Whats on your turntable tonight?

Shostakovich, Symphony No. 5, Pavel Kogan/MoscowSSO, Classic Records CR2001 - an outstanding recording job by the great team of Marc Aubort and Teresa Nickenz

Bach, Suite No 1 for Solo Cello, Elinor Frey-cello, Yarlung 09262-876V -45  If you're not collecting these marvelous Yarlung LPs while they are available you will regret not having done so. Superb recordings by marvelous young performers, recorded with a minimalist philosophy using two mikes and 2-channel analog tape. 

Paul Simon, Still Crazy After All These Years, Columbia 25591 - still great!

Listening right now to a very nice Analogue Productions reissue of the classic RCA LP of the Rachmaninoff "Variations on a Theme of Paganini" with Rubinstein and Reiner/CSO. The flip side with the de Falla "Nights in the Gardens of Spain" with Jorda/SFSO is equally fine.

La Spagna, Gregorio Paniagua and the Atrium Musicae de Madrid, BIS LP-163/4
Listening to the original and comparing to the reissue from AudioNautes that was 1/2 speed mastered by the late Stan Ricker.

Later... I've now played the first track of the AudioNautes reissue - oh, yes! More open, more air around the instruments. Just a touch more clarity and resolution. I'd be happy with either one, but this reissue is really good.

The Doors - Morrison Hotel

Pink Floyd "The Wall" in a Doug Sax, early U.S., pressing. Instantly cured me of new acquisition syndrome about the 2016 Bernie Grundman mastered reissue. 

Prokofiev: Romeo And Juliet - Mitropoulos/NYP - Columbia MS 3023 (Speakers Corner reissue) - just a marvelous performance.

FWIW: I just finished listening to my 2011 "WYWH" remaster. This one has a similar overall character that jumps out at me, reminding me of my previous two comparisons. The soundstage is "more centralized". This can’t be correct. After listening to "Meddle"& "OBC", noticing those differences, I will be ordering the new re-master of "WYWH".

Are you in the U.S.? If so, you may get a re-press of the 2011 Doug Sax release, not a Bernie Grundman re-mastering. Be sure to ask if you’re looking for the same qualities that you’re hearing in Meddle. See the Steve Hoffman Forum thread on the new reissues:
http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/new-pink-floyd-vinyl-reissues.523332/page-317#post-15209547

I am clearly out of step with the primary listening adventures being reported. Gives me much to consider in my every expanding explorations, thank you! Last night:

Hans Werner Henze: extracts from Elegie for Young Lovers, DGG 138876
Shostakovich, Symphony No. 5, Kogan/MoscowSSO, Classic Records CR 2001 (second listen and this performance has grown on me - very enjoyable)

Kenny Burrell - Midnight Blue

fjn04: Emmylou Harris: Greatest Hits. Latter was a thrift store find for a buck. Sounds great-I love when that happens.

@fjn04 - This is what makes the hunt so much fun!  

Reaching back this morning with Carly Simon, Anticipation.

Everyone knows the old cliche of rediscovering records when a new piece of gear comes into our systems, right? Well, for me its been rediscovering my records as I get them cleaned with this new diy ultrasonic cleaning regimen I'm now using. Wow! Listening to records I've had for 30-40 years, many of them acquired used even then, and finding clarity, impact and musicality I didn't recall. That was the way with the Carly Simon I mentioned earlier. My wife said "yeah, riiiiiight." Then she heard it and went WOW!

So nice to have a whole new collection to explore. :-)

For what I'm talking about, see: 
http://positive-feedback.com/audio-discourse/rushton-paul-diy-approach-ultrasonic-cleaning-lps/

Thanks for the suggestion Astro50go! I'll pull No Secrets for listening later today; I've not heard it in years.

If I can be so bold as to recommend a CS lp... search out a WLP of "No Secrets". You will not be disappointed! 

Paul Simon - Still Crazy After All These Years

A favorite in this house, with particular fondness for "Kodachrome"

reubent, I agree with astro58go: Good question. And astro offers a nice introduction to the topic. One could go on and on and on about how to determine the answer for particular LPs and record labels. But, here’s the thing...

First pressings are not the right guide to finding the best sounding records. So, what are you looking for? If it is "collectability" then yes, seeking out first pressings may make a record more collectable and therefore more valuable. Similar to first editions of books.

But if your objective is finding the BEST SOUNDING pressing, first pressings are not always the best. Generally speaking, earlier MIGHT be better. If it is from the first master, first mother, first stamper off the mother, first few records off that particular stamper... But there are so many variables:

• When during the pressing run with that particular stamper was this record pressed? There is NO WAY to tell this and stampers wear out.
• What quality vinyl was used during the pressing run? Good or poor? Noisy?
• Was this even a really good mastering job that created the lacquer or was better mastering done in a latter generation? Who was the cutting engineer?
  
• Was the temperature of the vinyl going into the press optimal? Did it cool optimally before being removed from the stamper?

I will buy multiple copies of the same record for $1 each from the used bins and then compare them by listening. I often find that new "high quality" remasterings made in recent years outperform many of my early pressings of the same records, PROVIDED the master tape is in good condition (always a challenge as tape ages).

Of all the indicators I know to watch for in looking for good pressings, they are the mastering and cutting engineers and what in what pressing plant the record was made. So, I DO examine the deadwax when buying used records. For some of the codes in the deadwax, see:
https://richmondaudiosociety.com/2012/07/02/dead_wax_inscriptions/

Overall, I’ve long ago given up on obsessing over first pressings for the sake of finding a first pressing.

Paul Simon - There Goes Rhymin' Simon

On the turntable now are the Schubert Piano Trios with the Beaux Arts Trio on a very nice Speakers Corner reissue of Philips 835393/4 AY. Very nice performance, well recorded, highly recommended.

Debussy, Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp - The Carter Chamber Ensemble - Sound Storage Recording Co SSR 2020 (stunningly realistic sound quality!)

Joni Mitchell - Ladies of the Canyon - Rhino reissue