REMINGTON Label Classical LPs

[JSngry]

I was looking this past weekend, and in a bin full of normally priced older Classical LPs, there were 5-6 Remington label LPs that were priced significantly higher. I didn't recognize any of the performers (not that that means anything), and the packaging seemed a little lacking (if florid on front).

So what's the deal with this stuff, is the music that good, or is this a "collector's thing" where the object is the object (or vice-versa)?

[Stereojack]

It has been reported that the artists credited on Remington and other similar budget labels are in fact sometimes major orchestras performing under pseudonyms. I heard this many years ago from a collector who was actively collecting them. It wouldn't surprise me that somebody may have since compiled a list identifying these mystery orchestras.

[JSngry]

I found this site yesterday, which goes a long way towards explaining the "mystique", as well as the potential for hype.

Main page: http://www.soundfountain.org/rem/dongabor.html

Specific label history/etc: http://www.soundfountain.org/rem/dongabor1.html

I had not known that Don Gabor was also the guy between Continental, an earlier label of some jazz interest.

[HutchFan]

Wow. What a lot of detective work this guy has done!

[JSngry]

Indeed. And if not on that site, then on another one talking about Remington, it was noted that at one point in the early days of LPs, classical accounted for 20% of sales. What that says about general market tastes and/or about who were the early-ish adapters to LPs I can't say, but it's a pretty mind-boggling statistic either way. 20%! And this guy figured he could turn a big profit selling classical records. Imagine that!

[Big Beat Steve]

55 minutes ago, JSngry said:

Indeed. And if not on that site, then on another one talking about Remington, it was noted that at one point in the early days of LPs, classical accounted for 20% of sales. What that says about general market tastes and/or about who were the early-ish adapters to LPs I can't say, but it's a pretty mind-boggling statistic either way. 20%! And this guy figured he could turn a big profit selling classical records. Imagine that!

I'd venture a guess that over here the share of classical LPs was quite higher than that in the early days of LPs.