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Re: [ARSCLIST] off-topic: guilty pleasure in hi-fi demo records
Hello Rod,
This reply is from another Rod (myself), and the one recording I bought
when Hi-Fi hit our country was the Westminster demo record (it was
mono, since this preceded stereo), "WESTMINSTER'S HI-FI DEMONSTRATION
RECORD" #DRB. From the cover, "A PRESENTATION OF MUSIC FROM OUTSTANDING
WESTMINSTER RECORDINGS SELECTED FOR DEMONSTRATION PURPOSES OF FINE,
WIDE-RANGE PHONOGRAPH EQUIPMENT
* The Contents
FREQUENCY TONES IN ALL AUDIBLE RANGES FROM 40 TO 15,000 CPS.
MUSIC WITH CONTROLLABLE RANGE FROM 30 TO 15,000 CPS.
DEFINITION IN LOUD PASSAGES WITHOUT INTERMODULATION
SEPARATE BANDS OF SOUND OF PERCUSSION, STRING, WOODWIND
AND BRASS GROUPS, PIANO, HARPSICHORD AND GUITAR
STROBOSCOPE FOR CONTROL OF TURNTABLE
SPEED (The logo of the
Westminster clock tower)
with the inscription, "Natural Balance Westminster Long Playing Records"
It exposed me to classical music that I hadn't ever really listened to
before, but as a result, became a fan of such as those "far out"
Russians like Gliere and Rachmaninoff and that crazy Italian, Beethoven
and his later friend, Respighi.
Ah, the joys of discovery when you're a young person (not to mention,
Britten's "Y.P.'s Guide to the Orchestra").
Rod Stephens
David Lennick wrote:
Steven C. Barr(x) wrote:
----- Original Message ----- From: "rodbrown" <rodbrown@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
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?
Well, I can only comment on/in my own area of expertise...that being
"one level earlier" in technical terms (shellac 78rpm discs...!).
And there WERE a number of "demonstration records" issued from the
beginning of that format onward. I have heard, and seen, "demonstration
records" made by Berliner c.1900, to be played for potential machine
buyers (don't own copies, though...!). Columbia issued at least three
different such discs (with a fourth version for Canada
only...!)...Victor
issued several different records in their D- series...I have similar
discs
on the Perfect, Bell and Gennett labels...and Philco issued two
c.1930 discs intended to sell their radio-phonograph sets, along with
a set of
several c.1940 "demo discs" of the same sort, which feature Columbia
artists and are on the Columbia label. I also own a Hit-Of-The-Week disc
featuring a "Medley Of Canadian Songs," which may have been used for
promotion here in Canada (and bears a rubber-stamped "Sample" legend
as well). And...Victor DID issue a "promo record" for their first 33-1/3
"Program Transcription" line...with a "DL-" number.
Steven C. Barr
In the LP era, there were all sorts of demos and promos.."Adventure in
High Fidelity" is sure a better sample than "Hearing is Believing"
(music samples on side 2 are fine, but the comparisons on side 1
include modern versions vs acousticals!). In the early stereo days,
RCA put out "Bob And Ray Throw a Stereo Spectacular" and "Sounds in
Space"..the latter has crossed my hands 3 times, never in playable
condition (the last copy had the Glenn Gould "So You Want To Write a
Fugue" flexi scotch taped to it!).
dl