Vinyl I am listening to...

[iaudio]

 

[Simon Wires]

Dear Simon,

Just curious. Do you use mono cartridge to play these mono records? or mono switch in amp?

Sourav

Hi Sourav,

I play these mono's in the stereo cart & amp only..

I have a plan of making an exclusive mono set up. Sourced a mono tube amp which needs some repair; picked up a single Altec LF, and on the look out for a HF unit. Once done, will start building a pure mono set up.

 

[souravin]

Hi Sourav,

I play these mono's in the stereo cart & amp only..

I have a plan of making an exclusive mono set up. Sourced a mono tube amp which needs some repair; picked up a single Altec LF, and on the look out for a HF unit. Once done, will start building a pure mono set up.

Yes Simon. That would be very nice mono set up. These LPs are pure mono recording and mono lathe pressing and makes sense to be played in mono set up.

While the late 1970 and 1980 bollywood LP/EP mono pressings are good to be played in stereo cartridge and stereo set up. I am more or less sure these pressings are done on stereo lathe only but the recording is mono. Manzil Manzil, Sitamgar, Lava LPs are to name a few.

Thanks,
Sourav

 

[reubensm]

Sourav, your knowledge of Indian pressings is quite admirable. Am curious to know, what does your LP collection comprise, in terms of pressings and genre of music?

 

[reubensm]

Hi Sourav,

I play these mono's in the stereo cart & amp only..

I have a plan of making an exclusive mono set up. Sourced a mono tube amp which needs some repair; picked up a single Altec LF, and on the look out for a HF unit. Once done, will start building a pure mono set up.

If you are game for it and have a slightly deep pocket, a single Quad II mono block will be ideal to drive your Altec setup. I've heard this amp playing in a stereo avatar and to be honest, I've never heard anything like that before or since.

 

[souravin]

Sourav, your knowledge of Indian pressings is quite admirable. Am curious to know, what does your LP collection comprise, in terms of pressings and genre of music?

Thanks Reuben. I am R.D.Burman fanatic and have Angel, Odeon double groove, single groove, HMV Red and Black level, columbia etc pressings. I have carefully handpicked near mint LPs/EPs/SPs in last few years. I have a modest set up and quite happy.

I listen to bollywood genre only and recently started expanding my horizon into western music.

 

[prem]

Reubensm, Souravin is a walking, talking RD Burman. Looks a bit like him too

 

[reubensm]

Thanks Reuben. I am R.D.Burman fanatic and have Angel, Odeon double groove, single groove, HMV Red and Black level, columbia etc pressings. I have carefully handpicked near mint LPs/EPs/SPs in last few years. I have a modest set up and quite happy.

I listen to bollywood genre only and recently started expanding my horizon into western music.

Thanks Sourav, great going!!

My collection is just over a 1000 of which around 800+ records are in mint or near mint condition. However all of these are western albums, predominantly from the 1960s and 1970s. Recently (after the passing of Rajesh Khanna), I have expanded my listening scope to Bollywood as well but highly selective. Regards.

 

[reubensm]

Reubensm, Souravin is a walking, talking RD Burman. Looks a bit like him too

WoW!! that's interesting.

On another note, I have recently completed reading about Shankar-Jaikishan and have started appreciating their music as well.

 

[Niki]

The Best of Arlo Guthrie
Cheap Thrills - Janis Joplin

 

[souravin]

Reubensm, Souravin is a walking, talking RD Burman. Looks a bit like him too

Thanks Prem for your kind words. I thought of concentrating on one genre at a point of time because there is a treasure awaiting at the end.

Music genre is like religion- whatever religion/ way of genre you choose or disciple to- the ultimate goal is God and that is music nirvana.

 

[souravin]

WoW!! that's interesting.

On another note, I have recently completed reading about Shankar-Jaikishan and have started appreciating their music as well.

It's great to know. Now read this book very interesting and insightful

https://books.google.co.in/books?id=tg49WV0j0IAC&pg=PT19&lpg=PT19&dq=r.d.burman+the+man+music+and+beyond&source=bl&ots=oi6cNLhGQn&sig=KWLdse2tZbTZ7N_2i6DPg2ygnKo&hl=en&sa=X&ei=bOtRVYfKM5eUuASRm4HYDA&ved=0CDMQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=r.d.burman%20the%20man%20music%20and%20beyond&f=false

 

[jmascreen]

Aradhana

Dean Martin - Gentle on my MIND

Dean Martin - Just in Time

JIM REEVES - A Letter to my Heart

JIM Reeves - My Juanita

 

[analogadikt]

While the late 1970 and 1980 bollywood LP/EP mono pressings are good to be played in stereo cartridge and stereo set up. I am more or less sure these pressings are done on stereo lathe only but the recording is mono. Manzil Manzil, Sitamgar, Lava LPs are to name a few.

Thanks,
Sourav

Yes, do not play any bollywood or regional music LP with a pure mono cartridge. Only some of the old 10" LPs could have been cut on a mono lathe.

Regards,

 

[souravin]

Listening to this amazing bengali durga puja album (modern songs) by Asha Bhosle and R.D.Burman. Noticeable thing is that this is an 1974 release in stereo. While bollywood OSTs are far away from natural stereo recording during that era, a small bengali EP for Durga Puja (our biggest festival in October) released in Stereo.

Asha Pancham EP1 S 7EPE 3072 Front by Sourav Das, on Flickr

Asha Pancham EP2 S 7EPE 3072 Back by Sourav Das, on Flickr

 

[ANILKUMAR]

Listening to this amazing bengali durga puja album (modern songs) by Asha Bhosle and R.D.Burman. Noticeable thing is that this is an 1974 release in stereo. While bollywood OSTs are far away from natural stereo recording during that era, a small bengali EP for Durga Puja (our biggest festival in October) released in Stereo.

That one is a precious gem Sourav.

True, Due to the cost of Optical Stereo recording in films, producers were little reluctant to go for STEREO recording. But in India, many INSTRUMENTAL / DEVOTIONAL / REGIONAL LANGUAGE ALBUMS were pressed in true STEREO since 1965. The earliest true Indian STEREO record I have is a 1965 one- "Vilayat Khan & Bismillah Khan Tabla Accompaniment: Shantaprasad* ? Duets" His Master's Voice ? ASD-2295.

I think, the very first Indian STEREO LP RAVISHANKAR ASD 0463 (1962) was not an Indian Recording.

 

[souravin]

That one is a precious gem Sourav.

True, Due to the cost of Optical Stereo recording in films, producers were little reluctant to go for STEREO recording. But in India, many INSTRUMENTAL / DEVOTIONAL / REGIONAL LANGUAGE ALBUMS were pressed in true STEREO since 1965. The earliest true Indian STEREO record I have is a 1965 one- "Vilayat Khan & Bismillah Khan Tabla Accompaniment: Shantaprasad* ? Duets" His Master's Voice ? ASD-2295.

I think, the very first Indian STEREO LP RAVISHANKAR ASD 0463 (1962) was not an Indian Recording.

Great information Anil. I understand the cost cutting in film track refrain the producers for stereo OST recording or pressing as well. As a result we lost so many gems in stereo avatar which would have been a treat to our ears and soul. Recording if done in 4 track 1 inch master spool could have been in stereo. Mastering and Pressing may be in mono to save the buck for the producers.

Even for a lavish film like Hum Kisise Kum Nahin by Nasir Hussain, Side A comprising of competition song and a qawali "Hain Agar Dushman" is stereo while Side B comprising of "Bachna Aei Haseeno", "Kya Hua Tera Waada" and so on is Mono.

Sholay is the master stroke in stereo recording for the first time. The film track is also 4 track- got to know from the film poster.

 

[reubensm]

Great information Anil. I understand the cost cutting in film track refrain the producers for stereo OST recording or pressing as well. As a result we lost so many gems in stereo avatar which would have been a treat to our ears and soul. Recording if done in 4 track 1 inch master spool could have been in stereo. Mastering and Pressing may be in mono to save the buck for the producers.

Even for a lavish film like Hum Kisise Kum Nahin by Nasir Hussain, Side A comprising of competition song and a qawali "Hain Agar Dushman" is stereo while Side B comprising of "Bachna Aei Haseeno", "Kya Hua Tera Waada" and so on is Mono.

Sholay is the master stroke in stereo recording for the first time. The film track is also 4 track- got to know from the film poster.

Is The Burning Train, a stereo recording as well? Thought I heard the train sound effects moving from one channel to the other. What about Shaan and Qurbani?

 

[souravin]

Is The Burning Train, a stereo recording as well? Thought I heard the train sound effects moving from one channel to the other. What about Shaan and Qurbani?

Reuben,

All these three LPs are stereo. The Burning Train is considered to be one of the finest and balanced recordings from EMI stable. "Meri Nazar Hain Tujhpe" has amazing stereo separation. Even Asha B's voice modulation is evident as she was supposed to be singing for two actresses Hema Malini (in Indian attire) and Parveen Babi (in western attire) performing on the same stage. Title Track is more dynamic in EP - making it another pricey affair.

Shaan and Qurbani sound dynamic and from Polydor/ Music India label.

Thanks,
Sourav

 

[souravin]

Another amazing Stereo Double LP album. Dil Padosi Hain. Limited pressing and high demand made this expensive and rare.

DPH LP_Front by Sourav Das, on Flickr

DPH LP_Back by Sourav Das, on Flickr

DPH Gatefold by Sourav Das, on Flickr