Classic Records vs. Analogue Productions

Milimetr, just a few thoughts about which you may already be aware:

The Classic Records 45rpm classical music releases are significantly better sounding than the earlier 33s were. This is largely due to changes in Bernie Grundman's mastering chain that he was forced by Wilma Cozart Fine to make at the time he undertook mastering the Mercury reissues. This is not just the difference in the 45rpm cutting speed, it comes from moving to tube cutting amps and a much improved signal chain.

The 45rpm RCA titles coming from AP are not new masterings (to the best of my knowledge). They are new pressing runs from the same metal work but now being pressed at QRP rather than RTI. The QRP pressings I have (none of the ones you've asked about) are very good. But so are the RCA 45rpm pressings that I have that were pressed at RTI.

I have not been able to tell any difference in the single-sided pressings from double sided-pressings. There may be a difference, but I've not compared the same LP pressed both ways. Reports from a meeting at the LA Audio Society when Hobson demo'd this were that the single-sided copies did sound better. But, again, I've not heard it and the double-sided copies I have from AP and MM sound simply amazing.
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I am curious if it is worth to get 2x 45 AP when I have 4x 45 180g from Classic.

All I can offer to this is that I am not replacing any of my 4-sided RTI pressing for the new QRP 2-sided pressings. Two reasons: 1) too much other really good music that I want to add (e.g., the Yarlung vinyl issues) and 2) the WRP pressings must be from later generation stampers so we're getting further and further away from the cleanest stampers possible off of this metal work.
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Without looking at samples of each, it's not possible to say for sure. But there is no reason they'd need to be different. My guess is that they are the same. Analogue Productions bought all of the assets of Classic Records and so has the stampers and other metal work. They can certainly make new stampers from the mothers, but each iteration entails a slightly less fresh mold from which the stampers are made.

Whart, if you're referring to RCA Shaded Dog originals versus the 45rpm reissues from Classic Records and Analogue Production, my experience is that there is no comparison - the 45rpm reissues are just so much better.

I've listened to a few of the newly released 33rpm reissues from Analogue Productions, and they are also significantly better than the originals and more comparable to the 45s.

When I think of what the master tape must sound like, I think I'm getting much closer to that sound with these than with any of the originals Shaded Dogs.

If you're comparing to the Classic Records 33rpm reissues from a decade ago, then it's very much a mixed bag.
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Whart, Bernie Grundman's mastering style has always been to have a bit of a sharp zingy top. He's known for it. His sound really shifted because of the Mercury project, but the leaning is for crisper and a bit brighter sound. I can't really compare the popular music you reference because I just have the originals and don't invest in buying the reissues of popular music for the most part. I certainly admire the work of Lee Hulko - hard to imagine bettering his work.

Playpen, I'm sorry to hear of your experience with the 45 rpm reissue of the Saint Saens organ concerto as compared to you RCA 2S. To my ears, the 45 rpm reissue is a joy. I, too, have an original Shaded Dog with which to compare, and to my ears the original sounds sweet, compressed and lacking in resolution. But, differences in our systems and our listening priorities may well cause each of us to prefer one versus the other.