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   Home » Analog Playback» My today’s views on LP culture and my audio habits. (25 posts, 2 pages)
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06-15-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
drdna
San Francisco, California
Posts 526
Joined on 10-29-2005

Post #: 21
Post ID: 10788
Reply to: 10787
Listening to Gould
fiogf49gjkf0d
 Paul S wrote:
Adrian, acording to the archives, Gould recorded the work in summer, 1955, and the original Goldberg Variations album was released in early 1956 on Columbia's "Masterworks" label
Right I believe you are correct, it was first released with on the Blue label and then on the six-eye label (grey mono editions) when they started that the next year. Also, it was released via Dutch Phillips for European distribution.  I agree that the original Columbia is the edition to get and the subsequent dubs are inferior.  I have the grey 6-eye and wondered if you had ever heard the original Blue label version.  They tend to be a bit noisy in general. Adrian
06-15-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Paul S
San Diego, California, USA
Posts 2,570
Joined on 10-12-2006

Post #: 22
Post ID: 10789
Reply to: 10788
"Noisy"
fiogf49gjkf0d
Adrian, it has been my understanding that there were several international "1st" releases of this work, all within days or weeks of each other.  Until now I have thought that the gray "6-eye" was "the" US edition, and this is the only 1S I have heard (although I do not own it).

I have a few old 6-eyes that are among the best-sounding LPs I own.  I cannot say this of the older "solid label" Columbias; but perhaps they just want more careful VTA to get the best from them?

The older LPs were not yet made of "vinyl", and many sound quite "brittle" now, in my experience, including some of the most wonderful stuff on early RCA, pre-"shaded dog".  This stuff is the strongest argument for a 2nd, spherical stylus, for serious listeners.

Best regards,
Paul S
06-16-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
drdna
San Francisco, California
Posts 526
Joined on 10-29-2005

Post #: 23
Post ID: 10790
Reply to: 10789
The lifespan of vinyl
fiogf49gjkf0d
 Paul S wrote:
I have a few old 6-eyes that are among the best-sounding LPs I own.  I cannot say this of the older "solid label" Columbias; but perhaps they just want more careful VTA to get the best from them? The older LPs were not yet made of "vinyl", and many sound quite "brittle" now, in my experience, including some of the most wonderful stuff on early RCA, pre-"shaded dog".  This stuff is the strongest argument for a 2nd, spherical stylus, for serious listeners.
This absolutely agrees with my impressions.  I have a large number of the older pre-"6-eyes" and "Shaded Dog" versions, you know the older 12" and even 10" versions. They have an incredible immediacy and lifelike sound that cannot be beat, but there is a lot of noise, even when the albums are pristine with no groove wear, to the point that is hard to listen around the noise sometimes.  

You may be on to something regarding the formulation of the vinyl and that the older albums may be reaching the end of their lifespan, hence the brittle sound, although there is always the possibility that with the proper VTA, the proper equalization, and a real mono needle, we might both be pleasantly surprised.
06-16-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Reggie
Posts 13
Joined on 05-08-2008

Post #: 24
Post ID: 10792
Reply to: 10782
Vinyl Culture
fiogf49gjkf0d
 Paul S wrote:
Reggie, I've also made some critical observations about Gould's playing recently, while comparing his '55 and '81 Goldberg variations via my truly terrible company truck CD player.

Yes, the best version of this cycle I have heard is the original '55 vinyl. But few have the original '55 LPs, let alone the 1S iteration.

Once we get into dubs, IMO all bets are off regarding which copy will offer the most of what, meaning, pick your poison.  This is one reason for owning several copies of a seminal work.

Unfortunately, THE Sound is where we find it; vinyl, per se, is not a lock, by any means.

Fortunately, Gould's superb '55 Goldberg can survive a lot of mistreatment.

Although I listen almost exclusively to LPs, I am quite leary of vinyl culture that implodes upon itself, like all object worship must do.


Best regards,
Paul S


Hi Paul,

The version I listened to is the '55 recording. Your last statement regarding your being leary of the vinyl culture makes a lot of sense. That said, in my listening experience with vinyl, which is admittedly far more limited compared to you guys, the  majority of recordings -where I'm familiar or have both the CD and vinyl  - the vinyl version almost always sounds better - but more to the point, invoves me so much more in the experience of listening.

Reggie 
06-16-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Reggie
Posts 13
Joined on 05-08-2008

Post #: 25
Post ID: 10793
Reply to: 10772
Russian duo-pianists Vitya Vronsky and Victor Babin play Liebeslieder Waltzes - Seraphim
fiogf49gjkf0d
 Paul S wrote:

I will still buy clean Seraphims with good program material if I do not have the original.  If I do have the original, I pass on the Seraphim, even as a "back-up", UNLESS it is a record I have loved so much that I am killing it.

Maybe the careful VTA setting could make the Seraphims better, too?  They do have some nice programs...

Best regards,
Paul S


Paul, I have many seraphims in excellent - pristine condition. One example (record itself in excellent condition and cover in good condition) I pulled out just now is a marvellous performance of Brahms Liebslieder Waltzes (complete Opp. 52 & 65) by the Russian (later to become American citizens) painists Vronsky and Babin. They are accompanied by soprano Elsie Morison, contralto Marjorie Thomas, tenor Richard Lewis, and baritone Donald Bell. On this particular recording....

"Without a doubt, the most wonderful presentation of Brahms' melodious Liebslieder Waltzes we've ever come across!...If this does not melt your heart, well..."
                                                                                                                                                                                            The New Records

That testimony says it all, and does not exaggerate. If you don't have this one Paul, you should try and get it.
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   Target    Threads for related reading   Most recent post in related threads   Forum  Replies   Views   Started 
  »  New  Seven phases in the life of a hard-core collector...  The Packing CDs Day...  Musical Discussions  Forum     3  32341  09-11-2004
  »  New  The best audio source EVER!..  Norway to close FM by 2017...  Off Air Audio Forum     34  286580  08-20-2005
  »  New  Where the FM quality comes from?..  Freaking ridicules…...  Off Air Audio Forum     22  191017  11-02-2005
  »  New  The Classical Music Café syndrome.....  Talking about those WE demos… + windows shopping...  Audio Discussions  Forum     43  322687  08-19-2007
  »  New  Buying a last cartridge...  Lucky you...  Analog Playback Forum     80  779421  09-05-2008
  »  New  Live memories of Live broadcasts..  Live memories of Live broadcasts...  Playback Listening  Forum     0  11584  12-16-2008
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