[78-L] Koussey Played Bass

[David Lennick]

The issued sides are definitely master pressings..the run-in is added (but 
doesn't have that buzz they got when they added run-ins in the 30s) and you can 
see the shaved area and the re-cut run-out, same as they did on the John 
McCormack reissue set. The other 4 sides were all probably ten-inch since 
they're very short (only "Andante Part 2" looks longer and it has widely spaced 
grooves). I'm surprised they didn't give these fake 20s matrix numbers, or did 
Victor only do that in the 50s?

Note, there were more than 2 issued sides..there were 4 (see below).

Anyway, onward and upward..to get Edward D. Young's Koussy discography from the 
ARSC Journal (Spring 1990, which Mike could have looked up himself) off the 
shelf and see if they're listed with original matrix numbers.

Yup, here they are. Note that there's one more side not included in LE-1 but 
which WAS issued on LP, LCT 1145. Individual numbers in the reissue set aren't 
given here (wonder why?). Reassigned matrix numbers are shown, but only in the 
"notes" section at the end.

KOUSSEVITZKY: CONCERTO FOR DOUBLE BASS OP. 3, 2ND MOVEMENT, ANDANTE: BVE 
42992-4, 42993-6; LE-1, LCT 1145

KOUSSEVITZKY: VALSE MINIATURE OP. 1: BVE 46178-3, VICTOR 1476, HMV DA 1150, 
LE-1, LCT 1145

ECCLES: SONATA IN G MINOR FOR VIOLIN AND CONTINUO: LARGO: CVE 42996-1, -4,
	VICTOR 7159, LE-1, LCT 1145 (so we don't know which take was reissued..the 
take # was obliterated along with the run-out groove)

(all Sept. 25, 1929, Liederkranz Hall)

LASKA: WIEGENLIED, BVE 42997-3, LE-1

BEETHOVEN: MINUET IN G, BVE 42998-5, VICTOR 1476, HMV DA 1150, LCT 1145, part 
on SRL-12-11

KOUSSEVITZKY: CHANSON TRISTE OP. 2, CVE 42999-2, 7159, LE-1

(all Sept. 26, 1929, Liederkranz Hall)

Young points out that the dubs are the shits, to put it mildly, and that two of 
those dubs were used for the LP transfer (Valse Miniature & Wiegenlied) while 
the other sides were transferred from original metal parts..which doesn't mean 
that they don't wow as well. I haven't listened to that LP in years.

Oh..1000 sets.

dl

Michael Biel wrote:
> Finally found an album of recordings I had been long seeking but hadn't 
> know what form they took.  It is RCA Victor Red Seal DeLuxe Special 
> Limited Edition LE-1 "Serge Koussevitzky -- Master of the Double Bass, 
> 25th Anniversary Souvenir".  3-12-inch discs, Ruby Red vinyl, numbered 
> 99-2000 thru 2002.  The matrix numbers are interesting.  They are in the 
> vinyl but not on the labels.  The liner notes mention that two of the 
> sides had been issued in 1929, and those two sides have the release 
> number in the vinyl: 7159A and B.   "The other four sides are being 
> released for the first time.  In 1929 Dr. Koussevitzky felt they did not 
> represent fully what he had been able to accomplish on the double bass 
> but today their historic value has persuaded him to approve their 
> release"   These four have numbers D8-RC-741, 746, 747, and 748 or 9.  
> 1948, of course.  But usually these re-numbered masters are given the 
> prefix of the year of recording, which would have been B9.  There are no 
> VE marks on any of the six sides, and in all likelyhood the four 
> unissued sides are dubs, but it is possible that the two issued sides 
> are master pressings because there are some indications of shaving in 
> the lead-out area. 
> 
> Anyone know how limited this edition was?  Were there shellac pressings 
> also?   Is there info of these yet in the Victor discography project or 
> do we have to look at the sheets and cards at BMG? 
> 
> The liner notes tell a story about how he wanted to restore the double 
> bass back into the soloist status.  Sounds like a Russian version of 
> Tubby the Tuba!
> 
> Mike (deep thoughts) Biel   mbiel at mbiel.com 
>