hqyy@vax5.cit.cornell.edu (01/04/91)
Hello,
My neighborhood record store (a.k.a. the botomless pit) is
having a sale on EMI records: 25-75% off regular prices. This brings
the price of these records down to a range where even i can afford them.
However, i have very little information about good sounding and good
performance records on EMI. can someone help in this matter.
For the record (pun intended), my recent purchases from them
were some Boult Elgars, the Previn Berlioz Overtures and Vaughn Williams
The Pilgrim's Progress.
Also, how much inferior is the re-mastered (digital?) 7 record set
of the Boult Vaughn Williams symphonies to the original (the store has the
remastered set for $34)?
satish nairsgg5e@krebs.acc.Virginia.EDU (Stephen G. Graber) (01/07/91)
IMHO EMI records are some of the best ever made. Sadly, however, I have yet to hear a decent sounding digital remaster from them, - they have all sounded slightly harsh, very flat dynamically, and haven't had much sound stage or presence. On the other hand I haven't heard a truly terrible non- digital record from them. I'm going from memory here but many of the Boult Elgars are wonderful, the Elgar cello concerto with Fournier on cello is truly remarkable- one of the best records I've ever heard. Can't quite come up with any other titles here at work but in general I buy any non-digital used EMI I see if the price is less than $5 (here it often is) whether I know the music or not. If I know and like the piece I'd say they're easily worth $10. My affluent brother in the metro NY area often pays $15-$30 for used EMI in mint condition. If you can buy them new I'd say snap them up if you're even remotely interested in the music. Lucky you- wish I could find new, non-digital EMIs. (Hell, I even love the Angels!)
fischer@iesd.auc.dk (Lars P. Fischer) (01/08/91)
>>>>> On 7 Jan 91, sgg5e@krebs.acc.Virginia.EDU (Stephen G. Graber) said:
Stephen> IMHO EMI records are some of the best ever made.
Agreed. Several of the gems of my collection are on EMI. They had a
lot of skill/luck in the mid to late 60s. A number of very good Elgar
recording, plus a large number of recording of Britten, with the man
himself on the podium, comes to mind. Also recordings of Perlman,
Karjan, and others. Decca (London) and EMI seems to have been
neck-to-neck at the time, with EMI often getting a bit softer, more
full and homogeneous sound, while Decca often had better dynamics,
while being a bit rough a times. Both achieved lots of presence.
Stephen> but many of the Boult Elgars are wonderful, the Elgar cello
Stephen> concerto with Fournier on cello is truly remarkable- one of
Stephen> the best records I've ever heard.
There's a box of cello concerts with Jacqueline du Pre (Elgar, Hayden,
etc). Truly fantastic. It's out on CD, too. Truly ruined.
Stephen> If you can buy them new I'd say snap them up if you're even
Stephen> remotely interested in the music.
Definitely. One or two years ago there was lots of them in the shops
around here. My bank didn't like it at all :-). They are getting rare
now.
/Lars
PS: Anyone have a high-end spell checker? ispell never heard of Elgar
or Karjan. It even claims there's no such thing as a cello :-).
--
Lars Fischer, fischer@iesd.auc.dk | Q: How does a project get to be one
CS Dept., Univ. of Aalborg, DENMARK. | year late? A: One day at a time.