The Stereo Record Guide

The Stereo Record Guide is a series of nine classical discographies published by the Long Playing Record Library in Blackpool between 1960-1974.

When volume 1 was published in the fall of 1960, the majority of classical records issued were monaural. The authors were totally supportive of the new stereophonic recordings. Their first sentence stated “Let us begin by stating, unequivocally that good stereo on quite modest equipment is infinitely superior, domestically, to any other form of sound reproduction”.

The arrangement of the discographies is alphabetical by composer, except that volume 9 covers anthologies (orchestral music, instrumental music, vocal music, and humor on records) and is organized by artist.

Recordings receive brief critical reviews which consider the music, performance standards, and recorded sound. Manufacturers catalog numbers are included. Records are rated with a star system from *** to *.

Four reviewers compiled these books: Edward Greenfield, Ivan March, Denis Stevens, and Robert Layton. Layton joined the reviewers with volume 5-6 (1968), and Stevens left the project after those volumes were published (he died in 2004).

The books sold new for a few dollars each in hardcover. A complete set in good condition now sells for several hundred dollars on the used book market.

Two volumes titled A Guide to Bargain Classics (1962-1964) were also compiled by these authors and published by the Long Playing Record Library.

Penguin Books took over publication of these discographies in 1975, starting with the Penguin Stereo Record Guide. Four decades after the first publication; Greenfield, March, and Layton continue to review thousands of recordings.

References

*Goff, Martyn "The Stereo Record Guide, Vol 3" The Musical Times, August 1963, page 561-2.
*Goff, Martyn "The Stereo Record Guide.4" The Musical Times, May 1966, pages 410-411.
*Paterson, Robert "The Stereo Record Guide, Volume 2" The Musical Times, January 1962, page 30.
*"The Stereo Record Guide Vol. II" Music Educators Journal, September 1962, page 132.
*Wilson, Carolyn "The Stereo Record Guide vol. 5" The Musical Times, August 1968, pages 730-731.