Regarding Roger Kulp's reply to my message about the two RCA Victor
recordings of Grofe's Grand Canyon Suite:
The number for Victrola VICS-1423 would place the issue year, roughly,
at 1968, before the worst of the 1970s RCA pressings. I add that 1968 is
merely an estimate on my part.
Regarding Monteux. He made no recordings for Reader's Digest, ever. He
did make some recordings for RCA while under contract to them which were
never issued in the USA on Red Seal records, but only on Victrola after about
1963 (UK Decca made the recordings, in London and Vienna). They included
many of Monteux's Beethoven symphony recordings: 2, 4, and 7 with the LSO, and
the Eroica with the Vienna Philharmonic. Several Beethoven overtures with
the LSO received the same treatment. Symphony 5 wasn't issued anywhere
until the 1970s on Japanese Decca; it subsequently appeared in the USA on a
London Stereo Treasury LP, although a not-issued Victrola number was assigned
to it in the '60s. Classic Records issued it. Symphonies 1, 6, and 8, with
the VPO, were issued on Red Seal LPs before 1960.
Monteux was angry about RCA's failure to issue the recordings in the
USA, particularly when they reneged on their promise to issue his 85th birthday
Boston Symphony Beethoven 9th(s, edited) on Red Seal, and I've been told
that is why he left RCA around 1961 and began to record for other companies,
beginning with Westminster -- and the Beethoven 9th.
A list of Victor recordings first issued in stereo on Victrola would be
a major task. Perhaps someone has the time.
Don Tait
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