Safe & Sound Texas Audio Excursion | Inside Impex Records: Abey Fonn Talks Boston, Master Tapes & Audiophile Vinyl
Vinyl Community PodcastsSummary
The Vinyl Summit in Salina, Kansas, showcases the thriving vinyl community, featuring a record fair and insightful discussions with industry leaders. A.B. Fawn, founder of Impex Records, highlights her journey in the music industry, emphasizing the importance of quality in vinyl production. She reflects on her early experiences at Cisco Music and the influence of her father, who played a significant role in her career development.
Fawn discusses the challenges of securing rights to music and the evolving landscape of vinyl production. She reveals that obtaining original master tapes has become increasingly difficult, as major labels prioritize digital formats. Despite these hurdles, she remains optimistic about the growth of vinyl sales and the resurgence of physical media, including CDs.
A major focus of the conversation is Impex's upcoming release of Boston's 50th anniversary album, which will include both the original tracks and previously unreleased demos. Fawn expresses excitement about collaborating closely with Tom Scholz, the band's founder, to ensure the highest quality for this milestone release. As the vinyl industry continues to evolve, Fawn's commitment to craftsmanship and artist collaboration positions Impex Records as a leader in the field.
Show Notes
What does it take to produce a truly exceptional audiophile vinyl record? And what's really happening behind the scenes with one of the most anticipated vinyl reissues on the horizon? Recorded live at the Vinyl Summit in Salina, Kansas, David Bianco of Safe & Sound Texas Audio Excursion sits down with Abey Fonn, Founder of Impex Records, for an exclusive conversation about the art, science, and business of producing premium audiophile vinyl. From her early days at Cisco Music to building Impex Records into one of the most respected names in high-quality vinyl reissues, Abey shares her remarkable journey through the music industry and the relationships, craftsmanship, and attention to detail that define the Impex philosophy. One of the biggest highlights? An inside look at the upcoming 50th Anniversary reissue of Boston's legendary self-titled debut album! Abey discusses how Impex secured this landmark project, the direct involvement of Boston's Tom Scholz, the search for the best available master tapes, and the plans to incorporate previously unreleased demo material. She also explains why certain details about the highly anticipated release remain undecided and what collectors can expect as the project moves toward its planned 2027 release. In this episode:
The history of Impex Records and Abey Fonn's beginnings at Cisco Music
Why mastering, pressing quality, packaging, and presentation matter to audiophile collectors
The increasingly complicated business of music licensing and access to original master tapes
How Impex landed the Boston 50th Anniversary reissue and what makes this artist collaboration special
The role of Tom Scholz in shaping the upcoming Boston release
Why premium One-Step vinyl records command higher prices
Rising manufacturing costs, quality control, and the challenges facing independent audiophile labels
The future of physical music, vinyl collecting, and high-end reissues
Whether you're a longtime audiophile, a passionate vinyl collector, a Boston fan, or simply curious about how your favorite albums find new life on vinyl, this conversation offers a rare look behind the curtain at one of the industry's most respected reissue labels. Presented by Vinyl Community Podcasts, featuring David Bianco of Safe & Sound Texas Audio Excursion.
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For more on David Bianco (Safe & Sound Texas Audio Excursion): https://www.youtube.com/@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion IG: audio_excursion
For more on Abey Fonn & Impex Records: https://impexrecords.com IG: @impexrecords
For more information on Vinyl Community Podcasts: https://vinylcommunitypodcasts.com IG: vinylcommunitypodcasts
Vinyl Community Podcasts — podcasts for, by, and featuring members of the Vinyl Community. On the go, when you go, wherever you go.
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