[78-L] test pressing query

[David Lennick]

These are definitely test pressings of recordings made 1951-52. Columbia's 
tests (for internal use and for the approval of the performers) used small 
white 78-style labels well into the fifties. I've seen many of these, but not 
the blue ones..and by the way, these pressings are usually far superior to the 
issued product. If you can provide all the matrix numbers I can identify all of 
them, courtesy of the discography in ARSC Journal 29:1. The complete set of 
Beethoven Quartets occupied 12 LPs, there was a Brahms Piano Quartet with 
Clifford Curzon at this time, but I can't identify the other discs without more 
info.

These weren't sent out to reviewers or retailers in this form but could have 
belonged to one of the members of the Quartet or someone connected with the 
recordings, and wouldn't have had normal jackets..hence the use of an old 78 
style album. These were still being sold at this time.

dl

Donna Halper wrote:
> This is not my area of expertise, so perhaps somebody on the list can 
> advise.  A friend of mine found a big album of 78s at a flea market-- 
> he didn't know what they were (I mean, he knew what 78s are, but as 
> you will see, this confused us both) and was curious about several things.
> 
> First, the album contains about 18 records, all of which say "TEST 
> PRESSING, Columbia Recording Corporation."  Some have greenish-blue 
> labels, some have white labels.  None identifies the artists, but all 
> say "Budapest" on the label.  A couple of the matrix numbers:  XLP 
> 8021-16, and the label reads "Beethoven Q'tet, Budapest." Another 
> reads XLP 9774-!E, and another reads XLP 8020-16.  Some have the 
> words "Op. 18" on them (I assume that's Opus).  Later in the 
> collection of test pressings, it sames "Brahms" rather than Beethoven 
> but still says "Budapest" and "q'tet" on all of them.
> 
> When might these have been recorded and by whom?  And typically, who 
> would have received this heavy album of 18 test pressings-- 
> reviewers?  Concert promoters?  I doubt they would have been sold to 
> the general public with no name of the group, would they have?   
> 
> ___________________________________________