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davidclark MusicFan
Joined: 17 November 2004 Location: Canada
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Posted: 18 October 2009 at 1:48pm | IP Logged
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I just finished listening and logging the two fantastic new Hit Parade
Records CDs. One quibble though. Mantovani - "Around the World" has
been on CD before, but not in the US. I have it on "collector's mantovani
volume 1" (Vocalion CDLK 4152, 2002, England, made in Austria) in pure
mono and running a tad faster at 1:58. The Hot 100 Annual timing and
45 label is 2:02, while the Hit Parade CD clocks in at 2:04. I know, less
than the 3 second threshold, but I would like it if anyone should have
such 45, could they time it.
Also, Pat indicates stereo for the version on Hit Parade, however the CD
jacket doesn't indicate so (and they ALWAYS do when a song is stereo!). I
detect no real separation, other than a lot of echo. Comments? A
Mantovani "expert" told me it was recorded 15 April 1957.
__________________ dc1
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jono MusicFan
Joined: 26 September 2007 Location: United States
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Posted: 18 October 2009 at 3:22pm | IP Logged
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David -
My 45 (London 45-1746) of Mantovani's "Around The World" does indeed state a running time of 2:02, but my timing of the 45 is the same as what's on the Hit Parade cd - 2:04.
The 45 is mono, of course, as is the version on the Hit Parade cd, I think.
Jon O.
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Pat Downey Admin Group
Joined: 01 October 2003
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Posted: 18 October 2009 at 4:15pm | IP Logged
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I disagree with David, after listening again to this track, my copy is stereo to my ears and also my eyes when I look at the wave form on an oscilloscope. Is it possible that there are two different pressings of this cd?
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Paul C MusicFan
Joined: 23 October 2006 Location: Canada
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Posted: 18 October 2009 at 4:32pm | IP Logged
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I agree with David. It sounds re-channeled (electronic/fake stereo) to me.
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davidclark MusicFan
Joined: 17 November 2004 Location: Canada
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Posted: 19 October 2009 at 4:53am | IP Logged
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thanks, Jono, for the timing info. This allowed me to slow down my mono
version from that other CD that came out in 2002.
anyone else care to chime in on the Hit Parade version? I still feel, although
it's not flat mono, it's not true stereo. How about the compilers/masterers
of the package? What was the source?
Edited by davidclark on 19 October 2009 at 4:55am
__________________ dc1
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billbuster MusicFan
Joined: 23 July 2009
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Posted: 27 October 2009 at 5:08am | IP Logged
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For the Canadian Hit Parade CD, Fabulous Fifties Instrumentals & More (#12310), that I had a hand in producing, we mastered "Around The World" from the CD entitled "Collector's Mantovani, Volume 1" (Vocalion CDLK 4152, 2002, England), the ONLY CD in the world we could find that contained the original mono recording. All the others contain the later stereo re-recording which is close but not identical. Even so we had to do a slight speed adjustment to match the original London 45rpm exactly (a procedure we normally perform to be sure we are releasing the original single versions).
There was considerable discussion among our engineering staff (Tom Daly, Mark Mathews & myself) as to whether this was stereo. It really does not look like stereo on a screen to me (sorry, Pat)--both channels look virtually identical. Also this was 1957 and very little stereo recording was going on in England at that time. Further, if the original 45rpm single was stereo, why would London have then re-recorded it later for stereo?
Nevertheless, the track does has a very stereo-like quality about it, not unlike the mono version of "Moonglow & Theme from Picnic" by George Cates found on Eric #11518, Hard to Find Orchestral Instrumentals, Volume 2. But we believe this quality is mainly due to some extra reverb on one channel. In short, after careful consideration of all the facts, we felt it would be misleading to claim this version was anything but mono. Further, it is unlikely it was deliberately rechanneled in 1957 (or later). On this last point, we would ask that you let your ears be your guide. Terrfic trumpet solo though with those icy-cold strings that Mantovani is so famous for!
BTW, as producer, I am curious what readers here think of the mastering quality of tracks #10 through #29 on this CD (basically the orchestral portion of the album). Do any fall short of your expectations? We did work really hard on this CD!
Bill Buster
for Hit Parade Records
Edited by billbuster on 27 October 2009 at 5:09am
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davidclark MusicFan
Joined: 17 November 2004 Location: Canada
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Posted: 27 October 2009 at 6:41am | IP Logged
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glad you chimed in, Bill!
I too have that Collectors Mantovani CD, and as I'd indicate prior, my copy
also runs fast, and although it is NOT flat mono (as I'd previously written), it
is mixed much more close than your new version. Did you widen it as well
as slow it down? I am glad you agree it is not stereo, although it is indeed a
tough call.
As for the CD, I praise it as one of my favs purchased this year. A LOT of
hard-to-find tracks that sound great. Please keep up the good (hard) work!
__________________ dc1
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jono MusicFan
Joined: 26 September 2007 Location: United States
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Posted: 27 October 2009 at 9:43am | IP Logged
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Thanks for writing in, Bill.
With my apologies to The Beatles' fans, it's got my vote for "CD of the Year". Thanks for releasing this collection of songs on "Fabulous Fifties Instrumentals & More", some finally seeing the light of day on cd. Sound is great! Thanks for all your hard work.
Jon O.
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