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Mark Smotroff on Muck Rack

Mark Smotroff

(He/Him)
San Francisco
As seen in: Flipboard, ECOUSTICS, Home Theater Review, Analog Planet, AudiophileReview.com
Covers:  I primarily write about music: rock, jazz, soul, r 'n b, pop, prog, blues, often from an audiophile perspective but not always. I sometimes cover film, entertainment technologies & industry issues.
Doesn't Cover: politics, heavy tech, enterprise, big data, b2b, etc.
Freelance Writer, Communications, Musician/Composer

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Mark Smotroff’s Biography

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Mark Smotroff is a freelance writer and avid music collector who has worked for many years in marketing communications for the consumer electronics, pro audio and video games industries. He has served clients including Sacramento Ballet, Adept Audio, DTS, Sega, Acclaim Entertainment, 3DO, Sony, Sharp, AT&T and many others. www.smotroff.com In addition to recent writing for AnalogPlanet.com, eCoustics.com, AudiophileReview.com, HomeTheaterReview.com and Cineluxe.com, Mark has written for EQ Mag…

Mark Smotroff’s Journalist Portfolio

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Traversing The Phil Zone: The Late, Great Grateful Dead Co-Founder Phil Lesh's Brilliant Music Le...

Traversing The Phil Zone: The Late, Great Grateful Dead Co-Founder Phil Lesh's Brilliant Music Le...

Phil Lesh, co-founding bassist of the Grateful Dead, sadly passed away at age 84 on October 25, 2024, and he …

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Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention's Previously Unreleased 180g 5LP Whisky A Go Go, 1968 Box ...

Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention's Previously Unreleased 180g 5LP Whisky A Go Go, 1968 Box ...

There are numerous reasons why music fans should be interested in a previously unreleased 5LP box set featuri…

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Round Robin Review: Your Ears Can't Go Wrong With UMe's Stellar AAA 180g 45rpm 2LP Set or the AAA...

Round Robin Review: Your Ears Can't Go Wrong With UMe's Stellar AAA 180g 45rpm 2LP Set or the AAA...

Mike Mettler:That's right folks, don't touch that dial - it's another tag-team album review, just in time for…

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Vince Guaraldi's Be My Valentine Charlie Brown First Time Soundtrack Review

Vince Guaraldi's Be My Valentine Charlie Brown First Time Soundtrack Review

Lost late period Peanuts soundtrack sounds like a love letter from an old friend.

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Short Cuts, Vol. 20: Elemental's Motown Reissue Series Rolls On With 140g Virgin Vinyl Offerings ...

Short Cuts, Vol. 20: Elemental's Motown Reissue Series Rolls On With 140g Virgin Vinyl Offerings ...

There is something incredibly compelling about Elemental Music and UMe's ongoing, affordably priced, and gene…

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Thelonious Monk: "Monk's Music" Mono Vinyl Reissue Review

Thelonious Monk: "Monk's Music" Mono Vinyl Reissue Review

Craft Recordings Reissues Sought After 1957 Thelonious Monk Mono Mix In 180-gram Vinyl, All Analog Remastered…

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Articles

Lester Young’s Laughin’ to Keep from Cryin’ Vinyl Review: Verve Gets This All-Analog Reissue Right

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By Mark Smotroff
| ECOUSTICS Verified
Contrary to oft-dismissive historical accounts by harsh critics, legendary and influential saxophone innovator Lester Young (aka Pres, Prez, or The President) made some fine recordings in the 1950s despite his health challenges. One of his last albums, from 1958 (about a year before his death), finds the sensitive reedsman at his subtle, bluesy best: Laughin’ to Keep from Cryin’.
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Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here 50th Anniversary Blu-ray Review: Dolby Atmos, 5.1, Quad and the 1975 L.A. Concert

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By Mark Smotroff
| ECOUSTICS Verified
I was happy to finally get the 50th Anniversary edition of Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here on a standalone Blu-ray Disc. This includes not only a new immersive Dolby Atmos multichannel mix of the classic 1975 album, but also an official release of an acclaimed fan-made bootleg concert recording from the Los Angeles Sports Arena that year. The disc also contains six previously unreleased alternate versions and demos from the period.
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Curtis Mayfield’s Super Fly Review: Rhino High Fidelity’s AAA Vinyl Reissue Soars

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By Mark Smotroff
| ECOUSTICS Verified
Legendary singer, songwriter, and producer Curtis Mayfield’s third solo album, released in 1972, was also his first soundtrack, created for the controversial blaxploitation film Super Fly. Although the film was not a major success, Mayfield’s Grammy-nominated, soulful, and funky score took on a life of its own, reaching No. 1 and eventually selling millions of copies worldwide.
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Interview

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What was your first job as a journalist?

Writing for DISCoveries, a record collector's magazine which was eventually acquired by Goldmine.

Have you ever used a typewriter?

yes

Why did you become a journalist?

The opportunity to write about music arose as an outgrowth of my work as a publicist for what I call entertainment technologies.