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Re: [ARSCLIST] RCA records made by Decca or Decca records released by RCA
Hi Steve:
Thanks for the info. Every tidbit is useful.
No, I can't justify travel to the west coast. Next time ARSC is in driving distance, I'll try and
make it. This time of year is always hard time-wise for me.
-- Tom Fine
----- Original Message -----
From: "Steven Smolian" <smolians@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, March 24, 2008 8:31 AM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] RCA records made by Decca or Decca records released by RCA
There was an article in an old High Fidelity that discussed this arrangements. I can't give a
citation but recall it was a spread that discussed the opera recordings, giving second place to
the orchestral ones. I think they were paid for jointly. RCA had them for 5 years after which
ownership went to Decca. Others on this list know more about this than I do.
Are you coming to ARSC?
Steve Smolian
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Fine" <tflists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, March 23, 2008 1:01 PM
Subject: [ARSCLIST] RCA records made by Decca or Decca records released by RCA
In the mid-90's, Classic Records reissued a bunch of albums RCA had issued in the U.S. in the
late 50's and early 60's. Classic's catalog sheet, enclosed in the albums, stated these were made
by Decca "for RCA." I'm talking about albums like "Venice" by Solti (opera overtures and
act-introductions) and Ansermet's "Royal Ballet" with excerpts from several ballet scores. Also
"Witches Brew", which appears to be "show stopper" pieces.
My question -- were these re-packaged Decca records that were already out by Decca outside of the
U.S. or were they commissioned and/or paid for by RCA? The masters apparently reverted to Decca
because the Classic releases were licensed from both Polygram (presumably for the masters) and
RCA/BMG (presumably for the distinctive packaging and liner notes).
I guess a related question is, why didn't Decca just release these works in the U.S. via London
records?
-- Tom Fine