Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin & Paco De Lucia – Friday Night In San Francisco (Impex 45rpm Vinyl 2LP)

Positive Feedback 2020 Writer’s Choice Album Of The Year Award Winner!

Every note.
Every lightning strum.
Every impossibly perfect run.
Every dynamic blast.
Every tonal nuance.
Every staccato reverberation.
Every unexpected moment of towering virtuosity.
Every caught breath.
Every thunderous applause.

Everything you’ve loved about this iconic, reference-defining recording is laid bare, reproduced with stunning fidelity and nuance. Featuring all-analog mastering by Bernie Grundman Mastering and an exclusive foil-stamped jacket for this very special release. This Di Meola-McLaughlin-De Lucia classic could only come from the LP fetishists at Impex Records.

Listen as Impex’s 180g vinyl, spinning at 45 revolutions per minute, reveals everything to your hungry, deep-listening ears. Ready to redefine definitive again.

“I reviewed the Impex 33 RPM reissue of this same title back in 2018. That was an easy rave review to write, but this new 45 RPM pressing, again from Impex, takes the music to a new level. In addition to the original Columbia LP pressing (which is no slouch on its own), I also compared it to the Sony Gold CD, the Sony K2 SACD, a Sony DSD download, the Speakers Corner/Phillips 180 gram reissue and the Original Recording Group (ORG) 180 gram 45 RPM reissue.

The differences were not subtle for a recording that I thought was already impressive on all of these releases. This Impex reissue was mastered by Bernie Grundman who also personally cut all the lacquers. Dorin Sauerbierat at RTI did the plating and it was pressed at RTI under Rick Hashimoto’s supervision. It astounds me that there was still more information to dig out of those master tapes. Congrats to the entire production team as they have really stepped up their game against some very stiff competition. Also, congrats to Abey Fonn at Impex and Kevin Berg at Elusive Disc for driving this project forward. It was well worth the effort!

Talk about tangible! There is a correctness of presentation and a visceral like rhythm and drive that is now demonstrated well beyond what I heard before. All of this is executed with a liquidity and timbral purity that is simply amazing. These variables are rarely placed in the proper perspective. Most of the time the sound leans to one side of the fence or the other. Here, there is a balance that is just thrilling!

Let’s not forget about what is most important – the music! Typically used as a standard demo at most audio shows, I feel like this recording is much more than just an audiophile favorite. These highly respected if not world class guitarists were at the top of their game at the time and were virtually on fire in their playing. Now, you can easily tell how much fun they were having as was the audience. The emotion really shines through for both which is always so much more enjoyable. This is an important recording and this new reissue is highly recommended!” – Robert Youman, Positive Feedback, 2020 Writer’s Choice Award for Album Of The Year

Side A:

1. Mediterranean Sundance/Rio Ancho
   Composers: Al Di Meola and Paco DeLucia
   Performed by: Paco DeLucia and Al Di Meola

Side B:

1. Short Tales of the Black Forest
   Composer: Chick Corea
   Performed by John McLaughlin and Al Di Meola

Side C:

1. Frevo Rasgado
   Composer: Egberto Gismonti
   Performed by John McLaughlin and Paco DeLucia

Side D:

1. Fantasia Suite
   Composer: Al Di Meola
   Performed by Paco DeLucia, John McLaughlin and Al Di Meola
2. Guardian Angel
   Composer: John McLaughlin
   Performed by Paco DeLucia, John McLaughlin, and Al Di Meola

Recorded live at The Warfield Theatre, San Francisco, California, Friday 12/5/80