Command records 35mm

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RonniB

Active Member
I have procured a few Command Records 35mm albums lately, replacing old ones. Maybe I didn't pay as much attention in the past as I do now, but these productions rival the dynamic range and clarity of half-speed masters and direct-to-disc vinyl I have. I'm familiar with the differences in technology between these 3 models, but it really amazes me that records of this quality were being produced in the early to mid 60s. I wonder if this type of dedicated performance became too costly to make, or if there were other mitigating factors. Does anyone know why 35mm records fell by the wayside?
 
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Not enough tracks, too expensive. 35mm recordings were severely expensive to make. Those custom Westrex machines and their custom heads were over triple the price of an Ampex 300-3 back then. Magnetic film was triple the cost of 1/2" Scotch 111. And the industry was going from 3 tracks to 4 tracks, on 1/2" tape and 1" 8 track was already being used by a few studios. Command primarily was the last user of 35mm magnetic film, and ABC/Paramount Records bought the label from Enoch Light in 1965. Enoch Light stayed with the label until the late 1960's and then founded Project Records.
 
I don't know if it's technically better or worse, but what is undeniable was that Enoch Light was One of Us, anything on Command I've found seems to have been well recorded.
 
I love old Command Records whether pop or classical. Many are among the best sounding records, that I paid very little money for (most of my examples cost $1 or less near mint) and I enjoy them (even the pre 35mm ones have that sound)
 
KentTeffeteller said:
Not enough tracks, too expensive. 35mm recordings were severely expensive to make. Those custom Westrex machines and their custom heads were over triple the price of an Ampex 300-3 back then. Magnetic film was triple the cost of 1/2" Scotch 111. And the industry was going from 3 tracks to 4 tracks, on 1/2" tape and 1" 8 track was already being used by a few studios. Command primarily was the last user of 35mm magnetic film, and ABC/Paramount Records bought the label from Enoch Light in 1965. Enoch Light stayed with the label until the late 1960's and then founded Project Records.
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Thanks for the informative reply, Obi-wan. I am always amazed by recording techniques that predate current ones, yet still are exceptional quality. Glad they are not yet extinct.
 
I had a great big collection of those command records. I always find them at the thrift stores. The "Provocative Percussion" and "Persuasive Percussion" albums are always used as a show off for friends. I thinned the herd a while back, but I kept my favorites. I displayed a few of them on the walls here. That mid century artwork on the album covers is top rate stuff- if you're into that too.

Agreed with above, ALL HAIL ENOCH LIGHT!!!
 
Here are a couple Command Label box sets I was able to grab. Below is a Dick Hyman Command record also...

My family doesn't share my enthusiasm for these records, however ;)

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Edited for recalibration of my memory. I have a box of Brahms Symphonies with Steinberg and Pittsburgh and aside from Symphony No 1 apparently having been overplayed with a needle in poor condition, the rest of them sound great.
 
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I have a couple of Command 7.5 IPS reel-to-reels, and those sound awesome too!

I'm pretty sure that Command was one of the first, if not thee first, dedicated audiophile labels.

Their LPs had very striking, highly modern cover art, designed by top artists like Josef Albers (of Bauhaus fame):

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Always liked the statement from Wikipedia, "The music was intended for older audiences, presumably because he saw them as more-serious audiophiles who had more money to spend on high end stereo equipment..."
Yup, that's a lot of AKers. I've got a fair number, my favorites being the movie theme albums.

My only question is, how do you pronounce Enoch?
 
beatcomber said:
I have a couple of Command 7.5 IPS reel-to-reels, and those sound awesome too!

I'm pretty sure that Command was one of the first, if not thee first, dedicated audiophile labels.

Their LPs had very striking, highly modern cover art, designed by top artists like Josef Albers (of Bauhaus fame):

albers.png
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The one on the bottom right, Vol. III is my favorite one from the Command label. The opening track starts on one side then goes to the other. They really loved showing off the stereo sound back then. ;)
 
Following his sale of Command Records. Enoch Light started the Project 3 label, which I also collect and enjoy.

Here's my favorite "title" among those....

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This, from Wikipedia:

n 1965, Light sold the Command record label, which had released the Persuasive Percussion series, to ABC Records, which itself was subsequently sold to MCA Records. After the sale, the quality of those records plummeted dramatically.[citation needed] The signature gatefold format (along with Light's prose) was immediately discontinued, and the covers changed to budget labels pressed on recycled vinyl.[citation needed] In 1975 they were completely discontinued.

After the sale of Command Records, Light launched a new label called Project 3 and continued recording, but did not concentrate so heavily on stereo effects. Light recorded several successful big band albums with an ace-group of New York studio musicians, many of whom were veterans of the greatest bands of the Swing Era who were still regularly working in New York's television and recording studios. Released as Enoch Light And The Light Brigade, the arrangements used on the recordings were transcribed note-for-note from some of what were the hallmark recordings by many of the best bands of the swing era. The arranging reconstructions of these now "classic" arrangements were completely reconstructed by arrangers Dick Lieb, Dick Hyman, Tony Mottola and Jeff Hest. Many of the musicians employed for this series of "recreations" had been members of the original bands that made the original records decades earlier. This veritable "Who's Who" of "swing era" veteran musicians included saxophonists Phil Bodner, Walt Levinsky, (both also heavily featured on clarinet), Ray Beckenstein, Gerald Sanfino, Al Klink, Boomie Richman, Romeo Penque, and Sol Schlinger; trumpeters Mel Davis, Rusty Dedrick, Johnny Frosk, Bernie Glow, Joe Graves, Markie Markowicz, Bob McCoy, and Marvin Stamm; trombonists Wayne Andre, Paul Fralise, Urbie Green, Lou McGarity, Buddy Morrow, and Santo Russo; guitarist Tony Mottola, bassists Bob Haggart and George Duvivier, drummers Don Lamond, Bob Rosengarden and Ronnie Zito, pianists Dick Hyman and Derek Smith and vibraharpist Phil Kraus.[citation needed]

Light retired from music entirely in 1974 and died four years later.
 
I have at least a couple of the Command 35mm LPs - Doc Severinson and Count Basie. I have the Count Basie (Broadway...Basie's Way) in stereo and quad.
 
SFBayArch said:
Here are a couple Command Label box sets I was able to grab. Below is a Dick Hyman Command record also...

My family doesn't share my enthusiasm for these records, however ;)

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Command Performances is a nice quality box set to go with a nice USA made quality Phonograph or combination built in Benton Harbor, Michigan. Pleasure's New Sound from VM- The Voice Of Music.
 
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