As in, warped 12" 78s. Too bad, since these are in lovely shape, otherwise. Only $1.99, though, so no big loss. In fact, by tracking heavy, I was able to get three of the six sides ripped and ready, so I'm happy.
This 1939 Boston Symphony Orch. recording--narrated in truly strange style by Richard Hale--was the first American recording of Peter and the Wolf, and it's beautifully recorded and performed. What I love about "Classical" discs of this era is the realness of the sound, the naturalness of the acoustics. I reckon it was all the engineers could do to keep the dynamic bursts from bouncing the cutting stylus, so such vital advances as ping-pong stereo and 800-track mixdowns would have to wait their day.
Restored tonight by MAGIX and me.
To the half set:
Peter and the Wolf (Sergei Prokofiev)--Boston Symphony Orch., Dir. Serge Koussevitzky.
Narrated by Richard Hale. Victor M-566; 1939 (Sides 1, 5, and 6.)
Lee
4 comments:
As a Goodwill manager, I'll concur about the condition of some records that show up at our door. Sometimes you wish you could find the culprit who tossed away the paper sleeves and stored the LPs haphazardly in the cardboard covers, scratching them every time they went in and out, only to have said culprits handling the platters like a Frisbee or a disc of pizza dough being tossed an rolled...and then there are the days that a pristine pile from a true audiophile's collection shows up, looking like the day they were pressed and wrapped to ship.
The really interesting thing concerns the albums I can buy after all is picked over. All the sort of things I love to buy are the 'weird, strange, crazy stuff' (says a co-worker) LPs that no one wants - Esquivel, Martin Denny, Living Strings, etc., and all the 78s no one cares for. And they're usually in the pristine group.
This is a great share, Lee...thanks!
When I was eight years old, a visiting aunt presented me with this Koussevitzky 3-12" set of 78s (the British HMV pressing) of Peter And The Wolf.
Strange to see it around today, 64 years afterwards...
I also have the same 3 record set. My husband is 73 and has wonderful memories of listening to it as a little boy.
I was surprised to hear it was the first of many recordings. Can't seem to find out much about Richard Hale,the narrator.
Wish we had taken better care of the album cover...the vinyl is in good condition.
Here's IMDB's Richard Hale page. That guy got around as an actor! http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0354989/
Here's his AllMusic bio:
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/richard-hale-q27933/biography
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