Classic Record RCA 45 rpm reissues - Which?

Rushton,
Looks like you'll just have to buy these five and post reviews. Please let us know what you think! ;-)

FWIW, in addition to the Dorati 'Firebird' I have LSC-2374-45, Bartok, Music for Strings, Percussion & Celesta, Reiner, CSO. It too is magnificent, miles ahead of the 33rpm. I chose it for the A/B test of my new cocobolo record clamp vs. my old delrin clamp because of its full range of textures, colors and dynamics and its nice low noise floor. I especially like this piece on 45 because the movements are short enough to accommodate the side breaks.

Sorry, copied and pasted the same title twice (yes it's a multi disc set, but was still an error :^).

here is the second 45 issue I own:

LSC-1900-45 Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique, Munch

Thanks very much Albert and Doug - your experience with these 45 rpm issues is exactly the help and encouragement I needed.

Quincy, thank you. The reason for my caution is that I have most of the Classic Records classical releases in 33 rpm and the mastering is variable (some are very good, some are bright and harsh). Most of my pressings are the 180 gram, but as best I can determine, the 200gram pressings have not been remastered - CR is using the same metal parts. The 45 rpm versions would have been separately mastered, so there is no way to anticipate the results (for better or worse) based on experience with the 33 rpm versions.

Rush,
You're right about some of the CR remasterings. Off the top of my head I remember Solti/'Venice' and the much hyped Gibson/'Witches Brew' being quite glaring. I read somewhere or other that CR was attempting to emulate the classic Mercury sound, but clearly they went too far.

Doug,

Classic Records has been extremely frustrating to so many of us. As you say, both Solti/'Venice'/LSC 2313 and Gobson/'Witches Brew'/LSC 2225 are examples of hugely disappointing sound quality. And then CR can flip around and create something that is really well done, such as the Reiner Prokofiev/'Lt. Kije'/LSC 2150 or the Heifitz/Rozsa/LSC 2767 to list two out of several. I'm not looking for sound that mimics the original LPs; I'm looking for good sound in its own right with natural timbre and harmonic overtones, and one just cannot trust that Classic Records will deliver it. Perhaps if one knew the sequence in which the CR releases were mastered that could supply a key to the puzzle. Wilma Cozart jerked a knot in their tail over the Mercury reissue project, forcing them to upgrade their mastering chain and to insert tube amps to drive the mastering lathe. But, again, their results were inconsistent.

Speakers Corner has done such a better job overall with the reissues of the Decca catalogue, and now the Mercury catalogue. For that I am very thankful because the Decca's are superb performances with some of the best recording engineering symphonic music has ever received.

I've purchased some of the 45 rpm Classic Records reissues we've listed. If there is interest, I may add my thoughts about them when I've had a chance to listen.