More Bernard Herrmann
Presenting an exceptionally rare and very good sounding Decca Phase IV pressing (with the textured cover, ooh!), the first to ever hit the site. We have been on the lookout for this album for years and somehow cannot find any clean copies, other than this one of course.
Not to worry; this one will do nicely. Three of the six works here have SUPERB better than Super Hot Stamper sound. We went through them one by one and were rather surprised that the sound quality varied so much from track to track.
One might conclude from the variation in the sound that the album must be a compilation — so many of Herrmann’s albums are — but that is not the case, assuming the liner notes are to be believed.
Here’s what we heard, taken directly from our notes.
Side One
Satie / Gymnopedies I & II
A++ or better. Rich, smooth, sweet, big, natural, clear and very ANALOG. I don’t know when I’ve heard these famous works sounding better than they do here.
Debussy / Clair de Lune
A+, rich but a bit smeary, strings need more texture.
Debussy / Valse ‘la Plus Que Lente
No grade – Too murky.
Ravel / Five O’Clock Fox-Trot
A++ to A+++, with Demo Disc sound! So lively and clear, the sound will jump out of your speakers when you play this track!
