The Non-Classical Download Thread

[Teresa]

  I thought we could use a Non-Classical Download Thread, after-all many of us that download also download other forms of music.

Always looking for interesting free or low cost downloads to add to my collection.  I am most interested in 24 Bit 96kHz and 88.2kHz music files but I also enjoy MP3s at 196kbps or higher.

[Teresa]

Bob and Ray Throw a Stereo Spectacular free MP3

This is from an LP which sounds excellent even though it was encoded 128kbps.  Two tracks had electronic buzzes so I deleted those, they were not my favorites anyway.  My resulting download was over 31 minutes and 12 tracks of some very cool music with some of the most realistic sound effects ever recorded. 

Right click on the links and hit "Save Link As".  Since this is over 50 years old the poster is not violating any copyright laws by giving this away for free. 



I just finished a large project, I broke up all of my greatest hits albums into individual albums of the songs original release.  For example Neil Young's Greatest Hits is now spread out to 9 albums:  After the Gold Rush, American Stars 'N Bars, Comes A Time, Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, Freedom, Harvest, Harvest Moon, Rust Never Sleeps, and CSNY's Déjà Vu.  I got this idea from free downloads in which I have only one song per album. 

I also broke up half of my compilation albums into individual albums as well.  However due to the nature of Bob and Ray Throw a Stereo Spectacular I will keep this as a compilation.

I changed the album names and click on iTunes "Get Album Artwork".  If I don't like iTunes choice or they say artwork is not available, I copy the correct corresponding album covers from google image searches.  I usually choose the LP artwork (if available) over the CD as it is usually more beautiful.  Try to get images that are at least 240x240, 400x400 is the best.   Just another thing I love about Computer Audio.

[Teresa]

With iTunes I don't have to use the cover art provided by the download service, if I don't like the cover art I can do a google image-search for a different cover.

I have replaced cover art for art that has more resolution and better colors and also cover art that I don't like, In many cases I find the cover art of the original LP much preferable to the CD cover art.   Excellent case in point is the beautiful original LP covers of Mannheim Steamroller's Fresh Aire LPs.

Also I can replace offensive cover art with cover art in better taste.  For example I find the UK cover and new cover for the 180 Gram LP version of the The Rolling Stones' Beggars Banquet highly offensive.

The dirty restroom with the graffiti on the walls is not only extremely offensive but the ugliest LP cover I have ever seen in life, here is the original USA LP cover, which I greatly prefer.



There are many great songs on Beggars Banquet so don't pass this by do to the ugly cover. Songs such as  Sympathy For The Devil, No Expectations, Street Fighting Man, Prodigal Son, Stray Cat Blues, Factory Girl and Salt Of The Earth are some of The Rolling Stones best.

[drogulus]

     Some of my album art is 600x600. I also like to use album art icons instead of the standard WMP/Winamp/iTubes icons. So I get this:

     

      Why? No reason, I just like it. Anyway it happens automatically if you imbed album art in the files instead of a separate folder like iTunes does.