Vinyl I am listening to...

[Hiten]

Sholay was recorded in six track stereo.
-x-x-x-

Being rich nation/s the west is known to have exemplery documentation of its history, science and arts. Unfortunately India doesn't have any means or people have any will to document our history. The Golden era of Indian cinema have amzing stories to tell, blessed with finest singers and amazing talent of craftsman, engineers in each field like acting, recording, cinematography etc.

I think I had posted it earlier the need to have documented all the aspects of cinema specially songs and recording in one place. I had requested earlier and would request again If any forum member is in touch with recording engineers or artists or person related to this field gather as much information as possible and document it. Few years back there was sad news of precious Indian movie reels getting destroyed in Pune due to fire and negligence.

Few years back I got hold of test pressing vinyls, on which probably a vinyl cutting engineer by christian name was signed. I am sure there were many such skilled craftsman working in the industry in various fields. We owe them for giving us good music. It would be wonderful to know about them. Hope some one takes note. Being in Graphic Design and printing business I will/can help in any which way I can. If anyone is interested in music and recording here is a good book. Behind the curtains I can not afford it. :sad:
Regards

 

[sureshkn]

Listened two nice Tamil films. "Sattam" by Gangai Amaran & "Aayiram Pookkal malarattum" by V.S.Narasiman.

 

[shafic]

Filmi Index (Alphabetical) | MemsaabStory

Few sites are providing interesting details about Bollywood film industry. This is one of them. Will share more.

Hope this will help.

 

[bhaskarcan]

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.

This Vilayat / Bismillah record has a very interesting history. The process of setting up stereo pressing plant at Dumdum started in 1965/66. The famous Bhaskar Menon being the head of EMI India operations at that time. Engineers from EMI Hayes and Sydney office came down to install and supervise the whole process.

The said duet was recorded at Dumdum studio in early 1967 and the Master Tape was hand carried to EMI Sydney plant for cutting Master Disc from the tape in July 1967. This Master/Mother Disc was then carried back to Dumdum for subsequent pressing process.

The whole process involved the best mustering experts of EMI UK and Australia. And the result is very evident in the output of the record. The best thing is that the whole mastering, cutting and pressing process was done under supervision of an Indian person who was working with EMI Hayes that time.

I am very lucky to know him personally and to receive from him one of the very few sample records that were pressed before it's commercial release. He blessed me by writing the whole above mentioned fact on the back cover of the copy he gave me and endorsing it with his signature.

Regards,
Bhaskar

 

[souravin]

This Vilayat / Bismillah record has a very interesting history. The process of setting up stereo pressing plant at Dumdum started in 1965/66. The famous Bhaskar Menon being the head of EMI India operations at that time. Engineers from EMI Hayes and Sydney office came down to install and supervise the whole process.

The said duet was recorded at Dumdum studio in early 1967 and the Master Tape was hand carried to EMI Sydney plant for cutting Master Disc from the tape in July 1967. This Master/Mother Disc was then carried back to Dumdum for subsequent pressing process.

The whole process involved the best mustering experts of EMI UK and Australia. And the result is very evident in the output of the record. The best thing is that the whole mastering, cutting and pressing process was done under supervision of an Indian person who was working with EMI Hayes that time.

I am very lucky to know him personally and to receive from him one of the very few sample records that were pressed before it's commercial release. He blessed me by writing the whole above mentioned fact on the back cover of the copy he gave me and endorsing it with his signature.

Regards,
Bhaskar

Thank you Bhaskar da for sharing this anecdote- very interesting indeed.

Regards,
Sourav

 

[nraghunadh]

This Vilayat / Bismillah record has a very interesting history. The process of setting up stereo pressing plant at Dumdum started in 1965/66. The famous Bhaskar Menon being the head of EMI India operations at that time. Engineers from EMI Hayes and Sydney office came down to install and supervise the whole process.
Regards,
Bhaskar

Thank you Bhasker and Anil, Great pleasure to listen these records, Just noticed That Vol-2 back side "Cover designed by : Bapu"
Bapu has designed few LP sleeves earlier. He was great cartoonist and Film director He directed few Hindi films also
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bapu_%28film_director%29
Thank you
Raghunadh

 

[bhaskarcan]

@ Raghu: both the records have excellent reproduction. Shows the fruit of utmost care taken to produce them.

Regards
Bhaskar

 

[G401fan]

It's noteworthy that the catalogue number was kept in the ASD series, which was used by EMI UK mainly for Western Classical releases in that particular time period. The quality levels for recording and disc pressing had peaked then, which is why most ASD classical titles sell for high prices on eBay these days.

 

[Hiten]

Nice bit of info from everyone. Thanks. I had that 'Vilayat Khan and Bismillah Khan' Vinyl. Which was sold here. Sale But I have no regrets. My need for music are pretty basic. I buy vinyls first for songs I like than condition than Recording quality. For recording quality I compare sams song/s between OST, EPs and compilation albums. Rarities never attracted me. But I respect people who collects such stuff. They are caretaker and guardians of our musical history. Not sure but a gentleman here (Kalyan) has probably largest collection of rare records. His collection may be up to 3000 to 4000 shellacs and vinyls.

Bhaskarda,
any updates worth knowing from here.

Best regards and keep them spinning.

 

[souravin]

Thank you all for the information. I just bought online the ASD 2295 Vilayat Khan and Bismillah Khan LP in excellent condition.

I already have the second LP ASD 2304 and saw in the back cover that ASD 2295 (mentioned above) also has a Mono avatar (ALP 2295).

Awaiting to listen this.

Regards,
Sourav

 

[prem]

Few of the ASD series is pressed in UK as well as India and also in U.S. The Indian one is a little noisier compared to the other two. Also I feel US and UK pressings are a bit more dynamic

 

[G401fan]

I already have the second LP ASD 2304 and saw in the back cover that ASD 2295 (mentioned above) also has a Mono avatar (ALP 2295).

Sourav

The Catalog numbers for many labels were clear distinctions between Stereo and Mono.
some examples:

RCA classicals were RSC for Stereo, and LM for Mono
Columbia UK: 33SX Stereo and 33CX Mono
Decca: SXL Stereo and LXT Mono
Columbia US: CS Stereo and ML Mono
EMI : ASD Stereo and ALP Mono

These were for the classical catalog. For pop/rock/jazz some of these prefixes were changed. With the hallowed Blue Note label, the four digit Mono version was preceded by '8' for the stereo issue, eg. BLP 4001 and BLP 84001.

Trivia and Minutiae that keep us record nuts from going out and getting a life.

 

[Selvin]

Just listened... Tamil film album Priya & Aarilirunthu Aravathuvari. Music Ilayaraaja. INRECO pressing. Most INRECO records are flat life less sonic characteristics but this LP is little exemption....sonically not too bad.

 

[Simon Wires]

An Obit for B.B.King..

In to the night - OST Promo copy

 

[aks07]

BB King - RIP

After the huge WTF moment yesterday, it is time to enjoy his music just as The Chairman of the Board of Blues Singers would have preferred.

No one is immortal but BB King was expected to outlive many of us! For close to 70 year he went on repeating just 3 notes in his guitar and still remained highly motivated. Talk about job satisfaction

Spinning Live at Regal. This is a monster of recording and considered one of the greatest live performance by any artist.

Next up will be Live in Cook County Jail followed by Live In Japan and then Live At The Apollo.

 

[Anil kumar]

Spinning KENNY G - DUOTONES - Arista - 1984 - pressed in US

 

[Naturelover]

Melody Gardot - Worrisome Heart. EU pressing available on amazon.in
Received today. Beautiful!
"My One And Only Thrill" on the way!

 

[Selvin]

Melody Gardot - Worrisome Heart. EU pressing available on amazon.in
Received today. Beautiful!
"My One And Only Thrill" on the way!

Just ordered mine in Amazon....

 

[surendar]

Listening earlier today...two great Tamil devotional albums sung by Nagoor E M Haniffa

 

[surendar]

And now listening to ' Thayillamal Naanillai' featuring the hit song by SPB 'Nadiganin Kadhali'