Great mono recordings

So many to choose from!

From a classic rock perspective: Pepper, Piper and Sell Out. All glorious in mono.

Helmut Walcha’s first traversal of Bach Organ music, between 1947 and 1952. 

Not quite a complete survey. There were pieces yet to be re-discovered at that time as well as certain pieces being arrangements of other composer’s music, which Walcha considered not essentially part of the cycle in those days.

 But the recordings are exemplary, and possibly the clearest Bach organ cycle recordings to date. I have not listened to every Bach organ music recording, so this may be challenged of course. 

 The crucial thing is that Walcha’s performance not only remain valid today, but still seem rather modern sixty and more years on. They are full of swing and momentum, and emotional depth - the work of a completely  blind musician whose perception of music was purely aural rather than blended with visual distractions. He learned all the music with his wife, who played each line, which he learned by heart. That is a an extra-ordinary effort in itself, but the results compel. There is a good reason why these old recordings remain available in the face of Walcha’s remake in stereo, quite as much as wonderful cycles from many others. My favourite other is Marie Claire Alain on Erato.

 ATB from George

Wagner - Die Walküre (Mödl, Rysanek, Frantz, Suthaus, Klose, Frick, cond. Furtwängler 1954 Wiener PO)

This Music Matters 33RPM reissue (MMBLP-1577) of Coltrane's only album as a leader for Blue Note is wonderful.

Hook posted:

This Music Matters 33RPM reissue (MMBLP-1577) of Coltrane's only album as a leader for Blue Note is wonderful.

Agreed! ferocious mono!

Music Matters/Blue Note 180g x 2LP 45rpm

Frank Sinatra /Billy May Orch. - Come Fly With Me. 1958 Capitol

Just bought a box Decca the Mono Years - it contains some of the jewels of Mono

Lester Young Nat king Cole Buddy Rich

Lester never sounded better and this is recorded after the war.