According to the liner notes, "all musical instruments employed being equipped with specially-designed transducing systems which convert the energy of the original sound source into a corresponding electrical signal. This output is then fed directly through the recording mixer and onto tape."
These recordings have the most "presence" of individual instruments in my entire collection, including any of the so-called audiophile recordings I own. Do they sound "better?" Well, yes, from a "presence" standpoint ... but there is something that is just not right. Oh yes, they have the "wow" factor, but as a steady diet? No way. Totally interesting though.
Here's the titles if your intersted in tracking them down:
1. Western Swing - Noel Boggs on steel guitar along with fiddles, guitar, drums and bass.
2. Rural Rythm - Fiddle, fife guitar and bass.
3. Borodin string quartet #2 in D Major. The Da Sallo String Quartet.
4. Dvorak Quintet in G, Opus 77. Two violins, Viola, Cello and bass.
Anyone of these LP's will satisfy the most detail and presence audiophile freak on the planet. Really fun to listen to ... for the first few times. Great for demonstrating your stereo to friends. Lot's of "wow" factor.
So, all of that "extra presence" the OP is seeking is/was available, but a steady diet of it? I don't think so.
Jump on this one, guys:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Norman-Whistler-Ted-Nash-Rural-Rhythm-Repeat-Records-RS-300-4-Dee-Ford-/1219...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NORMAN-WHISTLER-THE-RURAL-RYTHM-MASTERS-RURAL-RYTHM-VINYL-LP-REPEAT-RECORDS-...
Frank