Decca

Billie Holiday – The Lady Sings, 1955 LP mono

Decca, Holiday Billie, Jazz, LP Remastering
Anton Stepichev
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Recorded in the 1940s, Billie is exquisite and unique. After her songs, you want to turn off the sound and sit in silence to cool down and it seems that it is simply impossible for a singer to be so truthful and convincing. Good Morning, Heartache… I bow my head in admiration.

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Django Reinhardt and Stefane Grappelly, 1935-1938 Decca personality series 78prm shellac rip

Decca, Guitar, Jazz, Reinhardt Django, Remastering from shellac records, Stefane Grappelli, Violin
Anton Stepichev


The post-war reissue, to estimate the loss of reissue clarity you can compare it with Honeysuckle Rose and Night and Day on the Ace Of Club vinyl, losses are definitely great. Well, Django himself – one of a kind, no one except him could not and can not extract from the acoustic guitar such a dense and expressive sound. The same can be said about Grappelli's graceful violin, as if created for a swing.

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Prewar USA pop orchestras, 78rpm shellac rip

Brunswick, Decca, Ellington Duke, Fitzgerald Ella, Pop, Remastering from shellac records, Victor, Webb Chick
Anton Stepichev


American pre-war records with very good sound. Clinton has a great chorus of saxophones, the orchestra is good, but Bea Wain sings so-so, Ellington orchestra emits a powerful rhythm energy with perfectly played and recorded solo on the clarinet in the middle, Ella lively and perky, can be compared with the previous version. The last two records – subtle tenors, fashionable in the 1920s, The Westerners – acoustic record, the most intelligible, but its charm in digital form is almost completely lost.

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Reinhardt – Grappelly – Bechet, 1960s LP rip

Bechet Sidney, Decca, Jazz, LP Remastering, Reinhardt Django, Stefane Grappelli
Anton Stepichev

An example of remastering of Django and Bechet on the German Decca of some philophonist club. A thin 10″ plate with convex sides, most likely the late 1960s. The Bechet originals are a real audiophile Lo-Fi, recorded with overloads that give an extra drive, you can imagine how powerful it sounded in the original source.

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Édith Piaf ‎– Chansons Des Cafés De Paris, 1950 LP Rip

Chanson, Decca, LP Remastering, Piaf ‎ Édith
Anton Stepichev

If Piaf had sung only Sophie and nothing else, it would have been enough to consider her the greatest interpreter, improviser and magician.

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Yves Montand Sings, 1951 LP mono

Chanson, Decca, LP Remastering, Montand Yves
Anton Stepichev

The baritone of Yves Montand is in full glory.

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Ella Fitzgerald and her Savoy eight, 78rpm shellac rip

Decca, Fitzgerald Ella, Jazz, Remastering from shellac records, Webb Chick
Anton Stepichev

The “Savoy eight” is a Chick Web orchestra, both tracks are on the 1960 Brunswick remastering and you can compare. It remains a mystery to me why Brunswick decided to cut the bottom in Organ grinder’s swing. On the example of Brunswick remastering you can also feel the negative impact of noise and click reduction, as a result there is not enough air and the overall mood of the music is distorted. Not good.

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Ella Fitzgerald and Delta rhythm boys, 78rpm shellac rip

Decca, Fitzgerald Ella, Jazz, Remastering from shellac records
Anton Stepichev

Lo-Fi, audiophilic recording with the characteristic atmosphere of the 1930s, solid, comfortable sound. Shellac condition: cracked, pretty noised.

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