[ceebee23]

Many years ago at a gathering of recording fans we sat around and listened to an elderly man who had worked for one of our oldest record stores talk about the night, when as a very young shop assistant, he was told to stay back after the store closed... and promised something special.

It had arrived earlier that day by special delivery to the boss.

It was an electric record.

Well there was a hush as the boss put the record (uncertain now what it was) ...on the turntable of the best Victrola in the shop and played the record.

Apparently it was a revelation... a full orchestra... and to use the old man's words ...sparkling.

The assembled staff were told to sell as much stock as possible as fast as possible before the old recordings were obsolete. (Nothing changes in retailing it seems).

Early electrics were sharper and sometimes rather brittle and sounded less than pleasant on some gramophones.

But everyone recognised this was the future. The ability to record a whole orchestra was new.. the dynamic range was a massive improvement.