BTW I'm sure in the Todd Rundgren collecting community someone will be interested in those Nazz Nazz Reel to Reels

[@AriKona]

If I had come here for your review and analysis of the RtR tapes, I suppose I might be bored (but I doubt it). However, if I came here for your unassailable wit, prodigious insight and phenomenal knowledge base, I shall leave sated and humbled greatly. I prefer the latter and was not disappointed in any way. Thank you and please, please post a bit more frequently. I almost went through withdrawal. Fortunately, I do get the monthly dose of your written thoughts, but still want more "live" Michael Fremer.

[@kuglepen64]

Well since Chess is owned by Universal, and the Universal Studios tape archive burned in 2008, there just *might* be some titles of interest there.

[@AnalogPlanet]

Actually fewer tapes burned than the New York Times reported (like the Buddy Holly tapes and the Impulse tapes being used now both by Acoustic Sounds and Analogue Productions) but the Times refuses to issue a correction. Still, there are many missing tapes. I was hoping for more Chess material but there's some. And after the video was shot she found a really clean copy of "The Harder They Come" soundtrack.

[@finch45lear]

The excitement never stops.

[@carlosfabila3896]

Never boring always fascinating!

[@DetroitStars]

I have a few of those Cruisin' LPs from back in the day. Iconic '50s songs with Iconic DJs. They also included a few radio advertisements from the time. They had great cover art that featured the same teeny bopper couple as they aged through the years doing whatever teeny boppers did at the time. I'd love to see a box set of the whole series, but I'm sure the licensing would be a nightmare.

[@Fallacy99]

That's exciting, thanks for the video!

[@jmfloyd23]

Wow! What a treasure! Bake em before you play em. Would love to have some of those tapes!

[@MrRom92DAW]

It’s great that these still exist, they may be the best tape sources out there for some classic recordings! My question is, what happens to these now? Will these be going up for sale or auction anywhere? Wouldn’t mind being put in touch with any of the appropriate parties…

[@Vinylman.Rajdeep]

Wonderful collection of 1/2" tapes

[@shb8124]

That's a gold mine surely? Would love to see that collection even if I couldn't play it but it'd be amazing to hear.

[@nixternal]

Holy, the Cruisin' tape with Dick Biondi. I remember when he took over the big station here in Chicago in the early 80s. He lived in our neighborhood, then the 2 guys who took over his morning spot moved in our same neighborhood. Good ol' B96 back in the early 80s. Good stuff :D I still have cassettes that I recorded from way back then.

[@dlux8735]

Great Melanie impression, Never ever boring! When you talk to Graham, please remind him he still owes me twenty bucks! Stay safe D

[@dlux8735]

absolutely!

[@lovbladkarl-olof3975]

Wow. Ultrainteresting. Tapes are really cool!

[@billharper7523]

Michael could you explain the tape “baking” process. Is special equipment required? I have heard that the optimal temperature is around 120 degrees but most people don’t own an oven that goes that low. I own a number of Maxell UD-180 10 inch reels purchased in the 1970’s and would like to make some new recordings. Does this tape formulation require baking after erasure before it is reused to record new material? Keep up the good work Michael! Your videos are always incredibly informative and filled with your unique brand of quirky humor.

[@2packs4sure]

Michael if you could possibly get a photograph of the original owner's listening room from back in the day that would be interesting to post up,, I'd love to see it..

[@analoguecity3454]

I like your "new do" by the way mr. Michael! You make me laugh, you'd make an awsome comic!🤣

[@AnalogPlanet]

I used to be one!

[@analoguecity3454]

@@AnalogPlanet fantastic!

[@casperguylkn]

Michael P Whalen was part of the New Christy Minstrels at one time. That gives us an idea of what it might sound like. His one solo album was originally released in 1968. He had a few singles on Reprise before that.

[@analoguecity3454]

Anything about hifi and music I'm interested in, I'd by tapes and a machine if I could afford it! But I'm happy with my records! This is fun to watch!

[@williamsmith8689]

Would love to see you cover 50s-70s RnB and soul. I'm addicted to that period. Stax, philly, Motown, northern soul, Etc. Great artists, writers and musicians.

[@tonymcgeachin9906]

Mountain "Flowers of Evil" Quad, Wow.

[@douglaswatters7303]

I'm sure the bidding would go nuts on that Wings set. Half track right from the master tapes, wow. That man has that huge collection but no Revox or other decks?

[@thriftdig]

NOT boring. Right up my alley

[@mubodude]

Quicksilver's Happy Trails is one of the best! Would love to roll THAT tape.

[@TheVinylGuru]

Agreed!

[@demdschungelkonigseinkanal5326]

I would love to see a video about your most interesting, best sounding Sinatra records. Greetings from Germany.

[@jeremytravis360]

Do you think that making a high quality digital copy would be acceptable Michael ? Otherwise how would they be rereleased ? Thanks for your video they are always informative and is been a long time since we have seen you.

[@mjg263]

Some of those boxes look like they’re for 1/2” tape, are these all 1/4” tapes? Yeah, full two track @7 1/2 can sound fantastic, doesn’t need to be at 15 to sound awesome. Those are some incredible tapes, I’d love to hear every single one! Still have my GRT 7” 1/4 track tape of Smith’s first album (with Baby It’s You). GRT put out some of the more interesting open reel offerings BITD.

[@WindomRettes]

Just a question for ya, when will the first audio show take place this year that you plan to attend ?

[@johnwerner4925]

Wings Over America is one of my favorite concert videos as it documented the favored version of Wings in rather good form. I can't imagine what this tape might reveal. The Blu-Ray release of the concert many years later was really long lusted for. But here we've got the raw audio as it went down. No post and without compression. I'm sure it has some warts, hopefully of the kind that are like honey more than inner lemon rind. Will we ever actually hear this? Probably not but if I was Mikey I'd find a restored Revox A77 Mk III 2-track and crack open something special. That Raspberries blurb...agreed on Eric mostly...but, Wally was a tasty guitarist and lover of the Who style of power pop. He never got much recognition but I found him the center of good in anything Raspberries. Ienner mstered Raspberries on Capitol for AM radio in the worst way to my ears. If that Raspberries was before Ienner got a hold of it I'll bet it has some bass and dynamics. I'm curious on that one as a result.

[@mubodude]

You're NOT a puppet, Michael. And gosh darn it, people like you!

[@TheViewFrom2A]

Well Micheal, if you remember, from past quick chats, the Vanguard's Newport Folk Festival series is so important that its frightening that a complete collection every recorded year isnt already readily available.... make it happen.

[@karlsonkab51]

The late and great Roger Russell had a collection of New York's FM show "Hi Fi Workbench" - - those contain the "Who's Who" of the Golden Age of American Hi Fi. Hopefully they will go to someone who understands their value and will dub the reels to digital to be distributed to the public. The fidelity was "great".

[@lovbladkarl-olof3975]

Wow ! A keir Dullea tape!!!!!! That is just awesome

[@continentalgin]

Oh...my...God... the new audiophile vinyl releases that could be made from some of those! Freakin' heavenly analogue find! Jeez Louise!!

[@continentalgin]

I know, some may be needle drops. But still, some are obviously dubs off the masters.

[@iggyfritz7150]

My God I love 70's music Simon and Garfunkel Nelson just wow. I love the sound of Real to Reel.

[@martinda7446]

Wow... No reel to reel...DOH!😸 First thing I'd play? Coming into Los Angeles, Arlo Guthrie and then some more of the Woodstock..Don't touch my bags If you please, Mr Customs man. It puts me in that cinema with Charlton Heston. Such amazing imagery and time - times two. Please look after the owner of these really well. As if we have to ask.

[@douglaswatters7303]

I used half track for a long time and felt that 7.5ips was near perfection. There may have been some improvement with 15ips but I could never tell on my tascam32. I started worrying about head wear and tape consumption at 15ips. Once you've had half track, it's hard to go back to quarter track.

[@lucalone]

7.5 ips 2 track is awesome !!

[@LyndonSoulGroove]

o love going thorough old tapes, found some radio recording which although no true hi fi was interesting when I played them on my Akai Tape machine at 7 inches per second.

[@CamhiRichard]

Hope it was 7 ½ ips!

[@chrisclarkvideos1969]

Sir! I salute you! I ABSOLUTLEY feel your giddy enthusiasm!

[@JeffersonDD]

How to find out if any of these are available to collectors?

[@1978lukather]

We miss your videos, Michael. I hope you are ok! Hugs From Spain

[@jasonkovac547]

My brain fell out when you showed that one half of that first Fairport album, but it was rebounded back into my skull by your rude good health

[@AnalogPlanet]

Good health is always courteous

[@utub1473]

We most certainly need an all analogue release of the Monty Python soundtracks.

[@dougg1075]

The world is a better place with you in it Mr Fremer:) loved the video

[@casperguylkn]

Mountain Quad Mix = Quad encoded SQ format from CBS. All released versions of this album so far have been encoded. Same with Santana - Lotus, which was encoded SQ on all issues (up to recently).

[@petrosso97]

Michael, have you compared the RTI 45rpm test pressing of Stairway to heaven to the Newer Clarity Vinyl copy ?

[@petrosso97]

Michael, have you reviewed the Ds audio cart system ?

[@nonosinnj]

Bravo Maestro!

[@TheVinylGuru]

...you truly are a gift to youtube.

[@vinylrules4838]

Wow, just wow!

[@johnhermanson5249]

OMG, Nazz Nazz? My favorite album of the time. I used it as a soundtrack to my camping trip movie. I betcha Rundgren will buy it. ......ICE.......

[@56firedome]

The "Cruisin'" series were originally released in mono back in 1971 to 1973.

[@alanabentrod3963]

Best video yet Michael. Wish you made a lot more they are informative and amusing. The website is just to hard to enjoy. A weekly review of albums would be most welcome.

[@sivasankar9694]

Looks like you have hit the jackpot 🎰 congratulations 🎉 you will get to grow old gracefully 🧐😇🤣🙏🍻🕉

[@rodantkapoor9721]

Wow! Just, WOW!

[@jeffdawson2786]

Great work.

[@paulc5358]

Great video Interesting Very Interesting!!! What are they plaining to do with them!!

[@trufuzionshow]

Cruising Series’s is on a commercial release 7” Reel to Reel I’ve seen them on eBay don’t know how they sound though

[@antmanbee100]

Haggard and Owens both created the Bakersfield Sound. They played in clubs out there.

[@kevinpatrickmacnutt]

GRT used to make prerecorded cassettes and 8 tracks back in the 70s for major labels. If they were dubbing the tapes to 8 track or cassettes, there is no real reason for it to be 15 ips. 7.5 ips usually sounds fantastic and much better than 3.75 or 1 7/8 ips. Hilarious Melanie and Ritchie Havens impression by the way. Oh that Kier Dullea album should be painful. I can only imagine what they had him sing.

[@bobjerome5390]

hi some times they use 1/2 inch tape stereo there is a 1 inch stereo why do people run down 7 1/2 it can be as good if the eq right

[@brucerothwell7944]

You indicated you wanted to know what "tails out" meant? It is a way to store a reel of tape that is placed onto the RIGHT hub instead of the left.... which forced you to rewind -- "unpack" -- the reel before listening to it... then when you got to the end, it was ready for putting back in the box.

[@drrick8839]

Which was done so the tape wasn’t tightly wound by a hi speed rewind. Less bleed through from long term storage.

[@fj103]

What a find!!

[@jabensergei]

Michael, I bet those muffins on the back were great too! Its like finding the gold of pirates, how did you survived?:-)

[@999troglodyte]

My first reaction...Are any of these the closest to the lost MCA masters?

[@secretpatriot1778]

Hey Michael! What are your speakers currently? The Wilson Alexx or the XVX that you reviewed in April? I been following you for quite a long time. I remember you showed your Wilson Maxx 3's on camera while chatting with Scott Wilkinson from Home Theater Geeks. And then you reviewed the Wilson Alexandria XLF and bought and kept those. Then you reviewed the Alexx which you also bought and kept. Did you buy and keep the Chronosonic XVX? Or are you going for the new Alexx V? Thanks!

[@AnalogPlanet]

I bought the XVX.

[@secretpatriot1778]

@@AnalogPlanet Oh my God. Congratulations!!!!!!!!!

[@Localbandography]

I get the feeling I will be seeing Teddy present the Muddy Waters found here at some point.

[@horowizard]

Great Ritchie Havens impersonation!

[@dougg1075]

Will a company buy these? Amazing

[@1999zrx1100]

It’s not sad Mike, it’s exciting! 😎

[@Alan-jv5bd]

This is amazing! Mu first experience with recorded music was on a reel-to-reel deck by Sony. And there is nothing wrong with 7.5 speed. Too bad that this stuff is now out of reach. Love your stuff, Michael. Reckids, more new reckids!

[@showstopperrob1097]

Micheal, I would also like a kid in a candy store. Would sound great on my Studer A810

[@davidroot298]

Oh to get my hands on those tapes. ‘Lucky”. Glad to see you cut your hair.

[@EXPORT1867]

We need a follow up to this video

[@michaelkaplan22b]

A portable Revox A77 High-Speed + headphones will do the job for easy on-site auditioning.

[@stephencastro1437]

Nah. A B77. LOL

[@michaelkaplan22b]

@@stephencastro1437 Yes, a better machine, but harder to find and likely more expensive. I found a cache of 4-track jazz tapes that the local record dealer wouldn't let out of sight, so I brought my trusty A77 and sat for hours auditioning the tapes. Good thing I did, as many of the tapes had edge ripple that made them unplayable. I did manage to score "Kind of Blue," though, which made the ordeal worthwhile.

[@stephencastro1437]

@@michaelkaplan22b i was just saying for selfish reasons. Lol. cause i have a B77 MkIi that i restored. Lol.

[@michaelkaplan22b]

@@stephencastro1437 My university had two B77 units rack mounted. Since no one used them, they sold them off in a warehouse sale (that I did not know about).

[@NickP333]

Wow! Holy amazing tapes, Batman! That Hollies tape belongs with Graham Nash. So many historic titles. Very exciting stuff! Thanks so much, Michael. (You’re a deaf old man with a crappy room though...🤣) JK! ✌️🎶🌝🔊

[@Seej1982]

He's only on the greatest hits LP, but did co-write the first song on Confessions.

[@NickP333]

@@Seej1982 Hey there, CJ. Michael now knows that the tape exists. Michael knows Graham. I’d rather see it with someone who played with the band in any capacity if possible. That’s all I was saying. Have a good rest of your weekend, CJ! 👍🎶🙂

[@bobcollazo1900]

Great stuff, Michael, but what’s with the new coif?

[@AnalogPlanet]

CovidCoiff

[@Vaga365]

Hi Michael, Would you please tell me what the digital media player that you have all of your stuff on. I remember seeing it in the basement, but of course, can't find it again. Thank you in advance!

[@AnalogPlanet]

I have all of the digital material on hard drives and use a ROON Nucleus as the "brain"

[@Vaga365]

Thanks much. Btw, Looking forward to my first issue of Stereophile arriving soon.

[@guitawrizt]

*_Wow- found 'Hot Wheels' by Stan Farlow - it was mighty Cash like._*

[@Roamany-Jones]

The U.K. ‘white’ Angel series from the 60’s and early 70’s sound fantastic not to be confused with the US Angel Label which sucks.

[@BogoEN]

I’m sure you won’t be needing that Simon & G-funk, so I’ll send my address. Yes and thank you!! (Seriously, great video!)

[@VagueRANT100]

WOW!!!!!

[@phillanassa759]

Me likey me likey Mikey! I've got multiple studio machines here, ready to use those tape. By now I think people are getting it that tape surpasses vinyl in every way, the best turntables and LP's and its not even close! And I've got a pretty good analog front end, VPI Avenger Plus, 12.5" fat boy, all the extras, cables and Mc phono stage in a C2500. With Tape Project's "Heart Like A Wheel" by Linda Ronstadt playing on my modified Otari MX55, versus a Mint minus original pressing on the VPI, it's no contest. I bought that tape to prove that exact point to anyone who would 'listen'. I'd be happy just to be able to make copies of some of those tapes for personal use. Hint HIint... You sell, I pay cash.. you name price I gladly pay cash and shipping, unless in the Jersey area! EDIT:: and yes, I's set up for 1/4". 1/2" 2 track, 4 track and Quarter track stereo in every speed from 3 3/4 to 30 ips. How come we never see Mikey running a R2R in his Uber-System?

[@drrick8839]

I’ve got a Scully 280 1” 8 track (among others) if you need to do some mix downs or dubs.

[@mannye]

The question everyone is asking.... WHEN IS THE AUCTION?

[@Soedel.Deluex]

And the machine to sell ....? 2021 ? Good for you !!!

[@lucalone]

7.5 IPS covers frequencies from 20 Hz up to 20 kHz, which is the hearing spectrum of a human !!! sure 7.5 ips sounds fantastic !

[@chrisv9419]

Man, I live in portland all my life and I never find stuff like this lol

[@andressalazar2711]

Michael content on a Friday

[@marcallen6987]

Nazz Nazz was on SGC...not Cotillion. Would love to have that tape!!

[@AnalogPlanet]

Right! My bad. Different Atlantic/Atco division

[@carlfuggiasco7495]

This ain't boring me I love this stuff.....wish I still had a RR deck.

[@analoguecity3454]

Damn right!

[@continentalgin]

You can still buy a new, high quality, reel to reel deck, but you have to get it from Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam or Russia. No joke.

[@reitsound3941]

@@continentalgin That's exactly where all the counterfeits com from.

[@continentalgin]

@@reitsound3941 I don't doubt it.

[@Dbriskit]

Oh man - when you said "GRT" I let out an expletive. One of the most lamented losses of the infamous "Universal fire" was meant to be the Chess catalogue. This is big news!

[@Dbriskit]

Wow this is an amazing collection. Look forward to the AAA Monty Python @ 45rpm. "Man, you've never heard the fish slapping dance like this. When Cleese pulls out the big trout, it's like he's in the room." :P

[@andershammer9307]

Wow ! I have 52 reel to reel machines so I bet I can play some of them.

[@Onionbaron]

Do you play them on a weekly schedule? :)

[@deadweight6090]

NICE!