London Decca Phase 4 Albums

[Teasing the Korean]

I have accumulated a number of these over the years. While many are complete schlock, there are some gems in the realm of orchestral pop, light classics, and film scores.

All of my copies are U.S. pressings, and most of them have very heavy compression and limiting, bordering on distortion, similar to what was typically heard on Command LPs during that era.

However, I have heard that the compression/limiting was used only on the U.S. versions, perhaps to compete with Command, while the U.K. pressings had a more natural dynamic range (and less distortion).

Does anyone know anything about this?

[Bill Nelson]

While I've got several London Phase 4's in my 'easy listening' stack, all of the vinyl records are "Made in England". (Even my dollar copy of 'Ted Heath & His Music'.)

Not to 'gaslight' you but I can't recall having passed on 'any which might've said "Made in USA".

I'll concede London/Decca had their fat Phase-4 gatefold jackets fabricated from 'Merican pulp n' cardboard.

But while we're on the subject, let me list my fave gatefold Phase-4 albums:

Edmundo Ros - 'The New Rhythms of the South' (the continent) (44054)

Edmundo Ros - 'Arriba' (44080)

Frank Chacksfield - 'The Great TV Themes' (44077)

and my top favorite: Werner Muller - 'The Latin Splendor of' (44139)

Of the slew of Bernard Herrmann London Phase-4's, the grand champion is 'The Fantasy Film World of BH' (SP-44207) released in 1974 in a single jacket.

The National Philharmonic Orchestra's full version of 'Journey To the Center of the Earth' will rattle your molars, if not loosen your fillings.

[sidewinder]

The UK original pressings would have been done at Decca New Malden (as were Tempos) and these usually sound great, with good quality vinyl used. I've got the Shake Keane 'Dig !' in this series - not his greatest session with somewhat cheesy period backing by Ivor Raymonde and his Orchestra but sonically it is fine.

Edited March 6, 2015 by sidewinder

[Teasing the Korean]

Thanks for the replies. I do not hear the distortion on most of the Bernard Herrmann albums, possibly because heavy compression was out of vogue by the time he made those albums (late 60s/early 70s). However, there is distortion on Obsession, and it is always in the same place on multiple copies I've owned. I've wondered if this happened at the recording or mastering stage.

Some of the Phase 4 albums I really love include:

Stanley Black - Exotic Percussion - a top shelf exotica album

Claude Denjean - Moog and Open Circuit - cool Moog pop/rock albums

John Keating - The Keating Sound (expanded big band with some exotica content) and Sounds Galactic (an outer space/groovy album with orchestra and electronics)

Robert Farnon - Porgy and Bess - not in the same league as Miles/Gil, but a very nicely arranged orchestral album

All of the Bernard Herrmann albums.

Edited March 6, 2015 by Teasing the Korean

[Royal Oak]

I see a lot of these LPs knocking about in charity shops, usually Ronnie Aldrich or classical though.

Edited March 6, 2015 by rdavenport

[gmonahan]

Vocalion reissued some Phase 4's by big bands. I've got at least three can think of, "Stan Kenton Today," "The Golden Trumpet of Harry James," and "Benny Goodman Today." They're all pretty good records.

gregmo

[Teasing the Korean]

Vocalion reissued some Phase 4's by big bands. I've got at least three can think of, "Stan Kenton Today," "The Golden Trumpet of Harry James," and "Benny Goodman Today." They're all pretty good records.

gregmo

Yes, I have the Vocalion CD of Stanley Black's aforementioned Exotic Percussion. I hear some very faint distortion on the female vocals but overall it is much cleaner than my vinyl (U.S.) copy. I should add that the mono LP sounded better than the stereo LP. The stereo CD sounds great.

Edited March 7, 2015 by Teasing the Korean

[Teasing the Korean]

Of the slew of Bernard Herrmann London Phase-4's, the grand champion is 'The Fantasy Film World of BH' (SP-44207) released in 1974 in a single jacket.

The National Philharmonic Orchestra's full version of 'Journey To the Center of the Earth' will rattle your molars, if not loosen your fillings.

Agreed. The suites of Journey and 451 are as good as, and in some ways better than, the film versions. Unfortunately, the suite from The Day the Earth Stood Still is marred by speed/pitch drift issues occurring on the cue called "Radar." Otherwise a gem of an album.

Edited March 7, 2015 by Teasing the Korean