10 Albums with Audiophile-quality Sound (The Kendun Recorders Episode!)

[@briannewell6064]

I went down this rabbit hole years ago. It can be very rewarding but it will make you crazy so be prepared.

[@Cookingwithsteveg]

Another winner, Tim! I really appreciate this information you’re sharing. Six months ago I bought a collection 2000+ records from the estate of a serious audiophile. This gentleman had 15 vintage Macintosh amplifiers and receivers. He built his own turntables. His speaker collection was insane too. I could only afford the record collection. Since watching your educational videos I’m finding all these amazing audiophile sound quality recordings in the collection. Of course many of the recordings in the collection are obviously. This guy knew what to buy. Thanks to you I now enjoying his legacy even more. Steven

[@Universityofvinyl]

Love to hear it Steve! Thanks

[@fasturn-fc2of]

Recorded a few times at Kendun. What a nice studio and some might never hear that controll room sound again. Heart was doing mastering and we would listen to the 2 inch tape. Pulling down the faders, you could hear the girls poping gum on backup vocals. To much fun in the day. Lots of history out of that studio and not much to find on Google. Thanks for your video on Kendun. Still have a Lacquer and cover from the mastering room lathe.

[@Universityofvinyl]

Nice! Thanks for adding more detail.

[@1999glock]

Was Kent Duncans bodyguard for 3 years. Spent a lot of time with Kent, or as I cammed him behind his back "Redbeard".... Wild times to say the least.

[@Universityofvinyl]

Crazy…..he needed a bodyguard?

[@-CountZer0-]

that must be you joe.... details?

[@1999glock]

No, Joe did his CCTV's and cameras. My name is Phil.

[@glen-scott]

I was listening to Love's Reel-To-Real today, and was thinking it sounded really good. Lo and behold, after checking the dead wax I could see the "KENDUN" stamp!

[@brianmedeiros6845]

I picked up the Steely Dan Katy Lied Excellent condition and Heart both KENDUN will check the others. I’m really big on biographies and history learning and enjoying so much from these reviews priceless Thank You!

[@jasonarsenault3791]

Outstanding videos. Thanks so much. Keep them coming.

[@Universityofvinyl]

Thanks much

[@BD_MEDIA.]

Thank you!

[@airwatersun]

Really useful information with out the rarified audiophile reissue prices. Thank you!

[@Universityofvinyl]

Thanks for watching!

[@kgobrien1]

thanks for the informative video. Kendun is a real blast from the past.

[@jasonsmith2032]

I just found your channel and find this information very insightful! My Katy Lied has KENDUN in the wax, but it's stamped rather than hand-written in there.

[@Universityofvinyl]

Mine is also stamped, thanks! 👍🏻

[@SDsailor7]

@@Universityofvinyl So is it supposed to be stamped or etched to be the real thing? Or are both the real deal

[@Universityofvinyl]

@@SDsailor7 I believe very early pressings on some albums were etched but more than likely you will see stamped

[@SDsailor7]

@@Universityofvinyl I will see what i have today.

[@jimmcginn2820]

Knowledge is power ....Thanks again

[@maryelms5948]

Very informative. I'll start looking for KENDUN pressings now. I know a lot of people dislike the Nautilus Recordings, but Heart's - Dreamboat Annie Nautilus pressing is pretty darn good.

[@Smarty3853]

John Stewart: Between 1969 (California Bloodlines) and 1979 (Bombs Away Dream Babies) he released seven albums.

[@theboomerscalper]

I just check my mint Dreamboat Annie that I got for $3 at Goodwill........It’s a Kendon! I got the REO for $3 too. This is the stuff I live for. Great video Tim.

[@Universityofvinyl]

Thanks much!

[@SashaS2art]

Mine too! It has ‘its in the wax to the max’ scribed in the dead wax as well

[@patricktecklenburg1935]

"Why" by Fleetwood Mac kills me every time. Glad you like it too.

[@todddonaldson2822]

Another great video! Watched this morning before heading out to dig. Found four copies of George Benson, two were kendon. Unfortunately both were not great, one was NM but Columbia NY. Go figure.. I’ll keep digging. Keep up the good work professor 😎

[@ClaudeLavender]

Maui Waui by Chuck Mangione has such a great sound, apparently done at Kendun recorders

[@DocJJohnson]

Great show

[@Stuck_in_the_70s]

Yet another great video - and perfect timing! I've got 7 of those, but no idea if any is a KENDUN I will dig them out a bit lateron for a check!! Sunday morning is prime record digging time for me so I can have a good look tomorrow to see what's about cheers Tim 😎

[@rixvspinner]

Great choices. I would have picked most of em and added Pete Townshend/Ronnie Lane Rough Mix, and any Glynn Johns and Ken Scott recording ever. I have a white label promo of Katy Lied that sounds great although the DBX filtering was a disaster making this one not the outstanding Steely Dan album for sound quality. Kendun pressed some great vinyl and easy to spot in the dead wax since it's a stamp like Rudy Van Gelder's RVG stamp. Red Octopus has that great percussion- bongo's and the track Miracles that I was reminded of when I saw your video.

[@rEdf196]

I have a Steve Miller’s Fly Like an Eagle, original Canadian pressed vinyl. It actually has a KENDUN imprint in the dead wax. It was included in a free 300 plus 1960’s to 80’s record collection I acquired back in 2002 many other rare collectables included as well.

[@Universityofvinyl]

Nice!

[@nonsuchned94]

Aha! I guess this explains why I was so blown away by a later Heart album I got last year, "Dog and Butterfly,." another Kendun press. I'm not a huge Heart fan, but I was very impressed with the dynamic sound from the album. Got it from a Salvation Army for spare change. Also got the George Benson album recently from a subscription service called "Loved Again Media." (I did unboxing/reviews of my first three months- the last month shows they don't always hand out gold).

[@hadleyfraulob]

Wow thanks I just pulled out some other Kendun records I have. I highly recommend you listen to Deep Purple Stormbringer. Sounds amazing!

[@timsmith1426]

I'm about to go on my Saturday thrift run with my wife, so this is well timed! We'll be hitting our record store on the route! :)

[@Universityofvinyl]

Happy hunting!

[@timsmith1426]

@@Universityofvinyl I was able to find the John Stewart in the budget bin for $2.99 in near mint condition. It's as good as you advertised, great listen! 😊👍

[@Universityofvinyl]

@@timsmith1426 nice!! I saw it in a shop yesterday also, easy pickin’s…

[@markusschulzbro]

Thanks! Very interesting video.

[@Universityofvinyl]

Thanks

[@henriksrensen3220]

Junior Wells 'come on in this house' is a great sounding blues album. The Cox Family "gone like the cotton" is a great sounding americana album. If you se the name Gary Paczosa as recording engineer, it's almost always great sounding albums.

[@James-tf8vg]

Wow. John Stewart album. Fantastic album. It's very difficult to find US pressing. Mine was pressed in Asia

[@dustinwhitaker1374]

Just recently picked up a KENDUN copy of Ricthie Blackmore's RAINBOW (VG+). Sounds amazing! Also got lucky and found a A2/B2 Oyster 1st press of RAINBOW Rising a couple days before (VG+-NM).

[@brianmedeiros6845]

When I told my wife about the Heart she replied I Love that record and of course I said just for you honey LOL Listening to the Thompson Twins Into The Gap right now Amazing Thank You!

[@Universityofvinyl]

Hahaha, there is a very fine balance when it comes to appeasing wives concerning vinyl habits/addictions

[@quikspecv4d]

I have the 45 rpm version of that Fleetwood Mac. It is a fantastic sounding pressing. I highly recommend it if you can get a copy for a good price.

[@seand67]

Love this series

[@chopayrussell9660]

Thank you, that was very informative. I posses four from your list Heart..."Dreamboat Annie" Steve Miller..." Fly like an Eagle" Fleetwood Mac..."Fleetwood Mac" Steely Dan..." Katy Lied"

[@Universityofvinyl]

Thanks for watching

[@wildstar41]

Another great video. Thank you! Would the dead wax always say KENDUN? My white Fleetwood Mac didn't have it. Might be a later press, though it's on the back of the album cover. My Red Octopus did! I may go out to look for that Steve Miller Band Album this afternoon.

[@Universityofvinyl]

Early pressings have both Kendun and Pogo in deadwax. Pogo was producer Keith Olsen’s vanity mark

[@LyndonSoulGroove]

Wow Tim, by coincidence i Bought The Heart LP the other week, Also their 1977 Lp for 3 pounds for the two ! I will check the dead wax ! have been a big fan of George Benson & because I remember those Songs for late 70's 80's most of the time heard while at the seaside or at a fair ground or on transistor radio at the age of 6 years old, its great to re- visit those tracks with new dimension with better hi Fi gear , ortofon Black & Valve phono stage..will no go and check dead wax.. thanks Tim for interesting Historical Video. I can recommend Lp's recorded in Uk studio as follows:- Any 10 cc Album & Neil Sedaka Lp from 1972 which was done produced with the guys from 10cc

[@LyndonSoulGroove]

realized my copy of Dreamboat Annie is the uk copy, still it sounds great ..

[@rogeregisley9221]

Joan Armatrading's superb Me, myself, I album deserves to be considered. Every track a masterpiece both musically & technically. Also Joe Cocker's Sheffield Steel album is a terrific hifi system tester demanding bass control, transient speed & tonal neutrality.

[@ReggieSears]

Did we forget about BOBBY WOMACK’s “The Poet”, Johnnie Taylor’s “Just Ain’t Good Enough” or ANITA BAKER’s “The Songstress”? 3 of the best sounding Soul albums ever.

[@skylardickson5201]

I have a clean copy of Right On Time by The Brothers Johnson that was mastered by Bernie Grundman, and it sounds amazing! It really caught me by surprise.

[@philipgapske2206]

I do too. I also have a great sounding copy of Looking out for Number 1.

[@johnnyocvinylrecords1079]

Brilliant!

[@Universityofvinyl]

Thank you

[@stevenp.sparks2953]

Just a suggestion: When you show the album of choice, and then say "this band had 3 other albums released from KenDun", it would be awesome if you'd also list those other albums. Thanks for all of the informative vids; You are appreciated, Sparks in Daytona

[@richardwhite2344]

Nice video!!! Just would like to suggest you listen to Phase 4 Stereo records on the London Label. They are the greatest sounding records I have ever heard. They sound absolutely incredible

[@Universityofvinyl]

I will try and source some....thanks!

[@ricefieldrecords]

With regards to records with a KENDUN stamping: if the disc was not well taken care of over the years, isn't recording quality a moot point because surface noise may likely be a factor during turntable play?

[@Universityofvinyl]

Yep absolutely, it’s not always easy to find these in top condition

[@leea202]

Where's Chuck Mangione - Feels So Good on your Kendun iconic list??

[@Universityofvinyl]

Need to pick that one up 👍🏻

[@chrisl5156]

Thanks Tim, a very interesting video. Just curious. Many of the Steely Dan albums have been re-issued / re-mastered, but never Katy Lied or Countdown to Ecstasy. Do you know the reason why?

[@cahabatunes380]

I have the Kendun Katy Lied & while it sounds pretty good, I still think it could sound ALOT better. I guess given the DBX fiasco, this is the best they could do but I sure wish they could correct the master tape & remaster it. Have you heard the tracks from Katy Lied that are on the RL cut Greatest Hits? They sound pretty good too. LOVE my Kendun Fleetwood Mac pressing - one of the best sounding OG records in my collection. The bass & drums are unreal! -Russ

[@Universityofvinyl]

Yes, that double LP cut by RL sounds great, I find myself spinning it quite a bit

[@bobgauthier1569]

Luckily, I have the right Katy Lied, REO Jefferson Starship and the Fleetwood Mac 1975 album.I’m gonna have to give them another listen.😅

[@mlblue5355]

Fantastic video! I’m a huge Fleetwood Mac fan, so this was great! You have to love when the OG is the best huh? How do you feel about the Pallas Rumours pressing? Many say it’s better than the original. The drums were insane!

[@Universityofvinyl]

I have the 2 LP 45 Pallas cut -- amazing!

[@mlblue5355]

I found myself a copy of that Fleetwood Mac white album. Wow, yes, fantastic pressing! I love the sound stage, such a fantastic display of separation. Had a copy of my Mom’s from when I was super young, but it was played to death.

[@Universityofvinyl]

@@mlblue5355 one of my favorites! Enjoy

[@dotneck335]

How many on this list were actually mastered by Kent Duncan himself? I think that the earlier ones were, but the later ones were very likely done by John Golden, Kent's protege.

[@Universityofvinyl]

I would have to go through them, check out my John Golden video also, cheers Tim

[@wiz1]

Ok, Kendun doesn't press the records, Kendun does the master. These masters are sent to various pressing plants. Terre Haute, Santa Maria, etc. So, the different plant pressings will also sound different from one another, even though both are Kendun Stamped.

[@Universityofvinyl]

Thanks - not sure you watched the video - all of the albums featured were mastered at Kendun, that was the intent of the video. I’ve also featured several pressing plants in focused videos as well. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@wiz1]

@@Universityofvinyl I watched the entire video. Not hating, just wanted to make the point that even though there is a Kendun stamp present, the pressing can still be substandard. Btw, what pressing plant do you feel was the best / most consistent for the period of 1968-1980?

[@Universityofvinyl]

@@wiz1 I lean toward Monarch, Santa Maria, and Specialty

[@audiotomb]

What is Ken’s stamp on the dead wax?

[@Universityofvinyl]

“Kendun”

[@wallyallgood]

does kendun have to be on both sides or just one side???

[@Universityofvinyl]

It really depends on the LP; more often than not the stamp was present on both sides

[@Carrera6rennsport]

The reason Tom Port wont give you the dead wax Info is self evident, you wouldn't need his records. We played that game eons ago, he would sell you the matrix/dead wax info for the same money as just buying his records.