What was the last vinyl you bought?

Vinyl. Japanese Toshiba-EMI issue. Blinding SQ. 

this album does my head in!

enjoy

ken

steve, i have a whole collection of these Blue Note vinyl's -- don't recall this one, will check, and will get it if not. where did you get your copy?

enjoy...

ken

You lucky thing Ken. It's the 1st of the Toshiba-EMI Blue Notes I have bought. I have many others from original 1st pressings with RVG and the ear in the dead wax to 45rpm Acoustic Sounds and Music Matters releases. I'm very impressed with this one so will look out for more. I bought this one second hand in mint condition on E-Bay. £21 well spent if you ask me.

ATB

Steve

Ella in Berlin.

Another mono copy.

Erroll Garner: Contrasts

Hope this is a quieter copy than what I have.

Arrived in yesterdays post, Melodia U.R.S.S. 3xLP box-set

I've given them a jolly good clean and new poly-paper sleeves.

The vinyl looks in very nice condition, just one disc with slight warp.

French pressings, the libretto is only in French too but nevermind : (

Debs

This one I have in iTunes [from the superb mono CD issue with this same cover], and an absolute loadstone performance for me! Up in the stratosphere for me, like some of the greatest Bach performances for me! I don't generally get jazz, but this is wonderful on every level, including the mad scatting finale!

But best is not Mack The Knife! The best is Lorrelie! So sexy!

ATB from George

PS: Dear Kuma, you would find it hard to believe that we have much overlap in musical taste, but we do you know!

Sometimes all of the hours spent trawling through the chariity shops pays off big time!!   ....

Currently going for £57 on Amazon.

Today's purchases

This double album.

On Pre-order for the 25th June release.

Stu.

Debs, 

How is his playing?

I've got his '62 Italian Recital DG mono which was a lot earlier than your set.

Like many of his tour recordings, this one isn't great either. Plus the engineers did not edit out the audience noise so it sounds as if Slava's playing in a hospital ward full of COPD patients. 

In spite tho, his playing is transcending and this is one of my favourite Richter *translucent* piece.

George,

Not only I love that Gershwin tune, I love Ira's racy lyrics. It cracks me up and love singing along!

But yeah. she was absolutely *on* in that gig.

Electrifying performance and her enthusiasm is catching.

Lately I am on a Schubert kick so when I  saw this record, I picked it up.

I am rather fond of Wand's style but this will be my first Schubert by him.

You can Pre-order the double vinyl from there site for £12 inc free post in the UK.

Its £20 on amazon and £16 hmv.

Stu.

Hi Kuma,

I find SR’s playing more technically brilliant than entertaining, especially the faster passages where he appears to excel with ease. But can’t really tell here, the lack of warmth concerns me, it may just be the poor sound recordings, the stunted frequency extremes produces a boxy presentation to the remainder, no dates are available on my 3LP box-set but I guess recording’s from the early 1960’s?… but these have an obsolete recording muffle similar to but not as vibrant as those Marcelle Mayer recordings from the 1930’s.

In fact Meyer’s JSB Toccata BWV.913 [recorded in 1947] is, on CD, far superior in sound quality, [albeit with more anolog tape hiss] but closer to the piano so more involving, and with a fuller fat bass growl. I prefer the way Meyer gives way on the slower passages to sincerity.

Melodiya was famous its recording quality - their engineers managed to turn even the finest music hall into a an empty swimming pool, and this lasted well into the 80s. By contrast, warsaw pact buddies Supraphon and to a lesser extent Hungaroton did some great work, which is fortunate for the recorded legacies of, amongst others, Annie Fischer, Susana Ruzickova, Josef Suk, David Oistrakh and Ivan Moravec.

EJ

According to Richter's discography, Le Chant du Monde releases are listed as recorded in Salzburg & Vienna between 1970-73 so I assumed they are newer than the Italian recital recording in '62.

Most Melodiya are indeed crap.  Exceptions are Japanese JVC/Melodiya and Melodiya/Le Chant du Monde (distributed via Harmonia Mundi ) Kondrashin/Shosty's Lenningrad.

I stop buying USSR Melodiya records because in spite the surface is clean, they sound awful and if it's a studio recording, often Richter's performance is too safe and doesn't have the same spontanious electrifying power of some live recordings. 

Some of the Russian *restoration* process they performed later on was so heavy handed in that took all the life out of the performance. :x

So I certainly understand your feeling of 'technically brilliant than entertaining'. And if you think he is only good at faster passages, then, either the recording did not capture his good *bits* or it wasn't his best performance he gave.

I find Richter special because what he does with slower quieter passages especially when he got older.

Bad Melodiya: :-[

Good Melodiya: :-)

Just had mail,Its on its way from ninja.

Stu.

Something to plug in the DAC and CD transport also.

Lorn-Ask The Dust on double 180g clouded grey vinyl.Brilliant Album.

Stu.