The Bookshelf (Aug. 1980)

The Preservation and Restoration of Sound Recordings by Jerry McWilliams. The American Association for State and Local History, 1979, 138 pp., $8.95, $7.00 to AASLH members. (AASLH, 1400 Eighth Ave. South, Nashville, Tenn. 37203.)

Archivists and librarians confronted for the first time with the task of set ting up and maintaining an archive of recorded sound are usually perplexed as to how to go about it. Fortunately, there is now no need to despair as the author of this work has compiled in one small volume the rudiments on the subject as well as techniques for the preservation and restoration of sound recordings.

The first chapter presents a brief history of the development of recorded sound and the evolution of cylinders, discs, and tape recorders, concluding with the modern digital sound recording. In the second chapter, the author covers the preservation of sound recordings with recommendations for the storage of cylinders, discs, and tapes as well as the playback of these recordings and of wire recordings. Excellent sections on disc washing and cleaning and the maintenance and storage of records and tapes are included. The most important elements for the playback of records--cartridges, styli, tonearms, and turntables are adequately discussed. A product recommendation section is included for those in need of related audio equipment.

The chapter on the restoration of sound recordings is good but, we feel, too brief. A few do-it-yourself items could have been included such as a simple notch filter for eliminating 60-Hz hum, a presence control which is useful in playback of acoustic recordings, and information on the wiring of a stereo cartridge for the playback of mono records without the vertical noise present on these records. The final chapter offers recommendations to archives and libraries on storage, environmental controls, access, equipment, services, and copyright policies.

The balance of the book includes a Directory of Manufacturers and Suppliers, Directory of North American Sound Archives, Bibliography, and Index. Unfortunately, errors in the spelling of company names and their addresses have crept into the directory. The index is passable.

Although the book contains some errors and omissions, we find it to be a very worthwhile contribution for the beginning archivist or librarian, but too elementary for established archives and libraries of sound recordings. However, it includes a lot of useful information that should prove most helpful to the audiophile whose collection sometimes rivals that of some libraries. B. V. Pisha The Concerts by Laurie Lewis. Paper Tiger/A&W Visual Library, 120 pp., $12.50, paperback.

My friend Neil Benson, who shoots pictures and covers events for big magazines and wire services, tells me that concert photography is one of the easiest things he does. For several reasons. First, there is no question where you must look to find your subject-right in front of you on the stage. Second, the lighting is being done for you. The only really difficult part, says Neil, is getting access to be close to the stage. It is with these ideas in mind that I approach this lavish book of Laurie Lewis' rock concert photography which covers most of the '70s.

Technically, it is a beautiful book with exquisite, rich color and superb reproduction throughout and printed on fine heavy-stock paper. Unfortunately, Lewis' work simply does not offer any insight into the people on stage. It merely captures them there as caricatures in most typical moments of stage action. All you really learn is that Mr. Lewis went to a lot of concerts last decade. Even in the index, which is otherwise quite complete, there is a serious omission: The photos are not dated, something that in one easy stroke would have given the book at least the perspective of time.

Neil further suggested that a far more interesting book would be a collection of the work of Rolling Stone's Annie Leibovitz who really communicates about her subjects in her work.

He's right, too.

-Michael Tearson

(adapted from Audio magazine, Aug. 1980)

Also see:

Putting the Byte on Noise--NoNoise from Sonic Solution (Mar. 1989)

Cedar Noise Reduction-- Getting the Grain Out (Mar. 1992)

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