Stu

Which label is DGC?  Perhaps the UK or European release?  The Sea Change I scored (on ebay about 6 months ago) is an original US pressing Geffen Records.

I bought Odelay when it first came out and then did not follow up with his others.  Just started again with Beck - one talented cat.  Love his take on Dylan's Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat.

Gregg

Kuma,

there are Decca Bluebacks and also London Bluebacks.  They literally mean having a backside of the sleeve that's blue and signify the earliest sleeves (note I say sleeves - London used the BB sleeves for many years, so it doesn't necessarily indicate an earliest pressing).  The Decca Bluebacks were really only ever found on the very first issues and the blue only refers to the border; initially a fully laminated tab-back outer jacket with the back side framed with a blue border.  A little later the lamination on the rear panel was dropped, and not long after that, the blue border. 

Here's an example that I found on the 'net of an early Decca issue of Espana! :

Best wishes from a record nerd...

This continues to be a fascinating thread in my view. I am humbled by the level of knowledge displayed here - particularly reading the classical posts from Richard, Kuma, and Jay. I have read every word quite a few times. This genre is complex to the uninitiated - a double take is needed just to work out who is the composer and who is the conductor!!

So this note is mostly one of thanks to you guys. I mentioned earlier I have bought a couple of re-issues Richard highlighted (RCA/Classic Dvorak Cello - Piatigorsky/Munch; Offenbach Gaite Parisienne - LSC 1817). Can't find a copy of the Gibson Faust/Carmen suites yet.

Corry - thank you also. I have just taken delivery of the Antar Symphony on Vanguard Classic you tipped above.

And emboldened by the sound of all these LPs I have taken the plunge and ordered about 12 mixed RCA Living Stereo/Classic titles along with some Decca/Speakers Corner and Mercury/Speakers titles. They average c. £30 per LP so I am justifying it to myself that it is like buying fine wine to lay down.

I am particularly looking forward to hearing the Respighi/Reiner Pines of Rome (LSC 2436), the Stravinsky/Monteux Firebird Suite (LSC 2113), and Prokofiev/Dorati Symphony No5 (Mercury SR90258) to pick out a few.

I do know my way around Rock/Pop/Jazz reasonably well but have a lot of catching up to do with classical.

What an adventure! 

Best regards

David

Kuma - fair point well made. My trite comment above was based solely on looking at the thing once opened.

Have listened to (not all yet) it now and it is definitely worthy of review.

But I will talk about it over on the Chailly Beethoven thread because it isn't technically a re-issue, and that is where you first drew it to our attention.

Do make it a priority to play your copy soon - it is very special.

There are two: the first on SXL2017 (LXT 5115 mono) with the OSR and the later SET468 with the NPO (also includes a disc of the rehearsal, which is quite interesting).  Of the two, I think I just prefer the later one.  Sound quality is pretty good on the early performance (better on the mono issue), and up with Decca's best efforts on the later performance. 

I also have the SC reissue of SXL2017 which cleans things up quite nicely on the original, if lacking that certain "something" that drives the audiophiles wild with the early wide-band sound.  I have the King reissue of the NPO Firebird, which is clean and dynamic with an immaculate pressing - well worth picking up some of the King issues.

Overall, I love both, even if they don't quite eclipse Dorati or even Davis on Philips.

David

Right you are.  I am lucky enough to count Jay as a friend (he lives about 2 miles from me) and his knowledge and classical RECORD collection is extensive.  I took the plunge in the summer of 2010 when Classic Records was going out of business and had him advise me on a group of RCA Living Stereo reissues.  They are wonderful.  I guess now that Classic is out of business you are correct in the analogy of buying fine wine to lay down.  Some of the reissue LP's which I bought are already going for insane prices on Ebay.

Next up - some Speakers Corner Mercury Living Presence reissues.  There is a CD box set of these  recordings which is hitting in a few weeks and I have already preordered a copy.  Nothing like having the vinyl though.

Gregg

Thanks Gregg

When you see Jay next - could you tell him he looks remarkably like a certain David Robert Jones in his youth!  

Used to live in Beckenham London before he got famous. Not far from me.  

Let's not talk about Bowie LPs right now though..

Best

David

(click)

David, good for you.  I'm sure you won't be disappointed.  The Reiner Respighi disc (LSC2436) has always been one to get audio buffs in a lather - luckily it's also the great performance of both pieces.  The Monteux Firebird is good too - a great Decca recording for RCA.  While there are Firebirds that I favour more, Monteux is perhaps my overall favourite conductor, so all his releases are indispensible.  If you don't already have it, look out for his Daphnis et Chloe on Decca.  Speakers Corner did a reissue, which may still be available;

Monteux conducted perhaps my favourite of all the performance of Elgar's Enigma Variations.  Listen to Dorabella to hear what Monteux's style is all about. Classic reissued this Decca recording for RCA, and it's probably still available.  Well worth buying.

Another personal Monteux favourite is his Beethoven 9th with the LSO on Westminster.  Not easy to find as an LP, although the World Record Club did an issue back in the '60s (sound quality is not the best). The CD is widely available. Maybe SC will see fit to reissue this one at some point.  Not an obvious choice, I'll grant you, but there's something quite sublime about it.

For out an out value, there's a Monteux CD box set gathering most of his Philips and Decca output.

A personal thanks to you Richard. You are a top geezer. Although I would avoid my wife for a bit because if she ever finds out what a terrible influence you have been on me!!.....

Mercifully, the Monteux Elgar's Enigma LP is available and in the batch wending its way to me.

The Daphnis is out of stock (but there is a 45 ORG about to be released rather like the Mendelssohn Kuma mentioned - bit pricey).

But I do have the Monteux Ravel in my lovely Decca Sound CD Box Set, which is what got me all excited about this music in the first place.

Best regards

David

No problem David, my pleasure. 

Good news about the Elgar.

I've been resisting the Decca CD box - I have just too many of the CDs already.  However, resistance against the forthcoming Mercury box is probably futile.  I just hope they've gone for the Wilma Cozart Fine remasters rather than some other source...

Richard,

Speaking of 'cleaning things up':

Mozart Symphony No.40 & 41:
Carlo Maria Giulini/New Philharmonia

Speakers Corner 180g / SXL 6225 Germany
Re-mastering by: No production notes on this particular title. But they do not guarantee they use the original master tape. But only analogue masters are used.
Release date: 1998

Sound Quality:
I don't know what happened here but clean but no soul. That indefinable "something" is missing from this record. It has a wide soundstage and wonderful low end bloom with spacious sound. It's not a dead quiet backgound and I can hear the tape bleed through on the intro. ( this isn't a big deal to me, however ) It just doesn't sound natural with assaulting unbalanced massed strings. Massed strings can be very tough to produce correctly but then DG's Böhm vinyl (138 815 SLPM Not even the Tulip Label! ) sounds just fine. I generally like Giulini's style but this record is almost impossible to listen to. I don't have any other copy to compare this sure isn't worth it.

Packaging Quality:
Laminated heavy cardboard but blurry black text on the back. ( they didn't type set the copy )

Well, I bought a Firebird also and hope it'll sound better than this. :x Personally I would have loved to hear Monteux's Firebird.

Thanks for the explanation. ( I am now officially a record nerd, also )

So, I looked at the backs of London CS records I have and what do you know! some of them do have a light blue background on the back! I guess this is a 'London Bluebacks'. Britten Nocturne ( CS 6179 ) So I put this one on a turntable and see...

Oh wow. What a contrast to the Speakers Corner Mozart above. This CS reissue sounds more lucid, transparent and the best bits is that it has that natural ease. The instruments are more colourful has many more shadings than what the Speakers Corner above offers. I don't have another issue to compare this against but I feel it's not really necessary as I can't really fault for the sound of this record albeit the background noise is higher. ( I don't mind it cuz, it just sounds like a faint tape hiss.)

Originally Posted by Richard Dane: If you don't already have it, look out for his Daphnis et Chloe on Decca.  Speakers Corner did a reissue, which may still be available;


For out an out value, there's a Monteux CD box set gathering most of his Philips and Decca output.

Richard & David,

Looks like ORG just released the 45 rpm of above record:


I will be looking for this original reissue, instead tho.

Speaking of Philips Monteux, is there a reissue of this? (PHS 900-059)


I really love his direction and great to listento but the overall balance is a wee bit light.

Kuma,

I don't know of a modern reissue, but Philips themselves did a nice Universo reissue of this one.  Usually cheap and typical immaculate Philips pressing.

Richard,

The next time you are down this way ?

You should hit all the charity shops,(There are lots)They cant give the classical albums away.

Most end up going to the tip because they don't have room to store them..

Stu.

Sundazed Dylan.. and looking forward to checking out Mobile Fidelity Dylan series.

I've been wondering about investing in the Sony Dylan Mono box (discussion here https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...ent/1566878606164927) and in the meantime, was able to pick up Bringing It All Back Home in mono on Sundazed for fairly cheap. What a disappointment - sound is OK, but pressing quality is horrible, one side is about 1/2 a cm above the other when I put it on the platter. Also, cheapest paper inner sleeve which left tons of paper garbage on the LP. Haven't given it a detailed listen, but the initial impression was a let down.

Mobile Fidelity is reissuing some Dylan, most at 45rpm. Not sure I have the patience to flip that many discs with Dylan... not that its not great music, just doesn't make sense somehow. I do for jazz, and have really enjoyed the Blue Note Music Matters releases, all 45's.

MOFI is doing Blood on the Tracks in 33. Have pre ordered that and will start a new topic when it arrives. Date TBD.

Mutterback,

the Music on Vinyl issues of the Bob Dylan records are made from the same metalwork as those in mono box set. For me, they are a lot better than the current batch of Sundazed issues which are mastered by Wes Garland and pressed at United Record Producers and all sound a bit 'dirty'. You can buy them as individual releases and should be able to pick Music on Vinyl for around £15 each.

mutterback,

When you get your Dylan 33, please post your findings.

Well I hope it's better than the MOFI Abraxus I bought a little while ago - the vocals were distorted - it went back the replacement is better but still dirty - very disappointing.

Just listened to an original Mercury Love for Three Oranges and the Classic reissue. The reissue is very close and maybe better!

Jay, I'm not surprised with your findings; provided the BluebackCS/SXL and the STS/ADD are both in perfect condition and same matrices then any difference will be minimal - mainly down to stamper/mother wear I guess.  And a mint STS/ADD could well sound better than a less than perfect well-played earlier pressing.

As for the Speakers Corner reissues, I guess I have about 25 or so of them, along with some of the single-sided test pressings.  The Maag Mendelssohn "Scottish" stands out mainly because it's by far the most disappointing.  A few of them I have in most all issues, pressings and, where available, reissues.  "Suite Espanola" is one such; late wide-band, early narrow-band, late narrow-band, Dutch pressed narrow-band, and the Speakers Corner reissue.  Having said that, I can't say I've ever sat down to do a back-to-back comparison.  I'm not sure I have that sort of stamina!! 

The most recent SC purchase was the Starker Bach Cello box-set on Mercury.  Wonderful, but I don't have the original set to compare against.

Great minds think alike (Jay's and yours - not mine!).  I was with Jay this afternoon doing the listening and the Starker Bach Cello set was one of his highly recommended ones. 

Gregg

I don't have a stamina or space to have duplicates of titles, either!

That said, I've just bought a London Blue Back reissue of the Firebird to compare to the Speakers Corner version.

If the record is in a good condition, this would be an interesting comparison. But I already started to hear the Speakers Corner *EQ process* fingerprinting, tho... I still have a few more to go through...