It took about 10 minutes to get there from Mizonokuchi Station on the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line. After leaving the busy station, I walked through quiet, sunny streets and soon arrived at the Audio Note listening room for the first time in a while. Upon stepping into the listening room on the second floor of the office building, the sense of tranquility, already apparent in the surrounding quiet neighborhood, becomes even more striking. I brought along several high-quality audio discs to listen to on the system here. Listening to them on a top-of-the-line system always moves me, letting me discover new details each time and making me want to keep listening forever. To illustrate the experience, I would like to share my thoughts on three specific LPs I brought with me on this visit. The system used for the listening session consisted of a Ginga turntable, a Kondo SME V-12 tonearm, an IO-X cartridge, an SFz MC transformer, a GE-10 phono amplifier, a G-1000 pre-amplifier, a Kagura2 power amplifier, and B&W 801D speakers. With the exception of the tonearm and speakers, all components are manufactured by Audio Note.

#316 Listening to “Bohemian Rhapsody” on 45 RPM Single LP

Bohemian Rhapsody - 50th Anniversary Edition (45rpm, 12” Single, Cobalt Blue Vinyl) / Queen
(Universal Music UIJY-75356)

The 1975 masterpiece “A Night at the Opera” not only cemented Queen’s name but also undeniably demonstrated their true musical prowess. ＜Bohemian Rhapsody,＞ which formed the core of the album, has been released on a 12-inch color vinyl 45-rpm single LP to commemorate the 50th anniversary of its release. This song is a masterpiece written by Freddie Mercury. The six-minute composition progresses from a ballad to an operatic style, then to hard rock. I brought it along, thinking I might be able to fully immerse myself in the kaleidoscope of Queen’s sound, which overturned the very concept of pop music.

The disk I own was originally pressed in a limited run of 5,000 copies for “Record Store Day” in 2015, but it was reissued late last year (2025) to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Bohemian Rhapsody. Although there are slight differences in balance, the power of the 45-rpm record was truly tremendous, allowing me to experience a remarkably realistic performance of ＜Bohemian Rhapsody＞. Not only do the vocals of Freddie Mercury, Brian May, and Roger Taylor sound vivid, but their positioning is even more solid and perfectly precise. The opera section in the middle was especially overwhelming, reproduced vividly, just as the band intended. The magnificent volume of the chorus, which is said to have undergone over a hundred and some dozens of vocal overdubs, is also incredibly powerful. I also brought my SACD for comparison, but the 45-rpm single LP stood in a class of its own. Because the grooves are cut so deeply, the dynamic clarity and the spaciousness of the sound field are clearly superior. The tracks were newly remixed at Abbey Road Studios from the analog tapes before being cut for the record, and the fact that the 50th-anniversary edition is on blue vinyl is a welcome bonus.

#317 Dexter Gordon’s Rare Trio Album

Lullaby for a Monster / Dexter Gordon
(Steeplechase LP G-1156)

This is a trio recording made in 1976 for the Danish SteepleChase Records label by modern tenor saxophone giant Dexter Gordon, accompanied by Niels Pedersen (bass) and Alex Riel (drums). The LP was originally released in 1981, but the version I listened to this time wasn’t the original pressing. It was the latest LP reissue, released as the “Audiophile Edition.”

Though Gordon created many brilliant albums, most shimmer with quartets or quintets, making piano-less trio recordings like this a rare and intriguing gem. With no chord instruments in the background, Gordon’s saxophone soars freely, weaving melodies with electrifying expressiveness. Gordon’s original composition ＜Nursery Blues＞ carries a cheerful spirit, but what truly lingered with me was the deeply moving resonance of Pedersen’s powerful bass as he played in unison. From the title track ＜Lullaby For A Monster,＞ written by Pedersen, to a sparkling rendition of the standard ＜On Green Dolphin Street,＞ Pedersen threads his way through every piece, delivering virtuosic solos and showcasing yet another facet of the trio’s collective allure. The rich, full-bodied sound is a hallmark of this 180g heavyweight LP. Thanks to the simple lineup, the three members’ presence stood out even more in the audio, and the studio atmosphere was vividly recreated.