Classic Records

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USA
Ying Tan formed Classic Records in January 1994, licensing approximately 30 titles from BMG's RCA Living Stereo classical LP catalog and later licensing material from PolyGram's Verve jazz archive.

The acclaimed reissue label, which specialized in audiophile LP reissues of classic albums, employed its own custom-built tube-based mastering equipment on all of its releases; mastered its releases from original master tapes (or the best sources available). Earliest releases were a box set of RCA Living Stereo classical titles and Verve jazz titles (subsequently sold individually). In later years they took on some new releases as well, both in their Prevue series and under the Classic imprint.

Classic Records were pressed on standard 180g vinyl until September 2001 when they switched to 180g "Quiex SV" (Super Vinyl) and added a sticker specifying the type of vinyl to all their LPs. These pressings have a raised outer edge like most modern vinyl. In July 2002 they introduced 200g flat profile "Quiex SV-P" vinyl. In March 2008 they started making the 200g flat profile "Hand Made" records on the semi-automatic presses at Bill Smith Custom Records while continuing to press a few titles on 180g conventional profile at RTI. That year they also introduced "Clarity Vinyl" and "SV-P II" vinyl with an improved profile.

In the 2000s, they also introduced lower-priced versions of many of their LPs, pressed from the same masters but on regular 150g, 140g, or 120g vinyl. Represses were always done on the latest vinyl formulation and can be dated by the sticker. SV-P, SV-P II, and Clarity pressings which all have a flat profile.

Classic also produced a line of gold CDs and Acoustic Sounds in 2010.

Parent Label:

 Classic Records, Inc.

Sublabels:

 Signal Entertainment group

Info:

[Circa 1998]
P.O Box 93896
Los Angeles, CA 90093

Links:

 classicrecords.com , Google , store.acousticsounds.com

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Reviews

  • violao62's avatar
    violao62
    Edited 3 years ago
    I have about 30 of their classical reissues and they sound incredible to my ears - better than Speakers Corner imho.
    • tom807's avatar
      tom807
      Edited 3 years ago
      Since I am old(er) I was able to purchase just about every Classic Records album I was craving back in the day, when they were first pressed and “new”. Yes, they were kind of expensive, and often had to sacrifice to be able to afford them, but it was SO worth it!

      I have the entire Led Zeppelin catalog (except for “In Though The Out Door”(…don’t ask) on Classic Records, also the Gabriel-era Genesis albums, all The Who LP’s with Moon, The ‘87-‘89 Peter Gabriel releases, the Jimi Hendrix LPs they put out, and many, many more, including many jazz and classical (Living Stereo!) albums.

      When I read some comments about some [fill in the blank] album sounding better on some other label, I let them be. To each their own. Or maybe they have never directly compared them on the same turntable, same system, on the same day, because other than perhaps the Living Stereo LPs on Analogue Productions, I can’t imagine anyone with ears thinking that any other pressing is superior. Damn, when I spin Classic Records version of Led Zeppelin’s “Rain Song” from their Houses Of The Holy LP, I often feel like I’m going to start to cry.

      Plus, I also must be the luckiest Classic Records buyer ever. I have a very high-end analog front-end, and I never received or otherwise played a defective record from them. No off-center, or non-fill LP or other vinyl, I’ve heard nothing but great sounding LPs. Odd, I know, especially since I listen to my LPs on a top-notch high-end audio system.

      I dream about the days that never were, the time when they were never granted the masters to the Ozzy-era Black Sabbath records. just Imagine?! Or If they pressed The Beatles stereo or mono LP box sets! I could go on…
      • patientot's avatar
        patientot
        If you're wondering why some shops are still stocking NOS sealed Classic Records pressings years after the label shut down, it's because "people in the know" regular complaints about this label's pressing quality and realize buying those is a risk.

        Non-fill, off-center, and other problems were pretty common. That means no matter how much work was put into the mastering, the actual pressing process can mean you get a pretty crappy record if you're unlucky. Classic went through a few pressings plants too AFAIK - first RTI, then Bill Smith, then pressing some records themselves in-house with their own equipment. The 200g pressings in particular had a lot of complaints toward the end of the label's life, so watch out for those.
        • uncdoug's avatar
          uncdoug
          Miss these guys. They were the absolute best! Maybe Analogue Productions can mimic the quality of the Clarity vinyl at some point.

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