PORSCHE 911 GT3 RALLY VIDEO
Ride onboard with Ruben and Petra Zeltner, winners of the Sachsen Rallye 2012 in their Porsche GT3, on Stage 4 “Stangengrün” at Zwickau, Germany.
Warning – may cause car sickness.. or a fear of trees.
Author: Randy Wells
CALIFORNIA : HERE I CAME
I love California. It’s my favorite U.S. state to visit. Don’t get me wrong. My home state of Washington is one of the best places to be in July/August/September. It’s the other 9 months that can be spotty. Continue reading “”
ENJOYING TURNTABLES AND VINYL WITHOUT OBSESSING
Record Store Day is this Saturday. In preparation, here are a couple of good articles in The New York Times and the LA Weekly on enjoying the advantages of vinyl records without going crazy. There are lots of options for turntables, cartridges, and phono stages now that make spinning wax very easy. Collecting near mint first pressing original LPs, or tracking down the best sounding records? Well, you can go a little nuts doing that! Continue reading “”
OUTLAW 356 AND 911 : BLACK AND SILVER
Once again, Excellence magazine has chosen to feature some remarkable Porsches. This month’s issue (#201) includes a black 1958 Porsche 356A sunroof coupe that became a Willhoit GT special and a silver 1972 Porsche 911 hot rod that returned to the street after many years as a race car.
I was fortunate to have covered both of these California cars in photographs and words. Each owner, Dick Moran and Chris Messano, is a true enthusiast intent on fulfilling their aspirations. Thanks, guys, for being who you are… Continue reading “”
KID CHARLEMAGNE
Three dozen years ago, Walter Becker and Donald Fagen of Steely Dan were putting the finishing touches on one of their lesser known albums – The Royal Scam. It’s a “fusion of a funk rhythm and jazz harmonies with rock and roll instrumentals and lyrical style†according to Wikpedia.
Of particular note is the track, “Kid Charlemagne”. On this song, guitarist Larry Carlton incorporated a jazz-inflected electric solo. It’s become famous for its difficulty to play and also for the finger-tapped hammer-on technique implemented near the end. This effect was not widely used until Van Halen’s first album was released two years later. Continue reading “”
F.A. “BUTZI” PORSCHE (1935-2012)
It is with saddened heart that I report the passing of Ferdinand Alexander Porsche in Salzburg, Austria today at the age of 76.
He was the first son of Ferry Porsche, the grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, and probably best known for leading the design/styling team for the iconic Porsche 911 sports car. Continue reading “”
SCOTLAND
Magical moments are something we photographers live for. They are one of those times when we feel most alive.
This was one of those moments. My wife, Andrea, and I were touring Scotland and realized that the following evening would provide a full moon at dusk and a high tide reflection of the Eilean Donan Castle lit by the western sky in a nearby bay. It’s something that happens maybe once a year IF you are lucky and the weather is clear. Continue reading “”
ART FOR ART’S SAKE
Sometimes you just need to explore a photograph’s possibilities and follow your instincts, listening attentively to that small intuitive voice over your left shoulder. Continue reading “”
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
It’s only the first day of Spring, but never too early to be thinking about where to go. By mid-April flowering dogwood trees and early morning fog combine to produce wonderful scenes in a national park that deserves to be savored slowly. Straddling Tennessee and North Carolina, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a traveling photographer’s delight. Continue reading “”
BOB DYLAN
Fifty years ago today, Bob Dylan released his debut album on Columbia Records. Billboard said at the time, “Dylan, when he finds his own style, could win a big following.”
Like many of Dylan’s early albums, including Freewheelin’, you want to hear this in mono. The stereo records of this title are hard panned 2 track mixes with the guitar in one channel and vocals in the other. Sony recently put out a Dylan mono LP and CD box set that sounds great. Continue reading “”
GIVE US A RING
In the wee small hours of the evening/morning when I’m home I often sit down and listen to vinyl records on my stereo. Sometimes it’s Sinatra. Sometimes it’s Miles Davis, Bill Evans, Beck, Nick Drake or John Martyn. Here’s something I find fascinating…
Once I begin to play certain songs, I know I will be hearing them in my head for hours. Here’s a virtually unknown tune from 1970, it’s disarmingly simple and comforting, an endless poem/lullaby song cycle that’s somewhat melancholic, with lyrics that make no sense whatsoever. Perfect for those trying to fall asleep. Paul Harris on piano is sublime.
JERRY SEINFELD AND MY EXCELLENCE COVER
Considering all the appearances Excellence Magazine made on Jerry Seinfeld’s coffee table in his TV series, it’s only appropriate he should be on the cover someday.
I was honored to be given this assignment, and Jerry was great to work with. My shoot with his Porsche 550-003 went incredibly well. “Spectacular” is one way of describing this 200th issue.
It’s one of the very few Excellence Magazine covers featuring a person and an older Porsche. Thanks to Jerry Seinfeld, Sam Cabiglio, Robert Martinez, Joe Cavaglieri, Peter Brock, Pete Stout, John Kirikois, Tom Toldrian and everyone at Excellence Magazine for making this happen.
DIGITAL PHOTO PRO : MY AUTOMOTIVE STILLS ARTICLE
Thanks to Christopher Robinson and the staff at Digital Photo Pro Magazine for featuring my car photography in their March/April 20112 edition on-line and in print. I love sharing my experience with other enthusiasts, and this is the very best photography venue in which to be featured! Continue reading “”
RON HOWARD FILMS EPIC F1 RIVALRY
Academy Award-winning director Ron Howard is currently filming “Rush”. His movie will portray the dramatic Formula 1 motor racing duel between the intense Austrian Niki Lauda and playboy British driver James Hunt. Based on the turbulent 1976 Driver’s Championship, it chronicles Lauda’s heroic comeback from a near fatal crash earlier in the year and the critical season finale win by Hunt in torrential rain at Fuji. Chris Hemsworth stars as Hunt and Daniel Bruhl is Lauda. The film is expected to premiere in 2013. Continue reading “”
BLUES BREAKERS MONO LP REVIEW
My article discussing this landmark 1966 British blues album and Sundazed’s recent mono reissue is now on-line at Michael Fremer’s MusicAngle.com. Included is a brief history of the role Eric Clapton played in John Mayall’s Blues Breakers band and how the various pressings compare for this often preferred mono mix.
(Photographer: Unknown. Layout: John Mayall)
Update 6/4/12: My article did not make the transition when MusicAngle switched to AnalogPlanet, but is still available here. Continue reading “”
NICK DRAKE : PINK MOON
This week is the 40th anniversary of Nick Drake’s third and final album, Pink Moon. It was recorded live in four hours during two midnight sessions in October 1971 at London’s Sound Techniques by the legendary John Wood.
Released on Island Records February 25, 1972, the eleven-track album is only 28 minutes long. But it’s 28 minutes of some of the most graceful, poetic, and introspective music cut to vinyl. Featuring Drake’s intimate vocals and guitar (piano was added to the title track) it is very personal stuff. This is melancholic music to listen to at midnight… And one of my favorite records of all time. Continue reading “”