Those of you who have been to a concert in Hampstead Lane will probably have noticed that the bookshelves to the right of where you are seated are filled with vinyl records. You may also have noticed some rather space age looking speakers (B & W 801s – I think – although B&W afficionados may correct me) – and quite a number of small bronzy statuettes of old gramphones, otherwise known as Grammys.
These (the records, the speakers and especially the Grammys) have absolutely nothing to do with me but everything to do with my partner, James Mallinson, who died very unexpectedly in 2018. He was a much acclaimed classical record producer*, first with Decca back in the 1970s/80s and then freelance, working around the world and finally being heavily involved in the London Symphony Orchestra’s ground breaking LSO Live record label.
If you would like to know more about James’ life and work check into JamesMallinson.org.
So when James died I inherited the Grammys, his complete sound system, a vast collection of records (78s, vinyls and CDs), an enormous quantity of obscure bits of super hi-tech equipment and enough boxes of cables, plugs, woofers and tweeters to stock a shop. What to do with it all?….
Despite my now quite heavy involvement with music, during our many years together James basically ‘did’ music and I ‘did’ other things totally unconnected with music. However, I had lived with James’ music for so long that it seemed inconceivable that I should move to Highgate without it. I did rebel at the extra equipment (disposed of via Ebay), the boxes of cables etc (disposed of via Freecycle) and the three extra surround sound speakers (also went via Ebay) but everything else came with me and got incorporated into my new home.
So then what? I had already started hosting small live recitals and wondered what I could do with all these classic records and this pretty hot shot sound system. When a friend offered to catalogue the vinyls, I thought that was at least a start and said yes please. So we now have a catalogue that you can access here.**
But how to listen?
For a live recital I can seat 30+ people and put the musicians in the bay window. Thanks to the splendid acoustics of my late Victorian house, everyone can hear perfectly. But to get the benefit of those super class B&W speakers, you have to sit in the sweet spot, between them. Which means that an absolute maximum of three people could listen at any one time and ideally, really just one. Not very promising as a Salon event!
So I am looking for some way to remedy this situation.
The vinyls are a fairly random collection, a lot of them based around James’ projects such as Decca’s ground breaking recording of all Haydn’s symphonies with Antal Dorati in the 1970s, or, Headline, his series on 20th century composers. And then later, among the thousand odd CDs, all of the early LSO Live recordings with Colin Davis, Bernard Haitink, Valery Gergiev – and many others. Most are in mint condition having never been played. As with many professional musicians, the only times that James listened to recordings was if he was working on a specific project or editing one of his own
Please step up….
So…. If anyone would seriously like to listen to some of these, I am very happy for them to come round and do so. Take a browse through the catalogue and see what is on offer. You just need to get in touch and we can make a date. Or if anyone has an exciting idea of something else that we could do with them, then please tell me!!
* James collected 16 Grammys over the course of his career, the greatest number of producer Grammys won in any genre of music by anyone apart from Kanye West and Quincy Jones!
** You can spool through the database to see what is there. However, I am afraid that the search functions do not work at the moment as that would require a further investment which, unless it is to be used, does not seem worth while.
‘Live’ dates for your diary
Sunday May 24th 12 noon – Emilija Karaliute
Don’t forget – Sunday 24th May at the Highgate Society (10 South Grove N6 6BS) Emilija Karaliute will be introducing us to her kanklés.
£15 to include a glass of Bucks Fizz – to book go here.
Sunday June 21st – noon – 6pm – 33 Hampstead Lane
Garden open for the National Gardens Scheme – plus, home made scones and cakes, plants to buy – and a Saxophone Quartet. £5 to include a cup of tea.
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