The very best sound: Direct to Disc

Yes, you’re right.  Got a little confused.  Sax is not affiliated with RR.
You're also correct about the Moscow Sessions.  They’re not up to the standards of RR or Sheffield LP’s.  Very distant miking, similar in perspective to RR’s present CDs.

Dear @melm  : I posted here that I own the D2D Telarc with the Cleveland and that is really bad recording against almost any D2D similar kind of recordings.

Btw, I was unaware that Telarc recorded not one but two D2D LPs.

R.

I'm a little surprised that the MoFi Mingus Ah Um D2D, featured in the latest S'Phile has not been mentioned. It is largely sold out on preorder. It is not cheap-$125 and up depending on reseller for two 45 rpm records reportedly (Jim Austin wrote the piece) in a vault of a package. Mr. Austin wrote that though pricey, he has never heard better vinyl. 

Onestep Ultradisc Ah Um is not D2D.

"At one time time, later in the LP era, they did collaborate in a series of 3 classical LPs recorded in Russia for the Sheffield label, "The Moscow Sessions." However, since Johnson’s very special tape machine was "contracted" to RR, they had to borrow one (from Wilson IIRC) to do these recordings. Very good recordings, but not up to the RR standard IMO."

Those Moscow Sessions are some of the best recordings of an orchestra that i have ever heard. IMO. Not the CD but the LPs. The best version of Appalachian Spring I have ever heard is in this set by a Russian orchestra. lol