MGM Records Classical Reprints

The MGM Records Classical Reprints, or formally MGM Records Classical Reprints Limited Edition—Request Series, was a repress series by M·G·M Records, which lasted from the mid-'60s till 1968 (approx). See also Request Series (2) Even though Classical Reprints came out on standard "High-Fidelity recordings" manufactured by MGM at a time, the series carried some novelty traits that characterized a not-yet-established "audiophile reissues" niche decades later: limited pressings, true Mono to replicate the original sound, serialized sleeves that omitted original artworks, etc. The series reproduced critically-acclaimed and demanded albums from MGM's 1953-'57 "E-3###" classical catalog⁺—initially, with "yellow-and-black" center labels—and utilized the same catalog numbers. The Classical Reprints, however, came with contemporary, second-generation disc labels—"silver ink on black" with rainbow M-G-M letters and the lion's head. The bottom rim's text reads MGM Records – A Division Of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. – Made in U.S.A. On the front of Classical Reprints sleeves (made of medium-thickness bluish-gray matted carton), only the series' title appeared, with a cut-out or printed circle in the center. The album title, release details, and liner notes are on the reverse. All albums came with blank antistatic inner sleeves and shrinkwrapped. ---------------- ⁺ At least one of Classical Reprints editions, Prokofiev's "Symphony No. 4" GC 30007, already had the same 2nd-generation, "rainbow letters and lion's head" center labels in the first place. Moreso, previously it was only available as part of the 1960 "Modern Russians" MCS 7011-3 3xLP boxset, which was "Electronically Enhanced for STEREO Reproduction." The Classical Reprints pressing, on the contrary, had a proper "Mono" mix.