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Re: [ARSCLIST] RCA records made by Decca or Decca records released by RCA
There was an article in an old High Fidelity that discussed this
arrangements. I can't give a citation but recall it was a spread that
discussed the opera recordings, giving second place to the orchestral ones.
I think they were paid for jointly. RCA had them for 5 years after which
ownership went to Decca. Others on this list know more about this than I
do.
Are you coming to ARSC?
Steve Smolian
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Fine" <tflists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, March 23, 2008 1:01 PM
Subject: [ARSCLIST] RCA records made by Decca or Decca records released by
RCA
In the mid-90's, Classic Records reissued a bunch of albums RCA had issued
in the U.S. in the late 50's and early 60's. Classic's catalog sheet,
enclosed in the albums, stated these were made by Decca "for RCA." I'm
talking about albums like "Venice" by Solti (opera overtures and
act-introductions) and Ansermet's "Royal Ballet" with excerpts from
several ballet scores. Also "Witches Brew", which appears to be "show
stopper" pieces.
My question -- were these re-packaged Decca records that were already out
by Decca outside of the U.S. or were they commissioned and/or paid for by
RCA? The masters apparently reverted to Decca because the Classic releases
were licensed from both Polygram (presumably for the masters) and RCA/BMG
(presumably for the distinctive packaging and liner notes).
I guess a related question is, why didn't Decca just release these works
in the U.S. via London records?
-- Tom Fine