First Electrical-Process Record -- Leopold Stokowski 1925

[fromthesidelines]

This was the first classical Red Seal recording to use the "Orthophonic" (electrical) process. The first "popular" Victor recording to be recorded electrically [March 16, 1925] and released [19626] was a selection by a quartet from the annual production of the University of Pennsylvania's "Mask & Wig Club" {"Joan of Arkansas"} .Victor didn't begin identifying "Orthophonic" recordings on their labels until AFTER they officially introduced the process in November 1925.

[bbelin]

To the best of my knowledge the recordings Victor made in the electrical process were released as "Orthophonic" recording this record seems to use the old Red Seal label.

[SatchmoSings]

@bbelin You're WRONG.

The old "Bat Wing" label was still used on both classical and pop records until there was enough of a catalogue built up to make it prescient to announce the new electric recording process.

It's easy enough to tell the difference between the previous acoustic and electric records; there is a small "VE" stamped at the 12 o'clock position of the electric discs.

[northbeachfilms]

@SatchmoSings

gee, not such a big deal. still a great recording. nice to have it posted.

[SatchmoSings]

@northbeachfilms Go get laid and shut the fuck up you moron; I never commented on the veracity of the posting; you're making a strawman; your whole posting is a useless and even counter-productive straw-man.

Now go kill yourself.

[northbeachfilms]

@SatchmoSings

hilarious. 

[fred234w]

@northbeachfilms Why is this hilarious?

[alcoemdge]

I believe Stokowski and the Philadelphians recorded the piece just a year or two later in improved sound.

[SatchmoSings]

@alcoemdge There is a website that has ALL the Stokowski-Philadelphia recordings in pretty good transfers with good commentary.

Just google 'stokowski philadelphia' and it will be the first "hit."

[acfinney]

Thanks for posting this recording. I had no idea that this was a milestone recording. This also happens to be a favorite of mine, followed by Grofe's Canyon Suite. As far as the cardboard-cored records, they were too brittle and rarely survived the old record changers.

[Velostigmat]

I'm having a hard time hearing the upper strings clearly, but for a first commercial recording of a new technology its very impressive!

I wonder if Stokowski picked "Danse Macabre" because of the dynamic and tonal range it uses?

[VTMCompany]

wonderful! the only fault with victor's entry into electrical recording was their shellac quality...actually its LACK of quality. imagine how this recording would have sounded if victor had used columbia's cardboard-based shellac of the same time period. victor was aware of the problem and later re-issued victrola (red seals) on "Z" grade (premium) shellac.