Whats on your turntable tonight?

For Christmas Day, we've been listening to a bunch of non-seasonal music:

Stravinsky "Firebird," on Classic Records 45 rpm reissue of the Dorati/Mercury. We use this record to validate final system setup, the third side is a montrous test of one's system. I recently heard this sound just horrible at friend's home and he couldn't understand why I liked it so much; all I could tell him was that it wasn't the record. But to hear it well does take some immaculate system setup.

Bizet's "L'Arlesienne Suites 1 and 2" and Chabrier's "Espana Rapsodie" also on a Classic Records 45rpm reissue (RCA LSC 2327-45). Another great Decca recording that built RCA's reputation: the eminent Kenneth Wilkinson, engineer, in Kingsway Hall.

Joni Mitchell, her self-titled first album in a pressing my wife has had since it first came out nearly 40 years ago -- still holding up exceptionally well!

Rossini-Respighi, "La Boutique Fantasque" from the Royal Ballet Gala Performances set, Ansermet, RCA LDS 6065-45 (another Classic Records 45rpm reissue) and another great Decca recording on contract to RCA, again with Kenneth Wilkinson engineering the recording at Kingsway Hall.

Adam, "Giselle: Introduction" also from the Royal Ballet Gala Performances set (above).

More to come later in the evening...

Rushton - good to see you back and listening again. It's been some time since I posted here as well. Spending some time at home recuperating from illness, feeling good enough to listen to some music - finally.

So far:
Schuller "Seven Studies on Themes of Paul Klee" Dorati/Minneapolis SO (Mercury SR90282) Speaker's Corner reissue.

Stravinsky "Firebird Suite (1910)" Leinsdorf/Los Angeles SO (Sheffield Lab LAB 24)

Falla "Nights in the Gardens of Spain" Jorda/San Francisco Symphony (RCA LSC 2430) Classic Records reisuue

Slipknot!! Great to see your post here, and glad you're feeling better.

Lucious records. I need to pull out the Gunther Schuller recording, and may do so tonight while a friend is over who enjoys more contemporary music.

Late last night I was playing Shostakovich's Symphony No.1 in a performance by Jean Martinon, RCA LSC 2322-45 (Classic Records reissue).
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Tonight was a broad sampling of a bit here and a bit there with a friend over to listen. Here's a sampling of what passed across the turntable over about 5 hours:

Doc Watson, "Home Again!" Cisco reissue of Vanguard VSD 79239.

Bill Berry, "Shortcake" on Pure Audiophile PA-004

Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington, "Recording Together for the First Time" Roulette SR52074 (Classic Records reissue)(great music, OK sound, definitely would not put this in a top 25 list for sonics, but this LP is probably as good as this can sound)

Ella Fitzgerald, "Ella in Berlin" (Live) Verve MG VS-64041 (outstanding UCJU-9004 reissue) an amazing performer, who else could get away with what she does and makes work so wonderfully?

Louis Armstrong, "St. James Infirmary" (yes, back again as it will again and again because it is so special) (Classic Records 45 rpm reissue from "Satchmo Plays King Oliver")

Stravinsky, "Firebird" (also back again because it is such a challenge to play well) (Classic Records 45 rpm reissue)

Beethoven, "Septet" with the Vienna Octet on SuperAnalogue 9111 reissue of the Decca. Pure magic, this is a superb recording, performance and pressing.

Schuller, "Seven Studies on Themes of Paul Klee" on the Speakers Corner reissue of the Mercury. (Thanks to Slipknot for reminding me to pull this out!)

Nathaniel Rosen, cellist, on "Orientale" NorthStar Records, NS 0027 - a true gem of a record containing a collection of short works for cello and piano. A truly special record if you happen to find a copy.

"Italian Violin Music 1600-1750" on Klimo Open Window OW 002, another remarkable record. Baroque violin, cello and harpsichord in an exceptional recording.

"La Spagna" - music of Spain from the 15th-17th Centuries by the outstanding early music group Atrium Musicae de Madrid directed by Gregorio Paniagua. BIS LP 163/164

"Musique Arabo-Andalouse" (Music of Arabic-Spain of the 9th-13th Centuries), also by Atrium Musicae de Madrid directed by Gregorio Paniagua, on Harmonia Mundi HM 389
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last night....meat puppets, jimmy webb, paul williams, the flamin' groovies, and bryan hyland