Golden Age of RCA and Mercury.

LKB · April 28, 2024, 01:06:29 AM

Quote from: Irons on April 28, 2024, 12:32:12 AMSadly it does not.

That is unfortunate. Every SACD I've acquired has been an audible upgrade over the equivalent CD, in the cases where I've possessed the latter.

Dry Brett Kavanaugh · July 13, 2024, 04:02:32 PM

This is an interesting recording sound. The sound stage is not wide-opened, and it sounds like mono, or fake stereo of a mono recording. As this was recorded in 1955, probably engineers experimented with the equipments and placed microphones around the center, I guess. Strangely, I love this gentle way of stereo sound. As for the performance, I prefer this Munch/Boston recording to the similar albums by Dorati (Mercury Living Presence) and Reiner (RCA Living Stereo).

P.s. what are the oldest stereo recordings done by RCA, Mercury, et al.?

Irons · July 21, 2024, 04:54:01 AM

Quote from: Dry Brett Kavanaugh on July 13, 2024, 04:02:32 PMP.s. what are the oldest stereo recordings done by RCA, Mercury, et al.?

Historical information on the great record labels of the past can be a minefield, especially when it comes to firsts.
You have not asked re Decca and EMI but I do have this information to hand. Both labels issued the first true stereo issues in 1958. Decca SXL 2001 and HMV ASD 251.

Dry Brett Kavanaugh · January 01, 2025, 05:22:22 PM

Parole E Musica - Helen Merrill. RCA Italy.

Dry Brett Kavanaugh · March 25, 2025, 06:53:33 PM

I forgot this recording. Always I liked this album. Nice recording sound (perhaps three mics?) and lively performance.

Pepe Romero: Flamenco.

ChamberNut · March 26, 2025, 04:23:58 AM

Quote from: Dry Brett Kavanaugh on March 25, 2025, 06:53:33 PMI forgot this recording. Always I liked this album. Nice recording sound (perhaps three mics?) and lively performance.

Pepe Romero: Flamenco.

I have this as well, in a different album cover. Terrific sound indeed. Highly enjoyable!

Mookalafalas · April 04, 2025, 01:15:10 AM

DORATI!
I read a summary of how much of the new Dorati boxes was already contained in the original Mercury box trilogy. It turns out, nearly all of them. I'm been playing through the Dorati portion.
Playing this at the moment, but it is pretty uniformly top-tier.

Dry Brett Kavanaugh · May 22, 2025, 01:50:06 PM

The La Mer album is a stereo recording (1956) though it doesn't say Living Stereo. I guess it was recorded before the Living Stereo series? The sound stage is very central although it sounds certainly different from mono sound. I imagine microphones were close to the center. I think the recording sound provides with a gentle, natural stereo sound. The Images record is mono (1952) and the sound quality is excellent.

The performances by Boston and San Francisco Symphony Orchestras are powerful and amazing. Later Monteux recorded these works with London SO for Decca. It is a vg recording, but I prefer these RCA recordings in the 1950s.

Irons · May 26, 2025, 01:39:36 AM

Quote from: Dry Brett Kavanaugh on May 22, 2025, 01:50:06 PMThe La Mer album is a stereo recording (1956) though it doesn't say Living Stereo. I guess it was recorded before the Living Stereo series? The sound stage is very central although it sounds certainly different from mono sound. I imagine microphones were close to the center. I think the recording sound provides with a gentle, natural stereo sound. The Images record is mono (1952) and the sound quality is excellent.

The performances by Boston and San Francisco Symphony Orchestras are powerful and amazing. Later Monteux recorded these works with London SO for Decca. It is a vg recording, but I prefer these RCA recordings in the 1950s.

Looking up Discogs, Monteux La Mer with Boston SO features on the 60CD RCA Living Stereo Collection.