Trust Your Ears - The Mercury Living Presence Story - Part 1

During the 1950s and 60s, Wilma Cozart Fine worked in partnership with her husband, recording industry pioneer C. Robert ‘Bob’ Fine, to produce over 200 classical LPs with leading orchestras in the United States, Europe, and Russia. Their recordings were renowned for their clarity, accuracy, and faithfulness to the original musical event, and are still considered references for lifelike music reproduction.
In 1989, Wilma, working with mastering engineer Dennis Drake, remastered much of the Mercury Living Presence catalogue for release on CD. For this project, Wilma and Dennis selected the dCS 900 A-to-D converter for its high-resolution, musicality, flexibility, and then-unique ability to record 24-bit files (technology that dCS pioneered).
In conjunction with the 70th anniversary of the Mercury Living Presence label’s inception, Decca Records is releasing the entire digital catalogue on major streaming services, allowing more music lovers than ever to experience Wilma and Bob’s legacy. In this video, we explore the fascinating history behind the label and the role that dCS equipment played in its digital revival.
You can listen to the podcast trailer here:
trust-your-ears.simplecast.com
Learn more:
www.dcsltd.co.uk/reviews/trus...

[@dmntuba]

Thank God for your mother & father. They created a standard of recorded classical music that is untouched. These recordings have brought the world so much joy and will always be in my personal collection.

[@grahamcombs4752]

I'm hitting the like button here as well as for Part 2. And yes, thank so much to the late Wilma Fine for her ears. We are hearing what she heard and was crucial in producing modern listening. I just ordered the Paul Paray Detroit Symphony Orchestra sessions; Vol. 1 and Vol. 2. I can't wait ...

[@dougthatcher3521]

Many thanks from this record-collector of all genres of music, but the MLP stereo's have a real place in my heart (and ear!).

[@TheDejael]

Wonderful audio technology information!

[@RagedContinuum]

the GOAT of recordings

[@richardgrassia5225]

I treasure your Dads Command Percussion records! Happy memories as a child hearing my dad playing them! I still to this day feel they are the finest sounding recordings i have ever heard. Yes they are close miked but to me that is what brings you into the soundstage as if you were present at the session. You can play these softly or as loud as you want and they keep their impact!

[@kennethdower7425]

N.B. Everest Records was the first to record with sprocketed 35mm magnetic film, in fact, Fine acquired their recording equipment when Belock left Everest.

[@poetryonplastic]

Love these recordings, it's a shame the new digitally-sourced half-speed vinyl reissues are so terrible. What we need are AAA vinyl reissues cut from the original 3-track tapes. The two so far that have been made that way (Starker's Bach set and his Dvorak Concerto) are incredible sounding.

[@bernhardh6184]

The AAA vinyls you want will probably not be available, not with this series. Together with dCS, they have done a high quality A-to-D transfer. Some titles are available via streaming in 24/192 (you can also buy the download), some are available on Blu-ray in the same 24/192 quality. I discovered some Byron Janis today, maybe there are others. Anyway, thanks Tom for getting these remasters out in this digital HD quality! (And maybe you are thinking about a vinyl re-release, we can't stop dreaming!)

[@micheallee1695]

Thank you for your effort

[@uncled39]

Listened to the podcast. Just stumbled across this.

[@daniannaci3258]

Thank you for all the information on how the Mercury Living Presence catalog was transferred to CD. But I’m wondering about the transfers made to SACD. I own many of the limited releases on SACD of the Mercury catalog (as well as many of the original LP pressings in both stereo and mono) and they sound spectacular on the proper equipment. Some are in multi-channel, preserving the original 3-track masters. This leads me to believe the SACD transfers were different than the CD transfers. Any information on this? Will the SACD’s ever be rereleased?

[@markmiller3713]

Can you get Decca to reissue the Box sets again? (The Three Volume sets that came in 2015).

[@rickmcinnis3820]

I am sure The Fine's are very proud of Tom. They did a very fine job with him but then, that was their way.

[@dondrewecki1909]

What's the story on the telephone line clicks that marred the Bartok MUSPAC recording? Have they been digitally eliminated in this new edition?