Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!att!att!linac!uwm.edu!csd4.csd.uwm.edu!info-high-audio-request
From: jdhill@BBN.COM (Jack D. Hill)
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
Subject: Re: 3 mikes/3 tracks
Message-ID: <7356@uwm.edu>
Date: 1 Nov 90 13:49:02 GMT
Sender: news@uwm.edu
Lines: 38
Approved: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu
Originator: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu


In article <7333@uwm.edu> jas@proteon.com (John A. Shriver) writes:
>The best examples I can think of are Kodaly's Hary Janos Suite
>(MG50132/SR90132 & CD) and Bartok's Violin Concerto
>(MG50134[?]/SR90003).  (If you have the stereo, the mono should be
>easy to find.)  In both of these recordings, only the mono tape used
>the 201 mike.  The differences are enormous, the 201 mike is much more
>immediate and clear.  The stereo Hary Janos is still good enough to
>compete, but I'd argue that the mono Bartok is clearly the better
>recording.

How right you are. I had a copy of the Bartok and for a mono I thought the
sound was pretty good. So finally I decided to spring for the stereo version.
When I finally found a copy and bought it I was very disappointed in the sound.
The mono had much more depth, better frequency extremes and better dynamics.
Luckily I was able to trade it back for a different Mercury, the Debussy/Ravel
disk of Petite Suite, Tombeau... , etc. (SR 90213). While we're on the subject,
why does the Kodaly Music Hungarica (SR 90179) sound almost like it's a mono?
The other recording that I have with the same conductor and orchestra (and I
assume in the same hall), Respighi Ancient Airs and Dances (SR 90199) sounds
much more spacious. Does the recording sound better on CD? I am also curious
about pressings. What is the general consensus on the following pressings that
I've seen in my collection?
	1. FR-?
	2. RFR-?
	3. SR 90xxx M
	4. White labels
	5. Vendor pressings
	6. Orange labels
	7. Mercury Wing (I have both M and RFR pressings)
	8. Oval pressings
	9. Different shades of purple labels

I'm new to collecting Mercurys and I would like to get more information to help
in my purchases.

Thanks,
Jack