Mozart Symphonies (Leinsdorf)

Twelve-LP series of Mozart's symphonies issued by the World Record Club. Recorded by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Eric Leinsdorf, in the mid 1950s, the series was originally released by Westminster. The first WRC pressing was in December 1969. The LPs were released individually, one every two months. The first pressings were on the green 'strobe' label (by this stage, new WRC releases were no longer issued in mono). In 1971, the blue 'herald' label was introduced, and so, from Volume 10, they were issued on this label. The catalogue numbers had been allocated from the outset, so the date are at some variance from the label sequence. The series was reissued twice before 1975, when the new "R-..." catalogue numbers were introduced. These post-1975 reissues retained the sleeve designs (with the same catalogue numbers and addresses of previous editions), but have the new numbers on the labels. The colour of the borders on the sleeves started varying from the 1974 reissues. They were issued on cassette from 1975 (C numbers corresponding to the R numbers), and may have been issued earlier (with different numbers altogether). Westminster withdrew the distribution rights in 1977, and the final series of reissues was rushed through to meet the September 30th deadline. First pressing - strobe labels until Volume 10, then herald labels. Gold border on front. Second pressing - all on herald label, with the same catalogue number on labels and sleeves. Gold border on front. Third pressing - all on herald label, with the same catalogue number on labels and sleeves. Different-coloured borders on front. Fourth pressing - all on herald label, with R-00474 to R-00485 on labels. Laminate strip down the right side of the rear of sleeve. Different-coloured borders on front. Fifth pressing - Same as 3rd pressing, but no laminate strip. Different-coloured borders on front.