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Re: [ARSCLIST] off-topic: guilty pleasure in hi-fi demo records
There is currently a copy of LM 1802 on Ebay, with the following
description:
RARE OUT OF PRINT HARD TO FIND RCA RED SEAL LP FEATURES ROBERT RUSSELL
BENNETT's "AN ADVENTURE IN HIGH FIDELITY", A SYMPHONIC SUITE COMPOSED AND
CONDUCTED BY BENNETT ON DIRECT COMMISSION FROM RCA VICTOR ESPECIALLY FOR
THIS ALBUM PLAYED BY THE NBC SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, ONE OF THIS ORCHESTRAS'
LAST RECORDINGS BEFORE IT WAS OFFICIALLY DISBANDED. ALSO ON THIS RECORDING
IS BENNETT'S DELIGHTFUL "THE ORCHESTRA IN A NUTSHELL", WHICH IS
TCHAIKOVSKY'S "NUTCRACKER SUITE" ARRANGED BY BENNETT FOR SHOWCASING
PRINCIPAL INSTRUMENTS OF THE ORCHESTRA. SIDE 2 OF THIS EARLY AUDIOPHILE
RECORDING FEATURES A DEMONSTRATION OF FREQUENCY RESPONSE AT DIFFERENT
FREQUENCIES, THE HUMAN VOICE IN HIGH FIDELITY FEATURING ROBERTA PETERS,
LEONARD WARREN, JUSSI BJOERLING & VICTORIA DE LOS ANGELES AND RARE POP
PIECES PLAYED BY HUGO WINTERHALTER, THE THREE SUNS, HENRI RENE & THE
SAUNTER-FINNEGAN ORCHESTRA. INCLUDES A BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED FULL JACKET
SIZED 24 PAGE BOOK ON THE MUSICAL PROGRAM AND A HISTORY OF HIGH FIDELITY
TECHNIQUES WHICH WERE CUTTING EDGE AT THE TIME OF THIS RECORDING. THE WORKS
ON THIS LP HEVE NEVER BEEN RECORDED AGAIN AND THIS LP HAS BEEN OUT OF PRINT
FOR 45 YEARS AND HAS NEVER BEEN RELEASED ON CD. A MUST HAVE FOR THE TWO
RARE ROBERT RUSSELL BENNETT WORKS, THE NBC SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AT ITS PEAK
AND AUDIOPHILES INTERESTED IN THE HISTORY OF HIGH FIDELITY RECORDING
TECHNIQUES.
Format: LP
LP Condition: A-
RELEASE DATE: 1954
JACKET: BOX SET INTACT WITH 24 PAGE FULL SIZED BOOKLET IN GREAT CONDITION
Label: RCA VICTOR RED SEAL LM-1802 MONAURAL PLUM COLORED SHADED DOG
Country of Origin: USA
LP CONTENTS:
1. AN ADVENTURE IN HIGH FIDELITY
2. THE ORCHESTRA IN A NUTSHELL
3. HOW GOOD IS YOUR FIDELITY?
4. THE HUMAN VOICE IN HIGH FIDELITY
5. NEW ORTHOPHONIC IN POPS
SA
----- Original Message -----
From: "rodbrown" <rodbrown@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, July 16, 2007 9:16 AM
Subject: [ARSCLIST] off-topic: guilty pleasure in hi-fi demo records
Hi all,
I'm timidly un-lurking for a moment because I have a question for which
I'm sure the ARSClist subscribership would have a broad range of useful,
informed opinions.
I've recently become reacquainted with an LP I really enjoyed as a kid:
"An Adventure In High Fidelity", subtitled "A 'New Orthophonic' High
Fidelity Recording." This is an RCA Victor boxed set, LM-1802. I find I
still enjoy hearing this old record.
It purports to present great-sounding (monaural) classical and
semi-classical music, but also offers some very entertaining pop
instrumentals. It's an interesting listen, full of ear-catching, exotic
sounds, highs and lows, softs and louds. It tries to be all things to a
broad range of listeners, and doesn't fail too badly, seems to me.
I'm sure there must be any number of similar efforts committed to vinyl by
various companies who sought to interest the public in a particular label,
or a brand of equipment, or a supposed technical breakthrough. Was this
record a better-than-average example of a genre? Would any of you care to
mention any fond recollections on this type of recording? Any
recommendations?
(I'm presently a little less interested in LPs full of pink noise or
selected sine waves [the more technically-oriented 'test' records] though
those can be intriguing too.)
I'd be pleased to hear from you.
Thanks,
Rod