Of all the vinyl renderings of BOLERO, this is my favorite, for it has the power and momentum other versions lack, including Munch’s previous version (very special in itself). If there was ever a ‘hard rock’ classical recording, this would have to qualify as a nominee.
I just landed a copy of this gem at a thrift store for a whomping fifty cents! Alas, side two has a lot of surface noise, but what a spectacular record. I have recently discovered this web site and I love it. Thanks to the owners for bringing it about!
I would have to say that this is one of the worst-sounding RCA records ever. I have heard copies played on an old Magnavox, and a very clean copy played on a Dual with an Ortofon .3 x .7 mil elliptical, a Dual 1229 with a Shure M97Ex (.2 X .7 mil elliptical), and a Pioneer PL-400 with an Audio-Technical 440MLa line-contact stylus. It doesn’t matter whether they are White Dog or Shaded Dog. They all sound extremely compressed, with very rough, ragged distortion in loud passages. I wonder what the master tape sounded like. The record is by far the worst Dynagroove that I have ever heard.
I have that DynaGroove record, and I concur–it’s utterly terrible! But I kept faith that the original non-DynaGroove Shaded Dog would sound better, and, lo and behold, I found a copy at the local Salvation Army store for 60 cents! It has some wear, but I was able to bust most of the grunge off of it with my SpinClean machine, and it actually sounds OK! Look for the pre-DynaGroove RCA Shaded Dogs on decent weight vinyl. They’re much better! And there was never a better version of Schubert’s 9th.
I played a Shaded Dog version of this record recently and had the same experience as David. Sound was rather compressed and was distorted in loud sections. I didn’t have a White Dog on hand, so can’t comment on what it sounds like. I don’t think this record was available in a non-Dynagroove version (unless perhaps a UK issue?), so I’m guessing Paul is referring to the much earlier Munch Bolero (LSC-1984) as a better sounding version. My vote for best Bolero to have would be Paray DSO on Mercury–specifically the Dutch Golden Imports reissue (SRI 75033), since it includes several Ravel tracks from the rare and expensive Mercury SR 90313. I have yet to hear an original SR 90313, and I’m guessing it’s even better, but the Golden Imports reissue will knock your socks off.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Of all the vinyl renderings of BOLERO, this is my favorite, for it has the power and momentum other versions lack, including Munch’s previous version (very special in itself). If there was ever a ‘hard rock’ classical recording, this would have to qualify as a nominee.
I just landed a copy of this gem at a thrift store for a whomping fifty cents! Alas, side two has a lot of surface noise, but what a spectacular record. I have recently discovered this web site and I love it. Thanks to the owners for bringing it about!
Hi Kevin. You can remove most of the surface noise with programs like ClickRepair. I use this one all the time and it does a great job.
I would have to say that this is one of the worst-sounding RCA records ever. I have heard copies played on an old Magnavox, and a very clean copy played on a Dual with an Ortofon .3 x .7 mil elliptical, a Dual 1229 with a Shure M97Ex (.2 X .7 mil elliptical), and a Pioneer PL-400 with an Audio-Technical 440MLa line-contact stylus. It doesn’t matter whether they are White Dog or Shaded Dog. They all sound extremely compressed, with very rough, ragged distortion in loud passages. I wonder what the master tape sounded like. The record is by far the worst Dynagroove that I have ever heard.
I have that DynaGroove record, and I concur–it’s utterly terrible! But I kept faith that the original non-DynaGroove Shaded Dog would sound better, and, lo and behold, I found a copy at the local Salvation Army store for 60 cents! It has some wear, but I was able to bust most of the grunge off of it with my SpinClean machine, and it actually sounds OK! Look for the pre-DynaGroove RCA Shaded Dogs on decent weight vinyl. They’re much better! And there was never a better version of Schubert’s 9th.
I played a Shaded Dog version of this record recently and had the same experience as David. Sound was rather compressed and was distorted in loud sections. I didn’t have a White Dog on hand, so can’t comment on what it sounds like. I don’t think this record was available in a non-Dynagroove version (unless perhaps a UK issue?), so I’m guessing Paul is referring to the much earlier Munch Bolero (LSC-1984) as a better sounding version. My vote for best Bolero to have would be Paray DSO on Mercury–specifically the Dutch Golden Imports reissue (SRI 75033), since it includes several Ravel tracks from the rare and expensive Mercury SR 90313. I have yet to hear an original SR 90313, and I’m guessing it’s even better, but the Golden Imports reissue will knock your socks off.