Mantovani - Around The World

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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.

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davidclark Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 17 November 2004 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 27	Post Options Post Reply Quote davidclark Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Mantovani - Around The World Posted: 18 October 2009 at 1:48pm
	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

jono Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 26 September 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote jono Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18 October 2009 at 3:22pm
	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.

Pat Downey Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 01 October 2003 Status: Offline Points: 1	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pat Downey Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18 October 2009 at 4:15pm
	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?

Paul C Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 23 October 2006 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 15	Post Options Post Reply Quote Paul C Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18 October 2009 at 4:32pm
	I agree with David. It sounds re-channeled (electronic/fake stereo) to me.

davidclark Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 17 November 2004 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 27	Post Options Post Reply Quote davidclark Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 October 2009 at 4:53am
	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
	dc1

billbuster Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 23 July 2009 Status: Offline Points: 0	Post Options Post Reply Quote billbuster Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 October 2009 at 5:08am
	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

davidclark Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 17 November 2004 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 27	Post Options Post Reply Quote davidclark Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 October 2009 at 6:41am
	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

jono Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 26 September 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote jono Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 October 2009 at 9:43am
	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.