Tippaporn

Buffalo Springfield with the '66 single For What Its Worth which was added to the March '67 second pressing of their first album, Buffalo Springfield.

'66 was a special year for me. It was a grand year.

Herman’s Hermits with the Ray Davies tune Dandy, released in '66 and appearing on their '67 There's A Kind Of Hush All Over The World album.

? (Question Mark) & the Mysterians with the title track of their '66 debut 96 Tears album.

Jimmy Ruffin with his '66 single What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted and released on his '67 debut Jimmy Ruffin Sings Top Ten album.

Count Five with the title track of their '66 debut Psychotic Reaction LP.

The Left Banke with Walk Away Renee off of their '66 debut Walk Away Renée/Pretty Ballerina album.

The Four Tops with Reach Out I’ll Be There off of their '66 Reach Out LP.

Neil Diamond with Cherry, Cherry off of his '66 debut The Feel Of Neil Diamond album.

The Spanish band, Los Bravos, with the title track of their '66 debut Black Is Black LP.

The Association with Cherish off of their '66 And Then . . . Along Comes The Association album.

The Temptations with the single Beauty Is Only Skin Deep. Included on their '66 Greatest Hits LP.

The Beach Boys with Wouldn't It Be Nice off of their '66 Pet Sounds album.

The Sandpipers with the title track of their '66 debut album Guantanamera.

The Hollies with the title track of their '66 Bus Stop album.

The Beatles with Eleanor Rigby. Also off of their '66 Revolver LP and set to the '68 animated film.

The Beatles with Yellow Submarine off of their '66 Revolver LP set to the '68 animated film.

Diana Ross & The Supremes with You Can't Hurry Love off of their '66 The Supremes A' Go-Go LP.

Nice thread, Crossy.

The Analog Shop. Yes, that rings a bell. And I agree hi fidelity is definitely subjective. I visited a high end audio boutique once and it was a very interesting and unique experience. Upon entering one had to sign their name in a register. The store had two sound rooms - one for the "affordable" components and one for the "in your dreams" components (a speaker set at USD 30k, for instance - and that was mid-nineties). The reason for signing in was due their practice of serving only a single customer at a time in a given sound room. And this is how it worked: In the lobby was a rack of CDs which the customer could choose from when testing out equipment. Alternatively, you could bring your own favourite music. The room was rather expansive but the entire range of audio components was all displayed on shelving a single wall only. From amps to pre-amps to CD players to tape decks, turn tables, etc. The rest of the room was flush with speakers and a strategically placed sofa with coffee table. No audio brand company had their entire line available. The idea being that every audio manufacturer excels in one or perhaps two areas but not all areas. So the available selection of components was based on the best of the best in category. Now none of the audio components had price tags. And the idea wasn't to prevent sticker shock. Their idea was that since everyone has a slightly different range of frequencies they're able to discern then the lack of price tags was to prevent those with deep pockets from basing their purchase solely on the highest priced component. They encouraged the customer to purchase based only on the quality factor of what they were able to hear. If a set of speakers costing $8,000 sounded no different than a set costing $2,000 then you've just wasted $6,000 thinking that higher price equated to better sound. True and not true. It's a relative truth which depends on what you're able to hear. And so the salesperson would first ask you what your budget was. From there he would offer selections based on that budget. Also, if you were to bring a friend or two along with you the salesperson would strongly advise your friends to refrain from providing any of their own input. They discouraged any outside influence to the purchaser. The most amazing discovery in audio quality for me was listening to three different CD players. The price range was $350, $450 and $700. In my particular instance all three CD players were produced by the same brand (which I can't recall). Upon listening to the $450 model I was most definitely struck by the difference to that of the $350 model. It was unmistakable. My budget at the time would have accommodated the $450 player. But when I heard the $700 CD player the difference in the audio quality was magnitudes greater than the difference between the $350 and $450 players. So much so that I would have blown my budget without another thought because I would never have be able to forget the difference had a purchased the lower priced players and thus would have never been able to enjoy them fully. Ever since I've always wanted to compare the sound between the usual componentry to that of tube componentry. Ah well, I doubt there's opportunity to do that in Thailand. Thanks for the explanation, Crossy.

I don't mean to laugh at your unfortunate incident but it was the thought that the shock on your face must have been greater than the electrical shock itself.

Back in '02~08 I lived in Huai Khwang right across from Fortune Town. I recall an audio boutique, I believe it was (and maybe still is) on the ground floor, which sold stereo tube amplifiers, pre-amplifiers, and other hi-end audio components. I was always curious but regrettably never went into the shop. I'm an illiterate on this subject but what would be the advantage here? Does it enhance audio quality? Just an example. They are works of art, to say the least.

You're unwittingly exposing your age, Crossy. All good numbers!

Grass Roots with Dylan's classic Mr. Jones (Ballad Of A Thin Man) off of their '66 Where Were You When I Needed You LP.

Bobby Hebb with Sunny off of his '66 Sunny By Bobby Hebb album.