2:55 Decca 4:05 Decca wide band. Tubes vs transistors at the beginning of transistor technology. 7:52 Decca's American subsidiary, London. 11:34 Later Decca pressings. Narrow band. 14:01 Decca 70s (Decca/London Phase 4). New recording techniques. More substantial differences between UK & US. 15:44 Decca sublabels. Argo. Different type of repertoire (Bach). 16:57 RCA. 17:57 RCA Living Stereo original pressing. Shaded dog. 20:36 60s re-press. White dog. 21:41 Decline of quality for RCA. Dynagroove. Compression in mastering. 23:17 Dynagroove label. 24:06 70s RCA. 25:12 Mercury Living Presence. Known for dynamics. 26:54 Mercury jacket and label. 27:47 Later Mercury pressings. 28:56 Mercury bought by Philips. Mercury Golden Imports series. Dynamics vs noise. 31:22 EMI. Confusion with Columbia. 32:09 Tip-on jackets. SAX serial numbers. 32:21 Second label variant - red arch (vs light blue/silver label). 34:11 EMI variant. HMV. 35:34 Regular British EMI, most common. 36:51 EMI's US subsidiary. Angel records, pressed in US by third party. 38:13 Most common Angel label. Check for made in UK/England for records cut from master recording rather than 2nd or 3rd gen copy. 39:23 Philips. 41:03 Deutsche Grammophon. 43:00 DG Tulip label. Late 50s/early 60s pressings made on tube gear. 43:37 Later pressing with plain white line. Look for DP/Deutsche Pressing. 44:27 Columbia Records (US label). 6-eye pressings. 46:14 Columbia 2-eye pressings. 46:43 Columbia 'circle' pressings. 47:48 Switch to digital. Telarc. 49:43 Nonesuch.
50:12 Reissues. 51:01 Analogue Productions. 52:29 Analogue Productions reissue of Living Stereo. (**side note from me, my kid totally does play these on her Peanuts-cobranded Crosley**) 55:34 Classic Records (bought by Analogue). 57:40 (Japanese) King Super Analogue (?) 59:35 ORG Original Recording group. 1:01:22 (German) Speaker's Corner. 1:05:18 EMI Testament. 1:07:08 Other labels doing reissues. ClearAudio. Reference Recordings. Some larger companies cut their own reissues from CD masters or other inferior source material. 1:09:39 The need to be vigilant in examining wear & tear on classical LPs.
I don’t think I can say something that others haven’t said already, but I NEED to tell you this is BY FAR the BEST audiophile-related video I have come up on RUclips so far. CONGRATS and THANKS for the info you’ve shared with us. Regards from Spain.
I am coming to this video six years after you made it having just started investigating classical records and emarbking on building my own classical collection (having spent the last 30 years pretty much exclusively concentrating on jazz, my first love). I had started off by buying cheap Deutsche Grammaphon records from a local charity shop, just because that (and Decca) were the only classical labels I had any passing knowledge of so it was reassuring to hear your comments at the end that this was a relatively sensible strategy that I had just happened to stumble upon. I had no idea about Tulip pressings but lucked out on quite a few of those for £1/£2 and a couple of Deccas (although not the desirable ones you mention)! Anyway, the real point of this post was that I just wanted to thank you, albeit belatedly, for boiling all of this knowledge down into a relatively short video to help people starting their journey into classical music. This is one of the best examples of what RUclips should be for, a valuable resource for sharing knowledge and education. Thanks again.
I've been a metalhead for years and starting to get into classical music for some time. Thanks about this lesson, it is such a HUGE amount of music. THANK THANKS THANKS.
You Sir are the man! I watched and devoured every minute of this faultless video last night before bed....I was too tired to comment but had to this morning. I own a used vinyl record shop so im pretty good with the world of first presses etc, however classical was until recently something I personally loved as a genre/audiophile (I also collect and sell vintage HIFI) but never realised the collectability and potential value of some of these pressings. I have recently began to really pay attention to my huge un processed back stock of classical and have ordered them by label/number and am pleased to have a mass of Decca widebands etc....with the help of this vid I will be able to sort them even further and I hate to say, anything strings based (I favour violin/cello/chamber music/solo stuff) is probably going to go home with me and start my own 1st press classical collection. Anything of value that is not to my taste personally gets priced accordingly and will be available in my store! I am subscribing to your channel, your un scripted flowing unfaltering non stop knowledge was exceptional. Well done fella. Dan 'Creekside Vinyl' Faversham/ UK
I know this video is about 2 years old now, but I want to thank you for making it. I am just getting back into vinyl after being seduced by digital for quite a few years. That romance is now over! I find it easy to get good info on rock and jazz recordings when it comes to what pressings to buy, but much harder for classical. Your video is a very good help for this!
If you like classical music and you go for vinyl , i'm quite sure you'll have a miserable time cleaning records over and over again getting no better sonic result and being really dissapointed. I tell you based on my own experience.
I enjoyed your video very much, and I am inspired to revisit the classical records I have; a lot of Columbia, London and DG, with a smattering of Angel to my chagrin, but also other lesser known interesting labels. Most were picked-up used for a song over the years, at state sales, thrifts and the like, can't find them anymore. Surprisingly even when the sleeves are not mint, most of the records are NM, speaks about the owners who cared for them, and also didn't play them much. Look forward to your videos, Thank you!
Rimsky-Korsakov- Scheherazade Chicago Symphony w/ Fritz Reiner on Analogue Productions Brahms the Four Symphonies- Karajan and Berlin in the new box set by DG, cut from analog tapes. Bartok- Concerto for Orchestra Chicago Symphony/Fritz Reiner on Analogue Productions Saint-Saens- Symphony No.3 "Organ" Munch/Boston Symphony on Analogue Productions Mahler- Symphony No. 2 Solti/London Symphony on Speakers Corner. All of these are currently in-print.
stateniland Try Scherazade with Charles Dutoit and the Montreal Symphony. Reiner’s version sounds like a fat woman on a barge. I agree with him on the Saint Saens/Munch. After almost 62 yrs it is still a the definitive performance.
I too discovered this video 5+ years after recorded. Great information and delivery and really enjoying your other posts!! Great to hear the Jacqueline Du Pre Elgar mentioned towards the end. I have an original mono, and it is one of my favourites.
Thanks for this thoroughly informative video guide. You are a wellspring of excellent info. I've just started to revive my vinyl collection and have been scouting for classical music in the bins. This is a big help. Keep it up.
Incredibly educational video. As a new vinyl collector watching this, I have picked up 6 DG records for $8. Whole different world from the 1950s and 1960s jazz albums I usually look for.
Michael: You've created a unique and comprehensive resource for YT . Nice work -- and thx! I know this is a vinyl channel, but I think you should create a similar Guide for digital/CD. Maybe compare/contrast to vinyl, etc.
Thanks for making this video! I've been a long time jazz collector and I've been into classical recently. After learning from your video, I went to my local thrift stores and found some mint Londons, RCA Living Stereos, DGs, and even a very valuable original Decca!
Thanks for all the great info. I recently started going through my classical collection and found some great gems that I never knew I had! I discovered a Decca Phase 4 stereo Respighi Fountains of Rome, Pines of Rome Charles Munch and the New Philharmonia Orchestra that sounds amazing. I had never listed to it before today. Thanks!!!!!!!
Hello Michael. How do I begin to thank you for your time and amazing information I have got from this video. I have been collecting classical and opera for afew years now and I had no idea about some of the stuff you have talked about. So informative and interesting. As I write I have four pages of notes that I will use as a reference when out and about record shopping and I will spend this morning checking the records I already have with the information you have given me. I do tend to favour Deutsche Grammophon pressings mainly because I find they are found more easily but I will definitely be on the look out for some of the other labels you have spoken about. THANK YOU SO MUCH for taking the time to make this video, going by what other people have said these videos take a lot of time to make and edit so I just wanted to let you know your appreciated. Have a lovely Sunday. Best wishes, Floss x
5:04: "This is what a late 50's, early 60's UK Decca pressing looks like." Said with a 1968-1970 UK Decca pressing (ED3) in his hands ... Charming mistake, even the sun got spots! A bright and thorough introduction to important parts of classical record collecting, thank you.
I have been collecting records since about 1960 and my collection goes back to the earliest electric recordings circa 1925; for example I have the first 50 classical albums issued by Victor. However, the relevance to your video is that I mostly concur with your analysis of stereo records. I identified the bad LP labels when I had to thin my collection about 10 years ago; out went the US Angels (pressed in Scranton, PA), the non-tulip DGGs (which also cleared out the hated von Karajan recordings; I hate the guy as a human being as well as a musician), many 1970s records, etc. I’ve gotten interested in tape recordings; I have Ampex 354 and PR-70 recorders, both tube decks. I also bought the later Ampex transistorized AG-350 and their 440. The AG-350 was pure junk that I sold immediately; the 440 was much better but no match for the tube 354 after I restored the tube electronics. In my view, much of the quality issues you discussed resulted from the change in recording and mastering gear from tubes to transistors. I’ve also collected many prerecorded tapes, both 4-track and 2-track. When you play the tape version of one of the Living Stereos, it’s absolutely amazing how compressed the LPs are. For years, these prerecorded tapes have been looked down upon by audiophiles, but in general they’re better than the discs and probably come from an earlier generation of master tapes. I also have half a shelf of LP reissues, buying everything that came along in the 1970s and 1980s, and most of them have been played once at most. They just are mostly too transistory and I’d rather listen to even a scratchy Living Stereo than these pathetic and expensive “prestige” pressings. Finally, my last comment about your survey is that the problem with collecting good pressings is that most of them cover a very limited repertory. For example, I like chamber music and there are hardly any Living Stereo or FFSS recordings of the chamber music repertoire. You’re stuck with the marginal labels that may or may not work out sonically. Anyway, best.
I have found that some of the CBS Masterworks records that were made right before they went digital (or at least they didn't say they were digital)--say, 1980ish--have outstanding (natural and clear) sound quality.
Very thorough breakdown. Incredible.!Thumbing through some 200 plus classical records I possess I was able to find a few shaded dog RCA’s. Good titles too. Ravel, Stravinsky, Brahms, Shostakovich. Thanks for the in depth video.
Thank you for this guide. I am just getting into vinyl for the first time. Today I trawled the antique and record shops and got a DG mono record of Beethoven's 3rd piano concerto from May 1953 (blue tulip border) for the princely sum of one Australian dollar; an Argo pressing of Haydn's trumpet concerto from 1967; and an EMI of Adrian Boult conducting Holst's The Planets also from 1967.
...and yesterday I got Brahms's Deutsches Requiem in a DG blue tulip from 1964, in a nice big case; a Decca narrow band Elgar's Gerontius from 1972 conducted by Britten, also in a nice big case; a 1984 DG repressing of the Elvira Madigan concerto from 1962; and a Mercury of Beethoven's Fourth Piano Concerto from 1965. A nice haul.
Very informative! I learned so much from this video and I'm stunned that someone so young is so knowledgable about historical vinyl records. Will definitely subscribe and watch your other videos. Thank you!
Anyone interested in key performances needs a few copies of the Penguin guide. Mid 80s thick copies covered LPs and early CDs. I’ve had several versions for over 20 years and they generally are a good guide to the better performances. The advice on decca is great, but don’t pass up good performances on lesser pressings if the price is right, or frankly, the CDs.
I have zero desire to EVER purchase a classical record. Yet I thoroughly enjoyed this. I inherited a few very nice things from my grandparents but like I said, I have no desire to actually purchase classical stuff on my own.
This was a really well done and informative video posting. Much needed info for someone just starting out into a deeper appreciation of classical music. Awesome job!
so I took your advice, bought an LP for $0.50 at the thrift store today, come home and do some research, turns out the LP is on the TAS super list! thanks for the good advice!
I don't know diddly about classical music (yet) but I love your clear enthusiasm and knowledge about the subject. So far the closest I've gotten to the genre is I own one recording of The Mikado which sounds like it was captured from the bottom of a well, with a bit of string and a tin can.
This is an excellent, informative video that I will use whenever out shopping for classical. I did not realize that the early Angel label LPs had such poor sound. Now I will know what to look for. Thanks for the great advice!
One of the reasons that many prefer the Deccas over the Londons is that the pressings were earlier. I don't want to get into what happens when more records are made from the same stamper, but, having both in my collection for decades, there are often significant differences in the sound. An excellent video, young man.
Amazing and so informative. So glad I found you. I've gathered a nice collection alomg the years. Thought I knew something 😅 Now I'm browsing my records looking for older ones, or the seven eyes... Specially interesting knowing about the reissue labels and the differences. Thanks for your video.
Thanks for an excellent experience, your time and for sharing your knowledge. You're very good at this Michael. I'm going to run to my collection now and see what I have that I didn't understand previously.
Fantastic video! Greatly enjoyed this. It inspired me to dive deeper into my own Classical collection, do some analyzing/evaluating, comparisons between releases and pressings, etc. Even made a video sharing the results of my first experiments. Thanks!
If you want to be blown away by the Angel series, get a copy of the 45 rpm version of Holst, The Planets suite, with Andre Previn. The quad version, SS-45000 played in standard stereo is incredibly dynamic.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience and expertise... I am returning to Vinyl after 30 years... very excited to hear Violin on Vinyl.... aside from Super High Res and 24-bit, I did not enjoy the CD or digital revolution. For all its flaws Vinyl still has a buzz and a warmth and my 30 year old (or more) records have survived hibernation
Thank you so much for this video. I was able to take a risk with confidence today. I found a decca wide band of Verdi Nabucco Highlights. I am so happy with the results. Thanks again.
The classical market is so much more niche than rock, pop and jazz. I've found that it's much more fruitful digging for vinyl classical rarities in charity shops than for any other genre. Picked up a beautiful1969 HMV ASD issue of that Du Pre this afternoon for a pound (along with a white and gold ASD for £3 a few weeks ago!)
Thanks for this very informative overview of the record quality. More than I ever realized. I bought most of my classical records in the 90's, most of it based on Penquin Guide or radio station recommendations. Oh oh there are quite a few Angels in there but also Argos. What about Harmonia Mundi and Archiv and L'Oiseau-Lyre? I like early music so that explains it. The problem with my Phillips boxed sets was that the foam inserts disintegrated and created a mess ( I had to store my records one winter in an uninsulated cabin). Artur Schnabel on EMI (British)? And a couple of Turnabout pressings that were recommended: Louis Kentner doing Liszt and Alfred Brendel doing Beethoven Piano Sonatas (Waldstein and Tempest). My question: should we go by the quality of the sound or the quality of the performance? What if I only have Beniamino Gigli on Seraphim? Should I go out and spend 500 dollars to get a superior aural experience?
you may already know about the DTD records on chast the dragon label but just in case you didn't, there are things there that YOU must have. another thing that i have on my mind is that boulez is a stravinsky expert and his three ballets on columbia, both are on LP and cd. i first got turned on to his petrouchka on columbia and it is delightful and to me the quintessential version. i was self educating myself at the library in panorama city (nearly across the street from the security pacific bank where harry nillsson worked as a teller) and started with the rite of spring by karajan on DG. dynamic enough to pressurize a room but (i didn't realize the travesty it was to reality) it was DG multimked to death. still a good performance. next was a pristine copy of boulez' petrouchka which i promptly committed to tape on my TEAC 4010GSL which became my main listening version for years. i was going to go to tower on van nuys blvd and get it along with planets/mehta/LAPhil BUT when i went in to do so, the LPs were NGONE and CDs were there instead. i was deflated. i am mostly a jazz guy so then i concentrated on that and expanding my horizons via my friend to Ben Sidran and Dan Hicks and his hot licks. ETC. now i my tastes are widlely varied towards things like YELLO, dead can dance, trilok gurtu, etc. medeski martin and wood are also in there. metal, punk, ska, and genres like that don't do it for me like it does you but we seem to have parallel interests up to a point. ...hifitommy
Thankyou ,ive just started helping a friend st his record store.He has so many classical recotds that no one even goes through,so i was curious what makes any of them more valuable then others , now i have alot to go on and what to look for while stacking them
This is easily the best primer on classical music labels on You Tube, thanks for posting this. Quick comment and a question for you. I've only been collecting classical records for a few months now and this video really helped me save time, by pointing me to the best labels and staying away from the weaker ones. I'd love to see you post a similar video on Jazz labels. Regarding classical labels, what's your take on Epic? They seemed to have a relatively strong roster of artists in the '50's (I just picked up a NM Clara Haskil record playing Schmann earlier today, in fact) -- just wanted your take on this label. Again, thanks.
This is also a "Guide" for anyone that wants to flip classical records. Inadvertent to his video message, but it is a complicated feat to sell and profit off them. This guy is a whiz.
I would be interested in your take on some of the minor European labels. Erato. Supraphon. Telefunken. Hungaroton. Melodiya. Ducretet-Thomson. Supraphon has long been one of my favorite labels, due to the large numbers of recordings featuring the Czech Philharmonic, one of my all time favorite and most colorful orchestras.
Epic video, thanks! I watched it non stop and took plenty of notes. I already have an honest CD collection of classical music (nothing audiophile really). I am happy with it, but I am looking into discovering classical music on vinyl, especially Beethoven. Unfortunately, I did not start on the right foot. Last time I went shopping, along with my usual stack of rock albums, I bought my first classical album on vinyl. It was a $10 used copy of Symphony no. 9 by Beethoven, conducted by Bruno Walter, on the Columbia Masterworks "6 eye label". I did not see any scratches in the store and it was graded NM by the people there by way of a sticker, as they always do. So I bought it, brought it home and washed it with my Spin-Clean. Unfortunately, it was so noisy all the way through, I could not enjoy it at all. When looked under good light, I could see that the record had suffered some kind of harsh treatment, maybe moisture. That was not something I could have notice at the store under normal light. So your video arrives at a time when I was just starting to say to myself that maybe I should stick to CDs for classical... I guess now I will give it another try and maybe try an Analogue Production reissue, I don't know. I have the rock profile that you mentioned near the end of the vid, so I guess you're right, I really have to be more vigilant. On the other hand, I am wondering if it is worth the headaches... That's where I am at today.
I always take a small flashlight with me when i go to record stores, many stores keep the lights dim on purpose so you don't see scratches! In general, the records from the 50s and 60s tend to be beat up when you find them, you'll have much better luck with London's and DG's I think, I tend to find those in much better condition in shops. For a good place to start your collection, try the Solti/Beethoven Symphonies box set on UK London. Great performances, great sound quality, and you can probably find a mint copy on ebay for about 40 dollars or so.
Nice video. A few inaccuracies, but generally good. Just for the ‘record’ Electric & Musical Industries is the company manufacturer that own the Labels it is not a Label - that came in the 80’s. HMV, Columbia, Angel etc are the Labels owned by E.M.I
Nice job! I too share your enthusiasm for AP, and wish they would do more classical other than Living Stereos, like the Rachmaninoff 45. I'm def looking forward to their Royal Ballet too. SC has done an outstanding job with their Decca series. All this stuff is great, but really is geared for the audiophile/serious enthusiast because of the cost of these pressings.
Just discovered your channel and after a quick perusal of your channel and insta feed linked in the description, my immediate reaction is that I think we might actually be the same person. We have way too many common interests for me to be convinced otherwise. Good stuff, 100% subbed. 👌🏻
Thanks for such an informative video. I too have that Elgar (ASD 655) recording and I've always thought it was the original. It says 1965 on the cover and record and I can't see where it says ''Testament''. Whatever, it's a great recording. Warner Classics have produced a re-issue and that is very good too, Sea Pictures has greater clarity though the strings are not quite as full and rich as the original.
If you admire--quite reasonable--early Decca LPs, there should be a tip of the hat to Arthur Haddy, Decca's remarkable recording director. Haddy was at the forefront of high quality audio technology, from FFRR (Full Frequency Range Response, originally developed during the War) to early mono LP to pioneering stereo recordings from the mid-50s onward. His taste in recording engineering was unsurpassed.
Agreed. Those Decca mono ffrr pressings are really good recordings. Finding them in good condition isn't as easy as the London monos but, as Michael pointed out, classical buyers in the early 50's and through the 60's usually took better care of their records than those strictly buying rock and pop.
If you want a nice size collection of early London monos in perfect condition (still in the onion skin inner sleeves, as delivered) let me know. I have them in my record shelves, heard them once, and now want to make room for a just-acquired 78rpm classical music collection. I had read that they were half-speed mastered, and the quality certainly shows in contract to a perfect condition RCA Victor or Columbia disc of the same period.
Thanks for pointing out difference between Columbia (UK) and Columbia records (US). After collecting classical music for 40 years, i did not know they were unrelated. Unless i missed it - or you discussed it on another video - you made no mention of the final generation of vinyl pressings in the late 80's - early 90's. EMI and a few other labels were using something called DMM or Direct Metal Mastering and the ones i have play flawlessly (no clicks, pops or skips) and were smooth as glass (no warped discs). they were, IMHO, the ne plus ultra of vinyl pressing. Unfortunately, the CD was right behind them, ending the 33 rpm era. Also, what about the Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab label?? I have about six or seven of their classical discs and they are so good, i transferred them to CD so i can listen to them in my car.
This has been extremely helpful, Thanks! I've never paid much attention to the labels before and as a result sound quality was always hit or miss. I went on a classical records hunt last week at my local records stores and found a few gems thanks to you! And I was able to search faster by passing on the" Angel" pressings. My favorite recent find was a Telarc Digital recording on vinyl "Frederick Fennel - Cleveland Symphonic Winds, Holst,Handel and Bach". The music really soars on my Music system...Denon DP-47F turntable, Yaqin Tube Amplifier and Tube phono preamp all feeding the KEF Ls-50 speakers. Any thoughts on VOX label? I saw plenty of those records out there.
I have that record myself, although I haven't listened to it in a while. I don't have a ton of VOX pressings, I have a few vox turnabout reissues from Analogue Productions and those are excellent. I think those are specific recordings by a specific engineer though. I have a few original vox pressings, specifically I just picked up two box sets of Scriabin piano music from about 1971 on vox, and while I loved the music, I thought the sound quality was relatively poor. I would pass on them unless they are one of the recordings that have been on the TAS list or other audiophile lists, as those would be safer bets. I actually just upgraded my KEF Q300s to LS50s myself, such a great little speaker, you have a nice system.
I'm ready now(thanks to you)to go hunting for Classical Composers records. I now know what to kill and what to leave alone...Thanks for the show/video poetryonplastic.(Next time try to hold the records you're using as demonstration for 2 seconds, at least , and without moving, in front of the camera so we can pause the video and write down the title of the album and look for it, since you have great Classical taste, and of course, if its possible for you to do that. Thank you).
Hi. Very informative indeed. I have a few original Deccas too and some of them have "original recording by" instead of "made in England by" and I believe these are the very earliest pressings. Keep up the good work.😊
Can’t believe you didn’t use that remarkable Fennel/Cleveland recording of the Holst Suites as your example of early Telarc. That bass drum almost made my stylus jump! LOL
I will tell you why Deccas sound much better than the corresponding London. While the lacquers are the same, the vinyl is different. If you take a London blueback, and compare it with the corresponding Decca wideband from the same lacquers, you will find that the records have a completely different feel in your hand. The London will seem much thicker and stiffer. Interestingly, if you weight them, you will find that the weight is about the same; I came up with 151-2 grams for each one. This would seem to imply that the London vinyl is not as dense. The hand feel of the two records is completely different. If you hold the record between your hands and flop it, the London and Decca flex differently. The Decca is more flexible and flops easily. What the Decca reminds me of is the 150 gram vinyl used by JVC Japan to press Mofi records in the late 70s and early 80s. I suspect that the softness and flexibility of the Decca vinyl allowed it to receive the impression from the stamper much more accurately. Just my two cents, but I have had the pleasure of handling hundreds of rare early Deccas and Londons, as well as listening to them on kilobuck systems, as well as my own relatively humble equipment.
Recently got into collecting early electronic music records. Electronic pop and classical/compilation records. Most of them are recordings of various music performed on early transistor-based or vacuum tube organs. I also enjoy collecting instrumental stuff, stuff most would consider cheesy or elevator music. If I see anything with philharmonic in the tytle Ill buy it. I also have some pype organ stuff I just bought today as well as some wurlitzer air theater organ recordings! I hope the wurlitzer and the baroke stuff turns out to be good pressings. The electronic stuff I am normally after is stuff like demo records that were bundled with the instrument, eric dimpson, ken ken grifn, hil olevera, clous wonderlich sorry probably buchured the names and that word too. Oh well I love music!
Very helpful and informative video. If I had a contribute button I would. What is your opinion of Delos? I have some favorite performances of Stravinsky on Delos CD. I know they are digital recordings originally. i'm wondering how an LP would sound. Do you have any experience with Delos LPs? Were they issued as LPs should I seek them out?
I recently started collecting some Classical and found this video very informative. Can you give an opinion on the Canadian manufactured Deutsche Grammophon Resonance series? They are so plentiful in my region. They definitely don't seem as good as the few large tulip pressed in Germany. Thanks!
Great video, thanks! Would love to see a follow-up video on some of the other U.S. labels I see that look to also come from the tube technology era, such as Everest, Vox/Turnabout, Dover, and Westminster. Also, Urania! Looks like you have. Technics 1300 in the video. Great turntable :)
Great video, so informative! I watched it twice and took notes. I recently got into classical vinyl collection after a few estate sale scores. Have been really enjoying listening classicals in the classical way. Didn't hear you mention Westminster label, which I have a few. Also, how's Decca Gold Label. They are printed in US. Have a set of Tureck Bach Well-Tempered Calvier, which I like so much.
Decca gold label were a different company altogether from the british decca company. They mostly did smaller artists and orchestras. I only have a handful of gold label records, most of which are chamber music. They do sound good, however they are not at the quality of british london/decca.
@@poetryonplastic So is this the US Decca that prevents Decca from selling in US under Decca label? They sound good for piano for one of my favorite pieces.
Great runthrough! This video would have saved me lots of headaches and wasted energy had I seen it about 10 years ago when I started collecting... However, one glaring absent from the original labels: the consistently great-to-amazing Archiv Produktion! I realize they were a subsidiary of DGG, but they were so good plus reliably pressed that they certainly deserved a special mention.
I prefer the Rachmaninoff Symphony #2 with the cuts, but that recording with Paul Paray has to be the shortest Rach 2 ever recorded and it has a few blemishes. The Rach 2 was recorded a lot in the 80's and 90's without the cuts but on some newer recordings on Android and Amazon Prime they' include the cuts. Actually one Karajan recording I like is the Sibelius Symphony #2 from 1982 which was an early Angel digital recording. Another great recording from 1982 that I had was a Philharmonia recording of the complete "Nutcracker" conducted by John Lanchberry (it's on Spotify). The new redesigned Angel label on the record clearly said "DIGITAL" and signified that we were in a whole new era of audio recording.
Wish I could give you two thumbs up - Had to keep pausing to go check my labels. I have some of the good ones, but some Angels too. I know you are down on them, but my Angels are some of the quietest records I have - incredibly low surface noise. Also, some of them are SQ encoded - have to check the catalog numbers. "SQ-" and I believe it is, even though the SQ logo may not be on back. "SD-" and it is not.
i have to agree with your assessment of Telarc (the maazel/cleveland/pictures disc is maybe the quintessential performance pf pix) and nonesuch which my doctor friend intorduced me to (the mahler 3rd by jascha horenstein is a great performance with seemingly heroic dynamics). i must touch on the performances of zubin mehta on ?decca in the early 70s. the planets, close encounters, and a surprise for me-the alpine symphony (my daughter was at van nuys high school and they were going to perform the alpine) so i found a couple in my collection by good orchestras and conductors and made her a cassette. THEN i found the mehta version and figured it would be superior. well, YES it was. i made another cassette; she agreed that it was SO much nicer a performance and her teacher and contemporaries likewise agreed. guy hickey of quatre electronics (long defunct) introduced me to a good fall 3 cornered hat on columbia, (6eye maybe) check it out.
Great resource! I've collected around 200 classical LPs (most of my collection is jazz and rock). I like DG performances and am okay with the fidelity of most. I love Speakers Corner for their jazz, soul, etc., but have found their Decca reissues, for instance, to be noisy. I'm not used to spending money on new vinyl and having surface noise that detracts from the listening experience. I have a Pro Ject record cleaning machine and a Furuech destat which I use on every LP. Have you not had this experience? Any suggestions?
I've got a question. I got a couple of Deustche Grammophon records. They all have "D.P." writren over them, but besides that It says "Made in Spain". What kind of paradox is this?
I bought Porgy and Bess on Decca, the opera on 3 lp's, but I thought I would get the uk version with narrow band, but I got the german one. Probably not that good I think. Cannot compare. Do you know if there are sonically diferences with German and Uk. Cheers, Koen.
2:55 Decca
4:05 Decca wide band. Tubes vs transistors at the beginning of transistor technology.
7:52 Decca's American subsidiary, London.
11:34 Later Decca pressings. Narrow band.
14:01 Decca 70s (Decca/London Phase 4). New recording techniques. More substantial differences between UK & US.
15:44 Decca sublabels. Argo. Different type of repertoire (Bach).
16:57 RCA.
17:57 RCA Living Stereo original pressing. Shaded dog.
20:36 60s re-press. White dog.
21:41 Decline of quality for RCA. Dynagroove. Compression in mastering.
23:17 Dynagroove label.
24:06 70s RCA.
25:12 Mercury Living Presence. Known for dynamics.
26:54 Mercury jacket and label.
27:47 Later Mercury pressings.
28:56 Mercury bought by Philips. Mercury Golden Imports series. Dynamics vs noise.
31:22 EMI. Confusion with Columbia.
32:09 Tip-on jackets. SAX serial numbers.
32:21 Second label variant - red arch (vs light blue/silver label).
34:11 EMI variant. HMV.
35:34 Regular British EMI, most common.
36:51 EMI's US subsidiary. Angel records, pressed in US by third party.
38:13 Most common Angel label. Check for made in UK/England for records cut from master recording rather than 2nd or 3rd gen copy.
39:23 Philips.
41:03 Deutsche Grammophon.
43:00 DG Tulip label. Late 50s/early 60s pressings made on tube gear.
43:37 Later pressing with plain white line. Look for DP/Deutsche Pressing.
44:27 Columbia Records (US label). 6-eye pressings.
46:14 Columbia 2-eye pressings.
46:43 Columbia 'circle' pressings.
47:48 Switch to digital. Telarc.
49:43 Nonesuch.
50:12 Reissues.
51:01 Analogue Productions.
52:29 Analogue Productions reissue of Living Stereo. (**side note from me, my kid totally does play these on her Peanuts-cobranded Crosley**)
55:34 Classic Records (bought by Analogue).
57:40 (Japanese) King Super Analogue (?)
59:35 ORG Original Recording group.
1:01:22 (German) Speaker's Corner.
1:05:18 EMI Testament.
1:07:08 Other labels doing reissues. ClearAudio. Reference Recordings. Some larger companies cut their own reissues from CD masters or other inferior source material.
1:09:39 The need to be vigilant in examining wear & tear on classical LPs.
@@holzfallen Now that's commitment!
@@poetryonplastic thank you for an amazingly useful guide!
I have some for sale
I don’t think I can say something that others haven’t said already, but I NEED to tell you this is BY FAR the BEST audiophile-related video I have come up on RUclips so far. CONGRATS and THANKS for the info you’ve shared with us. Regards from Spain.
I am coming to this video six years after you made it having just started investigating classical records and emarbking on building my own classical collection (having spent the last 30 years pretty much exclusively concentrating on jazz, my first love). I had started off by buying cheap Deutsche Grammaphon records from a local charity shop, just because that (and Decca) were the only classical labels I had any passing knowledge of so it was reassuring to hear your comments at the end that this was a relatively sensible strategy that I had just happened to stumble upon. I had no idea about Tulip pressings but lucked out on quite a few of those for £1/£2 and a couple of Deccas (although not the desirable ones you mention)! Anyway, the real point of this post was that I just wanted to thank you, albeit belatedly, for boiling all of this knowledge down into a relatively short video to help people starting their journey into classical music. This is one of the best examples of what RUclips should be for, a valuable resource for sharing knowledge and education. Thanks again.
I've been a metalhead for years and starting to get into classical music for some time. Thanks about this lesson, it is such a HUGE amount of music. THANK THANKS THANKS.
holy shit kid you just became one of my favorite you tubers.
You Sir are the man! I watched and devoured every minute of this faultless video last night before bed....I was too tired to comment but had to this morning. I own a used vinyl record shop so im pretty good with the world of first presses etc, however classical was until recently something I personally loved as a genre/audiophile (I also collect and sell vintage HIFI) but never realised the collectability and potential value of some of these pressings. I have recently began to really pay attention to my huge un processed back stock of classical and have ordered them by label/number and am pleased to have a mass of Decca widebands etc....with the help of this vid I will be able to sort them even further and I hate to say, anything strings based (I favour violin/cello/chamber music/solo stuff) is probably going to go home with me and start my own 1st press classical collection. Anything of value that is not to my taste personally gets priced accordingly and will be available in my store! I am subscribing to your channel, your un scripted flowing unfaltering non stop knowledge was exceptional. Well done fella. Dan 'Creekside Vinyl' Faversham/ UK
I know this video is about 2 years old now, but I want to thank you for making it.
I am just getting back into vinyl after being seduced by digital for quite a few years. That romance is now over!
I find it easy to get good info on rock and jazz recordings when it comes to what pressings to buy, but much harder for classical.
Your video is a very good help for this!
If you like classical music and you go for vinyl , i'm quite sure you'll have a miserable time cleaning records over and over again getting no better sonic result and being really dissapointed. I tell you based on my own experience.
I enjoyed your video very much, and I am inspired to revisit the classical records I have; a lot of Columbia, London and DG, with a smattering of Angel to my chagrin, but also other lesser known interesting labels. Most were picked-up used for a song over the years, at state sales, thrifts and the like, can't find them anymore. Surprisingly even when the sleeves are not mint, most of the records are NM, speaks about the owners who cared for them, and also didn't play them much. Look forward to your videos, Thank you!
I’ve been collecting classical since 1972. I really admire your knowledge and ability for discussion.
This is the best introduction to classical vinyl i know. gracias desde España
Simply one of the best videos on RUclips!
Possibly the best vinyl collection video ever, thanks! If only there were more emphasis on finding the best version of any given recording.
I'm not sure Michael understands that this is the best video on vinyl collection
That is a very debatable topic that is even a bit subjective. This video is a good foundation to build from what you desire.
I am eager to begin a classical LP collection.. start me off on a few LPs that will brighten my day? Thank you Joe
Rimsky-Korsakov- Scheherazade Chicago Symphony w/ Fritz Reiner on Analogue Productions
Brahms the Four Symphonies- Karajan and Berlin in the new box set by DG, cut from analog tapes.
Bartok- Concerto for Orchestra Chicago Symphony/Fritz Reiner on Analogue Productions
Saint-Saens- Symphony No.3 "Organ" Munch/Boston Symphony on Analogue Productions
Mahler- Symphony No. 2 Solti/London Symphony on Speakers Corner.
All of these are currently in-print.
@@poetryonplastic TY Much ... Joe
stateniland
Try Scherazade with Charles Dutoit and the Montreal Symphony. Reiner’s version sounds like a fat woman on a barge.
I agree with him on the Saint Saens/Munch. After almost 62 yrs it is still a the definitive performance.
I just bought the exact RCA Tchaikovsky No 5 Record you showed because of your review, can't wait to receive it and spin that great piece!
I too discovered this video 5+ years after recorded. Great information and delivery and really enjoying your other posts!! Great to hear the Jacqueline Du Pre Elgar mentioned towards the end. I have an original mono, and it is one of my favourites.
Thanks for this thoroughly informative video guide. You are a wellspring of excellent info. I've just started to revive my vinyl collection and have been scouting for classical music in the bins. This is a big help. Keep it up.
Incredibly educational video. As a new vinyl collector watching this, I have picked up 6 DG records for $8. Whole different world from the 1950s and 1960s jazz albums I usually look for.
Michael:
You've created a unique and comprehensive resource for YT . Nice work -- and thx!
I know this is a vinyl channel, but I think you should create a similar Guide for digital/CD. Maybe compare/contrast to vinyl, etc.
Thanks for making this video! I've been a long time jazz collector and I've been into classical recently. After learning from your video, I went to my local thrift stores and found some mint Londons, RCA Living Stereos, DGs, and even a very valuable original Decca!
Thanks for all the great info. I recently started going through my classical collection and found some great gems that I never knew I had! I discovered a Decca Phase 4 stereo Respighi Fountains of Rome, Pines of Rome Charles Munch and the New Philharmonia Orchestra that sounds amazing. I had never listed to it before today. Thanks!!!!!!!
Hello Michael. How do I begin to thank you for your time and amazing information I have got from this video. I have been collecting classical and opera for afew years now and I had no idea about some of the stuff you have talked about. So informative and interesting. As I write I have four pages of notes that I will use as a reference when out and about record shopping and I will spend this morning checking the records I already have with the information you have given me. I do tend to favour Deutsche Grammophon pressings mainly because I find they are found more easily but I will definitely be on the look out for some of the other labels you have spoken about. THANK YOU SO MUCH for taking the time to make this video, going by what other people have said these videos take a lot of time to make and edit so I just wanted to let you know your appreciated. Have a lovely Sunday. Best wishes, Floss x
5:04: "This is what a late 50's, early 60's UK Decca pressing looks like." Said with a 1968-1970 UK Decca pressing (ED3) in his hands ...
Charming mistake, even the sun got spots! A bright and thorough introduction to important parts of classical record collecting, thank you.
Ah, I knew that was an ED3 but I wasn't aware wide band went that late into the 60s? I had thought they went to narrow band by 68, my mistake!
I have been collecting records since about 1960 and my collection goes back to the earliest electric recordings circa 1925; for example I have the first 50 classical albums issued by Victor. However, the relevance to your video is that I mostly concur with your analysis of stereo records. I identified the bad LP labels when I had to thin my collection about 10 years ago; out went the US Angels (pressed in Scranton, PA), the non-tulip DGGs (which also cleared out the hated von Karajan recordings; I hate the guy as a human being as well as a musician), many 1970s records, etc. I’ve gotten interested in tape recordings; I have Ampex 354 and PR-70 recorders, both tube decks. I also bought the later Ampex transistorized AG-350 and their 440. The AG-350 was pure junk that I sold immediately; the 440 was much better but no match for the tube 354 after I restored the tube electronics. In my view, much of the quality issues you discussed resulted from the change in recording and mastering gear from tubes to transistors. I’ve also collected many prerecorded tapes, both 4-track and 2-track. When you play the tape version of one of the Living Stereos, it’s absolutely amazing how compressed the LPs are. For years, these prerecorded tapes have been looked down upon by audiophiles, but in general they’re better than the discs and probably come from an earlier generation of master tapes. I also have half a shelf of LP reissues, buying everything that came along in the 1970s and 1980s, and most of them have been played once at most. They just are mostly too transistory and I’d rather listen to even a scratchy Living Stereo than these pathetic and expensive “prestige” pressings. Finally, my last comment about your survey is that the problem with collecting good pressings is that most of them cover a very limited repertory. For example, I like chamber music and there are hardly any Living Stereo or FFSS recordings of the chamber music repertoire. You’re stuck with the marginal labels that may or may not work out sonically. Anyway, best.
I have found that some of the CBS Masterworks records that were made right before they went digital (or at least they didn't say they were digital)--say, 1980ish--have outstanding (natural and clear) sound quality.
Very thorough breakdown. Incredible.!Thumbing through some 200 plus classical records I possess I was able to find a few shaded dog RCA’s. Good titles too. Ravel, Stravinsky, Brahms, Shostakovich. Thanks for the in depth video.
Thank you for this guide. I am just getting into vinyl for the first time. Today I trawled the antique and record shops and got a DG mono record of Beethoven's 3rd piano concerto from May 1953 (blue tulip border) for the princely sum of one Australian dollar; an Argo pressing of Haydn's trumpet concerto from 1967; and an EMI of Adrian Boult conducting Holst's The Planets also from 1967.
...and yesterday I got Brahms's Deutsches Requiem in a DG blue tulip from 1964, in a nice big case; a Decca narrow band Elgar's Gerontius from 1972 conducted by Britten, also in a nice big case; a 1984 DG repressing of the Elvira Madigan concerto from 1962; and a Mercury of Beethoven's Fourth Piano Concerto from 1965. A nice haul.
One of my favorite conducters is the legendary Leonard Bernstein.
Very informative! I learned so much from this video and I'm stunned that someone so young is so knowledgable about historical vinyl records. Will definitely subscribe and watch your other videos. Thank you!
I meant emphasis among the entire the you-tube community, your example is the benchmark
Great crash course. Finally renewed hope in my local Goodwill stores. Thanks for the video.
Anyone interested in key performances needs a few copies of the Penguin guide. Mid 80s thick copies covered LPs and early CDs. I’ve had several versions for over 20 years and they generally are a good guide to the better performances. The advice on decca is great, but don’t pass up good performances on lesser pressings if the price is right, or frankly, the CDs.
I have zero desire to EVER purchase a classical record. Yet I thoroughly enjoyed this. I inherited a few very nice things from my grandparents but like I said, I have no desire to actually purchase classical stuff on my own.
This was a really well done and informative video posting. Much needed info for someone just starting out into a deeper appreciation of classical music. Awesome job!
I love this video. Very informative, especially to someone new to collecting classical records. Thank you !
absolutely top notch video, you know your stuff! I learned quite a bit - great work.
so I took your advice, bought an LP for $0.50 at the thrift store today, come home and do some research, turns out the LP is on the TAS super list! thanks for the good advice!
Fantastic resource. Thanks for doing all this. Much needed.
LOVE THIS. Well done, very informative and helpful. What a great resource, Cheers.
I don't know diddly about classical music (yet) but I love your clear enthusiasm and knowledge about the subject. So far the closest I've gotten to the genre is I own one recording of The Mikado which sounds like it was captured from the bottom of a well, with a bit of string and a tin can.
This is an excellent, informative video that I will use whenever out shopping for classical. I did not realize that the early Angel label LPs had such poor sound. Now I will know what to look for. Thanks for the great advice!
I agree. Philips records were superb!
One of the reasons that many prefer the Deccas over the Londons is that the pressings were earlier. I don't want to get into what happens when more records are made from the same stamper, but, having both in my collection for decades, there are often significant differences in the sound.
An excellent video, young man.
Fantastic deep dive. Great to learn the backstory on these labels!
Amazing and so informative. So glad I found you. I've gathered a nice collection alomg the years. Thought I knew something 😅
Now I'm browsing my records looking for older ones, or the seven eyes...
Specially interesting knowing about the reissue labels and the differences.
Thanks for your video.
Thanks for an excellent experience, your time and for sharing your knowledge. You're very good at this Michael. I'm going to run to my collection now and see what I have that I didn't understand previously.
Thanks to this guide I got into collecting classical vinyl one year ago.
(Although I am a broke teenager in germany 😅)
Magnificent work.
great video! i love the fact that you have the kertesz mozart requiem recording and the backhaus! decca also did great mono LPs.
Fantastic video! Greatly enjoyed this. It inspired me to dive deeper into my own Classical collection, do some analyzing/evaluating, comparisons between releases and pressings, etc. Even made a video sharing the results of my first experiments. Thanks!
Big fan of this video! Informative, geeky, obscure....everything I dork on about records! Subscribed. Please make more videos.
thank you so much for this guide. I am new to collecting classical vinyl but enjoy how cheap they are at my local record store.
If you want to be blown away by the Angel series, get a copy of the 45 rpm version of Holst, The Planets suite, with Andre Previn. The quad version, SS-45000 played in standard stereo is incredibly dynamic.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience and expertise... I am returning to Vinyl after 30 years... very excited to hear Violin on Vinyl.... aside from Super High Res and 24-bit, I did not enjoy the CD or digital revolution. For all its flaws Vinyl still has a buzz and a warmth and my 30 year old (or more) records have survived hibernation
Wow, I thought *I* was a classical geek! :) (And I say that with all due respect and awe.)
Thank you so much for this video. I was able to take a risk with confidence today. I found a decca wide band of Verdi Nabucco Highlights. I am so happy with the results. Thanks again.
This has been a great one hour info. all in one place. Thanks!!!
I have a Nutcracker Suite on a London Red seal conducted by Ansermet, It was in excellent condition when I got it.
Great great video! Thanks for all your hard work, and thanks for bringing some attention to classical music.
Thank-you for doing this I am going through my classical collection trying to figure out what to keep.
I had the same realization that a lot of what I have is crap and I wanted to get rid of it and only keep the good stuff.
I agree ,the six eye pressings were very good
The classical market is so much more niche than rock, pop and jazz. I've found that it's much more fruitful digging for vinyl classical rarities in charity shops than for any other genre. Picked up a beautiful1969 HMV ASD issue of that Du Pre this afternoon for a pound (along with a white and gold ASD for £3 a few weeks ago!)
Thanks for this very informative overview of the record quality. More than I ever realized. I bought most of my classical records in the 90's, most of it based on Penquin Guide or radio station recommendations. Oh oh there are quite a few Angels in there but also Argos. What about Harmonia Mundi and Archiv and L'Oiseau-Lyre? I like early music so that explains it. The problem with my Phillips boxed sets was that the foam inserts disintegrated and created a mess ( I had to store my records one winter in an uninsulated cabin). Artur Schnabel on EMI (British)? And a couple of Turnabout pressings that were recommended: Louis Kentner doing Liszt and Alfred Brendel doing Beethoven Piano Sonatas (Waldstein and Tempest). My question: should we go by the quality of the sound or the quality of the performance? What if I only have Beniamino Gigli on Seraphim? Should I go out and spend 500 dollars to get a superior aural experience?
you may already know about the DTD records on chast the dragon label but just in case you didn't, there are things there that YOU must have.
another thing that i have on my mind is that boulez is a stravinsky expert and his three ballets on columbia, both are on LP and cd. i first got turned on to his petrouchka on columbia and it is delightful and to me the quintessential version. i was self educating myself at the library in panorama city (nearly across the street from the security pacific bank where harry nillsson worked as a teller) and started with the rite of spring by karajan on DG. dynamic enough to pressurize a room but (i didn't realize the travesty it was to reality) it was DG multimked to death. still a good performance.
next was a pristine copy of boulez' petrouchka which i promptly committed to tape on my TEAC 4010GSL which became my main listening version for years. i was going to go to tower on van nuys blvd and get it along with planets/mehta/LAPhil BUT when i went in to do so, the LPs were NGONE and CDs were there instead. i was deflated.
i am mostly a jazz guy so then i concentrated on that and expanding my horizons via my friend to Ben Sidran and Dan Hicks and his hot licks. ETC. now i my tastes are widlely varied towards things like YELLO, dead can dance, trilok gurtu, etc. medeski martin and wood are also in there.
metal, punk, ska, and genres like that don't do it for me like it does you but we seem to have parallel interests up to a point.
...hifitommy
Thankyou ,ive just started helping a friend st his record store.He has so many classical recotds that no one even goes through,so i was curious what makes any of them more valuable then others , now i have alot to go on and what to look for while stacking them
This is easily the best primer on classical music labels on You Tube, thanks for posting this. Quick comment and a question for you. I've only been collecting classical records for a few months now and this video really helped me save time, by pointing me to the best labels and staying away from the weaker ones. I'd love to see you post a similar video on Jazz labels.
Regarding classical labels, what's your take on Epic? They seemed to have a relatively strong roster of artists in the '50's (I just picked up a NM Clara Haskil record playing Schmann earlier today, in fact) -- just wanted your take on this label. Again, thanks.
This is also a "Guide" for anyone that wants to flip classical records. Inadvertent to his video message, but it is a complicated feat to sell and profit off them. This guy is a whiz.
Learned a ton from this one. Thanks for sharing.
Extremely helpful video, Michael. Thank you.
I would be interested in your take on some of the minor European labels. Erato. Supraphon. Telefunken. Hungaroton. Melodiya. Ducretet-Thomson. Supraphon has long been one of my favorite labels, due to the large numbers of recordings featuring the Czech Philharmonic, one of my all time favorite and most colorful orchestras.
Epic video, thanks! I watched it non stop and took plenty of notes. I already have an honest CD collection of classical music (nothing audiophile really). I am happy with it, but I am looking into discovering classical music on vinyl, especially Beethoven. Unfortunately, I did not start on the right foot. Last time I went shopping, along with my usual stack of rock albums, I bought my first classical album on vinyl. It was a $10 used copy of Symphony no. 9 by Beethoven, conducted by Bruno Walter, on the Columbia Masterworks "6 eye label". I did not see any scratches in the store and it was graded NM by the people there by way of a sticker, as they always do. So I bought it, brought it home and washed it with my Spin-Clean. Unfortunately, it was so noisy all the way through, I could not enjoy it at all. When looked under good light, I could see that the record had suffered some kind of harsh treatment, maybe moisture. That was not something I could have notice at the store under normal light. So your video arrives at a time when I was just starting to say to myself that maybe I should stick to CDs for classical... I guess now I will give it another try and maybe try an Analogue Production reissue, I don't know. I have the rock profile that you mentioned near the end of the vid, so I guess you're right, I really have to be more vigilant. On the other hand, I am wondering if it is worth the headaches... That's where I am at today.
I always take a small flashlight with me when i go to record stores, many stores keep the lights dim on purpose so you don't see scratches! In general, the records from the 50s and 60s tend to be beat up when you find them, you'll have much better luck with London's and DG's I think, I tend to find those in much better condition in shops.
For a good place to start your collection, try the Solti/Beethoven Symphonies box set on UK London. Great performances, great sound quality, and you can probably find a mint copy on ebay for about 40 dollars or so.
You know what, a flashlight is not a bad idea at all! Thanks for all your recommendations. :-)
Very good! Hello from Russia!
Nice video. A few inaccuracies, but generally good. Just for the ‘record’ Electric & Musical Industries is the company manufacturer that own the Labels it is not a Label - that came in the 80’s. HMV, Columbia, Angel etc are the Labels owned by E.M.I
Nice job! I too share your enthusiasm for AP, and wish they would do more classical other than Living Stereos, like the Rachmaninoff 45. I'm def looking forward to their Royal Ballet too. SC has done an outstanding job with their Decca series. All this stuff is great, but really is geared for the audiophile/serious enthusiast because of the cost of these pressings.
Just discovered your channel and after a quick perusal of your channel and insta feed linked in the description, my immediate reaction is that I think we might actually be the same person. We have way too many common interests for me to be convinced otherwise. Good stuff, 100% subbed. 👌🏻
Great video! Have you collected or evaluated the London Stereo Treasury (STS) series?
Thanks for such an informative video. I too have that Elgar (ASD 655) recording and I've always thought it was the original. It says 1965 on the cover and record and I can't see where it says ''Testament''. Whatever, it's a great recording. Warner Classics have produced a re-issue and that is very good too, Sea Pictures has greater clarity though the strings are not quite as full and rich as the original.
If you admire--quite reasonable--early Decca LPs, there should be a tip of the hat to Arthur Haddy, Decca's remarkable recording director. Haddy was at the forefront of high quality audio technology, from FFRR (Full Frequency Range Response, originally developed during the War) to early mono LP to pioneering stereo recordings from the mid-50s onward. His taste in recording engineering was unsurpassed.
Agreed. Those Decca mono ffrr pressings are really good recordings. Finding them in good condition isn't as easy as the London monos but, as Michael pointed out, classical buyers in the early 50's and through the 60's usually took better care of their records than those strictly buying rock and pop.
If you want a nice size collection of early London monos in perfect condition (still in the onion skin inner sleeves, as delivered) let me know. I have them in my record shelves, heard them once, and now want to make room for a just-acquired 78rpm classical music collection. I had read that they were half-speed mastered, and the quality certainly shows in contract to a perfect condition RCA Victor or Columbia disc of the same period.
Thanks for pointing out difference between Columbia (UK) and Columbia records (US). After collecting classical music for 40 years, i did not know they were unrelated.
Unless i missed it - or you discussed it on another video - you made no mention of the final generation of vinyl pressings in the late 80's - early 90's. EMI and a few other labels were using something called DMM or Direct Metal Mastering and the ones i have play flawlessly (no clicks, pops or skips) and were smooth as glass (no warped discs). they were, IMHO, the ne plus ultra of vinyl pressing. Unfortunately, the CD was right behind them, ending the 33 rpm era.
Also, what about the Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab label?? I have about six or seven of their classical discs and they are so good, i transferred them to CD so i can listen to them in my car.
I'd like to see a video of your discussing your favorite Decca vinyl.
Very informative video. Learned a lot of important stuff.
Very good brother ! You know your stuff.
This has been extremely helpful, Thanks!
I've never paid much attention to the labels before and as a result sound quality was always hit or miss.
I went on a classical records hunt last week at my local records stores and found a few gems thanks to you!
And I was able to search faster by passing on the" Angel" pressings. My favorite recent find was a Telarc Digital recording on vinyl
"Frederick Fennel - Cleveland Symphonic Winds, Holst,Handel and Bach". The music really soars on my Music system...Denon DP-47F turntable, Yaqin Tube Amplifier and Tube phono preamp all feeding the KEF Ls-50 speakers. Any thoughts on VOX label? I saw plenty of those records out there.
I have that record myself, although I haven't listened to it in a while. I don't have a ton of VOX pressings, I have a few vox turnabout reissues from Analogue Productions and those are excellent. I think those are specific recordings by a specific engineer though. I have a few original vox pressings, specifically I just picked up two box sets of Scriabin piano music from about 1971 on vox, and while I loved the music, I thought the sound quality was relatively poor. I would pass on them unless they are one of the recordings that have been on the TAS list or other audiophile lists, as those would be safer bets.
I actually just upgraded my KEF Q300s to LS50s myself, such a great little speaker, you have a nice system.
I'm ready now(thanks to you)to go hunting for Classical Composers records. I now know what to kill and what to leave alone...Thanks for the show/video poetryonplastic.(Next time try to hold the records you're using as demonstration for 2 seconds, at least , and without moving, in front of the camera so we can pause the video and write down the title of the album and look for it, since you have great Classical taste, and of course, if its possible for you to do that. Thank you).
VOX RVG STEREO are pretty good and eclectic too.
Hi. Very informative indeed. I have a few original Deccas too and some of them have "original recording by" instead of "made in England by" and I believe these are the very earliest pressings. Keep up the good work.😊
Can’t believe you didn’t use that remarkable Fennel/Cleveland recording of the Holst Suites as your example of early Telarc. That bass drum almost made my stylus jump! LOL
I will tell you why Deccas sound much better than the corresponding London. While the lacquers are the same, the vinyl is different. If you take a London blueback, and compare it with the corresponding Decca wideband from the same lacquers, you will find that the records have a completely different feel in your hand. The London will seem much thicker and stiffer. Interestingly, if you weight them, you will find that the weight is about the same; I came up with 151-2 grams for each one. This would seem to imply that the London vinyl is not as dense.
The hand feel of the two records is completely different. If you hold the record between your hands and flop it, the London and Decca flex differently. The Decca is more flexible and flops easily. What the Decca reminds me of is the 150 gram vinyl used by JVC Japan to press Mofi records in the late 70s and early 80s. I suspect that the softness and flexibility of the Decca vinyl allowed it to receive the impression from the stamper much more accurately.
Just my two cents, but I have had the pleasure of handling hundreds of rare early Deccas and Londons, as well as listening to them on kilobuck systems, as well as my own relatively humble equipment.
This is amazing! Thank you for this
Recently got into collecting early electronic music records. Electronic pop and classical/compilation records. Most of them are recordings of various music performed on early transistor-based or vacuum tube organs. I also enjoy collecting instrumental stuff, stuff most would consider cheesy or elevator music. If I see anything with philharmonic in the tytle Ill buy it. I also have some pype organ stuff I just bought today as well as some wurlitzer air theater organ recordings! I hope the wurlitzer and the baroke stuff turns out to be good pressings. The electronic stuff I am normally after is stuff like demo records that were bundled with the instrument, eric dimpson, ken ken grifn, hil olevera, clous wonderlich sorry probably buchured the names and that word too.
Oh well I love music!
Fantastic detail and info! You’re right, don’t buy classical albums with any marks or anything on them.
Very helpful and informative video. If I had a contribute button I would. What is your opinion of Delos? I have some favorite performances of Stravinsky on Delos CD. I know they are digital recordings originally. i'm wondering how an LP would sound. Do you have any experience with Delos LPs? Were they issued as LPs should I seek them out?
I'd be interested to hear your opinion on the new DG Original Source reissues. I have mixed feelings on them so far. Thank you.
Analogue Productions and Speakers Corner are really the best in modern LP reissues. In fact, most sound even better than the original issues.
I recently started collecting some Classical and found this video very informative. Can you give an opinion on the Canadian manufactured Deutsche Grammophon Resonance series? They are so plentiful in my region. They definitely don't seem as good as the few large tulip pressed in Germany. Thanks!
Great video, thanks! Would love to see a follow-up video on some of the other U.S. labels I see that look to also come from the tube technology era, such as Everest, Vox/Turnabout, Dover, and Westminster. Also, Urania! Looks like you have. Technics 1300 in the video. Great turntable :)
Great video, so informative! I watched it twice and took notes. I recently got into classical vinyl collection after a few estate sale scores. Have been really enjoying listening classicals in the classical way.
Didn't hear you mention Westminster label, which I have a few.
Also, how's Decca Gold Label. They are printed in US. Have a set of Tureck Bach Well-Tempered Calvier, which I like so much.
Decca gold label were a different company altogether from the british decca company. They mostly did smaller artists and orchestras. I only have a handful of gold label records, most of which are chamber music. They do sound good, however they are not at the quality of british london/decca.
@@poetryonplastic So is this the US Decca that prevents Decca from selling in US under Decca label? They sound good for piano for one of my favorite pieces.
I also like some Westminster and like Rosalyn Tureck a lot.
Great runthrough! This video would have saved me lots of headaches and wasted energy had I seen it about 10 years ago when I started collecting...
However, one glaring absent from the original labels: the consistently great-to-amazing Archiv Produktion! I realize they were a subsidiary of DGG, but they were so good plus reliably pressed that they certainly deserved a special mention.
They are indeed really good sounding. Although the performance styles might be a bit dated...
I prefer the Rachmaninoff Symphony #2 with the cuts, but that recording with Paul Paray has to be the shortest Rach 2 ever recorded and it has a few blemishes. The Rach 2 was recorded a lot in the 80's and 90's without the cuts but on some newer recordings on Android and Amazon Prime they' include the cuts. Actually one Karajan recording I like is the Sibelius Symphony #2 from 1982 which was an early Angel digital recording. Another great recording from 1982 that I had was a Philharmonia recording of the complete "Nutcracker" conducted by John Lanchberry (it's on Spotify). The new redesigned Angel label on the record clearly said "DIGITAL" and signified that we were in a whole new era of audio recording.
Wish I could give you two thumbs up - Had to keep pausing to go check my labels. I have some of the good ones, but some Angels too. I know you are down on them, but my Angels are some of the quietest records I have - incredibly low surface noise. Also, some of them are SQ encoded - have to check the catalog numbers. "SQ-" and I believe it is, even though the SQ logo may not be on back. "SD-" and it is not.
i have to agree with your assessment of Telarc (the maazel/cleveland/pictures disc is maybe the quintessential performance pf pix) and nonesuch which my doctor friend intorduced me to (the mahler 3rd by jascha horenstein is a great performance with seemingly heroic dynamics).
i must touch on the performances of zubin mehta on ?decca in the early 70s. the planets, close encounters, and a surprise for me-the alpine symphony (my daughter was at van nuys high school and they were going to perform the alpine) so i found a couple in my collection by good orchestras and conductors and made her a cassette. THEN i found the mehta version and figured it would be superior. well, YES it was. i made another cassette; she agreed that it was SO much nicer a performance and her teacher and contemporaries likewise agreed.
guy hickey of quatre electronics (long defunct) introduced me to a good fall 3 cornered hat on columbia, (6eye maybe) check it out.
Great resource! I've collected around 200 classical LPs (most of my collection is jazz and rock). I like DG performances and am okay with the fidelity of most. I love Speakers Corner for their jazz, soul, etc., but have found their Decca reissues, for instance, to be noisy. I'm not used to spending money on new vinyl and having surface noise that detracts from the listening experience. I have a Pro Ject record cleaning machine and a Furuech destat which I use on every LP. Have you not had this experience? Any suggestions?
Thank you for this. Very informative.
I've got a question. I got a couple of Deustche Grammophon records. They all have "D.P." writren over them, but besides that It says "Made in Spain". What kind of paradox is this?
I have never been more interested in classical records
What brand and where do you your outer sleeves for your records. They seem very easy to install!
I bought Porgy and Bess on Decca, the opera on 3 lp's, but I thought I would get the uk version with narrow band, but I got the german one. Probably not that good I think. Cannot compare. Do you know if there are sonically diferences with German and Uk. Cheers, Koen.