The Decca Episode: SXL, Blue Back, Wide Band, FFSS, and other hip slang teens today are using.

[@drkevintan]

Thank you so much this. This is the most comprehensive overview of Decca vinyls for collectors.

[@gsherlock]

The late great Kenneth Wilkinson was the audio engineer responsible for many of the best sounding Decca recordings from the 60's and 70's, I see no one mentioned him in the comments ! His recordings of various works with composer Benjamin Britten at Snape Hall are some of the best records I've heard. He was also the engineer for the Beethoven Symphony Cycle produced for Readers Digest under Rene Leibowtiz and The Royal Philharmonic. If you don't already own it the box set can be picked up for around $50 which is crazy once you hear the quality of the performances and sound.

[@robertpeterson8640]

Great informative video. The intro is a bit much though. I realize this is 3 years old. I so love my Bluebacks! Again super detailed on point.

[@stevegrant-gp3qu]

Thank you so much. I like everything about your presentation. Its nice to see a young scholar interested in classical vinyl. Classical music on vinyl occupies 95% of my listening. I always seek out London and Decca originals. Please link a way to reward you with money and I'll use it. You deserve it.

[@BillyDrummondDrums]

Just what I was looking for with this information. Thank You.

[@DavidUKesb]

Very informative for a long time CD collector who is just getting into classical vinyl. Thanks for taking the time to research and make this video. A great help!

[@jasonwhiton174]

Fun catching up with some of your older videos covering classical pressings! Looking forward to new classical posts and to hearing about your recent trip to the audio show (and seeing our mutual pal, Norman!). I know you focus on analog and vinyl, but I wonder if you've heard reviews of the various classic Decca CD box sets? Oh, also interested to hear about your experiences with the new mono cartridge. I have a dedicated 78rpm turntable which I don't use as much these days and considering changing it over as a dedicated mono player. Thanks, Jason

[@russellhoober9707]

This video is so amazing! Please do one on phillips and mercury!

[@h0ll0wm9n]

Nice, detailed research once again, sir. Thanks! I know you are mostly interested in vinyl/analogue. But it would be interesting if you could devote a video or two to the digital version of these recordings. E.g., how do you think Polygram/Decca has handled mastering for CD /digital?

[@grayhalf1854]

Found an original blue riband SXL 2000 series LP in a local charity shop last month, just £2. Not the most collectable one of the series but still nice to find 😀

[@analogueanorak1904]

Thanks for the epic Decca video. I used to go to loads of charity shops and second hand record/bookshops in England in search of Decca treasure so your comment on how well the Brits look after their vinyl made me chuckle. Decca rereleases are low cost pot luck and it’s wonderful when you get a gem and highly addictive. The later Jubilee releases throw up some wonderful versions of vintage recordings Ansermet’s Chabrier and Ravel/Honneger are great. Also the Eclipse label has some gems despite having a terrible reputation mainly because of the inclusion of reprocessed mono into stereo popular at the time. These are almost all immediate avoid the only reprocessed one I have which is great and far more affordable than original mono is Campoli and Gritton Homage to Kreisler as there is only piano and violin with my mono switch turned on my preamp you would never know. Also from Eclipse the Argenta - Espana/Capriccio Espagnol is one of the most stunning recordings I possess. Decca managed with the Eclipse series to sort out re-equalising early recordings much better than previous attempts such as with Ace of Clubs. From that period if I see an R on the dead wax indicating reprocessing unless it’s a rare one I’m willing to take a chance on I pass. Speakers corner are ok if you want the whole package particularly the original artwork but there is a an affordable way to get the original tube experience, art work and especially around the period 1955 to 59 arguably superior sounding recordings than the legendary early stereo Deccas. That way is to turn to the orange side. For early orange pancakes that does require a dedicated mono cartridge and 1ml stylus but for LXT versions from the golden period stereo around 1958 stereo needles and a mono switch are all you need to start with. I was interested to hear in the video about the ed 1 stereo wideband pancakes as a couple of months ago I picked up a mint blueback pancake of Kubelik Brahms third sxl 2104 for a song just to hear what it sounds like as I find Brahms boring. Nothing special very bass shy with my Fritz Gyger tip but I will try a different stylus as sometimes modern stylus profiles can kill the Decca magic.

[@joseluisherreralepron9987]

Interesting stuff! I have collected LP's for 35 years and didn't know most of this information...thanks for that. I need to check the labels on some of my blue backs

[@DeAudiofilosyLocos]

Thank you, this is gold.

[@cjay2]

Zubin Mehta lives here in Florence, and still performs three or four concerts every spring at the opera house. He's still wonderful.

[@poetryonplastic]

I saw him do Brahms 3 and Vln Concerto with Zuckerman in LA last winter, it was a treat for sure.

[@cjay2]

@@poetryonplastic Such a master conductor. I still have his recording of the Beethoven 9th on vinyl (RCA red seal).

[@marktubeie07]

I'm a late comer to your channel but I've been binging tonight and love it since discovering it just now. Some trivia for you: as you had mentioned Decca 'Ace Of Clubs' label - here in Australia we had this label, pressed here by EMI using British parts. As the vinyl here was excellent I have many early re-press copies of early Decca that you normally couldn't afford as a first press & they sound fantastic, especially considering this was a 'budget label' as you mentioned. We were fortunate here all classical Deccas from the late 50s to late 60s did use British parts sent to Australia & occasionally also used British covers shipped to us as well.

[@markeslick1680]

Wow……your videos are so informative!! Your knowledge, ease in front of the camera and great research really make these enjoyable. Thank you for your time. I learn something new on every classical music video. Again…thank you, stay healthy and safe. BTW…PLEASE make more classical videos.

[@soniaxv]

Lucky have watched the previous video, got some really good LONDON label and Made in England Angel ones at a much much more affordable price! Thanks, n looking forward to another label video.

[@musiconrecord6724]

An excellent overview of the Decca/London catalogue. Personally I love the Decca sound (as well as British pressed Columbia/EMI), and there are so many amazing performances. You touch on it briefly, but the Ace of Diamonds reissue label is a great way to get some of the most expensive issues at a reasonable price, and the early ones are also tube-mastered. In case you haven't discovered them already, I highly recommend the records conducted by Benjamin Britten, both his own music and that of others. Many of these were recorded at the Snape, Matings concert hall which has superb acoustics. The album of him conducting English String music (including his own Simple Symphony) is a true gem, and if you can swing for a first edition you will be treated to gorgeous tube mastering. (This album was also issued by King Super Analogue). Britten's recordings of Mozart symphonies are also superlative (No.40 done with all repeats). I actually love the King Super Analogue reissues: you are absolutely correct in how you characterize the sound. Looking forward to a similar journey through the EMI catalogue......

[@poetryonplastic]

I have a King Super Analogue of him conducting Brandenburg 5 that is one of my favorites, I think I have a few others on London like his War Requiem that is incredible. I would like to get more eventually.

[@pauldavies6037]

I am British and Britten was our best composer I thing all on Decca

[@DavidUKesb]

Blimey! Only today I picked up the double LP of Elgar's Dream of Gerontius conducted by Britten at Snape Maltings on Decca Narrow Band for £4.

[@Michael45RPM]

Just subed to your channel. WoW you do great Videos (thanks to Michael from Noted & Archived who told me about your beautiful work here on youtube)

[@poetryonplastic]

Thanks and welcome!

[@stumpydog87]

In Australia the Decca plant was destroyed by fire in 1932 and EMI took over pressing and Distribution. London was pressed and distributed by EMI (Aust)).

[@saltech3444]

Hi P.O.P. - partly thanks to your invaluable videos on old Deccas, I have just bought on eBay the Karajan Holst album that you recommended as a demo disc. Great stuff for only 30 australian dollars; though of course with eBay I will have to hear it in person to see its condition. Thanks to this video, I know it is an Edition 2 Wide Band, which is not listed on Discogs; but from the lack of a tax code I can deduce that it is a repress from either 1966 or 1967.

[@jaysoncarmichael7104]

I was left a bunch of records 2 years ago and didn’t have a clue on classical music. Your hr and a quarter video then helped me get out some of the records I wished to keep for myself. You do great videos , I wouldn’t have known about a vinyl decca band in the middle of a record.

[@chongoloidchoys1311]

tnx for the video, i've learned a lot about decca and what to look for in classical bins

[@ToneInGrooves]

Hello, Michael! Great video! Appreciate all the info & details. Inspired me to get back out there digging for London Decca’s again. I found lots of them last summer. But haven’t been looking in the right places this year. Again, Thanks for sharing! Skol, Jeff

[@poetryonplastic]

Hey Jeff, thanks for watching, glad to help inspire other collectors. Dig carefully!

[@stevesincock941]

Many thanks for this. An excellent survey.

[@larryshaver3568]

Decca in America was part of MCA whiich also owned[and may still own] Universal Pictures

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

I once had an internet correspondent who absolute SWORE by the Suisse Romande under Ansermet! While I learned to truly appreciate the transparent texture of the string section, I must admit that the winds often sounded rather “reedy” and out of tune….and the brass, aside from the brilliant first trumpet, Paolo Longinotti, was rather weak…especially the trombones. Later on, the brass improved (once tromboonist Pierre Aubapan retired). But still, due to the overall clear orchestral texture and Decca’s finding the perfect sweet spot in that Geneva venue, those recordings are absolutely amazing.

[@poetryonplastic]

You hit the nail on the head, great recordings, great interpretations, but some very dicey wind playing in places, not up to the standards of places like Chicago, Vienna, Berlin at the time.

[@pauldavies6037]

In the UK Decca early reissues were Ace Of Clubs and later ones Ace Of Diamonds Headline series 20th century stuff and Deram mainly pop music

[@hectorberlioz1449]

Decca is sending to Japan mostly the original audiofile online. Everything is processed digital through PCs. By the way I am also a Decca sucker. I collect the Concertgebouw Orch & VPO Sophiensaal recordings ea....

[@larryshaver3568]

Solti recorded alot of albums with the London Phil there. My copy of the Planets was made there

[@tidybear101]

Masterclass in Decca thank you so much

[@aviulus2526]

Dear poetryonplastic Thanks for your thural investigation on Decca LPs. The ORG deccas were mastered by Bernie Grundman at his mastering facility. And he has the choice of using tube gear. Anyway, for the remastering he's got a complete tube gear for the entire mastering chain, as far as i recall. ORG claims that every 45 title has 2500 copies. It would be interesting to compare between the original pressing and ORG's Thanks, Avi

[@poetryonplastic]

Thanks! I probably should have looked that up before I hit the record button. ORG have issued the Maag Mendelssohn 3 recording, and I do have an original ED1 already, so I should really get the ORG to compare directly.

[@bobsykes]

This was fascinating and so well researched. I really enjoy whenever you release a new one, and the varied topics are great. You kind of suggested a figure topic - 45 r.p.m. 12” records. The best dance club vinyl from Europe was often on 45 r.p.m. for the punch and dynamics those 12” singles delivered. (The super wide groove spacing helped, too.) Your thoughts on recent 45 r.p.m. releases would be interesting. “Blah, blah, blah, here’s a record.” :)

[@Tojazzer]

Were there pancake pressings of the London labels? I have a copy of Brahms' Symphony No. 2 - Kubelik conducting The Vienna Philharmonic - CS 6004. It has a blue-backed jacket, wide band and there is a thin groove which runs around the very edge of the red label, under the copyright information. "LONDON" is unboxed.

[@seriousros7280]

Hi Useful videos - thx. Have you seen Decca Ace of Diamonds in America?

[@zayrueda]

This information is priceless, thanks ver much

[@danielemastrangelo8016]

Thanks for this video: the content is insightful and you always try to manage between the ‘object’ and the ‘music’. Among the headline Decca I suggest everyone (and to you in case you missed it this: Luigi Dallapiccola’s Il prigioniero, Antal Dorati conducting the National Symphony Orchestra). This is one of most beautiful and important one-act opera after the Second World War.

[@Lemopalm]

If you're ever in LA you should visit The Record Collector. The owner is notorious and he can be really horrible to someone who he doesn't feel is knowledgable but for someone like you he'll actually be very open and talkative.

[@slistone1940]

Idea for a video: What to look for when you’re digging through classical vinyl records at a thrift store. Imagine it wouldn’t be too hard to find something somewhat valuable, no? I’ve noticed that people leave behind living stereos etc.

[@toddbromgard5211]

Great review of the labels!

[@richardvicek8043]

My favorites are the Renata Tebaldi and Mario Del Monica Opera sets from the late 1950s to early 1960s, which were released in USA under the London label.

[@xxsaruman82xx87]

Me too! MDM and Tebaldi are wonderful!!!! I love Bastianini too, who sang with them a lot! Viva Del Monaco! Viva Tebaldi! Viva Bastianini! What’s your favourite? Mine’s probably the Chenier, one of MDM’s best roles.

[@poetryonplastic]

I have Tebaldi's Forza del Destino, Aida, and Boheme on London (highlights), they are moving performances!

[@xxsaruman82xx87]

@@poetryonplastic The Decca/MDM/Tebaldi recordings are truly some of the greatest operatic recordings ever made. If you haven't, check out the Andrea Chenier, also with Bastianini, the Turandot with Inge Borkh, the Adriana Lecouvreur with Simionato, the Fanciulla with MacNeil, Tosca with George London, Otello with Protti, Manon Lescaut, Il Trittico with Simionato, Merrill and Corena. Truly great recordings.

[@EdwardT9]

I know you will probably ignore the later digital recordings but you should give them chance. Decca engineers built their own digital recording equipment, of extremely high quality and custom made. Of course on lp these are dirt cheap but they are still good.

[@adrianwilliamson6861]

Thankyou so much for that...some great information and a logical presentation. How about Columbia label next!!

[@poetryonplastic]

Which one? The US or the UK EMI subsidiary?

[@xxsaruman82xx87]

@@poetryonplastic I think he means the UK EMI subsidiary. You could have a look at all those Callas opera recordings (Rigoletto, etc.)

[@thriftdig]

I have a London CS 6046 Falla with a Blue Back but narrow band 2nd press labels. I thought maybe an owner switched out vinyl but I never knew London did this. Always thought a 2nd press would have a white back. Seen many of those. Do you think London had 1st press Blue back overstock covers that needed using as the reason for this? Anyways, your videos shed light on many things I've wondered about without going deep on the web.

[@kuglepen64]

The style of lettering used to typeset LONDON is called Swash Capitals.

[@sven-holgeraxelsson2990]

What about the ”Buckingham code”, which you do not mention ?

[@ubarhd1]

Great information…thanks 😊

[@avehein]

You should be contributing to Analog Planet. You're just too awesome to not be growing faster as a channel.

[@cillyede]

Very good, dankeschön! Take care.

[@andrewsteadman7428]

What’s your opinion on Capitol FDS? Thinking about getting one with Arthur Balsam and Nathan Milstein’s Prokofiev-Handel-Vitali.

[@larryshaver3568]

i have a stereo issue of the Nutcracker Suite on London it is a red seal

[@davidnixon3743]

Thank you so much for this video! I live in the Los Angeles area and was able to find about 30 SEALED London Edition 3 albums at Record Surplus in Santa Monica. All pressed in England. Many are promo copies. Priced between $4 and $5. I bought all I could find and have really been enjoying them. One or two are warped but the vast majority sound fantastic. I also bought a few London Treasury and Phase 4 albums also, which sound great as well (I may have just gotten lucky with the Treasury albums). I would not have known what to look for without this video. One question - is there a difference between the black and red London Edition 3 albums? I would love it if you went deeper into Deutsche Grammophon labels and gave some recommendations on what to look for. The record stores I go to are filled with older used DG albums. Thanks again!

[@thriftdig]

I went there about a month ago and I would have snatched those up for sure. Alas I walked out with just a couple non classical Lp's. Timing is everything. I would venture classical LP's are slow movers in shops hence the nice prices you got.

[@henryoliver2833]

BREAKING NEWS: I have just learnt that ED1, ED2, etc. does not mean "edition" but "English Dark 1st", "English Dark 2", etc.

[@qsxdr7]

What are your thoughts on the Decca "SPA" series records.

[@SCW031992]

How do your organize your classical vinyl? I'd like to see a video of that.

[@poetryonplastic]

I organize by composer generally, with some exceptions (usually soloists).

[@petersvensson3154]

Great video ! 🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪

[@Roamany-Jones]

ED1 also comes in a flat variation ED9, the pancake is another variation ED9. Check out the Mikrokosmos guide for all the major classical music labels.

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

don’t know of any good record stores in the DC/Baltimore area, and would very much appreciate some links to sites where I can purchase all of these reissues of the Deccas. I do know of the Acoustic Sounds site, but any other good sites out there?

[@larryshaver3568]

American Decca was a great label too ,ashame Universal shoved it under the rug

[@deepindercheema4917]

Is there an explanation why there is deep groove in the plattern to press discs ? I have a theory but would like to corroborate

[@frankvaliulis877]

Excellent

[@tombesson7293]

What? No barber shops open where you are? Seriously, I collect many Decca recordings from immigrants who move to New Zealand from the U.K., and most are in wonderful condition. Thanks for your insights. They will help me to value what I have.

[@poetryonplastic]

Been limiting my public interactions to grocery stores and the post office since April. Unfortunately it's a bit like the wild west out here right now.

[@jmalko9152]

❤️❤️❤️

[@cezarvasile1635]

👌

[@larryshaver3568]

London could distribute Decca here since MCA swept American Decca under the carpet

[@johnsweda2999]

Yes I've got an original recording of Chopin 10 inch 1958, label slightly different tho blue and silver where you have the number swl 8023 on the right-hand side mine says underneath in small print recording first published 1958. And on the left-hand side under the band it has musical notes score and Decker underneath Decker registered trademark. Any idea how much it might be worth. And on the inner sleeve it has British painting number 800513 not sure that's about. I would have thought they would have used leak amplifiers probably tl12 12 Watts, they were widely used in the BBC I've got one and I'm sure they use them at Decker were made from 1947 onwards and EMI valve preamp have as well. The lot of the lathes and pressing equipment went to Germany record company on KZbin Elmor Studios With the early ffrr equalization 50s was 16 DB the riaa was 20 DB and there's a slight difference wave pattern for instance ffrr 0 is at 900 Hz where riaa 0 is at 1100 and is a bit flatter, ffrr steeply rolls off at high frequency you ideally want a good quality graphic equaliser ideally tube to match this Curve and others.

[@poetryonplastic]

I don't have a ton of knowledge on mono Deccas, your best bet would be to search the serial number on both discogs and popsike and try to find listings that match your exact label.

[@johnsweda2999]

@@poetryonplastic no it's not my mono a stereo recording

[@poetryonplastic]

@@johnsweda2999 Ah my mistake, I skimmed too hastily! I did some digging in the catalog of some of my trusted UK dealers, and it seems like these early stereo 10" SWL records can go for about 30-70 GBP in near mint condition. Not crazy expensive but not cheap either. Very cool, I didn't know about these. I do have it on good authority that all stereo Deccas were cut on the RIAA curve, this is according to the engineers themselves. FFRR was a holdover term from the mono era and all its various EQ curves.

[@johnsweda2999]

@@poetryonplastic thanks for finding it out have to go through my boxes I've got boxes and boxes of Records all saved from the landfill only picked immaculate I mean no scratches or marks condition records. Depends on the content probably. Right so it's not ffrr is there any indication on the records what Curve they used... you think it's riaa probably more than likely that was adopted in the 60s as a standard but I'm not sure about earlier and 50s that was before the standardisation I think

[@cillyede]

Deutsche Grammophon!

[@magik8566]

Decca Gold Label?...

[@poetryonplastic]

That's American Decca, which is a completely different company.

[@magik8566]

@@poetryonplastic THX, Good to know. But is it worth considering?

[@larryshaver3568]

i'm not a big fan of mono either ,I think stereo is much more lifelike

[@farquell5782]

Listen to 00:19 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Roamany-Jones]

Oops sorry the Pancake is the ED8 Variant