1967-must-own-classical

Falla / Ravel / El Amor Brujo / De Burgos (Decca)

More of the Music of Manuel De Falla

  • With seriously good Double Plus (A++) grades or BETTER throughout, this early Decca pressing of these sublime classical works will be hard to beat
  • It’s also fairly quiet at Mint Minus Minus, a grade that even our most well-cared-for vintage classical titles have trouble playing at
  • Tons of energy, loads of detail and texture, superb transparency and excellent clarity – the very definition of Demo Disc sound
  • Dramatically richer, fuller and more Tubey Magical than most other copies we played, with breathy vocals and rosiny, fairly smooth strings
  • We discovered to our surprise that the right reissues can sound just as good as the best early pressings – plenty of early LPs just sound like old records, which simply means that having a clean original is no guarantee of anything in the crazy world of records
  • There are about 150 orchestral recordings we’ve awarded the honor of having the best performances with Demo Disc sound, and this superb LP certainly deserve a place on that list

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Copland / Billy The Kid / Rodeo – Johanos

More Classical Masterpieces

  • This vintage copy of this Copland Masterpiece boasts solid Double Plus (A++) sound from first note to last, with no audible marks and no Inner Groove Distortion (IGD)
  • The vinyl is somewhat noisy, alas, as is sometimes the nature of the beast with these early pressings, but once you hear just how superb sounding this copy is, you might be inclined, as we were, to stop counting ticks and pops and just be swept away by the music
  • A spectacular Demo Disc recording that is clear, rich, dynamic, transparent and energetic – here is the big, bold sound we love
  • “To the ultimate delight of audiences Copland managed to weave musical complexity with popular style.”
  • If you’re a fan of orchestral showpieces such as these, this recording from 1967 belongs in your collection.

This vintage Turnabout pressing has the kind of Tubey Magical Midrange that modern records can barely BEGIN to reproduce. Folks, that sound is gone and it sure isn’t showing signs of coming back. If you love hearing INTO a recording, actually being able to “see” the performers, and feeling as if you are sitting in the studio with the band, this is the record for you. It’s what vintage all analog recordings are known for —this sound. (more…)

Falla / Ravel / El Amor Brujo / De Burgos (London)

More of the Music of Manuel De Falla

  • With superb Double Plus (A++) grades throughout, this early London pressing (CS 6521) of these sublime classical works will be very hard to beat
  • It’s also fairly quiet at Mint Minus Minus, a grade that even our most well-cared-for vintage classical titles have trouble playing at
  • An abundance of energy, loads of detail and texture, superb transparency and excellent clarity – the very definition of Demo Disc sound
  • Dramatically richer, fuller and more Tubey Magical than most other copies we played, with breathy vocals and rosiny, fairly smooth strings
  • We discovered to our surprise that the right reissues can sound just as good as the best early pressings – plenty of early LPs just sound like old records, which simply means that having a clean original is no guarantee of anything in the crazy world of records
  • There are about 150 orchestral recordings we’ve awarded the honor of having the best performances with Demo Disc sound, and this superb LP certainly deserve a place on that list

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Rachmaninoff – Symphonic Dances / Johanos

More Hot Stamper Pressings of Rachmaninoff’s Music 

  • With incredible Nearly Triple Plus (A++ to A+++) sound on both TAS-approved sides, this original Turquoise label pressing of this orchestral spectacular is practically as good a copy as we have ever heard, right up there with our Shootout Winner
  • Exceptionally (and unusually) quiet for a Vox pressing too – noisy vinyl is the rule and not the exception
  • It’s an extraordinary recording, and so wonderful on this pressing that after playing it, you may agree with us that few other classical Demo Discs are in its league
  • The bottom end of this record is powerful and solid like no other classical LP we’ve played in a very long time – this is the way to record tympani!
  • Other orchestral recordings with powerful drums can be found here
  • The sound is dynamic, lively and big – jumping out of the speakers and bringing the power and the vibrant colors of the symphony right into your listening room

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