WHY and What are you Listening to?

S Clark · May 11, 2021, 10:17:01 PM

It was released in stereo in 1963.
Mercury ‎– SR 90313
According to Discogs there is a mint copy available in Austria if you've got an extra $750 burning a hole in your pocket. I've got quite a few of the old Mercuries, but few worth more than $50. However record prices have gone insane, so I might be surprised if I look them up. I've got to get moving on putting labels with values on each so that one day my wife or daughter doesn't dump then in a garage sale for fifty cents a piece.

Nick B · May 11, 2021, 11:01:41 PM

Thanks! As I'm typing this, I'm already investigating the Austrian/US exchange rate....well, maybe not

It is fun sometimes trying to find on Roon what albums you and the other guys list

tmazz · May 12, 2021, 11:14:51 AM

it is available on Tidal as part of this collection:

https://listen.tidal.com/album/4405382/track/4405405

The CD is also on Discogs for $3.99

https://www.discogs.com/sell/release/7361712

Nick B · May 12, 2021, 11:46:56 AM

Quote from: tmazz on May 12, 2021, 11:14:51 AM
it is available on Tidal as part of this collection:

https://listen.tidal.com/album/4405382/track/4405405

The CD is also on Discogs for $3.99

https://www.discogs.com/sell/release/7361712

The Tidal link works if I do a cut and paste. But if I am actually within the Tidal app, then different search methodologies have not worked for me. My search skills are so so for various apps and web searches as well. Appreciate the links, though.

tmazz · May 12, 2021, 07:10:41 PM

If you are in the Tidal app then you can try searching by the title of this collection, Paul Paray Conducts French Orchestral Music.

Nick B · May 12, 2021, 07:34:53 PM

Quote from: tmazz on May 12, 2021, 07:10:41 PM
If you are in the Tidal app then you can try searching by the title of this collection, Paul Paray Conducts French Orchestral Music.

That worked ... I had typed in variations of that, but not the precise title. I'll be listening to it after finishing up some chores... ugh...

tmazz · May 12, 2021, 07:46:07 PM

That is a 5 CD set that has all of what is contained on teh CD you were looking for plus a whole lot more and it is all good dtuff.

Enjoy

S Clark · June 30, 2021, 08:18:14 PM

This is a classic early Mercury Living Presence sound, full, rich, and just musically right. RCA's, EMI, Phillips, and good Deutche's can be stunningly detailed, but Mercury puts you in the hall on about the 25th row. Much of the time the instruments blend, but solos ring out and certain phrases anchor the orchestra into a clear space. They just sound like being in the concert hall.
This Katchaturian/Tchaikovsky is standard fare delivered by Dorati and the London Sym. in a fine performance from 1961.
A VG+ copy will set you back $20-25, and NM will be almost double. But if you're serious about classical vinyl, make the investment. You won't regret it.

S Clark · July 23, 2021, 07:05:35 PM

A friend and I bought several Japanese pressings of several classic jazz albums a few months ago. One that he bid on and got was Tommy Flanagan Trio "Lonely Town". So he finally got around to loaning it to me, and I gotta say, Wow. What a great pressing and recording! The bass player is amazingly full and real, and I don't know if I've ever heard the high hat sizzle as accurately. The sound is great, the music is great. I can kinda overlook it if the bass player comes in slightly off key (flat) on a couple of numbers- quickly forgotten as the music moves on.

Nick B · July 24, 2021, 12:43:39 AM

Quote from: S Clark on July 23, 2021, 07:05:35 PM
A friend and I bought several Japanese pressings of several classic jazz albums a few months ago. One that he bid on and got was Tommy Flanagan Trio "Lonely Town". So he finally got around to loaning it to me, and I gotta say, Wow. What a great pressing and recording! The bass player is amazingly full and real, and I don't know if I've ever heard the high hat sizzle as accurately. The sound is great, the music is great. I can kinda overlook it if the bass player comes in slightly off key (flat) on a couple of numbers- quickly forgotten as the music moves on.

Scott,
Am curious what TT and cart are you using?

S Clark · July 24, 2021, 06:36:49 AM

The rig I was listening to was a Victor TT-81 through a Graham Slee gold. Arm is a Jelco 750 mounted to a voodoo pod created by Dave "The Man" Elledge. Cables by Wywires and Audio Sensibility. The cart was a Sumiko Blackbird with a micro ridge stylus installed by Steve Leung (a nice step up from the Soundsmith ruby cantilever/line contact)--- nothing super fancy or extra expensive. All equipment chosen for quality/value ratio in my small room second system.

Nick B · July 24, 2021, 08:52:25 AM

Quote from: S Clark on July 24, 2021, 06:36:49 AM
The rig I was listening to was a Victor TT-81 through a Graham Slee gold. Arm is a Jelco 750 mounted to a voodoo pod created by Dave "The Man" Elledge. Cables by Wywires and Audio Sensibility. The cart was a Sumiko Blackbird with a micro ridge stylus installed by Steve Leung (a nice step up from the Soundsmith ruby cantilever/line contact)--- nothing super fancy or extra expensive. All equipment chosen for quality/value ratio in my small room second system.

Budget friendly and good sounding is always a nice combo 😀 I googled voodoo pod and came up empty. Can you elaborate?

S Clark · July 24, 2021, 09:44:32 AM

It was meant jokingly... obviously not successfully.

Dave and I were discussing tone arm pods a couple of years back. I'd mounted a branch of mesquite to a 1 1/2" slab of lead, drilled it, and made a tonearm pod. Dave had some ideas he wanted to try with some of his magic anti emf powder and lead shot. And of course, unlike my rather ugly homemade pod, Dave finished it out in walnut veneer and polished it to look like fine furniture. He messed with it for a good while, but I've had it now for over a year and I sincerely think it adds to the resolution of the arm and system.
I've often thought that Dave should make a couple of dozen of them and sell them. My guess is that the pod is a one off.

P.I. · July 24, 2021, 10:29:34 AM

Quote from: S Clark on July 24, 2021, 09:44:32 AM
It was meant jokingly... obviously not successfully.
Dave and I were discussing tone arm pods a couple of years back. I'd mounted a branch of mesquite to a 1 1/2" slab of lead, drilled it, and made a tonearm pod. Dave had some ideas he wanted to try with some of his magic anti emf powder and lead shot. And of course, unlike my rather ugly homemade pod, Dave finished it out in walnut veneer and polished it to look like fine furniture. He messed with it for a good while, but I've had it now for over a year and I sincerely think it adds to the resolution of the arm and system.
I've often thought that Dave should make a couple of dozen of them and sell them. My guess is that the pod is a one off.

Yes, it is. I wish I had time to do more things like this, but I am just buried with work and I'm struggling with my arthritis and trying to catch up.. as if! Never happen.

Nick B · July 24, 2021, 01:01:03 PM

Quote from: S Clark on July 24, 2021, 09:44:32 AM
It was meant jokingly... obviously not successfully.
Dave and I were discussing tone arm pods a couple of years back. I'd mounted a branch of mesquite to a 1 1/2" slab of lead, drilled it, and made a tonearm pod. Dave had some ideas he wanted to try with some of his magic anti emf powder and lead shot. And of course, unlike my rather ugly homemade pod, Dave finished it out in walnut veneer and polished it to look like fine furniture. He messed with it for a good while, but I've had it now for over a year and I sincerely think it adds to the resolution of the arm and system.
I've often thought that Dave should make a couple of dozen of them and sell them. My guess is that the pod is a one off.

Yes, that one got by me.... 🤷 But I'll agree that Dave has been known to work some magic with his creations...