What do you think of Melodiya records?

[acdc1982]

What do you think of Melodiya records? Are they good? Which manufacturing plant releases are best, which worst?

МЕЛОДИЯ was USSR state label founded in 1964. It was the only label within the USSR but ceased to be state-owned when the USSR collapsed. Here are known manufacturing plants:

1) Апрелевский Завод Грампластинок later renamed to Апрелевский Ордена Ленина Завод Грампластинок
2) Всесоюзная Студия Грамзаписи later renamed to Московский Опытный Завод «Грамзапись» [or] МОЗ «ГРАМЗАПИСЬ»
3) Ленинградский Завод Грампластинок
4) Рижский Завод Грампластинок [or] Рижский Ордена «Знак Почета» Завод Грампластинок
5) Ташкентский Завод Грампластинок им. М. Т. Ташмухамедова
6) Тбилисская Студия Грамзаписи

 

[rcspkramp]

I have about a half dozen of them and they all sound either pretty good or great.

 

[Bigerik]

I have tons of them. Hand me downs from my dad mostly.

 

[Dan ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ]

My McCartney CHOPA B CCCP (Back In The USSR) is on Melodiya. It's a great pressing and sounds fantastic!

 

[flavio81]

I only own classical music on melodiya.

Usually has great performances with very well executed recordings, and very high quality pressings... but the vinyl compound itself isn't so good regarding surface noise. And early '80s vinyl compound used by them does not wear well at all (in other words it is not so resilient to wear). Which is a shame since in the mid 80s Melodiya used DMM (direct metal mastering) on many productions.

All in all i like Melodiya records.

 

[VinylSoul]

All the US releases i have encountered look as if their pressed by columbia don't know if they work from the master since most are recorded in the USSR. I have a few i'll try listening to one.

 

[Wally Swift]

I'm waiting on a Melodiya LP right now that seems lost in the mail. It landed in NYC on the 7th, bypassed me and went out to Long Island by the 10th and has visited Cleveland and Chicage before dropping off the tracking system's updates. :tears:

A mono pressing of this LP;

The mono version has 2 songs not on the stereo version. I have a pretty beat up copy of the mono version already in fact it has a scratch that runs from one end of the record to the other [yes, through the label!]. With my summed for mono AT70 cart/conical stylus it still sounds pretty good though. I've got a bunch of other non-classical Melodiyas that vary in sound/pressing quality.

 

[Dr Tinear]

Angel Records licensed a number of Melodiya classical masters and issued them in the United States. The ones that I have feature very fine playing and sound quality that varies from decent to quite good.

 

[guiller]

I've got a few hundreds of classical music Melodiya LPs, and love them. Great performers and decent, solid sound in very quiet vinyl surfaces. There have been a few threads devoted to similar subjects:

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=382153
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=378274
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=296998

 

[KentTeffeteller]

The Melodiya Classical Russian pressings I have owned have been good to great recordings and excellent mastering and pressing.

 

[boreas]

The Melodiya Classical Russian pressings I have owned have been good to great recordings and excellent mastering and pressing.

+1:thmbsp: Very high standards for both performance and recording.

John

 

[Balifly]

Bump for new postings.

Here is one of my "hybrid" album.

Melodiya Album

Celebrating the 50th Birthday of the Soviet Union
in music by Russia's Leading Artist nd Composers
on Melodiya/Angel records
(made by Capitol Records)
SRBR-4123

 

[guiller]

Melodiya made a few joint ventures with Western companies (notably EMI and Columbia, but also DG). Those releases were pressed in the West (I´ve got some pressed in the USA, UK, Argentina and Italy), so they represent partially the characteristics of Melodiya records (e.g., typically the vinyl quality in some -not all- of those hybrid releases is a bit noisier - the worst being those pressed by Angel IMHO).

 

[boreas]

Melodiya made a few joint ventures with Western companies (notably EMI and Columbia, but also DG). Those releases were pressed in the West (I´ve got some pressed in the USA, UK, Argentina and Italy), so they represent partially the characteristics of Melodiya records (e.g., typically the vinyl quality in some -not all- of those hybrid releases is a bit noisier - the worst being those pressed by Angel IMHO).

Yes, most of my Melodiya recordings are the Angel/EMI ones but the real treasures are the Soviet made ones.

John

 

[highwaychild]

Well, I am very fond of Melodija records. In the GDR they where very common, too. Through the reunification there are many off them available in germany.

I own many Beethoven-Piano-records. I love Emil Gilels, and his early recordings are almost exlusevely on Melodia.

 

[grottyash]

Yes, most of my Melodiya recoedings are the Angel/EMI ones but the real treasures are the Soviet made ones.

John

Yup, they're historical documents as well as damn good music.

 

[guiller]

I own many Beethoven-Piano-records. I love Emil Gilels, and his early recordings are almost exlusevely on Melodia.

Superb pianist!!! :thmbsp:

 

[El Pee]

I have the Beatles' 'A Taste of Honey' on Melodia... it sounds good, though the sleeve seems to be of a low-quality, thin cardboard.

 

[jmchrislip]

I have a few and consider them excellent recordings.

 

[ripblade]

I only own classical music on melodiya.

Usually has great performances with very well executed recordings, and very high quality pressings... but the vinyl compound itself isn't so good regarding surface noise. And early '80s vinyl compound used by them does not wear well at all (in other words it is not so resilient to wear). Which is a shame since in the mid 80s Melodiya used DMM (direct metal mastering) on many productions.

All in all i like Melodiya records.

This has been my experience as well with the Soviet era pressings. Good sound, performances, etc. but the vinyl is a bit noisy.