Lyrita Catalog

Lyrita's owner was true to his word, which is why I've bought every Lyrita LP I can find.

I have a CD of the famous Arnold: English, Irish, Scottish, and Cornish dances, Lyrita SRCD-201. I also own a Lyrita sampler CD released by Quad of England that indicates that Lyrita catalog #'s 201-235 were available in CD format by 1993. The worldwide distributor was Conifer Records Limited and the U.S. importer was Allegro.

I have owned a Lyrita CD- Malcolm Arnold, English, Irish, Scottish, & Cornish Dances- for more than 10 years.

Like the other two contributors above, I own the Malcolm Arnold CD (courtesy of Allegro Imports) as well as a fair number of other Lyritas. I do not know whether any of them are still in print, but they occasionally appear on eBay; and it is possible that some of the UK retailers who offer export service may have Lytita CDs on hand.

Lyrita have indeed produced CDs from early to mid 90s when the company eventually went belly up. However, their CD catalog was a lot shorter than the LP.

Thanks for the information, guess I'll join the group in tracking down used copies

Bioman, like the others, I also have the Arnold CD, which I picked up in 1993, I guess, the last time I was in London. It is not nearly as good as the LP, although it gives a hint of the Lyrita sound. Lyrita indeed did make CDs of a small amount of their catalog, and, if the Arnold disc is any indication, did make some new, digital recordings (the Arnold disc has some newly (then) recorded material) as well. Keep looking for the vinyl, in my opinion.

It is astounding to me that this label has all but disappeaered. The above mentioned Arnold CD, was a pretty good effort, but at $23.00 US, a bit pricey. There is no question the leader in Brit fare, was Lyrita (try the Holst "A Sommerset Rhapsody" LP with Boult for a real treat. Bax was also better represented than the competing Chandos label (that I also like).
A special note of interest is the fact that if your LP does not say "mastered by Nimbus" on the inner groove leadout, you hav'nt heard it at its best. The later issues stopped using the Nimbus mastering house, therefore, transparency and slam suffered. Someone needs to reissue this catalouge, and fast.......Frank

Frank, I agree with you whole-heartedly on the reissue point and on the Nimbus pressings. I have a number of copies of the Arnold on vinyl, and the Nimbus pressing clearly has more delicacy and air to it than the later pressings. That's the one I keep listening to.