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Dvorák/Davis review
Posted by Des Hutchinson on June 24, 2020, 9:21 am
In his review today, David Dunsmore initially refers to this "straight re-release of a 1969 Philips album" (actually 1968, Philips SAL 3706), but then finishes by extolling "that special Decca analogue sound", when in fact it is a Philips recording. There had hitherto been some relationship between Decca and Philips, the latter acquiring the Decca distributorship for the Netherlands (HDD) in 1942, and then merging with DGG in 1962 to subsequently become PolyGram (and now Universal Music Group). However, Decca did not join until 1979, and up until then (and in effect for some time after) Decca and Philips were separate recording companies with their own particular practices, which included using their own proprietary recording equipment.
It's perhaps too easy to equivalence Philips with Decca when UMG, presumably for commercial reasons and certainly not for historical accuracy, appear to have re-branded all archival Philips recordings as Decca.
Re: Dvorák/Davis review
Posted by David R Dunsmore on June 24, 2020, 11:44 am, in reply to "Dvorák/Davis review"
Hi Des Thank you very much for pointing this out, much appreciated. The changes in record companies can get confusing at times. I hope you enjoy the reissue, it’s excellent and shows how great a conductor of Dvorak, Sir Colin Davis was Best Wishes David D
Previous Message
In his review today, David Dunsmore initially refers to this "straight re-release of a 1969 Philips album" (actually 1968, Philips SAL 3706), but then finishes by extolling "that special Decca analogue sound", when in fact it is a Philips recording. There had hitherto been some relationship between Decca and Philips, the latter acquiring the Decca distributorship for the Netherlands (HDD) in 1942, and then merging with DGG in 1962 to subsequently become PolyGram (and now Universal Music Group). However, Decca did not join until 1979, and up until then (and in effect for some time after) Decca and Philips were separate recording companies with their own particular practices, which included using their own proprietary recording equipment.
It's perhaps too easy to equivalence Philips with Decca when UMG, presumably for commercial reasons and certainly not for historical accuracy, appear to have re-branded all archival Philips recordings as Decca.