And I have a Westminster STEREO demo LP with cuts from their various
issues. The sound is not so hot, but the cover is wonderfully dramatic!
clark
On Wed, Jan 18, 2012 at 1:35 PM, Roderic G Stephens
<[log in to unmask]>wrote:
> I just dug out one of my first Hi-Fi purchases, a 1953 Westminster "Hi-Fi
> Demonstration Record". With it I could test out my system with "Frequency
> tones in all audible ranges from 40 to 15,000 cps.", "Music with
> controllable range from 30 to 15,000 cps.", "Definition in loud passages
> without intermodulation", "Separate bands of sound of percussion, string,
> woodwind and brass groups, piano, harpsichord and guitar", and last but not
> least, a "Stroboscope for control of turntable speed" located on the labels
> of both sides of the record. It was hot stuff in those days. On the back
> side of the album cover there's a listing of their albums in numerical
> order from WL5001 to WL5162 plus nine of their 2 record sets (WAL series).
> Of course, this won't be the full catalog. At the bottom, it says,
> "Please ask dealer for complete catalog." If anyone would like me to look
> up any numbers that may be in the listings, I have the cover at my
> fingertips. LP demo
> records were "the thing" in those days for a twenty year old with his
> first component system. Rod Stephens
>
> --- On Wed, 1/18/12, Carl Pultz <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> From: Carl Pultz <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Westminster record label
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Date: Wednesday, January 18, 2012, 6:30 AM
>
> Are these the el-cheapo Double Decker CDs? I have the Rodzinski Nutcracker
> on one of those - fantastic! - coupled with Abravanel's Swan Lake excerpts.
> And some Scherchen Beethoven symphonies, also in very good sound. Didn't
> realize what a fine pedigree these packages had or I'd have bought more of
> them, like the Kna Wagner excerpts.
>
> Somehow I never encountered any of the Westminster product in its original
> form in decent shape until last summer, when I found the Knappertsbusch
> Fidelio in a junkshop for $3-mint. It has Westminster ABC-Paramount logos
> on
> the sleeve and Westminster on the LPs. The pressings look like 1960s
> production rather than 1950s, so maybe still not the earliest? Mastering is
> credited to Claude Rie and there is a script R inscribed in the runout.
> WMS-1003. I'll have to wash it up and see how it plays....
>
> Carl
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Clark Johnsen
> Sent: Wednesday, January 18, 2012 12:27 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Westminster record label
>
> I'll confirm that report. In addition I have some similarly-liveried
> Barylli Quartet, Vienna Konzerthaus Quartet etc. Westminster CDs. And they
> sound quite good, by the way, once the CD problem is overcome.
>
> clark
>
> On Tue, Jan 17, 2012 at 8:03 PM, [Richard A Kaplan]
> <[log in to unmask]>wrote:
>
> > Some late Westminster recordings were issued on CD by "MCA Classics":
> e.g.,
> > Monteux's recordings of the Beethoven 9th and Berlioz's Romeo and
> Juliet.
> > So, the acquisition of Westminster's catalogue by MCA makes sense.
> >
> > Rich
> >
> >
> > In a message dated 1/17/2012 6:49:31 P.M. Central Standard Time,
> > [log in to unmask] writes:
> >
> > I do not recall Westminster being connected to MCA/Decca in any way, but
> > it
> > has been a long time.....
> >
> > Your search for sound & video ends here!
> > Jay Sonin, General Manager
> > Music Hunter Distributing Company
> > 4880 North Citation Drive, Suite # 101
> > Delray Beach, Florida 33445-6552
> > [log in to unmask]
> > 561-450-7152
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
> > [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Steven Smolian
> > Sent: Tuesday, January 17, 2012 7:05 PM
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Westminster record label
> >
> >
> > The MCA Westminster was, as I recall, issued on U.S. Decca.
> >
> > Steve Smolian
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
> > [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Thomas Stern
> > Sent: Tuesday, January 17, 2012 6:08 PM
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: [ARSCLIST] Westminster record label
> >
> > I recently saw two "Westminster" releases in series I have not seen
> before
> > (or don't remember).
> > Can anyone provide some background on them, when they were active, how
> > extensive was the catalog, new recordings or reissues, etc.
> > The labels are WESTMINSTER ABC, and MCA WESTMINSTER.
> > I am aware of the two-tone orange cover series - these are NOT that
> > series.
> >
> > The Westminster ABC release appears to have been available in mono and
> > stereo, carries catalog numbers XWN/WST 17135 Norman Treigle - arias,
> > recorded June 1967.
> >
> > The MCA Westminster release MCA 1401 Walton: Facade, Gingold, Oberlin.
> > Copyright 1980.
> >
> > Thanks!
> > Best wishes, Thomas.
> >
>
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