Not Sounding So Good This Time Around
The originals we played in our recent shootout were bad enough to go right into our Hall of Shame.
We've loved the Blueback pressings in the past. This time, not so much -- too crude and opaque with jello for bass.
Our Shootout Winner from 2005
This is overall the best sounding pressing of the Fjeldstad / LSO we have ever played, with BETTER than Super Hot Stamper sound on both sides. For those of you who know your Londons, when you see the label on this LP you will no doubt be shocked: This is the last pressing in the world that one would expect to sound good. Of course we here at Better Records don't give a sh*t about any such conventional wisdom / collector bias. We like audiophile quality sound and we don't give a damn where we find it. Up against the competition this copy was superb in practically every way, excelling with orchestral size, weight and energy like virtually no other. More Edvard Grieg more Info
Of course we here at Better Records don't give a sh*t about any such conventional wisdom / collector bias. We like audiophile quality sound and we don't give a damn where we find it. Up against the competition this copy was superb in practically every way, excelling with orchestral size, weight and energy like virtually no other.
Speakers Corner Reviewed / VTA Advice
The Fjeldstad has long been one of our favorite performances of Peer Gynt here at Better Records. This record is handy for VTA set-up as well, a subject discussed below in our listing from 2010. More of the music of Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) more Info
This record is handy for VTA set-up as well, a subject discussed below in our listing from 2010.
Our Shootout Winner from 2013
As much as I like Fjeldstad's Peer Gynt on Decca/London with the LSO, I have to say that Odd Gruner-Hegge (love that first name!) and the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra turn in the better of the two performances. To these ears theirs is more lyrical; it flows more naturally both within and between the individual movements. The Oslo Phil also gives me more of a sense that they are feeling the joy in the playing of these works; I do not get quite the same feeling from the LSO. More of the music of Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) more Info
The Oslo Phil also gives me more of a sense that they are feeling the joy in the playing of these works; I do not get quite the same feeling from the LSO.
Reviewed in 2010
This is an original Mercury LP with an AMAZING sound and EXTREMELY quiet vinyl! This has got that Mercury LIFE to it! The sound may be slightly on the dry side, but all the instruments have wonderful texture and tonality. And of course, this is music that belongs in any collection. It's some of the greatest and most accessible classic music ever written. See more of our in-stock pressings of Grieg's music more Info
And of course, this is music that belongs in any collection. It's some of the greatest and most accessible classic music ever written.
Our Shootout Winner from 2011
One of the greatest records in the London catalog. As you may have read elsewhere on the site, the Londons to me have the best overall sound of any Golden Age label. As good as RCA and Mercury were, the Londons are more consistently sweet, tonally correct, dynamic and natural sounding. This is a perfect example. More of the music of Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) more Info
Reviewed in 2008
Red Seal pressing with EXCELLENT SOUND!Fiedler is wonderful here, which is to be expected. What's unusual about this Red Seal is how good the sound is. It's extremely transparent and tonally correct. It sounds to me like a flat transfer. Some tubey colorations would be nice, especially in the louder passages. The sound also lacks a bit of weight in the bottom end. But these faults are mostly made up for by the tremendous clarity and freedom from distortion that this pressing has. I doubt if the Shaded Dog has those qualities. More Living Stereo more Info
Fiedler is wonderful here, which is to be expected. What's unusual about this Red Seal is how good the sound is. It's extremely transparent and tonally correct. It sounds to me like a flat transfer. Some tubey colorations would be nice, especially in the louder passages. The sound also lacks a bit of weight in the bottom end. But these faults are mostly made up for by the tremendous clarity and freedom from distortion that this pressing has. I doubt if the Shaded Dog has those qualities.
Cisco Debunked
A Hall of Shame pressing from Cisco / Impex. Pretty bad, on a par with the shrill crap Classic Records has been dishing out for years but in the opposite tonal direction: dull and deadsville.Check out our Heavy Vinyl Scorecard to read all about the latest winners and losers as we see them. See all pressings of Peer Gynt in stock more Info
Pretty bad, on a par with the shrill crap Classic Records has been dishing out for years but in the opposite tonal direction: dull and deadsville.
Check out our Heavy Vinyl Scorecard to read all about the latest winners and losers as we see them.
