Listening To All My RCA Living Stereo LPs: Part 1

[@TheAboriginal1]

this will be incredible and I'm thrilled to be along for the ride

[@wickedexile4531]

Wow this is exciting to start this undertaking. Really looking forward to following you. Sid marks is smiling!

[@georgegerich7030]

What a surprise, Michael! I have both recordings plus six more Strauss masterpieces from a box set called Fritz Reiner conducts Richard Strauss that was issued over 20 years ago by the International Preview Society (a record club) and produced by BMG Direct Marketing. On the front it says RCA Digitally Remastered Analog Recordings R234584 4 Record Set. Among the recordings is "Burleske" with Byron Janis as pianist. I was always impressed with the sound of these recordings and still can't believe that they were recorded in 1954, 1956 and 1960. All the compositions of Strauss are mind-blowing. It's a real joy that you highlighted these classics and possibly made many others aware of this composer, these compositions, this conductor and the Chicago Symphony.

[@armenkhatchatrian8748]

Awesome video Michael! im here for the rest of it. Very exciting

[@betze7169]

Wow, that's a highlight. I've been waiting for this for a long time. Thanks very much , Michael!

[@thomasscharf8886]

Hello Michael, although I don‘t have much knowledge about classical music I love to watch your videos!!! Greetings from Germany, Thomas.

[@analogueanorak1904]

Wow Michael talk about coming back with a bang. All the best for taking on this important fascinating undertaking. This definitely has the potential to replace your current magnum opus the legendary Decca overview!

[@larryshaver3568]

I'm so glad you decided to do this

[@relayernj]

Thank you Michael for doing this LS series. What a joy these Analogue Productions reissues are. Incredible music, performances, and sound quality. This will help me fill the gaps in their series. For me, collecting these gives a listener an instant fantastic classical collection.

[@NotedArchived]

Yes. So excited for this series and overview. Thank you so much. What a gift. Sadly, the Ein Heldenleben goes for $75+ and currently seeing none available in the US on discogs currently. Now you’ve set me off on a hunt. Thanks, MJ!

[@poetryonplastic]

Bummer, but Classic made a lot of them so hopefully they will pop up eventually!

[@musiconrecord6724]

It's definitely one to pick up. Be patient and then pounce!!!

[@grantparsons6205]

I found one about 12 months ago, in excellent condition, in a charity shop in Cambridge UK for next to nothing...

[@ScottHughes-b8m]

Strauss's Ein Heldenleben was Reiner's very first recording with the Chicago Symphony and they hit it out of the park it's such a knockout performance. The other Strauss work they recorded March 6, 1954 was Salome's Dance of the Seven Veils another fantastic performance I understand was recorded late that night. The wonderful acoustics Orchestra Hall had originally played a major part of the sonic and artistic success of these recordings. Orchestra Hall before the 1966 renovation was a very live chamber and that climax with the off stage trumpets just before the Battle section is so powerful it sounded like the entire Chicago Symphony went up to the gallery by Saturn V rocket. The final section of Heldenleben where the Hero withdraws from the World with the duet with concertmaster John Weicher and principal French horn Philip Farkas and the sustained strings is so beautiful it always makes me cry. These wonderful, definitive performances were life changing and made me fall in love with the Chicago Symphony and classical music.

[@griffendurrett7302]

Super excited for this series like everyone else! You've been a massive reason for my growing love and appreciation of classical music these past couple of years!

[@sergiolopez-pf6tx]

I am listening to Living Stereo on my streamer QOBUZ. Thanks for showing me these collection.

[@oldschoolaudioenthusiast]

This is a truly great video! I am the original owner of the 1962 "Also Sprach" Reiner / Chicago Symphony recording you mention (the reissue) LSC-2609 and frankly it is an incredible recording even when listening on my modest system. Please keep making informative and insightful videos like this. It is most appreciated by an old audiophile and classically trained musician like me! P.S. Some of the greatest orchestral brass players of the 20th century are on these Chicago Symphony / Reiner recordings to include Adolph "Bud" Herseth - 1st Trumpet, Arnold Jacobs - Tuba and Philip Farkas 1st Horn on the original 1954 LSC recording.

[@allenh4475]

Oh boy, wish I didn't see this! I love my RCA recordings, in particular the AP reissues. So much so, I was going to sell my OG RCA recordings, including some prized 1s/1s issues. Guess I'll hang on them for a little while longer now. Looking forward to watching your entire series! Love that you are doing this!

[@jodygoeler586]

Thank you so much! Looking forward to more from your series.

[@martyinoregon8543]

I'm delighted that you're doing this series, Michael. I started looking for Living Stereo's (and others you've recommended) since watching your overview of classical labels. I've just a handful so far, but always keeping an eye out. It's so fun to research the details of each album while listening for the first time. Cheers!

[@thomashertl3037]

Glad to see you back and esp with this fantastic project. Looking forward to following this thru with you. Many thanks!

[@jivy2]

I enjoy when you point out certain passages to listen for during the recording. I have most of the Living Stereos as well and am looking forward to listening to the work in question while listening for the passages you point out. Thanks for all you do. You got me into classical about 5 years ago and it makes up the majority of my collection now 👍

[@fredericmorris2931]

Thanks Michael, most enjoyable, really looking forward to the rest of the series. One puzzle I’m hoping you (or perhaps your colleague Mark Ward) can clear up is why British critics were so often dismissive of both RCA and Mercury recordings. For example, the 1977 Penguin Guide says of Also Sprach: “the recording is spacious but not ideally clear”. British bias? Poor UK remastering/pressing? So strange.

[@analogueanorak1904]

Both! And as Mark mentions we are paying for it now as copies worth getting in the UK are few and far between.😢

[@Andrew_from_Oz_Vinyl_Landscape]

Fantastic Michael maybe your best work to date imho !

[@BillsBoxOfSound]

Thank you , and I'm very much looking forward to more episodes in this series!

[@joseluisherreralepron9987]

Good stuff! I love the sense of openness these 2 mic recordings have...the front of the listening room just disappears. There is some 'hole in the middle' effect but the overall effect is just luscious and open.

[@barrykrakovsky756]

I'm very happy to have stumbled upon your videos. Although an audiophile since the late 1970's, my focus has been largely on jazz, blues, "classic rock," and "indie pop." I look forward to expanding my appreciation and collection of classical titles. It's refreshing to find on the KZbin someone with knowledge and the ability to be articulate.

[@jonathankleefield5520]

Hello Michael, Thanks for beginning this project. Like another commenter, I am old enough to have bought these records when they were first released in the late 50’s. My dad was an early audiophile and with him we put together a respectable stereo hi-fi system, including a Garrard 301 turntable, kit-built Audax 16” transcription tonearm and a GE VR225 stereo cartridge. I agree with you that the musical quality and recording engineering exhibited by the records you featured were superb. However, you failed to make mention of what I found was the frustrating experience of extremely variable pressing quality. Particularly irksome were discs which have the logo you show on the upper right hand corner of the record jacket, christened “Miracle Surface.” These discs frequently had areas of gritty vinyl, sounding like the surf coming in, as well as thumps. As I ran a radio station in college, on April Fools Day, when I announced one of these pressings, I said what “Miracle Surface” implies is “If it’s a good surface, it’s a miracle!” It’s why I have not scoured the world for original “shaded dogs” that have this logo on the cover. Obviously, that problem is avoided by either a new pressing, such as the $40 Acoustic Sounds reissues, or going to either the CD or SACD re-issues done by John Newton (a close friend) about ten years ago for BMG. He made those recordings straight from the original master tapes, without altering the equalization from the original specifications. Finally, please don’t take offense, but as a Bostonian, I must mention to you the Pops conductor of note, Arthur Fiedler, had his name pronounced as Feedler, not Fidler, as you said. He was a colorful, if somewhat irascible chap, but sold millions of discs for RCA. Otherwise, good luck on your journey!

[@celtic-audiophile]

Great VR, looking forward to seeing the next issue

[@robertpannullo5687]

Wonderful start to this series .. great video !

[@Ray-036]

Hey you're back. Always learning a lot from you. Today is no exception. As a collector of Elvis (tip: LSP 2231) and classical records I know. So many RCA wecords come with flaws, errors, mistakes. It's RCA . But they sound fantastic. Thanks for this very indepth presentation. Should have more like you on youtube. Content with smth to learn while enjoyable.

[@黎志海]

這麼年輕就有這麼好的音樂品味，實在不簡單！😊

[@TheDjcarlos67]

Your timing is uncanny. I bought 4000 + records, mainly classical, a week ago and after joining a Facebook group of classical obsessed people, I found out that a huge amount of them are highly regarded labels, including Argo, RCA Red Seal and Harmonia Mundi. I’m currently going through them all… I’m not complaining though 🎶🎵😎

[@SaffierB]

Yes, very exiting! What knowledge, wonderful. I’m in for the ride. Thank you Michael.

[@andyabel3594]

Thanks, Michael. Looking forward to this new series.

[@solarman30]

This is going to be a great series! Own nearly all of the Classic Records reissues and some tasty, select OGs! Dan

[@stevennelson7444]

Thanks for undertaking sharing your RCA collection. I purchased the 60 cd Living Stereo box set when it first came out. Disc number 4 features the original 1954 recordings of these Strauss classics. I’m looking forward to the next video in your series Steve

[@brucehanon8945]

I love this concept on the RCA's in the early years. I am a long time collector of both RCA and Mercury's. I have all the originals of both, all NM and on the Merc.'s, mostly promo's. the RCA promo's are much rarer. I love the 2 you started with. Thank-you Bruce

[@musiconrecord6724]

That's quite a collection you must have!!!! Wonderful!

[@recordsam]

This is a wonderful beginning to what I anticipate will be "must view" material for any classical music audiophile. Thank you so much for doing this labor of love and service for the vinyl world! (By the way, there is no "th" sound, as such, in French either. The "Pathetique" in French is just Pah-Tay-Teek.) Hurray for the old LSC shaded dogs.

[@ScottHughes-b8m]

I bought that Victrola version of Reiner's Ein Heldenleben at Rose Records in Chicago for $3.17. The best bargain of my life. That performance is now 70 years and it's still the best!

[@dimebagdave77]

Many thanks PoetryOnPlastic✌️🤘 very interesting. Edit: straight fascinating.. thanks again..

[@Glorygood56]

Interesting and informative. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I am always on the lookout for these living stereo pressings. A neighbor had several Tucked away in a box in the garage that he gave me recently. Nearly pristine.

[@analoguecity3454]

This series is a wonderful idea!😊🎉

[@bigtom6939]

Interesting! Keep it up Michael.Have to also comment on the Classical Bums, great forum. Glad you dumped the mustache, too.

[@julianwarr7246]

Great video mate! I have a feeling that this series of videos will prove financially costly to me...

[@aviulus2526]

Thank you so much! Looking forward for the next one

[@edroskott5651]

Perfect start of a very interesting new series 👍

[@celtic-audiophile]

AP won’t be repressing any of the titles unless they still have jackets, they are slowly going out of stock, 7 gone last time I looked. I’ve been buying them up this year from AS and the inGroove had a few of the ones that AS were out of. Stupendous recordings.

[@musiconrecord6724]

So I've heard. Maybe Chad will reconsider if people start buying them...

[@toddbromgard5211]

Yes! I have many LSC titles and look forward to hearing your comments.

[@musiconrecord6724]

Uh-oh.... I can feel the prices on discogs creeping up as I tap..... What a wonderful way to start my week, watching this. I am so looking forward to gaining knowledge of this catalogue - since I grew up in UK these records were not on my radar in the same way that the Deccas and EMIs were. The earlier Classic reissues, like Also Sprach, Scheherazade done by Bernie really pale in comparison to the APs - they can be quite strident - but once Bernie's system got an upgrade I find the scales more evenly balanced. There is an energy (for want of a better word) and detail in the Classic versions which I don't always hear in the APs. But a lot of this is a matter of taste and equipment. I am really looking forward to learning about records that weren't reissued by Classic and AP (though my bank balance is not). This video series is such a gift to us all - thanks Michael!

[@widespot_]

I followed that old thread closely. I love when I find and old LS and can rescue it from the bins, clean it, listen. Thank you.

[@MrRom92DAW]

One thing I discovered in some recent research is that RCA was not only recording stereo particularly early but they were potentially the first to market by (possibly) issuing a stereo recording before anyone else. We know that the stereo Also Sprach Zarathustra was recorded March 1954, and issued as TCS-1 in September 1954. I can’t find a concrete release date for any stereo recording predating that. Livingston Audio did record Lenny Herman in August 1953 and eventually issued this as 1083BN, but I could not find any concrete evidence of whether or not they started duplicating and selling this recording before September 1954, so while their recording was definitely older, it’s not really clear exactly who beat who to market first.

[@rufus_the_cat]

An early Christmas present from the Dr. well done!

[@jennifermartin8628]

Wonderful, Michael, thanks. Thoughts: 1. I'm old enough to have experienced The Absolute Sounds's popularization of the RCA Shaded Dogs (along with Mercury Living Presence, including my beloved Fred Fennell/Eastman Wind Ensemble recordings) as they were published. Those pieces set me on a path. HP was pretty much responsible for driving the used market prices on those records WAY up! 2. Arthur Fiedler's last name is pronounced like "Feedler". 3. Yes, Bud Herseth was THE MAN! The archetype orchestral principal trumpet player. 5. Though I've heard the CSO in other venues (including Disney Hall), I've not yet heard them in Orchestra Hall. That will be remedied this December when I'll hear the orchestra, and in a separate concert,.the brass. Can't wait! I'll be in Chicago to present a session at the Mid-West Band and Orchestra Clinic. Cheers, Michael. Jenn Martin

[@poetryonplastic]

Thanks Jenn, don’t know what I was thinking with my Fiedler pronunciation, I’ve definitely said it correctly in past videos haha. We will have a small booth at at Midwest this winter, but unfortunately I will not be one of the people attending. Please do come and say hi to Ryan and the rest of the gang though!

[@stanleycostello9610]

I have several of the Living Presence albums. Maybe it's just me, but I find that I have "listener fatigue" after just one side.

[@mikewinburn]

Great undertaking… I’ll be looking forward to your presentations on it. (I do own all the AP RCA, Decca, RCA/Decca Living Stereo releases save for the very few the were going to release on SACD but never did.

[@frankvaliulis877]

Great video. Thank you for sharing your insights. Double checked my collection and found a copy of LM 1806.

[@charlesnr]

I was lucky to be gifted the complete set of Fritz Reiner CSO 2013 63 CD set with a description of each recording session and mostly LP releases. The part that I found out as I started to see Dr. Reiner starting after his heart attack, Beethoven 9th and also Sprach. Previously, one taping of the CSO TV tapes some of them reissued later on DVD. Early 50's high fidelity consisted of Stereo Reel to Reel recordings. I believe the recordings released around the time of the tapings were inline 7" and probably 7 1/2 IPS. The Liebermann Concerto recorded 5-6-54 was released on tape ECS-3 and the matrix number for Ein Heidenleben is E4RP-8124/5. While the Also Sprach was recorded on 3-6-54, Salome 3-6-54, and Ein Heidenleben on 4-20-54. Brahms Concerto No. 1 4-17-54. Don Juan 12-6-54.Beethoven 3rd 12-6-54.Mozart Serenade 13 12-4-54. Regard to the Classic reissues, I have the Reiner Sound, and the violins are shrill compared to my original copy found across the country in Maine on vacation. Likewise, a couple one sided discs of the Strauss Burleske. Reiner Sound 11-3-56, 3-2-57, 4-13-57 and Burleske 3-4-57.

[@charlesnr]

Correction Also was on 3-8-54 not the same date as Ein Heidenlebin.

[@ScottHughes-b8m]

Another great sounding Living Stereo recording from the mid '50s is Reiner's classic Bartok Concerto for Orchestra. It was recorded on two-track tape in Orchestra Hall Chicago on October 22, 1955. The sound belies it age and is remarkably vivid, spacious and full. Listen to the Chicago Symphony's triple-a plus woodwinds in the second movement Game of Pairs and the beautiful brass chorales and you'll know why this performance is legendary. I bought this great performance on the Victrola label for $3.17. What a steal!

[@ScottHughes-b8m]

Reiner's second version of Also Sprach Zarathustra was recorded April 30th and May 1st 1962 in Orchestra Hall Chicago. The intonation and ensemble are perfect. Reiner's 1962 performance is stupendous and in a class of its own. In the 1954 performance the flutes are sharp at end of the Night Wanderers Song.

[@revelry1969]

I once went to a Jimmy eat world concert. Couldn’t get out of there quick enough. Cool. Looking forward to your undertaking. I would be interested in a Mercury living presence series

[@jamesmyers6838]

I have run into many copies of the Vics 1042 and in mint - quality. They are bargains and although they may be a bit dark sounding, they are very transparent and dynamic. It is a shame that another Strauss understudy, Szell, had developed a first rate orchestra in the late 50's but was not given the recorded sound (Epic) of the RCA's or Mercury's etc. Those certainly would have been collector items. Looking forward to your thoughts on what I consider one of the most transparent sounding records in my collection, Gaite Parisienne(orig. Press) LSC 1817. Thanks for your series!

[@hurkamur1]

This is awesome

[@thomashertl3037]

I have the Also Sprach/Reiner/CSO by Classic Records which I like a lot, more than the Steinberg/BSO by DG Original Source - both performance and soundwise. Many thanks for your views on Ein Heldenleben by Classic Records which I ordered right away. Both will make a nice pair in my classical collection.

[@7BobbyGaylor7]

Great video! I only have one of those albums “Sons of The Pioneers”. It’s so good! Cheers

[@Alexandrelpax]

wonderful!

[@michaelkaplan22b]

It would be interesting to compare these pressings to the original 2-track reel-to-reel tapes produced in 1954-55!

[@poetryonplastic]

I bet those are wonderful, maybe someday I’ll invest in a proper reel to reel player.

[@michaelkaplan22b]

@@poetryonplastic I've been collecting these tapes since 1959. The sonics vary, but at their best (RCA FCS-2 Ein Heldenleben, for example) they're astonishing. That includes early Columbia, Capitol and Westminster titles as well.

[@ScottHughes-b8m]

The opening of Also Sprach Zarathustra is called "Sunrise".

[@itayashkenazy2895]

Great video. Pls consider adding an audio clip of these records - so we could all listen in 👂

[@toulcaz31]

He could get demonetized for this.

[@itayashkenazy2895]

@toulcaz31 Classical has not rights infringement case..

[@traviscoopermusic8812]

This will be a great series! Question, though I don’t want to take focus off the RCA main subject here, I have The Hero’s Life by Beecham on Epic…Beecham’s last performance, any thoughts on the performance and recording of that one?

[@poetryonplastic]

@@traviscoopermusic8812 it’s a fantastic recording, the sound quality is pretty good if you can get an original UK HMV press or the more easily available Hi-Q reissue. Not up to the same sound quality as this RCA, but definitely a satisfying listen.

[@larryshaver3568]

alan Blumlein over in England did stereo recodings on 78's as early as 1933

[@poetryonplastic]

Yes there were lots of experimental stereo recordings done in the 30s and 40s, but RCA’s efforts were some of the first major commercial efforts by a large company. One of the most famous early stereo recordings is actually a 1944 recording of Walter Geiseking playing Beethoven Emperor where you can actually hear anti-aircraft fire in the distance!

[@davidchan8108]

Bravo, Michael! Please, please also cover the operas in the RCA Living Stereo catalog. Nobody cares about them these days and for various reasons none of them, if not mistaken, has been reissued.

[@poetryonplastic]

I’ll need to buy more of them first! Although I do own a few

[@davidchan8108]

@@poetryonplasticwell, Michael, just start with Carmen & Tosca on Soria. Just imagine..Leontyne Price/ von Karajan/ VPO/ Sofiensaal/ John Culshaw/ Gordon Parry…enough said.

[@celmo4262]

Another great video, Michael! Since I know that complete operas are really not your thing, I'd like to suggest a few really fine Living Stereo sets. The Cavalleria Rusticana with Renata Tebaldi and Jussi Bjoerling (both in tremendous form) is a must have for performance and sonics. This was a Decca production recorded in Florence engineered by Roy Wallace. The Barber of Seville featuring Robert Merrill, Roberta Peters and Cesare Valletti conducted by Erich Leinsdorf, which I believe was recorded at RCA's Manhattan Studio, captures the Metropolitan Opera production of the late 1950s in vivid sound and was engineered by Lewis Layton. Three really fine sounding recordings, engineered by Layton at the Rome Opera are the 1957 Madama Butterfly with Anna Moffo and Valetti ( a beautifully lyrical reading of this work), a 1957 Tosca with Zinka Milanov, Bjoerling and Leonard Warren (not as fine as the Price Soria sonically, but still quite special) and the famous 1959 Turandot with Birgit Nilsson, Bjoerling and Tebaldi, which one could argue, may be the RCA's finest sounding opera set. BTW, all three sets were conducted by Leinsdorf. There are many other RCA Living Stereo opera sets that are worth purchasing. The three deluxe Soria sets Die Walkure and Ariadne auf Naxos conducted by Leinsdorf and Otello conducted by Serafin are additional easy recommendations. Also if complete operas are not your thing, do not miss the Moffo and Price (famous "Blue Album" cover) aria recitals for some glorious singing and sonics. Operatic recordings are easily the biggest bargains found in the audiophile market. Most sell at very reasonable prices and are usually in very good to near mint condition. My advice is to purchase them whenever possible and enjoy!

[@SonicFlare]

Dang, now that's some serious commitment. Sheeeeeeeeeeeet.

[@poetryonplastic]

Hopefully it will also inspire me to fill in some of the holes in my collection

[@ScottHughes-b8m]

All the Reiner recordings are testament to what a great hall Orchestra Hall was before the infamous 1966 renovation that destroyed its original acoustic beauty.

[@realleescoggins]

I really enjoy the Classic Records and AP reissues. If you shared your missing gems with Chad I wonder if he might consider a new reissue series. That would be fantastic.

[@paulemery55]

Go Michael Go! Yay!

[@flamingroove]

excellent thank you. I discovered thar I have a Victrola reissue of ASZ..

[@poetryonplastic]

Those victrola records can be steals. They were usually made from production masters of the originals

[@ScottHughes-b8m]

Reiner's Ein Heldenleben was recorded March 6, 1954 and Also Sprach Zarathustra was recorded March 8, 1954.

[@poetryonplastic]

There's conflicting information on this, I've read from some sources that it was done on the 6th, and some that it was done on the 8th. I've also read from one source that it was compiled from two recording sessions on the 6th and 8th.

[@PimpinBassie2]

Are these dual arm LP’s?

[@larryshaver3568]

rca was the first company to make a stereo record player

[@stanleycostello9610]

Columbia introduced stereo for the general buying public in the summer (June?) of 1958. I always thought that Columbia made the first stereo phonograph players. If you could, I would like a link to determine which made them first. Thanks.

[@stereo8893]

Sign me up! I live RCA Living Stereo!

[@litoboy5]

Great

[@koenraaddm2582]

👍

[@JerryZigmontMacWorks]

Looking for a digital copy of The RCA Bible : a Compendium of Opinion on RCA Living Stereo Records. Anyone?

[@jozefserf2024]

Many of the best ever recordings are now over 60 years old. That was the true age of Hi-Fi. These days, despite the availability of superior recording technology, it's mostly compressed garbage. Money is the driving force not sound quality.