This release was a marketing promotion for RCA's touted revolutionary new concept of stereo recording where the listener has music their eyes can follow! Better than mono, better than boring stereo, better than Quadraphonic and bigger than Ben Hur!
The technique was really centred around lots of panning and wide spatial separation. Albums released under the Stereo Action banner often featured specialised graphic artwork and special diecut covers - all in an effort to make the RCA product 'stand out' from the crowd.
Albums recorded using this Stereo Action were clearly marked as such on the front cover, it would seem to be a concept that just didn't catch on ... perhaps the listener just became too dizzy!
Obviously I am being "tongue in cheek" but this demonstration record may be of interest to those who like to hold onto artifacts relating to old audio concepts and processes.
STEREO ACTION - Demonstration EP Record
RCA America dreamed up this concept
Cat# SPS-15
1961 (ish) not indicated on the packaging or record label but the albums promoted were all released in this time period.
Plays at 45
Australian manufacture & release through RCA Australia
Printed cover is in good condition, although I can see a light "stain" on the rear so this cover did get wet sometime in the last 65 years or so! No personal writing at all on the cover or record labels.
New inner protective sleeve
The vinyl is in very good condition, visually inspected under a bright White halogen light source and I can see NO significant marks or scratches on either side. Just looking at the vinyl is not a great way to judge the condition so I have played this release ENTIRELY, both sides completely, and there are no issues with surface noise nor clicks n pops.
New outer protective sleeve
Side A begins with a voice-over artist (American accent) explaining the concept of Stereo Action and some simple test tone bursts which shift between the left and right channels (on your "phonogram" - Dang! I haven't heard that expression for a while). The musical tracks then follow with oodles of panning especially, my eyes were dancing left and right all the time!
ARTIST - TRACK:
Marty Gold - Did You Ever See A Dream Walking
Keith Textor - South Rampart St. Parade
Bernie Green - Kiss Of Fire
Dick Schory - Brass Jockeys
Ray Martin - The Flight Of The Bumble Bee
No, not the Australian television personality & journalist Ray Martin, but instead an Austrian-British violinist of the same name.
