GEMS from the EMI/HMV/COLUMBIA catalogue #1

First installment of great records on the legendary EMI/HMV/COLUMBIA labels, featuring recordings from the late 1950s to the end of the analogue era in the late 1970s. A companion to my earlier video featuring the Decca label:
• GEMS from the DECCA ca...
EMI was the second behemoth classical label out of the UK, along with DECCA. The sound on their records is a little different from the Decca sound - a more mid-hall perspective - but the catalogue is packed full of wonderful performances and many acknowledged audiophile classics. I feature a range of favorites, both original pressings and reissues.
For an excellent introduction to the differences between labels/pressings etc., I highly recommend Michael's video "A Guide to Collecting Classical Music on Vinyl" (#poetryonplastic). The discussion on EMI/HMV/COLUMBIA begins at 31:25.
• A Guide to Collecting ...
Recommended channels for classical music fans and collectors:
David Hurwitz
/ @davesclassicalguide
Poetry On Plastic
/ @poetryonplastic
Another excellent resource for new classical recordings is BBC Radio 3's long-standing weekly broadcast "Record Review". Shows remain available to listen to for 30 days after first broadcast:
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06w...

[@ManueldelRio]

Many thanks for these wonderful videos. I have been a collector records for 30 years, although my collection is mostly compact discs, I also have a remarkable vinyl collection. One of the record labels that I have the most esteem for if we focus on the analog stereo era is the Dutch label Philips. It would be interesting a video reviewing some of the great analog recordings of this record label. Thanks again. Greetings.

[@musiconrecord6724]

Thank you so much for this. I definitely plan to do some Gems from the Philips label....

[@jasonwoodward6267]

Thanks for these fun and educational videos. I own a record store Butter Beats in Australia for 22 years and I am always looking for new things to listen to... "Threnody" blew my mind... thanks for your time and efforts, really dig your presentation style and relaxed sharing of knowledge.

[@musiconrecord6724]

Thank you so much for watching. Great name for a record store.

[@mackjay1777]

I"m really enjoying your video series. I owned many of these on LP and on CD. Your enthusiasm is contagious and appreciated. Please keep them coming! (I just heard that Penderecki recording last week!)

[@morrigambist]

Winchester, VA is known for its apples. After Angel set up pressing facilities in Winchester we used to say that they used the apple presses but forgot to clean them first.

[@reinhardmayr5068]

Wow great stuff. Please show us more of these gems. Thank you. Reinhard👍

[@musiconrecord6724]

Will do! Thanks.

[@retrogameruk]

Thanks for your video. You've given me more great LPs keep a look out for.

[@musiconrecord6724]

Thank you!

[@donaldbassnett7588]

Thank you for a most entertaining and informative series of videos. I especially like it when you mention a record that I have in my own collection. There is nothing to beat the sound of the records that were produced in the early stereo era although both EMI and Decca did produce some superb records in later years. Look forward to viewing future presentations.

[@davidatkinson-lifematters4826]

Another interesting and helpful video. Although I've been collecting classical music since the mid-70s, my knowledge is far from deep. Your videos are helping me cull my vinyl of the less-than-stellar versions. Thanks.

[@musiconrecord6724]

Oh please do not cull too many!!! But I am glad that these videos are proving so useful - and enjoyable!

[@retohofmann5878]

Brilliant rendition...I love EMI, I love Previn usw...thank you!

[@markeslick1680]

Great video. Thanks.

[@nattyco]

Great video, great memories. I also had the pleasure of falling into the River Cam-a good few years earlier than you did. I had a friend who sang in the Kings choir and I was able to hear them many times, including sitting in on their Willcocks recording of Faure's Requiem (ASD 2358). You are so correct about Melodiya. I have Oistrakh/Richter Franck Sonata-a wonderful performance and recording. (ASD 2618)

[@musiconrecord6724]

I envy you hearing the choir regularly. It was such a treat to sing with them under Willcocks in that chapel. Melodiya/EMI is full of treasures....

[@pauldavies6037]

Really enjoying your series no mention of Sir Thomas Beecham great conductor of French and English music and we would not have heard all the wonderful music of Delius if it wasn't for him

[@rufus_the_cat]

That Bach sample you played is wonderful I have to find it.

[@musiconrecord6724]

That's a favorite record of mine. Worth hunting down the MoFi version. It shouldn't cost you too much.

[@topclassical]

The Bach / Elgar Fugue is great fun!

[@bannan61]

The Kempe/EMI Don Quixote is a stunner. One of the great records and available on World Record Club for a while. I prefer it to the later Dresden LP. As for Previn's Walton 1. Say no more. I just wish it was on Decca.

[@Roamany-Jones]

I have the Oistrakh a SAX And an ES1 sounds fab but has become very expensive I dread when the time comes to replace it. I agree all the Previn records on HMV sound amazing, brilliant musically and top notch sound.

[@chrisguygeezer]

Also, don't forget Beecham 👌

[@miro.georgiev97]

You mentioned that Nielsen's Symphony No. 5 is his most popular symphony, but I was under the impression that No. 4, "The Inextinguishable," is the most well-known and most played of all his symphonies (to the extent that anything by Nielsen is famous).

[@musiconrecord6724]

Back in the 70s the 5th was the most well known - that may have changed.

[@JamesHLee-un8un]

Thank you, this great video. Btw, where do you go shopping for your records? Do you go to the amoeba music store? Thanks again

[@musiconrecord6724]

Here in Los Angeles I mainly go to Record Surplus and Amoeba. RS used to have a great classical section, but that has somewhat diminished over the last few years. Amoeba's used section is generally not that great, with records not in such condition, BUT every so often I get lucky I find some good stuff. eg. recently they had clearly just bought a collection of way off-the-beaten-path 20th century music, including Japanese DG pressings of Toru Takemitsu. I love it when this happens! Otherwise I get stuff via Discogs and ebay.

[@JamesHLee-un8un]

@@musiconrecord6724 Hello again. Yes, I passed by RS and Amoeba. For Amoeba, I get classical CDs. For RS, I went to see what LP was there, but I didn't get any LPS. Anyway, thank you for your response.

[@luisdiego22002]

The good thing about classical recordings is that you can have a great rendition of a work without having audiophile-grade pressings (especially the older ones).

[@musiconrecord6724]

Absolutely. Though in the case of some labels like Decca the old pressings are fully up to the standards of newer audiophile reissues.

[@luisdiego22002]

@@musiconrecord6724 IF you can find them.

[@musiconrecord6724]

@@luisdiego22002 Yup that's a big "if".....

[@musiconrecord6724]

@@luisdiego22002 With Decca a great way to get the exact same record (or close) is to hunt down the Ace of Diamonds version. These were often pressed at the same time as the originals, and even if pressed later, still sound excellent.

[@luisdiego22002]

@@musiconrecord6724Interesting, how do I identify those?

[@JamesHLee-un8un]

I heard Amoeba relocated to Hollywood Blvd. Is it open? I know I went to one in Sunset before but before the pandemic, they were supposed to move. I lost track of the moving situation with the amoeba. Does anyone know about the moving of Amoeba?

[@musiconrecord6724]

Yes, they moved to a new space not too far away on Hollywood and are open. It's a nice space, but I still miss the old store.

[@dalecrowther6811]

Could anyone please help me i have no information about this i own a masterworks symphony dvorak from the new world in ten parts five records Hamilton harty conducting the halle orchestra columbia records

[@DavidUKesb]

Where do you source your classical records? Thanks

[@denverzorrozoki9023]

Much talk, friendly man... very few record covers shown...

[@henryoliver2833]

Do you have any experiences with New Zealand pressed EMI/HMV pressings?

[@musiconrecord6724]

Sorry no.... Not even sure I've ever even seen one!

[@Roamany-Jones]

I have just a few I picked up in various charity shops in the U.K. Apart from one, they are all rather noisey even after cleaning them on my vacuum machine. Not sure if it’s the Pressing, vinyl formulation or because they are from charity shops and I’ve just been unlucky. Sound quality is not bad but not really as good as any of my UK originals.

[@slowpawstevet3676]

i may be wrong but i always disliked Klemperers conducting, especially of Beethoven, he seemed to chisel his way through those symphonies like stone, as opposed to Karajan and Previn who i prefer, the music seems to flow better, though not keen on Karajan's baroque big orchestra works though, too big, much prefer those with chamber orchestras. Regarding inner sleeves i found polythene to be very stable but not those EMI rice/tissue paper inners which seem to disintegrate over time.

[@Roamany-Jones]

The Original HMV /MELODIYA sound great but you have to be careful as I have found the reissues on the same label sound terrible and yet they are cut from the same master!

[@chrisguygeezer]

EMI had a more natural sound than Decca. Ask Sir Adrian Boult 😉