Messages

1

Prerecorded Tapes / Re: Bel Canto

« on: March 15, 2009, 03:33:58 AM »

Do you know when they stopped production.I never knew the Beatles were on OR until recently.I started collecting in the mid to late 70's so Bel Canto are out of left field to me.

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Prerecorded Tapes / Bel Canto

« on: March 14, 2009, 04:07:04 PM »

I have been noticing on ebay that a company, Bel Canto used to produce OR tapes.Can anyone enlighten me as to whether they are any good or not?
  Regards Geoff

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Prerecorded Tapes / Re: Rock/Pop-"The Best Of,.." Thread

« on: March 05, 2009, 12:21:57 AM »

I have just bought Blood Sweat and Tears on Columbia and South of The Border ,Herb Alpert on A&M,both tapes are great its a matter of taste.Spinning Wheel is special.
 Geoff

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Prerecorded Tapes / Re: Rock/Pop-"The Best Of,.." Thread

« on: February 12, 2009, 02:35:31 AM »

My favorite Rock/Pop tapes are (the list is long...quite a few favorites):
- Joan Baez: Blessed Are (Ampex/7 1/2ips edition and Quad/Dolby Vanguard edition)
- Joan Baez: Ballad Book  (B-C/Dolby)
- Joan Baez: Noel (B-C/Dolby)
- Beatles: Abbey Road (Ampex/7 1/2)
- Beatles: Sargent Pepper (Ampex/7 1/2)
- George Benson: Breezin' (Stereotape/Dolby 7 1/2 edition)
- Judy Collins: Who Knows Where the Goes (Ampex/ 7 1/2)
- Jim Croce: You Don't Mess Around with Jim (GRT/7 1/2)
- C,S,N&Y: 4 Way Street (Ampex/7 1/2)
- John Denver: Greatest Hits (Stereotape/Dolby 7 1/2)
- Neil Diamond: Hot August Night (Magtec/ 7 1/2)
- Doobie Brothers: Best (Steretape/Dolby 7 1/2)
- Eagles: Long Run (Columbia House/ 3 3/4 clear reel)
- Roberta Flack: Killing Me Softly (Magtec/ 7 1/2)
- Fleetwood Mac: Fleetwood Mac and Rumors (Stereotape/ Dolby 7 1/2)
- Benny Goodman: Live at Carnegie Hall (Reel Society/ Dolby 7 1/2)
- Keith Jarrett: Koln Concerts
- Jefferson Starship: Red Octopus
- Billy Joe: Songs in the Attic (Col House/ 3 3/4 clear reel)
- Elton John: Yellow Brick Road (Stereotape/ 7 1/2)
- Gordon Lightfoot: Cold on the Shoulder (Stereotape Quad Dolby)
 - Joni Mitchell: Blue (Sterotape/Reissued 7 1/2 ips edition)
- Moody Blues (all 7 1/2 and quad)
- Seals & Croft: Get Closer (Stereotape/Dolby 7 1/2)
- Simon and Garfunkel: Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme (7 1/2)
- Rod Stewart: A Night on the Town (Stereotape/Dolby)
- James Taylor: Flag (Columbia House/unmarked 7 1/2)
- James Taylor: Sweet Baby James (Stereotape/ 7 1/2 edition)
- James Taylor: In the Pocket (Stereotape/Dolby)
- Who: Tommy (Decca/ 7 1/2)
- Jesus Christ Superstar (Decca/ 7 1/2)
- Gary Wright: Dream Weaver and Light of Smiles (Stereotape/Dolby)
- Neil Young: Harvest (Stereotape/ 7 1/2)
- Original Cast: Company
- Original Cast: Fantasticks
- Original Cast: Sweeny Todd
- Original Cast: Side by Side

I mention the manufacturer and speed only because Columbia House offered many of these tapes at 3 3/4 depending on the timeframe. Additionally, Stereotape re-released several 3 3/4 tapes at 7 1/2ips late in their life.

Glenn

Mate your taste is good,I meant to put in Fleetwood Mac and Rumours,those Beatles tapes were supposedly better by the original manufacturer did you get them recently?

5

Prerecorded Tapes / Re: Rock/Pop-"The Best Of,.." Thread

« on: February 12, 2009, 02:29:01 AM »

Hi Geoff, welcome to the forum. I've come close to getting "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" a couple of times but always lost in the end. I've seen that one in 3 3/4 and 7 1/2 ips. I'm glad to see that "Sail Away" made it to reel to reel. I can't recall ever seeing that one for sale.
It's shame that so many great albums were done in such a shoddy manner in the first place. And then the tape duplication was pretty poor too. I can just here them saying "Heck, nobody buys these things anymore anyway! So that's a big NO on replacing those heads on the dup line."
But there are some real gems that slipped through somehow and it's great to hear from all the guys with collections, what to search for and which ones might make fine landfill material.
There's a few that I've tried to get more than once and failed but without knowing if their dogs or not really puts a damper on my bidding. One is the first couple of albums by "The Band", Music From Big Pink, and The Band. Another couple are albums by the band "Spirit". I really wore out a couple of their LP's and I always take a shot at getting their tapes (great band to see in concert back in the day). So if anyone has any, I'd love to hear what you think.

      Thanks mate,I am in OZ,Sail Away is 3 3/4ips but the brass/wind section arrangements are v.g. a fascinating album,well recorded,his other album Good Old Boys in Quad is also a ripper!The postage today is a killer,so bidding for me is only half of the deal???

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Prerecorded Tapes / Re: Rock/Pop-"The Best Of,.." Thread

« on: February 11, 2009, 05:01:30 PM »

I have a collection of tapes that I bought in the 70's and 80's.A lot of pop tapes were poorly copied but, I have a list of tapes which I believe to be among the finest.
  Hope these help.The list is based on the performance and the recording quality.In my opinion!
  Frank Chacksfield-New York. LON 74141.
  Judy Collins-Colors Of The Day. EST75030.
  Creedence Clearwater-Gold. FAN9418.
  Dawn-Candida. BEL6052.
  Neil Diamond-Hot August Night. MCA8000.
  Al Hirt-Best of vol.1 RCA3309.
  Elton John-Goodbye Yellow Brick Road MCA10003.
  The Moody Blues-nearly all of them,3 3/4ips excluded.
  Hugo Montenegro-Love Theme From The Godfather. RCA0001.
  Olivia Newton-John-Let Me Be There. MCA389.
    ditto                 -If You Love Me Let Know MCA411
  Randy Newman-Sail Away. RST2064.
  Peter,Paul and Mary-Self titled.WST1449.
  Jimmie Rodgers-Child Of Clay.AM4130
  Paul Simon-Self titled.COL30750
  Seals and Crofts-Diamond Girl WST2699
  Carly Simon-No Secrets. EST75049
  Frank Sinatra-The Main Event.RST2207
  Cat Stevens-Teaser and The Firecat. AM4313
  James Taylor-One Man Dog.WST2660
        ditto     -Sweet Baby James WST1843 
        ditto     -Greatest Hits. WST2979-C.