Anyone here a fan of the Persuasive Percussion records? It was a series of primarily instrumental albums with a heavy hand on stereo experimentation, under a fella by the name of Enoch Light. The titles were releases under Enoch Light's second label, Command Records. Command records was a huge departure from Enoch's first label, the mediocre at best Grand Award label, which, many Enoch Light fans will agree, is not even a shadow of what the excellent Command label is. Later efforts by Enoch Light retained the quality of Command, under the name Project 3. These records, although well-recorded, dropped the wild dynamics, and the music catered to a different crowd, with arrangements now utilizing an easy listening format.

If anyone runs across these albums, I'd suggest you pick them up to give them a whirl. They are lots of fun, with some fun experimentation with stereo separation and wild dynamics. The music is light fare, funky jazz- not Kenny G jazz, or the ilk, more like a lighter version of a Tom & Jerry cartoon (Tom & Jerry used work by Spike Jones, and I believe Raymond Scott and Sun Ra).

If you don't like them, I'm always interested in them :D . Although they're more of a novelty to me, I do get lots of enjoyment from them, and if you see them at the Goodwill or Thrift, I hope you pick them up and get the same enjoyment out of them as I do. I unfortunately lost my copies (except one) in a move- movers do not no where they ended up. I suspect they were left by the trash pile- who listens to records anymore, huh? :scratch2: :D

Here's a list of releases by Command, and also some info about the Label, and a link to a website by the name of Space Age Pop that provides more detail than what I've offered up...

A blurb from the afformentioned site-

"Light ...formed Command in 1959 with the specific aim of capitalizing on the emerging market of stereo fanatics. He wanted his recordings to take maximum advantage of left-right channelization without stooping to tricks like "ping-pong" effects. He was a meticulous engineer and put as much effort into the quality of his recording equipment and production systems as into the music itself. He tested a number of New York studios before selecting , and he was the first to arrange the musicians to suit the audio effects he wanted to achieve. He devoted a considerable amount of prose to describing the acoustic aspects of each number--to the point that he started a new LP packaging format, the gatefold, to fit it all in. Finally, he set Command LPs apart on the store racks with bold abstract designs, the first few by the artist Josef Albers."

A link to the afformentioned site-

http://www.spaceagepop.com/light.htm

Recordings-

Provocative Percussion, Command RS 800 SD
Million Dollar Sound of the World's Most Precious Violins, Command RS 802 SD
The Million Dollar Sound of the World's Most Precious Violins, Volume 2, Command RS 804 SD
The Private Life of a Private Eye, Command RS 805 SD
Provocative Percussion Vol 2, Command RS 810 SD
Bongos/Flute/Guitars, Command RS 812 SD
Pertinent Percussion Cha-Chas, Command RS 814 SD
Persuasive Percussion Vol 3, Command RS 817 SD
Big Bold and Brassy, Command RS 818 SD
Reeds and Percussion, Command RS 820 SD
Provocative Percussion Vol 3, Command RS 821 SD
Far Away Places, Command RS 822 SD
Stereo 35/MM, Command RS 826 SD
Persuasive Percussion Vol 4, Command RS 828 SD
Stereo 35/MM Vol 2, Command RS 831 SD
Vibrations, Command RS 833 SD
Provocative Percussion Vol 4, Command RS 834 SD
Great Themes from Hit Films, Command RS 835 SD
Enoch Light & His Orchestra at Carnegie Hall Play Irving Berlin, Command RS840SD
Big Band Bossa Nova, RS 844 SD
Far Away Places Vol 2, Command RS 850 SD
Let's Dance the Bossa Nova, Command RS 851 SD
1963: The Year's Most Popular Themes, Command RS 854 SD
Rome 35/MM, Command RS 863 SD
Dimension 3, Command RS 867 SD
Great Themes from Hit Films, Command RS 871 SD
Discotheque Dance, Dance, Dance, Command RS 873 SD
A New Concept, Command RS 879 SD
Discotheque Vol 2, Command RS 882 SD
Persuasive Percussion 1966, Command RS 895 SD
Musical Explorations in Sound, Command RS 970 SD

http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=74917&highlight=enoch+light
http://spaceagepopagogo.tripod.com/

http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=74917&highlight=enoch+light
http://spaceagepopagogo.tripod.com/

M,

The second link plays music when you enter, of a bongo player- it actually sounds good coming out of my 1/2" stereo speakers that are built into my laptop!!!

I can only imagine how good it sounds through a proper setup...

Deli, I see them fairly regularly here in the Austin, TX area. Nearly every tme I go digging. If you'd like, I would be happy to look for some in good shape and send them to you. I think I have one around the house somewhere. I'll PM you if I find some.

Ghog

Wow! I am amazed to hear this name mentioned. I attribute some of my audiophilism to listening to an old Enoch Light LP on a Motorola stereo tube record player when I was probably 9 years old. The LP (among others), and the record player, were given to us by a relative to sell at a garage sale. Harumph to that, I convinced my parents to let me keep both, and still have both (somewhere).

Wow! I am amazed to hear this name mentioned. I attribute some of my audiophilism to listening to an old Enoch Light LP on a Motorola stereo tube record player when I was probably 9 years old



Actually, I'm a fan of the Grand Award era of Enoch Light. Like jon_s, I heard Mr. Light in my youth on my grandfather's Hi-Fi. The album was "All The Things You Are." G.A. 236 S.D. Since the advent of eBay, I've purchased half a dozen copies trying to find one that is close to perfect. All but one were hideously worn. With CoolEdit and the integral vinyl filter, I came up with an amazing CD dub. However, I'm still looking for a sealed copy. The album is filled with beautiful orchestral arrangements, and was recorded in "PHASE X!" It may sound pathetic, but it's music from a time in my life where everything was happy and safe, and has always stuck with me.

From the liner notes, "Grand Award's Spectacular Stereophonic Sound includes a key element that is not found in other two channel recording systems-the newly developed Grand Award "Phase X" process. "Phase X" is an engineering achievement which eliminates the 'hole in the middle' effect which gives the impression that unrelated sound is coming from two separate side sources..."

It seems Enoch Light was ever the innovator!

GuyNoir,

I'm interested in your assessment of the Grand Award period.

Normally I read that it's not up to par with the latter Enoch offerings, but that's just a blanket statement, and not the final word of God.

The latter Concept 3 records are normally lumped into easy listening jazz, but there's a few records in that series I'd like, notably "Spaced Out", "Permissive Polyphonics", and "Charge! 4 Channel Dynamite".

I'm always open to hearing good Enoch Light- if it's Grand Award, Concept 3, or Command label items.

GuyNoir,



Normally I read that it's not up to par with the latter Enoch offerings, but that's just a blanket statement, and not the final word of God.

Not to worry; I wasn't in the slightest offended :thmbsp:


The latter Concept 3 records are normally lumped into easy listening jazz, but there's a few records in that series I'd like, notably "Spaced Out", "Permissive Polyphonics", and "Charge! 4 Channel Dynamite".

I'm always open to hearing good Enoch Light- if it's Grand Award, Concept 3, or Command label items
Well Hello, Deli -

I have Persuasive and Provocative Percussion on CD, which I throughly enjoy. Truthfully, I don't know all that much about Grand Award - I shouldn't have said "era." My attachment to Grand Award is more sentimental than anything else. The performance on this record is first rate, but the vinyl has a particular defect in the pressing in exactly the same place in all five examples that I own, and it's a bit hissy. Incidentally, I picked up a second pressing of the same album on the "Brigade" label (as in Light Brigade, I would imagine). It was truly horrible...the highs sound rolled off above 9000 hz.

Great thread, Deli. I was surprised to find that I'm not the only AK Enochphile!

I love these albums. I rarely pass one up. I would like to find the discoteque ones. :banana: :banana:

As for thinking that digging certain music is pathetic, no way, music is music and touches us all. I still can dig Barbara Streisand, Glenn Campbell same thing, life was nice and simple when I listened to those tunes. Rhinestone Cowboy anyone?

After reading this thread I had to go and look through a box of records I kept when we cleaned out my Dads house. I found a Persuasive Percussion LP but on "Broadway Records". Also a Frantic Percussion also on Broadway Records neither has any liner notes and no info on the jackets, are these the same?? Maybe I will have to play them and see, they look to be in very good condition. Just curious.

Eric

Persuasive Percussion was my father's favorite album. I got my introduction to audio listening to it on a 35 wpc Fisher tube console. Very fond memories there, and very fine music. I didn't know they were available on CD...so I'm off to get 'em, wishing they had SACD!

After reading this thread I had to go and look through a box of records I kept when we cleaned out my Dads house. I found a Persuasive Percussion LP but on "Broadway Records". Also a Frantic Percussion also on Broadway Records neither has any liner notes and no info on the jackets, are these the same?? Maybe I will have to play them and see, they look to be in very good condition. Just curious.

Eric

I'd say the Persuasive Percussion is, but as a later-issue version.

After Enoch Light sold the label to ABC Records, ABC ran the label for a few years, then it was sold to MCA only a few years after this buyout. ABC had dropped the gatefold packaging, and shortly after, the liner notes, to save money, all within the few short years they owned it. MCA, upon ownership, then converted it all to a budget label, pressed the recordings on cheap recycled vinyl, further reduced packaging quality, and discontinued it completely in the mid '70s.

Unfortunately, if you do have a copy, it's of the later issue, and therefore suffers from reduced info, artwork, and possibly sound and vinyl stock quality.

nonetheless, it's worth a spin, if just for some fun factor. I do hope you enjoy it!

Does it look anything like this?

I'll throw in a little 'shout-out' to some Enoch Light LPs... There are some damn good ones for sure. I prefer the the later 60s Enoch Light stuff though.

-Cheers

I have a hunch that you gents might enjoy this:

Space Age Pop Music Broadcast (http://www.spaceagepop.com/broadcast.htm)

"For the authentic space age pop experience, these notes should be printed on the back of a slightly worn album cover, preferably with a suitably retro or exotic cover featuring a Playtex model holding (or, in the case of a Bob Thompson album, sitting in) an oversized Martini glass. But then, you would also have to be wearing a cardigan, smoking a pipe, and relaxing in front of your Admiral stereo console set while the little woman busies herself fixing your evening steak and potatoes."




Click here to stream the broadcast (http://www.basichip.com/space_age_pop_music/stream.m3u)

Hmmmm-I've got an Enoch Light quad album that came with a pile of other odd quad LPs and a quad receiver & turntable.
I'll have to check it out.

Pretty neat, Guynoir!

Check this link out...

http://users.skynet.be/dada/fantastica/listen.htm