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Mono recordings - two questions...

1) While I have been an analog fan since the 70's, I never ventured into mono recordings... from an audiophile perspective, how does one listen to mono recordings?  For example, does 'imaging/soundstage depth' matter and is it accomplished through a well-mic'd mono recording?  Obviously tonal balance, impact, resolution are all qualities that should shine through...

2) Would appreciate recommendations of well recorded MONO LP's -- recently bought a Julie London LP in mono it sounded surprisingly nice/natural... not so hot as many later stereo pop recordings...  my musical preference would be for vocals in pop, jazz and soul/r & b realms... in modern artists I would equate these to Diana Krall, Gregory Porter, Adele, Kurt Elling, Sam Smith, M Buble etc etc - 

Thanks in advance
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oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa
4,867 posts
 
lewn ....

The "All About Johnny" cut on the first Chris Conner album is killer. 

lewm
13,070 posts
 
Thanks for the tip, OP. I will listen to that cut on the CC album in the next few days. Not that I really care, but it’s "LewM", not LewN. If you were searching for me, in order to communicate privately, that would make a difference, I suppose.

I've got both the original Liberty mono recording of "Julie is her name" and a 45-rpm re-issue. Because my copy of the original pressing is not in great shape, I listen to the 45 most often.  I really should expand my repertoire of Julie London LPs, beyond this one.  She was really quite talented, a fact which often gets obscured due to her obvious physical attributes.  As an amateur vocalist, I can tell you that "Laura" is not an easy song to sing, and she does a great job on it, one of my favorite renditions.
tablejockey
3,905 posts
 
LewM-

Julie's cover of "Laura" is beautiful. As mentioned in an earlier post, I repeatedly fall in love with Julie when I play the album.

I have to agree with an article  I read about her. Julie's voice and delivery say...come hither.  Va-va-voom!
vair68robert
625 posts
 
I have to say jjss49 you started with one of the best albums
to listen to in mono,  This is Julie and Lonely Girl 
are highly recommended as confirmed by several posts .
You might also try Duke Ellington at Newport ,
I've been very happy with most of the At Newport jazz
recordings form the 50's.
For something different try Jefferson Airplanes Takes Off
or the Beatles Sargent Pepper, If you have it in stereo you will really hear 
how different the two sound .

A well recorded mono recording can't give a sound stage
but you should be able to differentiate between front and back.
On the Duke Ellington the recording you can pick up instruments
coming from the left or right side mic .



lewm
13,070 posts
 
If we're talking great mono, I also recommend any of the LPs sold via "Sam's Club", which is based in France.  I forget the name on the label of the production company.  All the Chet Baker recordings are to die for, in mono.  (Recorded during Baker's sojourn in Paris, I think.) They've produced maybe 8 or 10 LPs thus far, no losers among them.
Also, the original "Ella and Louis" recordings are sublime.
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