Digital recording was adding insult to injury,as mass-market classical Lps were on a downhill slide,ever since the late 60s,with Decca/London in the UK,being the noteable exception.As the 70s went on,the Londons,were actually better in sound,and vinyl,to those pressed in the UK,for domestic consumption.The German pressings,from the 70s sucked.I didn't realize this,until I had bought a German pressing,of the Solti "Alpine Symphony",on eBone.The early digital Londons,were made a little more listenable,on the Japanese King pressings,of the early 80s.I have such a pressing,of the Solti/CSO "Pictures",as well as the Dutch-pressed "US" London,and the difference is noticeable,to say the least.These still have the old ffss label.It is too bad,Solti didn't insist on Wilkie,and analogue,for his recordings.He sold so well,I suppose,he could have done it.
I may be wrong,but I don't think Columbia got into Digital,until 1980,and then gradually phased it in.(I have some Isaac Stern recorded,after 1980,that is analogue.)Polygram,as it was called then,(DG,Philips,London),follwed by EMI, were first,if I recall.
Roger Kulp