While my main system has been idle, my music purchasing has not!

My first stop was to try some high resolution music download sites. Easier said than done from Australia I found. The major site, HDTracks unfortunately does not allow purchases outside the US, but I may have found a workaround and tried a download a 96/24 version of SRV / Albert King 'In Session'... BTW, it is 96/24 AIFF file weighing in at 2.24 GB! Then I tried Linn Records. I had more immediate success and downloaded Pete Alderton's 'Cover My Blues', still only a 44/20 bit recording but outstanding sound quality and a nice acoustic blues set.

...

I have discovered SecondSpin.com and CDwow.com as suppliers of discount used and new CDs respectively. Second Spin is US-based but offers really cheap shipping ($6.99 to Oz), while CDWow have keen pricing and free shipping. After several orders from both companies I have not had a single ordering / purchasing / shipping problem. A happy customer!

Because both suppliers have a wide range of products, you can indulge some of your wider musical tastes and come up with just about anything. Here is a sample of my recent purchases by genre:

• Pop / Rock - Squirrel Nut Zippers, The New Pornographers, Walter Becker, Drive-By Truckers
• Blues - Walter Trout, Michael Hill's Blues Mob, Delbert McClinton, Bettye Lavette, Chris Whitley
• Jazz - Ginger Baker Trio, Melody Gardot

Also I found an interesting remastered / reissue of 'The Best of Apple Records' featuring a number of names from the early 70s - including Mary Hopkins, Jackie Lomax, Biliy Preston and Badfinger. And it has an awesome cover image too!