This 13-CD box set of Bruno Walter recordings, known variously as Famous Mahler and Bruckner Symphonies and The Original Jacket Collection: Bruno Walter Conducts Mahler and Bruckner Symphonies, is an example of Sony Music's American division trying to emulate the work (and the success) of the company's Japanese division. Indeed, the whole original jacket concept started in Japan, where Sony, BMG, and other labels have been reselling classic recordings by artists ranging from Erroll Garner to Elvis Presley, in miniature LP ...
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This 13-CD box set of Bruno Walter recordings, known variously as Famous Mahler and Bruckner Symphonies and The Original Jacket Collection: Bruno Walter Conducts Mahler and Bruckner Symphonies, is an example of Sony Music's American division trying to emulate the work (and the success) of the company's Japanese division. Indeed, the whole original jacket concept started in Japan, where Sony, BMG, and other labels have been reselling classic recordings by artists ranging from Erroll Garner to Elvis Presley, in miniature LP sleeve packaging, usually with state-of-the-art digital sound (20 bit/K2 and 24-bit mastering seem to be the twin standards), at premium prices since the mid-'90s. Sony Japan has done it with considerable success on artists such as Miles Davis, Al Kooper, the Association, Bob Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen. So the U.S. original jacket series was, at least superficially, co-opting a Japanese success, but not really -- in contrast to the Japanese releases, the U.S. original jacket series...
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