This famous Fiedler / Boston Pops recording of Leroy Anderson’s music has Super Hot Stamper sound on both sides! I frankly admit to never having taken this title seriously. I imagine few hard core Shaded Dog collectors have ever bothered to play it, which is their loss, not ours. It’s very well recorded, with tons of Golden Age Living Stereo magic. Talk about BIG and RICH, both sides will show you exactly why modern audiophiles drool over these recordings. You simply cannot find this sound anywhere else.
Side One
A++. It’s dynamic and lively, with huge size and scope and lovely transparency (a quality we find virtually non-existent on modern pressings by the way). Bells up top, rich lower strings, tons of Tubey Magic — it’s all here folks.
There is however some smear, heard most clearly on the strings. A++ is about right we think.
Side Two
A++, so transparent, with spaciousness, depth and 3-D that really draws you in and lets you forget you’re listening to a record at all. You will have a very hard time finding a Golden Age classical record that sounds better.
Listen to the horns on the second track — man do they ever sound REAL.
Track three has some pizzicato playing that you can demo your stereo with.
Like side one, a bit of smear holds it back from out top grade.
Condition Issues
Please click on the Sonic Grade tab above to read more about this copy’s surfaces. Mint Minus Minus is about as quiet as an old Shady Dog gets.
Wikipedia on Leroy Anderson
Leroy Anderson (June 29, 1908 – May 18, 1975) was an American composer of short, light concert pieces, many of which were introduced by the Boston Pops Orchestra under the direction of Arthur Fiedler.
John Williams was a fan as well.
“Leroy Anderson is one of the great American masters of light orchestral music. Though we have performed his works countless times over the years at the Boston Pops, his music remains forever young and fresh as the very first day on which it was composed.”
TRACK LISTING
Side One
Fiddle-Faddle
Blue Tango
Sleigh Ride
The Waltzing Cat
Jazz Pizzicato-Jazz Legato
Saraband
Side Two
The Syncopated Clock
Classical Juke Box
Plink, Plank, Plunk!
Belle of the Ball
Serernata
Chicken Reel