2. analog
  3. 130028-3034

Readers Digest Classical Collections should be reissued

Someone should talk to Analogue Productions to make a limited run of the Beethoven Cycle and A Festival in Light Classical Music by Readers Digest.  Every time I listen to them I cannot believe these have been overlooked as they are some of the best classical recordings and performances available.  Chesky did reissue a few on vinyl but most were just on CD and they could have been better.  I cannot believe with all the Living stereo reissues that these have been overlooked.  They are just as good as any Living Stereo if not better.  They are some of Deccas finest.  Does anyone know why these have been avoided?  Seems strange as I would think most audiophiles would be all over these.
tzh21y
tzh21y OP
1,654 posts
 
As for Copland, another great recording is on the Sheffield Box set called Moscow Sessions.  It has Appalachian Spring on it done by the Moscow Philharmonic.  It is another record that you see once in a while but it is a great recording of Appalachian Spring mastered by I believe Stan Ricker.  It is a recording I see more on cd than on vinyl but it was issued on vinyl.  Great set.
tzh21y OP
1,654 posts
 
actually it was Stan Ricker and Doug Sax on the Moscow Sessions.
tablejockey
3,916 posts
 
Tzh21y-

Good info. My only copy of "Fanfare" is a scratchy 6 eye Columbia 
"history" disc that your grade school teacher would play in the classroom.

Its  Eugene Ormandy with the Philly philharmonic, and despite the quality, the performance/sonics are shockingly good. I'd like to find whatever the  album this was on.

oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa
4,867 posts
 
The sets featuring the Hollywood Bowl orchestra with Leonard Pennario on piano are quite good. 

The reason so many of these box sets are in mint condition is that mostly older folks subscribed to "the club." They got played maybe one time, and quite possible only the first couple of LP's in the box, never to be opened again. 
oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa
4,867 posts
 
Another worth while ones to look for are the Franklin Mint "100 Greatest Recordings of All Time." I have a complete set in mint condition ... but I paid full boat for them at the time. Today, they can be bought really cheap. All of them are on heavy red vinyl. The historical stuff isn't that great sounding, but there's a Brahms set that is really great. 
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