Alan Moss wrote:

>It is hardly any wonder that so few recordings are able to match the vital
>spontaneity of a live performance.

Walter Meyer and others have mentioned Suvi Grubb's book "Music Makers on
Record." I am excited to tell everyone that I was able to obtain a good
firm copy of this book (shipped to me direct from Cumbria, UK!) and am
reading it.  (I later heard about a copy for sale in the states, if anyone
else is interested.) While Grubb is at times somewhat self-serving (you
can't really blame the guy), he does do a good job of dramatising the
interplay between artistes and engineers and producers (I liked your
"Techicus technicus" appellation!)

It was enjoyable for me to read about a Grubb-produced recording and
then go to my collection and listen to it.  This time I listened to the
recording technical aspects and it gave me a new appreciation for the work
of the producer.  (For example, the recording of Bach violin concerti by
Perlman and Zukerman on EMI.)

Chris Bonds