Artist
Benny Goodman
Crate Digger's Guide
- Studio Medium:
- Benny Goodman's peak recording era primarily utilized analog multi-track magnetic tape technology.
- Pressing Plants:
- Core records were primarily pressed at Columbia Records and RCA Victor plants.
- Lacquer Cut:
- His recordings feature a wide frequency range, which can lead to inner-groove distortion if not properly managed in the lacquer cut.
- Matrix Runout:
- Collectors look for etchings such as 'RCA' or 'Columbia' followed by catalog numbers to verify authentic 1st pressings.
Vinyl Collector Intelligence
- Grail Pressing:
- Securing an authentic 1938 first pressing on the Victor label remains the ultimate pursuit for anyone hunting down Benny Goodman on wax.
- Best Reissue:
- Recent deluxe Verve catalog remasters successfully preserve the depth of the original Benny Goodman audio master tapes.
- Mastering & Translation:
- The sharp mid-range transient spikes and acoustic engineering in Benny Goodman's master cuts require precise tonearm calibration to clear heavy vocal peaks without inner-groove distortion.
- Shelf Alternatives:
- Collectors tracking this era typically search out companion pressings from Duke Ellington (Columbia) alongside Count Basie (Decca).
