HI All,
This is a follow up on the ongoing thread called The Golden Age Of Records. It's related but not the same.
I need record collectors involved with this subject; you are the experts. I have a large record collection but I'm not a serious collector of collector quality material. I can't afford to be.
Since I had my nose to the Golden Age trail in the other thread, I decided to play my meager supply of Golden Age records today. This is what I found. First, I played my pristine copy of Harry Belafonte at Carnegie Hall (recorded April 20, 1959; LSO-6006) on RCA. As you know this is a fantastic recording. It brought tears to my eyes. It has not aged one iota over the years. Amazing!
Next, I brought out a Chesky reissue of the Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade by Fritz Reiner conducting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The Chesky number is RC4. No original recording date is given in the notes. I believe this was originally released on RCA. This is a poor mans Golden Age record.
Comparing the Belafonte and the Reiner recordings, I found the Reiner reissue somewhat lacking. Oh, to be sure it is a fine recording but not as good as the Belafonte.
So, here is my question. Have any of you compared the original Reiner/RCA recording to the Chesky reissue? How do they compare? How about other Chesky reissues?
I have no doubt the Chesky effort was serious. The production notes confirm this. So, was the original RCA first rate? Or was it less than that and the Chesky version accurate? Or did the recording deteriorate in the Chesky version. In question is a fine grain on the strings.
For your reference, my playback system is all ARC tube equipment and my cartridge is a Lyra Skala. My speakers are Martin Logan CLS IIA electrostatics in a good room.
Inquiring minds want to know.
Thanks, Sparky
This is a follow up on the ongoing thread called The Golden Age Of Records. It's related but not the same.
I need record collectors involved with this subject; you are the experts. I have a large record collection but I'm not a serious collector of collector quality material. I can't afford to be.
Since I had my nose to the Golden Age trail in the other thread, I decided to play my meager supply of Golden Age records today. This is what I found. First, I played my pristine copy of Harry Belafonte at Carnegie Hall (recorded April 20, 1959; LSO-6006) on RCA. As you know this is a fantastic recording. It brought tears to my eyes. It has not aged one iota over the years. Amazing!
Next, I brought out a Chesky reissue of the Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade by Fritz Reiner conducting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The Chesky number is RC4. No original recording date is given in the notes. I believe this was originally released on RCA. This is a poor mans Golden Age record.
Comparing the Belafonte and the Reiner recordings, I found the Reiner reissue somewhat lacking. Oh, to be sure it is a fine recording but not as good as the Belafonte.
So, here is my question. Have any of you compared the original Reiner/RCA recording to the Chesky reissue? How do they compare? How about other Chesky reissues?
I have no doubt the Chesky effort was serious. The production notes confirm this. So, was the original RCA first rate? Or was it less than that and the Chesky version accurate? Or did the recording deteriorate in the Chesky version. In question is a fine grain on the strings.
For your reference, my playback system is all ARC tube equipment and my cartridge is a Lyra Skala. My speakers are Martin Logan CLS IIA electrostatics in a good room.
Inquiring minds want to know.
Thanks, Sparky
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