NPR news story on Nonesuch records - founded by Electra's Jac Holzman

Started by Scion7, September 10, 2014, 02:11:45 PM

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Scion7

I didn't know he created Nonesuch!

With Elektra, we were introduced to people like Judy Henske, Tim Buckley, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, The Doors, Love, Queen, The Incredible String Band, etc., etc. - but Holzman wanted to make Classical music affordable to the average person, so he licensed European recordings and "sold them for the price of a paperback."

Nonesuch recorded ____________'s 3rd Symphony and expected to sell 25,000 copies - it sold over a million.  They've had electronic records that stayed in the Billboard Top-25 for six weeks. 

I loved Nonesuch vinyl - not the greatest pressings all the time, but really nice jackets, just like Elektra had for it's pop-music stuff.   :)

Anyway, they are celebrating their 50th anniversary - the radio article is not yet on the "print" page at the NPR website, but it is on 'All Things Considered' today.

When, a few months before his death, Rachmaninov lamented that he no longer had the "strength and fire" to compose, friends reminded him of the Symphonic Dances, so charged with fire and strength. "Yes," he admitted. "I don't know how that happened. That was probably my last flicker."

Archaic Torso of Apollo

Quote from: Scion7 on September 10, 2014, 02:11:45 PM
I loved Nonesuch vinyl - not the greatest pressings all the time, but really nice jackets, just like Elektra had for it's pop-music stuff.   :)

As I noted on the "Vinyl Explorations" thread, Nonesuch has been delinquent about reissuing its vinyl. Many of its treasures remain LP-only. While this is unfortunate for the public at large, for those of us with turntables, it gives the label a certain feeling of exclusiveness - which is ironic, since Nonesuch was kind of the Naxos of its day.
formerly VELIMIR (before that, Spitvalve)

"Who knows not strict counterpoint, lives and dies an ignoramus" - CPE Bach

Brian

Quote from: Scion7 on September 10, 2014, 02:11:45 PM
Nonesuch recorded ____________'s 3rd Symphony and expected to sell 25,000 copies - it sold over a million.
Gorecki!

I love their work with the "Buena Vista Social Club" guys, in addition to their work with classical artists like Gidon Kremer, John Adams, etc.

listener

A great label! I've got 63 discs in my database, from Elizabethan madrigals to Cage's concerto for prepared piano, Horenstein conducting Mahler, .....   Usually very good notes with every release too made the discs good references too.
"Keep your hand on the throttle and your eye on the rail as you walk through life's pathway."

Scion7

When, a few months before his death, Rachmaninov lamented that he no longer had the "strength and fire" to compose, friends reminded him of the Symphonic Dances, so charged with fire and strength. "Yes," he admitted. "I don't know how that happened. That was probably my last flicker."