The 1979 New Year’s Day Concert in Vienna proved to be a watershed moment both musically and technically. It was both the end of an era for Willi Boskovsky, the Vienna Philharmonic’s longstanding concertmaster, and the dawn of a new age in recording technology. Long fêted as Decca’s first digitally recorded release, recent research has unearthed a set of analogue safety masters which have remained undisturbed in Universal Music’s vaults for almost half a century — until today. “This is a riotous issue … This is truly a demonstration record in every way.” — Gramophone

Introducing Decca’s new all-analogue vinyl series, DECCA PURE ANALOGUE, presenting some of the most iconic recordings from the Decca & Philips archives. The series is mastered by Rainer Maillard and cut by Sidney C. Meyer at the renowned Emil Berliner Studios, pressed on 180g vinyl at Pallas, and presented in deluxe gatefold sleeves in hand-numbered limited editions.

Only original analogue sources are used — two-track stereo and four-track quadraphonic tapes, plus analogue masters of early digital recordings — and no extra devices are utilized in the signal path, i.e. no digital sound processing at all.

Each album features the original artwork and liner notes, archival photos and facsimiles of original recording session sheets, and bespoke new notes detailing the history of the recording, the technical background, and the mastering process.

Tracklisting:
Side A

1. J. Strauss I: Loreley-Rheinklänge, Waltz, Op. 154

2. J. Strauss II: Bitte schön!, Polka française, Op. 372

3. E. Strauss: Ohne Bremse, Polka schnell, Op. 238

4. J. Strauss II: Wein, Weib und Gesang, Waltz, Op. 333

5. Josef Strauss: Die Emancipierte, Polka-mazurka, Op. 282

Side B

1. Ziehrer: Hereinspaziert, Op. 518

2. Suppé: Die schöne Galathee, Overture

3. J. Strauss II: Bei uns z’Haus, Waltz, Op. 361

Side C

1. Josef Strauss: Moulinet, Polka française, Op. 57

2. J. Strauss II: Tik-Tak, Polka schnell, Op. 365

3. J. Strauss II & Josef Strauss: Pizzicato Polka

4. Josef Strauss: Rudolfsheimer, Polka schnell, Op. 152

5. Josef Strauss: Sphärenklänge, Waltz, Op. 235

Side D

1a. J. Strauss II: Auf der Jagd, Polka, Op. 373

1b. Auf der Jagd – Zugabe

2. J. Strauss II: Leichtes Blut, Polka schnell, Op. 319

3. J. Strauss II: An der schönen blauen Donau, Waltz, Op. 314

4. J. Strauss I: Radetzky March, Op. 228