RIPE for REISSUE Part 1: Great Sounding Classical Records In Need of Audiophile Reissue - EMI/HMV
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- Опубліковано 8 січ 2025
- Inspired by the success of the Deutsche Grammophon Original Source Series of superb vinyl reissues mastered and cut directly from the 4 and 8-track analogue master tapes, I ask the question:
"What if the other great classical labels - EMI, Decca, Columbia/CBS, RCA, Mercury - could do the same? Would they?"
Join me on a deep-dive into my collection as I select a treasure-trove of outstanding classical records from the 1950s to the 1970s that would all benefit from new AAA, audiophile vinyl reissues.
Read my companion articles in trackingangle.com:
Part 1:
trackingangle....
Part 2: trackingangle....
For a full index of all my articles at trackingangle.com, just click on my name in any article header and all the titles will appear.
You can follow me on instagram: / music_on_record
Recommended channels for classical music fans and collectors:
The Ultimate Classical Music Guide by David Hurwitz
/ @davesclassicalguide
Poetry On Plastic
/ @poetryonplastic
Flowering Spikes
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The most recent Classical Bums livestream:
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An invaluable guide to all the different pressings of the main classical labels:
www.youtube.co....
Another excellent resource for new classical recordings is BBC Radio 3's long-standing weekly broadcast "Record Review". Shows remain available to listen to for 30 days after first broadcast:
www.bbc.co.uk/....
My system, which has evolved over 20-plus years, is tube based and many pieces were acquired used. It was mostly put together with the invaluable help and ears of Eliot Midwood at Acoustic Image (acousticimage.com) who is also responsible for many of the fine recordings on the Yarlung label.
Well-Tempered Classic Turntable (round motor)
Micro-Benz Ruby 2 MC Cartridge
Phonostage: Zesto Audio Andros Spirit
Cary Audio CD/SACD 306
Preamp: Kora Equinoxe
Amps: Genesis Monoblocks 60 Amp Valve
Speakers: Silverline Sonatas with upgraded crossover and tweeters (Dynaudio)
Cabling: Aural Symphonics
Custom-made stands, with a Townshend Seismic Sink for the Well-Tempered turntable
This is an important topic and you've covered it very well. I will be pulling out the ones I have for a fresh listen! Thanks for this mini series!
What lovely memories!
Of the British Council Library in Bombay, which used to lend records of British music (naturally!) and any recording featuring British artistes, even if their contribution was relatively insignificant. Got to know so much British music that way.
Barbirolli's recording of the Tallis Fantasia was a gift from one of my family's British business associates, which I got in my late teens and now have on CD. Speaking of Barbirolli, you forgot to mention his AMAZING recording of "Tintagel" by Bax. I used to take this (on cassette) on holiday and it was always the FIRST piece of music I would listen to on the beach!
Also definitely worthy of vinyl reissue: Barbirolli's lovely Delius recordings, especially "The Walk to Paradise Garden" and Prelude to "Irmelin".
Finally, Previn's recording of Prokofiev's "Romeo and Juliet" ballet. Great performance and recording. A friend used to borrow this from the BC Library and keep extending it repeatedly!
YES to Tintagel and those Delius records!!! Barbiurolli's Delius is sometimes overlooked in favor of Beecham, but I'll have none of it! There's also a marvelous Delius LP on Argo with Marrinaer/ASMF - reissued gloriously on King Super Analogue. That Preven R&J is the bomb!
I totally agree.. I would preorder these in a heartbeat! I am hoping DG original source will do some exciting chamber music releases… perhaps a box set would be incredible. 😊 Thank you Mark!!
Fingers crossed - I am making some suggestions to them.
Like part two an interesting selection. Many of my all time favourites here! Elgar Cello of course, Previn's Midsummer Night's Dream, Britten Sinfonia da Req, up with the very best (BTW Rattle's digital recording on EL 27 0263 1 of the Sinf da Req is an absolute sonic knockout!), but back to AAA, the Frank Bridge is one of my favourites, firstly as a Sussex boy with a vague family connection, secondly, the music is very interesting in representing Bridge at various stages of his development as you said, and thirdly, the stunning sound - in connection with this, you have the original ASD by the look of it, it was in fact remastered as a DMM when reissued on the mid-priced Greensleeve label and pressed in Germany with a consequent decrease in surface noise...this IS the audiophile version!
I have a special fondness for Previn's Walton 1...I have the Gold Seal reissue which is great. I think you could have included some of Previn's Vaughan Williams series, they still hold up well against many susequent versions....imagine them given the DG Original Source treatment!
How interesting re. that DMM remastering. If I see it I'll grab it for comparison. Yeah, those Previn VW symphonies are wonderful!
Cheers, Mark! Great to read you. Well done as always. I'm going down to LA from San luis Obispo this weekend for records...Counterpoint, Record Surplus, etc.
Happy Hunting!!!
Oh, my goodness...Dame Janet Baker singing "Sea Pictures." I have it coupled with the Elgar Cello Concerto and also with the "Dream of Gerontius." It moves to tears every time I listen...it's absolutely sublime; one of my top ten classical recordings ever. Just astounding. I've not heard Previn's "Turangalila Symphony" but have heard many great things. I'm keen on his "Belshazzar's Feast." It's hair-raising. The recorded sound in Snape Maltings is really amazing.
Could agree more with all of your points!
Mark, thanks -lots of great records. There is a lot of reasonably priced NM used classical vinyl out there (I live in the UK) whereas NM rock and jazz vinyl is much rarer and thus pricey. This could affect the economics of classical reissues - for when you factor in all the reissue costs (licensing/mastering/pressing) the resultant retail price may be just too high vis a vis the used original vinyl. I hope I am wrong here and the DG OS series are very fine.
You make good points. I'm hoping the temptation to resell old titles at a substantial mark-up will override such objections!
The economic will be somewhat challenging unless (a) they are manufactured from mastering to pressing as audiophile releases - especially if going back to 4/8 track masters; (b) done directly by the labels themselves as DG has done to manage cost and eliminate a middle-man licensing fee.
@@sparkliteto My hope is that other labels will follow DG's lead and master/cut "in-house", so to speak.