I picked up a couple of BotMC opera box sets and haven't had a chance to listen to them yet. I was wondering what the quality of the pressing generally is on these records.

Thanks.

Chad

Look carefully at the labels, RCA and Columbia both had divisions whose main business was producing such boxed sets.

Look carefully at the labels, RCA and Columbia both had divisions whose main business was producing such boxed sets.

I'll look. The boxes look like the regular operas but along the spines it says BotM Club.

Chad

I (just yesterday) also picked up a BotM LP boxed set: Dave Brubeck Early Fantasies, a collection of 40s and 50s recordings (from Brubeck's early Fantasy Records label) released in 1980. It is absolutely fantastic - some of the quietest vinyl surface I have heard in a while.

I cannot find a reference to a record company anywhere on the box, labels, or book.

BooK Of The Month club usually produced very fine sets. They were quality minded then. Their product was usually very good quality. I own a few Verve and Vanguard licensed sets. I own some original issues of the same music and their sets don't disappoint. And I am demanding on sound quality and surfaces. Advantage is these are cheap and underrated. Try 1 or 2 and let us know how you like them.

I have Madame Butterfly conducted by Karajan with Pavarotti and Carmen conducted by Solti with Placido Domingo. They are both on the London label and on the label above Stereophonic it says; "Made in the U.S.A. Book of the Month Club, Inc."

I never looked at any of my Stones label that closely but I never saw Made in the U.S.A. on them. Of course the print is small. Did London print LPs in the US or did some other company print them for London.

I'm getting ready to put on Madame Butterfly now so I'll let you know how it sounds.

Chad

I have Madame Butterfly conducted by Karajan with Pavarotti and Carmen conducted by Solti with Placido Domingo. They are both on the London label and on the label above Stereophonic it says; "Made in the U.S.A. Book of the Month Club, Inc."

I never looked at any of my Stones label that closely but I never saw Made in the U.S.A. on them. Of course the print is small. Did London print LPs in the US or did some other company print them for London.

I'm getting ready to put on Madame Butterfly now so I'll let you know how it sounds.

Chad

London was the US producer/distributor of UK Decca recordings. I'm sure most of them were made over here.

I have a Sarah Vaughn BotM box...the vinyl is really quiet. The Ella Fitzgerald BotM box sounds cleaner and brighter than the original pressings?!!

London was the US producer/distributor of UK Decca recordings. I'm sure most of them were made over here.

This was not the case with the classical records. They were all made in Decca's UK plant, and then were shipped to the US in inner sleeves only. The US covers, many of them ugly and tasteless, were designed and made in the US by the distributor/subsidiary.