The company focused on producing records targeted at audiophiles.[4] Light and sound engineer Bob Fine handled the recording and engineering responsibilities, employing the technique of multiple microphone pickups. They used different types of microphones whose characteristics were best suited to reproduce the sounds of a particular instrument.[1]
Command Records often featured abstract covers. In the early years all covers were designed by Josef Albers, whose student Charles E. Murphy served as design director. Several are in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.[5] Later covers appeared to be imitations of Albers' work.[6][7]
Recording technique
While the recording industry had made magnetic tape the standard for recording music for release on vinyl, Command's albums were recorded onto magnetic 35mm film. Light used the width of the film strip to create multitrack recordings, as opposed to the more limited two or three tracks offered by most recording studios at the time; the slightly higher linear speed provided an advantage in analog fidelity and the sprocket-driven film limited the "wow and flutter" problems associated with tape recording. This enabled Light to record more instruments individually and adjust their audio input levels, as well as their stereo position.[8]
Command test record
The Command test record (Stereo Check Out) was an LP album produced by Command Records in 1960. It contained recordings designed to allow users to test their stereo equipment.
Album details
Like many other Command records, the Stereo Check Out came in a gatefold cover with extensive liner notes and full technical data inside. Charles Stark narrated both sides, providing both technical details and information about the musical instruments used on the tracks on Side Two.
Side one
Side One of this LP consists of turntable tests. An oscilloscope is a useful tool when used in conjunction with these tests:
^Edwards, Davidl. "Command Album Discography". Album Discographies. Both Sides Now Publications. Retrieved July 5, 2010.
^Rolontz, Bob (Nov 6, 1961). "Sound Record Sales Boom After 3 Years of Stereo". Billboard Magazine: 15. ISSN 0006-2510.
^"Josef Albers, Charles E. Murphy, Command Records". Museum of Modern Arts-date=March 13, 2018.
^"Albers in Command – On Augmentation". On Augmentation. January 28, 2015. Retrieved March 14, 2018.[permanent dead link]
^Borgerson, Janet (2017). Designed for hi-fi living : the vinyl LP in midcentury America. Schroeder, Jonathan E., 1962. Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press. p. 92. ISBN9780262036238. OCLC 958205262.
^Edwards, David, with Patrice Eyries, and Mike Callahan. "Command Album Discography". Both Sides Now. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
January 08, 2023
command, records, founded1959, 1959, founderenoch, lightdefunct1970, 1970, statusdefunctgenrepopcountry, originu, locationnew, york, yorkcontents, origin, history, recording, technique, command, test, record, album, details, side, side, selected, albums, also,. Command RecordsFounded1959 1959 FounderEnoch LightDefunct1970 1970 StatusDefunctGenrePopCountry of originU S LocationNew York New YorkContents 1 Origin and history 2 Recording technique 3 Command test record 3 1 Album details 3 1 1 Side one 3 1 2 Side two 4 Selected Albums 5 See also 6 ReferencesOrigin and history EditCommand Records was a record label founded by Enoch Light in 1959 1 2 and in October that year was acquired by ABC Paramount Records 3 Light produced a majority of the releases in the label s catalog The company focused on producing records targeted at audiophiles 4 Light and sound engineer Bob Fine handled the recording and engineering responsibilities employing the technique of multiple microphone pickups They used different types of microphones whose characteristics were best suited to reproduce the sounds of a particular instrument 1 Command Records often featured abstract covers In the early years all covers were designed by Josef Albers whose student Charles E Murphy served as design director Several are in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City 5 Later covers appeared to be imitations of Albers work 6 7 Recording technique EditWhile the recording industry had made magnetic tape the standard for recording music for release on vinyl Command s albums were recorded onto magnetic 35mm film Light used the width of the film strip to create multitrack recordings as opposed to the more limited two or three tracks offered by most recording studios at the time the slightly higher linear speed provided an advantage in analog fidelity and the sprocket driven film limited the wow and flutter problems associated with tape recording This enabled Light to record more instruments individually and adjust their audio input levels as well as their stereo position 8 Command test record EditThe Command test record Stereo Check Out was an LP album produced by Command Records in 1960 It contained recordings designed to allow users to test their stereo equipment Album details Edit Like many other Command records the Stereo Check Out came in a gatefold cover with extensive liner notes and full technical data inside Charles Stark narrated both sides providing both technical details and information about the musical instruments used on the tracks on Side Two Side one Edit Side One of this LP consists of turntable tests An oscilloscope is a useful tool when used in conjunction with these tests Stereo Balance Check Left and Right Channel Check Volume Reference Check Frequency Run Check Output Balance Check Flutter or Wow Check Phasing Check Acoustical Check Rumble CheckSide two Edit Side Two of this LP consists of musical selections from the Command catalogue Hernando s Hideaway from Provocative Percussion Vol II Cumana from Provocative Piano Tenderly from bongos Enjoy Yourself Cha Cha from Pertinent Percussion Cha Cha s Selected Albums EditEnoch Light And His Orchestra A Discotheque Dance Dance Dance Enoch Light And His Orchestra Paperback Ballet Enoch Light And The Light Brigade Big Bold And Brassy Enoch Light And The Light Brigade Vibrations Enoch Light Big Band Bossa Nova The New Beat From Brazil Enoch Light And The Light Brigade Happy Cha Cha Enoch Light Command Performances Los Admiradores Bongos Flutes Guitars RS 812 SD 1960 Off Beat Percussion Don Lamond and His Orchestra Terry Snyder And The All Stars Persuasive Percussion Terry Snyder And The All Stars Persuasive Percussion Volume 2 Terry Snyder And The All Stars Persuasive Percussion Volume 3 Enoch Light And The Light Brigade Provocative Percussion Enoch Light And The Light Brigade Provocative Percussion Volume 2 Provocation Piano Dick Hyman and His Orchestra The Man From O R G A N Dick Hyman Spanish Guitar Tony Mottola and his orchestra 1962 Persuasive Trombone of Urbie Green Volume 1 Persuasive Trombone of Urbie Green Volume 2 Enoch Light amp The Light Brigade A New Concept of Great Cole Porter Songs CQD40002 1971 Doc Severinsen His Trumpet and Orchestra Fever CQD40003 1971 Ravel Daphnis Et Chloe Suite No 2 Pierre Dervaux Command Classics CC33 11005 1961 Ravel Bolero Rapsodie Espagnole Pierre Dervaux Command Classics CC33 11007 1961 Tony Mottola And His Orchestra Roman Guitar RS 816 SDSee also EditGrand Award Records List of record labelsReferences Edit a b Billboard Nielsen Business Media August 10 1959 p 2 enoch light of the grand award Grevatt Ren Nov 6 1961 Record Hunter Displays Sell Billboard Magazine 15 ISSN 0006 2510 Edwards Davidl Command Album Discography Album Discographies Both Sides Now Publications Retrieved July 5 2010 Rolontz Bob Nov 6 1961 Sound Record Sales Boom After 3 Years of Stereo Billboard Magazine 15 ISSN 0006 2510 Josef Albers Charles E Murphy Command Records Museum of Modern Arts date March 13 2018 Albers in Command On Augmentation On Augmentation January 28 2015 Retrieved March 14 2018 permanent dead link Borgerson Janet 2017 Designed for hi fi living the vinyl LP in midcentury America Schroeder Jonathan E 1962 Cambridge Massachusetts MIT Press p 92 ISBN 9780262036238 OCLC 958205262 Edwards David with Patrice Eyries and Mike Callahan Command Album Discography Both Sides Now Retrieved July 6 2013 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Command Records amp oldid 1122705821 Command test record, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
