If you could only have one label for the rest of your life

[JJack]

For reasons I can't explain, I organize my music by record label, with the exceptions of Bruckner, chamber, and piano CDs. LPs are all organized by label. [how do you organize your records?]

Which led me to this question:

Which label would you pick if you could only have one for the rest of your life?

BMG, Decca/London, EMI, Sony/Phillips, CBS, can't forget DG, Hyperion, oh, this would be a tough choice. Audiophile labels like Classic Records, MFSL...

I probably own more DG than anything else.

I'm not certain of the answer to my own question: if asked at gunpoint, I think I'd say London/Decca.

But that would leave me without Du Pre's Elgar (EMI) or Gendron's stately Bach suites (Phillips), not to mention Walter's Bruckner 9 on CBS/Sony!

[morris_minor]

Hmm. That's like only buying books from one publisher . . .:scratch:

I'd find it impossible to say, because no one label would cater for my tastes.

But if pushed :eek: :eek: it'd be Blue Note for their classic jazz, or World Circuit for their fantastic Afro-Cuban fare. :D

Could I really live without Vaughan Williams, Walton, Finzi, Bax, Moeran etc.? er, :no:

Edit: of course there's always Lyrita ! :)

[YNWaN]

Easy for me, 4AD

[MartinT]

I organize my music by record label

Seriously? That would be like finding books used to be in the old Foyles (all sorted by publisher).

If I had to have one label, it would be Decca.

[JJack]

Seriously? That would be like finding books used to be in the old Foyles (all sorted by publisher).

If I had to have one label, it would be Decca.

I can't explain it. Instead of "Beethoven 6, Klemperer" I think "EMI"

[MartinT]

I guess it must make for nice blocks of colour on the shelves :lol:

[WOStantonCS100]

I organize by composer then type of work (alphabetically) then chronologically.

Which label is an impossibility for me. If someone put a gun to my head and told me to choose, I think I would convulse uncontrollably and drop to the floor in a heap. There's just too much good stuff out there. Take DG/Archiv; but, not RCA Red Seal or Columbia Masterworks. Take London/Decca; but, not Angel. Nope. I think I feel my eye starting to twitch. :)

[Reid Malenfant]

Nick, you made the same mistake as me :eyebrows: This is about classical music, it's the second time I have messed up & had to delete a post...

Too confusing & I was sober to :D

[Beechwoods]

Good lord! Thanks for the tip Mark. I need to do some tidying up :whistle:

[WOStantonCS100]

The perils of clicking "New Posts" instead of going section by section...

[sq225917]

By composer for classical, by band and then sleeve colour for everything else.

I used to have everything arranged in purchase date order.

[JJack]

Yes, my shelves are pretty (and if I knew how to post a picture I would do so).

I thought I was making this a MUCH EASIER challenge than the typical "desert island dozen" and here there are people convulsing on the floor (which I completely understand)

[Alex_UK]

Yes, my shelves are pretty (and if I knew how to post a picture I would do so).

I thought I was making this a MUCH EASIER challenge than the typical "desert island dozen" and here there are people convulsing on the floor (which I completely understand)

There are instructions - http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=2 - but as this seems to be common question, I'm working on a tutorial which I will be posting in the next day or so.

[Thing Fish]

Quote - If you could only have one label for the rest of your life.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-c-mFsEbtBz0/TvIs1gmmwVI/AAAAAAAABbM/iKZjT6voYto/s392/chateau-lafite-rothschild-label.jpg...:)

[Alex_UK]

Yes, my shelves are pretty (and if I knew how to post a picture I would do so).

Hi Jack updated guide posted earlier today - http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=14874 - let me know how you get on - I will merge with the original post in a day or so (the first link I posted yesterday.)

[jandl100]

One classical recording label? :scratch: - Naxos !! :thumbsup:

By far the most adventurous and interesting of classical labels, for me, these days.
... and it's cheap. ;)

But it's not a question that shares my world view. A truly strange way to look at things! It really would never have occurred to me.

[jandl100]

My CD collection (2500 or so) gets organised alphabetically by composer.
Within a single composer, I organise individual musical types alphabetically by conductor, so my Bruckner symphony collection starts with Abbado and ends with Zender.
Simples - I can generally find the music I want faster than someone with a computerised collection and a fancy graphics tablet on their lap. :eyebrows:

[jazzpiano]

I only have about 300 Lps, divided roughly equal b/w jazz and classical, so not enough to arrange by label, so I do it alphabetically by performer. If I had to pick only one classical label it might be the often mediocre sounding Melodiya, simply because there are so many great artists on that label. Otherwise, it would probably be RCA, their Victor monos sound lovely as well. Or EMI...

Best and Merry Christmas All,
Barry

[JJack]

Quote - If you could only have one label for the rest of your life.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-c-mFsEbtBz0/TvIs1gmmwVI/AAAAAAAABbM/iKZjT6voYto/s392/chateau-lafite-rothschild-label.jpg...:)

As we say in the States: "Thing Fish FTW"

Tough to beat this one.

[tannoyman]

For reasons I can't explain, I organize my music by record label, with the exceptions of Bruckner, chamber, and piano CDs. LPs are all organized by label. [how do you organize your records?]

Which led me to this question:

Which label would you pick if you could only have one for the rest of your life?

BMG, Decca/London, EMI, Sony/Phillips, CBS, can't forget DG, Hyperion, oh, this would be a tough choice. Audiophile labels like Classic Records, MFSL...


Hi Jack

Firstly I wish my records were organised but moving on, its a completely invidious question. Rather like asking me whether I would rather lose an arm or a leg.

It reminds me of a comment by Ian Tracey (former Director of Music at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral now Organist Titulaire) who was asked which of Cesar Franck's Chorales he loved playing most, to which he he replied "whichever one I happen to be playing at the time"

Some of the finest recordings of all time imho come from Decca but the finest legacy collection of recordings must be EMI, and HMV/Columbia in particular.

Kind regards

David :):)

Quote of the Day

"It must be terrible to be teetotal and to get up in the morning knowing that that's the best you will feel all day" - Frank Sinatra

[Marco]

Some of the finest recordings of all time imho come from Decca but the finest legacy collection of recordings must be EMI, and HMV/Columbia in particular.


Indeed. That's certainly what I've found with the classical music that I own on vinyl. The above are, beyond question, my favourite labels :)

Marco.

[Desmo]

Only one label? It would have to be L'Oiseau-Lyre. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89ditions_de_l%27Oiseau-Lyre

I see that they are now owned by Decca, so maybe I should just say Decca, and then get all the other recordings too!

[Barry]

Only one label? It would have to be L'Oiseau-Lyre. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89ditions_de_l%27Oiseau-Lyre

I see that they are now owned by Decca, so maybe I should just say Decca, and then get all the other recordings too!

Decca are now part of DGG.

Apart from that I would be reluctant to single out one particular label, though Decca, EMI/HMV and Philips would be high on my list.

[struth]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/ff/Deutsche_Grammophon.svg/1280px-Deutsche_Grammophon.svg.png

[Ronksley]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/ff/Deutsche_Grammophon.svg/1280px-Deutsche_Grammophon.svg.png

Dg always great sound I cant think of a DG record I have that isnt great

Really stupid question couldnt possibly just listen to one label

Some as yet unmentioned labels I couldnt live without Nimbus, Harmonia Mundi, Olympia, Hungaroton, Supraphon, Das Alte werk and of course Brilliant
Some great stuff on EMI I am a big fan of Klemperer but why on there boxsets do they not list the tracks on the individual sleeves
Naxos really did some amazing stuff

[The Barbarian]

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w425/ELPFAN1968/Platipus.jpg (http://s1075.photobucket.com/user/ELPFAN1968/media/Platipus.jpg.html)