Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique - RR11 at Princeton Record Exchange

socfan12

socfan12

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Hi Vinylphiles,

Went to Princeton Record Exchange today and scored some good LPs: Nojima Plays Ravel, Star of Wonder, 2 Sinead O'Connor EPs, 1 LP, a scratch free Hey Jude, etc. Earlier, I picked up Eto's Art of the Koto in VG+ condition for $9 at another used record shop. It was a good day for vinyl. :)


At PrEx, they had the Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique RR-11 album there, with the vinyl behind the counter. When I inspected the vinyl, it didn't have a printed label but rather a generic white JVC 'Pressed in Japan' label with nothing written/printed on it. The deadwax did seem to have RR-11 on it, but I could not see the matrix number inscribed.

Does this sound right for this pressing? I have other RR vinyl (the 2 mentioned above, and Dafos) and each has printed RR labels. I would love to pick up the LP as it was in pristine condition, but want to make sure I'm getting the real deal.

Any help would be appreciated.


thx
allen
 
Hi Allen,

I say pick up any and every Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique you can lay your hands on that appear to be in great shape. Some are real special (and sleepers) including the RCA mono LM-2362 Monteux Vienna Philharmonic.
 
Mike, Myles, thanks for the quick replies.

Myles, the cover was a normal printed cover, not a plain white one SS us usual with tests or promos, no? Nor did I see promo anywhere on the cover. Yes, as I was typing up the post. I thought d*mn, should've taken a photo! Will go back and do that tomorrow and post. I may just buy it.

Album was mastered by Doug Sax. Does he leave any initials on the dead wax? I don't recall seeing any though.
 
socfan12 said:
Hi Vinylphiles,

Went to Princeton Record Exchange today and scored some good LPs: Nojima Plays Ravel, Star of Wonder, 2 Sinead O'Connor EPs, 1 LP, a scratch free Hey Jude, etc. Earlier, I picked up Eto's Art of the Koto in VG+ condition for $9 at another used record shop. It was a good day for vinyl. :)


At PrEx, they had the Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique RR-11 album there, with the vinyl behind the counter. When I inspected the vinyl, it didn't have a printed label but rather a generic white JVC 'Pressed in Japan' label with nothing written/printed on it. The deadwax did seem to have RR-11 on it, but I could not see the matrix number inscribed.

Does this sound right for this pressing? I have other RR vinyl (the 2 mentioned above, and Dafos) and each has printed RR labels. I would love to pick up the LP as it was in pristine condition, but want to make sure I'm getting the real deal.

Any help would be appreciated.


thx
allen
Click to expand...

I have a RR Nojima Plays Listz in a plain white jacket with a small plastic envelope with the CD liner notes (and one with the right jacket....they sound the same and I'm happy to have a back-up of this favorite recording). a very hard to find and expensive Lp.

with RR I think they might have pressed more Lps than they had printed jackets for. and so they still got sold as the original stock sold out due to demand. I'm sure many times pressing count and jacket count does not match for various reasons.
 
Mike, thanks for chiming in. Given the replies from you, Myles, and Mike (MikeCH), I think I'm just going to buy it later today. Once I get it I'll post pictures.

I asked my dealer about this as well, and he had similar comments to everyone's above. He also said look at the Argenta/Paris Convervoitre version on Decca. I was able to find a used copy online from a trusted reseller for $35, so I got that as well. ;)
 
Allen,
I would snatch that rr up if it's reasonably priced! Sounds like you have slipped into the vinyl-hole ;) congrats!
Chris
 
Mike Lavigne said:
I have a RR Nojima Plays Listz in a plain white jacket with a small plastic envelope with the CD liner notes (and one with the right jacket....they sound the same and I'm happy to have a back-up of this favorite recording). a very hard to find and expensive Lp.

with RR I think they might have pressed more Lps than they had printed jackets for. and so they still got sold as the original stock sold out due to demand. I'm sure many times pressing count and jacket count does not match for various reasons.
Click to expand...


i was well into collecting when theses records were in print and still widely available, i never saw them sold new with white jackets and plain labels. i'm with Myles, he's got a test pressing. lots of the smaller labels like RR and Sheffield would hand these out to exhibitors and press at CES. I had a number of white jacket/label sheffields and mfsl that were acquired this way. Chad still hands out test pressings, saw him do at the Newport show.
 
MikeCh said:
Hi Allen,

I say pick up any and every Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique you can lay your hands on that appear to be in great shape. Some are real special (and sleepers) including the RCA mono LM-2362 Monteux Vienna Philharmonic.
Click to expand...

Mike, the reference recordings fantastique is cut at 45 rpm and is a sonic blockbuster "march to the scaffold" is a system torture test at anything near live loudness levels. here i am talking up this record and i just spent the last 10 mins looking for it, i can find my copy:mad:
 
puroagave said:
Mike, the reference recordings fantastique is cut at 45 rpm and is a sonic blockbuster "march to the scaffold" is a system torture test at anything near live loudness levels. here i am talking up this record and i just spent the last 10 mins looking for it, i can find my copy:mad:
Click to expand...

+1 on the sonic blockbuster....

Found my copy...... listening now
 
Ok, based on the replies from this thread, I went ahead and purchased the LPs. Given the replies, I think it's a promo (but I expected most promos to be in white covers or saying 'Promo - Not FS' on the cover somewhere - this didn't have it).

Anyway, some pics of the item in question:

attachment.php


attachment.php



and a closeup of the deadwax. Clearly it says RR-11-A-1

attachment.php




So, done good or ripped off?:doubtful:





Cover.jpgDeadwax.jpgLabel.jpg
 
socfan12 said:
Ok, based on the replies from this thread, I went ahead and purchased the LPs. Given the replies, I think it's a promo (but I expected most promos to be in white covers or saying 'Promo - Not FS' on the cover somewhere - this didn't have it).

Anyway, some pics of the item in question:

attachment.php


attachment.php



and a closeup of the deadwax. Clearly it says RR-11-A-1

attachment.php




So, done good or ripped off?:doubtful:





View attachment 7938View attachment 7939View attachment 7940
Click to expand...

That's a test pressing. Should be just fine. Could be slightly better even. Depends.
 
Think it is a 7 rather than a 1 in that deadwax.
Proof is in the puddin'
How does it sound?
My copy's deadwax is rr-11-a-9 and it sounds fantastique ;) (i know, bad pun)
Good score allen.
Chris
 
Thanks, Myles. Good to know.

Chris, you are right, that is a 7. How does it sound? Dunno, don't have a TT yet, LOL!:blush: I do get strange looks from my wife and kids, LOL!:lol: I'm just buying LPs now for that inevitable day.:exciting:
 
puroagave said:
Mike, the reference recordings fantastique is cut at 45 rpm and is a sonic blockbuster "march to the scaffold" is a system torture test at anything near live loudness levels. here i am talking up this record and i just spent the last 10 mins looking for it, i can find my copy:mad:
Click to expand...


There are likely more thin sounding Fantasique versions out there than full-fledged and I myself will need to seek out the RR you guys are discussing. However, please don't dismiss the mono RCA LM that I mentioned as it too is quite dynamic....especially for a mono. The March to the Scaffoldd "big hits" are there in all their glory on this version too.
 
Actually I'm kinda partial to the Songe d'une nuit de sabbat (Dream of a Witches' Sabbath). :) At least when I saw it live this spring at Carnegie. No system will do that movement justice now or ever!

 
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