Is this the longest LP?

[Saint Russell]

In the 1970s there was a French label called Trimicron. Their gimmick was extra-long records. I assume they did this by reducing level and cutting bass. Anyway, among standard LP records (that is, nominally 12 inches or 30 cm, playing at 33-1/3 rpm) is this the longest?

http://www.discogs.com/Johann-Sebastian-Bach-Version-Intégrale/release/5078155

Trimicron LS 2955
Bach: Brandenburg Concertos

Side 1: Organ Fantasia BWV 572; Brandenburg Concertos 1, 2, 3
Side 2: Brandenburg Concertos 4, 5, 6

Side One 58:39
Side Two 56:06

The Brandenburgs are credited to the Hamburg Bach Soloists conducted by Harold Newman. Based only on comparing timings, it seems probable that it's really the Saga recording conducted by Harry Newstone. Hannes Bober is credited as organist in the filler piece, but I have no idea if that's a pseudonym or if so, for whom.

Credits on other Trimicron LPs appear to be a mix of real (Hans Swarowsky, Edouard Lindenberg) and fake.

[Jerry]

Years ago (and I'm showing my age here) I recall a claim being made for the Klemperer LvB Missa Solemnis on Vox 11430. However, even if that was true
then, it can't come close to what is claimed here.

There is a French Wikipedia entry at:

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disque_microsillon_inhabituel

with a Google-translation for the Trimicron entry as follows:

Developed in the mid-1970s by the firm MDR (Magnetic Disc Recording), the disc "Trimicron" enjoyed notable success, even if ephemeral. The idea was to remove the gap groove separating each turn at every turn. On average, this space corresponds to the space occupied by two grooves, and thus, the deletion of this space tripled duration engraved records (an average of 55 minutes on one side of 33 t). Initially designed for classical music lovers who could no longer having to return their 33 favorite tricks in the middle of the recorded work, the process was presented by Dr. Rabe, music lover in his spare time. For example, one can find all the Six Brandenburg Concertos on a single 33 rpm. However, this revolutionary process still suffering from a major problem: a finer engraving that involved the decline of the dynamics and the signal recorded by almost 40 percent. It was necessary to bring turntables silent and equipped with new diamonds and high performance. Discs "Triple Time TRIMICRON" being of our few days mostly in good condition, their collection of coast is increasing over time. A catalog of almost 30 TRIMICRON discs are, however, and few copies still in very good today listening state.



I had never heard of this series before and thank you for bringing it to
my attention.

Jerry

P.S. These are probably even rarer to find that those short-lived 16 2/3 rpm
discs (from Vox ?).

[Jerry]

Here's a link with an image of a Trimicron label. If you hover the
cursor over the photo, the magnification gives some hint of how
closely spaced the grooves were cut.

http://www.cdandlp.com/beethoven/trimicron-33t-triple-duree/33t-gatefold/r115886254/


Jerry

[ro...@verizon.net]

As far as mainstream labels, the longest I am aware of is Giulini's Eroica with the LAPO on DG.

Quote from the CD insert:

"For the first LP issue in 1979 the first two movements were transferred complete onto a single LP side of almost 38 minutes, but in accomplishing that some compression of dynamics was inevitable."

Surprising for DG to do this but at the same time they must recognized that a 2-disc Eroica would be difficult to sell.

[Saint Russell]

The longest major-label issue I know about is Toshiba/Angel EAC 30283. Karajan does the Beethoven "Eroica" on one side, and Tchaikovsky's "Pathetique" on the other. Somewhere around 95 minutes. Since it's Japanese, at least the vinyl will be quiet.

[Roger Kulp]

My vote would be for the Vox 16 2/3 RPM LPs of 1957.They gave you the equivalent of approximately three symphonies on one LP.Almost two hours of music.Here are two examples I pulled off the web.

https://recordcovers.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/scheherazade-vox-vxl3-16rpm-perlea.jpg

http://www.popsike.com/Beethoven-Dvorak-Prokofiev-Klemperer-Horenstein-Hollreiser-Rare-16-RPM-VOX-VXL5/360813202047.html

In 26 years of digging for classical vinyl,I have found exactly one of these records.

Roger