Mark Smotroff
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marksmotroff.bsky.social
Mark Smotroff
@marksmotroff.bsky.social
Mostly music including my reviews on Analog Planet and eCoustics.
Music is love...
While running errands at a local supermarket, I noticed someone had put out rice for the birds who were feasting on it, including some pretty red-tipped blackbirds of some sort. When they went away for a moment I propped up my phone to try and capture some video.

More... #nirds #birdsky #nature
December 1, 2025 at 5:52 AM
Zootopia 2 was great! Go see it on the big screen in a proper theater. So much fun.
November 30, 2025 at 4:56 AM
My listening report on Craft Recordings fine Original #Jazz Classics series reissue of Art Pepper's iconic/rare 1957 "Surf Ride" LP is on eCoustics (dot com). (Note: cover art on this post adjusted to protect sensitive algorithmic eyes). #musicsky #jazzsky #music
www.ecoustics.com/music/art-pe...
November 29, 2025 at 7:41 PM
My review of the Blu-ray edition of #PaulMcCartney & #Wings' new 32 track retrospective is on eCoustics (dot com). Also on vinyl, CD & streaming, this is the first time this music is in #DolbyAtmos and in some instances even in 5.1 surround. #musicsky #music

www.ecoustics.com/reviews/wing...
November 29, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Road Tunes: Booker T. & the M.G.'s McLemore Avenue. Amazing tribute released some 6 months after Abbey Road ... #musicsky #music
November 29, 2025 at 3:22 AM
A key factor for #RecordStoreDay success is where you shop and when you get to the store. This year I'm not in San Francisco and decided to skip Santa Cruz as I was just there 2 weeks ago and have done RSD there many times... cont'd

#musicsky #music
November 28, 2025 at 5:08 PM
A friend sent this to me today… Had to re-share it. Beatle fans will appreciate this...  Happy Thanksgiving!
November 28, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Sous Chef Mark signing in for apple peeling duty... (fresh picked from my partner's tree!)
November 27, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Road Tunes #2: periodically, I pull out one of the many Robert Pollard "solo" CDs & I'm reminded how much GBV brilliance is tucked away in them. Today, the gorgeous Who-worthy mood-pop song "Slow Hamilton" grabbed me. I have to get this on vinyl: Coast To Coast Carpet Of Love. 1of3 #musicsky #music
November 27, 2025 at 12:43 AM
Second Wind - Busy morning and much more to accomplish tonight. Getting great energy from this 1962 #ArtBlakey, new to me from a trade at last Saturday's record swap meet. Great band including Curtis Fuller, Jimmy Merritt, Cedar Walton, #WayneShorter and #FreddieHubbard. #musicsky #jazzsky #jazz
November 26, 2025 at 1:14 AM
All I need now is Vol. 2 and I will own the complete "Genius of Art Tatum" series on the original Clef Records label with original laminated covers, in nice condition. Found this Vol.5 on Sunday at Amoeba Berkeley for 10, an upgrade over my later Verve pressing. 1of2 #musicsky #jazzsky #music #jazz
November 25, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Hangin' around one more time with the fine #Rhino High Fidelity restoration of The Monkees' hit 4th LP Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. My listening report is on Analog Planet (dot com). #musicsky #music #monkees
November 24, 2025 at 8:17 PM
My listening report on #RHINO Records' excellent new Rhino High Fidelity edition of The Monkees' classic fourth album, "Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd." is on #AnalogPlanet (dot com). #musicsky #music #monkees
www.analogplanet.com/content/rhin...
November 24, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Stepping up energy w/ this 1985 OJC copy of #PaulBley' s 1954 first on Charles Mingus' Debut Records label. Super elusive to find the original 10-inch, I'm more than thrilled as this adds "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town." Yes, #Mingus and Art #Blakey playing an Xmas tune! #musicsky #jazzsky #jazz
November 24, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Slow shufflin' into Monday w/ #DukeEllington 's lovely 1955 Blue Light 1930s sides compilation. This doesn't show up often, usually with the pretty blue cover (lower right) beat up. Yesterday at Berkeley Amoeba I found this alternate design in the bargain bin. 1of2 #musicsky #jazzsky #music #jazz
November 24, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Taking a moment to bask in the glory of an amazing 45 gifted by my other vinyl angel: the debut by Television. Likely unplayed, washing removed a thin layer of storage locker grime. Sounds amazing. Seems to be a 1st press, 81975-A/B runouts, flat label. Thank you again, vinyl angel! #musicsky #music
November 21, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Just received a rejection letter from a company in NH to which I never applied. Phishing scam, perhaps? What fractured times...
November 21, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Prepping for tomorrow's record swap , I found a gem upgrade in boxes of LPs gifted by a vinyl angel. Collectors of vintage soul know how hard it is to find pristine original LPs. This 1972 hit by Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway typically was played hard, resulting in ...

cont'd #musicsky #music
November 21, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Today with my editor at Analog Planet (dot com) we preview-review the new restored, renovated, remixed & remarkably ratcheted-up 12LP #Beatles Anthology set. A major release on many levels. #musicsky #music

www.analogplanet.com/content/beat...
November 20, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Spinning again the amazing final side of the new #Beatles Anthology Vol. 4 (prolly 10th time this past week!). On the eve of its formal release, I tag team with my editor to preview-review the newly restored & ratcheted-up 12LP set on Analog Planet (dot com). A major release. #musicsky #music
November 20, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Refresher listen to my original mono LP of Coltrane's A Love Supreme before the new Acoustic Sounds reissue. I'd completely forgotten I had a well loved but remarkably good sounding OG sans cover which I stored w/ my Stereo copy (2nd press, red-ring label, cover shown here). 1of2. #musicsky #jazzsky
November 19, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Finally saw the majestic Grizzly Bear last night so I'm starting the day with their fine album, Shields. I'll also say the quiet part out loud which I've not seen many say: Grizzly Bear's music is a 21st Century twist on what many of us know as progressive rock. Lovely stuff. #musicsky #music
November 19, 2025 at 5:18 PM
I'm not a huge Gerry Mulligan fanatic, but I like his early '50s cool jazz releases on 10-inch LPs. Just enough Baritone sax but not too much. Found this nice 1953 album at Redwood Records in Santa Cruz over the weekend for 5$. Neat trippy cover, shadow Chet Baker behind Gerry. #musicsky #jazzsky
November 18, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Record Rescue - From Offshore Sounds' fun 1st Anniversary dollar-bin-blowout on Saturday, this 1962 #MiltJackson reissue of his 1955 LP -- Basically the 2nd #MJQ sans Lewis with #HoraceSilver instead -- was dirty & well loved. Cont'd...

#musicsky #jazzsky #music #jazz
November 18, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Ages ago when I was still living in NJ in the 1980s, someone at a used shop told me to watch for a rare version of Merle Saunders Fire Up w/ flaming font lettering. Essentially a Jerry Garcia Band joint, I searched for years but only found the common flame color standard font. 1of2 #musicdky #music
November 18, 2025 at 5:35 AM