Vanguard 'Surround Stereo' Quad Reels - The First Commercially Available Quad Product

[steelydave]

I think like lots of people here, I'd read a few times that Vanguard was the first label to release anything in quad, and that they did so in 1969, well before any of the major labels, and I just kind of took it as true. I'm not sure what got me thinking about it, I got a bee in my bonnet recently and wanted to know more about the 5 W's (Who, What, Where, When and Why) of Vanguard's groundbreaking foray into 4 channel music, so I did some digging through some trade publications and found some interesting stuff.

The first was this news article from the July 5th, 1969 issue of Billboard announcing Vanguard's initial batch of releases. I think the remarkable thing for me here is to think of it in the larger context of what was going on at the time - we (or at least I) think of quad as a very "1970s" thing, but here's this announcement some 3 weeks before the Apollo 11 mission to the moon, and more than a month and a half before Woodstock, which seems like the zenith of 1960s culture.

It's also interesting to note how far ahead Vanguard was of almost every other label in releasing quad product - nearly a year ahead of Liberty/UA (July 1970), 18 months ahead of RCA (November/December 1970),and even further ahead of biggies like Ovation (1971), Columbia/Epic (1972), Warner/Elektra/Atlantic (September 1973), Stax (1973), Fantasy/Prestige/Milestone (1975) and Arista (1976). I also think the article (transcribed below in full so it's easier to read) does a good job of articulating the arguments for both ambient and discrete surround mixes, with examples - something that a lot of writing over the last 50 years has failed to do.

Vanguard's 4-Track System

By Fred Kirby

NEW YORK - Vanguard Records is preparing its first "Surround Stereo" release: "a new simultaneous track stereo system, capable of reproducing music and the acoustical properties of the auditorium in which it was recorded."

This system utilizes four speakers: two in front of the listener to the left and right as in normal stero, and two at the left and right to the rear of the listening environment.

Seymour Solomon, Vanguard president, explained that his company's first release under the new system was scheduled for mid-September in a tape CARtridge or cassette configuration. He said he was conferring with other record manufacturers and equipment manufacturers on the reproduction system that will be used. Solomon said there also was a possibility of the three-dimensional recordings being available on reel-to-reel tape.

Among the major advantages of "Surround Stereo" is the reproduction of the actual acoustical properties of the auditorium recorded in and of surrounding the listener with the sound as though he were seated in a concert hall.

Under "Surround Stereo," the front two channels are recorded as in conventional stereo. At the same time, two additional channels are recorded through strategically placed microphones directed toward the rear and sides of the auditorium.

In addition to catching the reverberations of individual halls the system can be used in large works, such as the Berlioz "Requiem," which will be on the initial release with Maurice Abravanel and the Utah Symphony recorded in Mormon Tabernacle. This work utilizes four brass choirs located in different parts of the hall. Each choir is offered a different track.

"Surround Stereo" also has impressive effects for pop music with three of the initial tapes in this area: "David's Album" by Joan Baez, "Illuminations" by Buffy Sainte-Marie, and "The Amazing Electronic Sound of Jean Jacques Perrey." Also slated by Abravanel and the Utah are Mahler's "Symphony No. 3" and "Symphony No. 9." Vanguard also will continue to issue product on stereo and cartridges.

Solomon explained that Vanguard was in a better position to introduce this new sound system than companies with large investments in pressing plants. He doubted that "Surround Stereo" economically could be applied to disks.

Vanguard introduced the new technique to the press at the firm's headquarters here on June 25. Assisting Solomon with the presentation were Jack Lothrop, engineer, and Ed Friedner, manager of Vanguard's engineering department.

A basic theory behind the use of the four tracks is that from 20-60 per cent of sound heard in a concert hall is reflected rather than direct. By reproducing this reflected sound, it might even be possible to identify the hall a recording was made in through the differences in reverberation.

The next is a full-page advertisement from the November, 1969 issue High Fidelity magazine, chock full-o-quotes from a number of (presumably prominent) men of hi-fi extolling the virtues of the new format, and listing the first 8 releases (4 classical, 3 pop and a sampler). Interesting to note that there isn't one use of any variation on the word "quadraphonic" - no quad, quadrasonic or quadriphonic. I believe in the earliest days of quad there was some worry that someone might own the trademark on the word 'quadraphonic' so this may be why the announcement is worded as it is. Also interesting to note that the ad suggests that quad 'cassettes' are coming, a development which never materialized.

And finally, another full-page advertisement, this time from the March 28th, 1970 issue of Billboard featuring a sort of whimsical cartoon, and a list of most of Vanguard's quad reels. Interestingly, I don't think any of these were released on quad LP in the US (some were in Japan via Vanguard's licensing deal with King Records) or on Q8 - even the Country Joe and the Fish single-LP Greatest Hits was replaced by the expanded double-LP Life and Times: From Haight Ashbury to Woodstock compilation when Vanguard finally started releasing QS-encoded LPs in 1972.

(Also note they're using the word 'Quadrasonic' in this advertisement.)

*The revolutionary new Quadrasonic system of stereo, a simultaneous four channel technique capable of reproducing music and the acoustical properties of an auditorium in which it is recorded more faithfully than heretofore possible.

Surround stereo tapes now available include:
VSS-1 Surround Stereo Sampler
VSS-2/3 Berlioz Requiem
VSS-4/5 Mahler Symphony No.3
VSS-6/7 Mahler Symphony No.9
VSS-8 David's Album - Joan Baez
VSS-9 Illuminations - Buffy Sainte-Marie
VSS-10 The Amazing Electronic Sound of Jean-Jacques Perry
VSS-11 Handel's Jephtha (Highlights)
VSS-14 Greatest Hits - Country Joe and The Fish

(VSS-12/13 is Joan Baez's Blessed Are...)

I think there's probably more meat to be put on this bone, research-wise, but I thought this was interesting enough to share as it is - I was kind of struck by the fact that the initial announcement was right around the time of the first moon landing, because for surround sound music, the Vanguard issue of quad tapes was similarly momentous in ushering in a new era of recorded sound.

 

[J. PUPSTER]

Interesting info and great research there Dave!

One thing written here that caught my attention was this paragraph:

"A basic theory behind the use of the four tracks is that from 20-60 per cent of sound heard in a concert hall is reflected rather than direct. By reproducing this reflected sound, it might even be possible to identify the hall a recording was made in through the differences in reverberation. "

Immediately made me think of the recent release of the choral group Cappella Romana and what Stanford scholars and scientists did to digitally recreate the experience of hearing with more historical accuracy; what the choral group would have sounded like in the medieval church Hagia Sophia.

 

[humprof]

Interesting to know (although I guess the catalog numbers already told this tale) that the Berlioz Requiem was the first commercial release in quad of a full symphonic work.

Pup, you beat me to the punch re Cappella Romana and Hagia Sofia.

 

[Quad Linda]

Thanks to Vanguard, I got to hear Quad at home prior to owning any Quad gear. WHAT?!

Two Chicago FM stations simultaneously broadcast the signal. Fronts on one station, rears on the other station.

I brought Dad's system into my room. Turned it on and set mine to the other station. Voila! Instant Quad!

It was late '69 or early '70. I was hooked!

 

[J. PUPSTER]

Thanks to Vanguard, I got to hear Quad at home prior to owning any Quad gear. WHAT?!

Two Chicago FM stations simultaneously broadcast the signal. Fronts on one station, rears on the other station.

I brought Dad's system into my room. Turned it on and set mine to the other station. Voila! Instant Quad!

It was late '69 or early '70. I was hooked!

Double stereo or that new fangled matrix QL?

 

[Quad Linda]

Neither, Vanguard reels playing front channels on one FM station carrying the front 2 channels. The other FM station carrying the rear chanels syncronized with the other station's signal. A discrete, 4-channel tape broadcast as discretely as two separate FM multiplex decoders can replicate it. Repoduced through four discrete channels of amp and four separate speakers.

 

[ubertrout]

FYI, Silverline released most of this stuff, as did Vanguard themselves on SACD. Sadly, no-one seems to have gotten to the Mahler 9th...

Edit to add. Here's what the Berkshire Record Outlet still has of the Silverline classical issues: SILVERLINE CLASSICS – Berkshire Record Outlet (some were both on dualdisc and DVD-A, same content on both).

 

[MidiMagic]

Neither, Vanguard reels playing front channels on one FM station carrying the front 2 channels. The other FM station carrying the rear chanels syncronized with the other station's signal. A discrete, 4-channel tape broadcast as discretely as two separate FM multiplex decoders can replicate it. Repoduced through four discrete channels of amp and four separate speakers.

And then the FCC told them they could not do that because the stations were playing "duplicate programming" in violation of the rules.

There was only one such program ever done in my area. All I had to play with then were two console stereos and half an hour to set up. It didn't work because they put the LF on the L of one station and the LB on the L of the other station. They expected people to have bookshelf speakers. I would have had to turn one of the consoles upside down to hear it correctly. So I tried facing the back console to the wall and adjusting the tone controls to make it sound reasonably good.

 

[tcdriver]

FYI, Silverline released most of this stuff, as did Vanguard themselves on SACD. Sadly, no-one seems to have gotten to the Mahler 9th...

Edit to add. Here's what the Berkshire Record Outlet still has of the Silverline classical issues: SILVERLINE CLASSICS – Berkshire Record Outlet (some were both on dualdisc and DVD-A, same content on both).

Thank you for the heads-up on Berkshire Record Outlet. In addition to the Vanguard recordings they have quite a number of multi-channel SACD discs from BIS, Chandos and Pentatone at very favorable prices.

 

[ubertrout]

Thank you for the heads-up on Berkshire Record Outlet. In addition to the Vanguard recordings they have quite a number of multi-channel SACD discs from BIS, Chandos and Pentatone at very favorable prices.

Yup, they're great. Part of why my collection has gotten so large without breaking the bank.

For people ordering from Acoustic Sounds, you can also get the Berlioz Requiem as a quad DVD-Audio for $2 - Maurice Abravanel-Berlioz Requiem-HDAD 2496 24192|Acoustic Sounds

 

[surround.sound.enthusiast]

Yup, they're great. Part of why my collection has gotten so large without breaking the bank.

For people ordering from Acoustic Sounds, you can also get the Berlioz Requiem as a quad DVD-Audio for $2 - Maurice Abravanel-Berlioz Requiem-HDAD 2496 24192|Acoustic Sounds

Whoa, that's a deal. I picked up a used double SACD version of this from Vanguard Classics locally, based on positive comments here, and that it was originally a Vanguard quad recording.

 

[scifi]

More from Vanguard - Country Joe and the Fish

 

[kfbkfb]

https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Audio/Archive-High-Fidelity/70s/High-Fidelity-1974-01.pdf#Page=40

A few years later, Vanguard Records also helped High Fidelity mag prepare their custom made Quad test discs.


Kirk Bayne

 

[fizzywiggs41]

https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Audio/Archive-High-Fidelity/70s/High-Fidelity-1974-01.pdf#Page=40

A few years later, Vanguard Records also helped High Fidelity mag prepare their custom made Quad test discs.


Kirk Bayne

That's a nice nostalgic read, thanx.

Too bad though , Now I'm curious what quad Vanguard selections they utilized .
High Fidelity should have had pressed enough Test SQ and CD-4 LP's for their general readership.

Something that HiFi News And Record Review did with their offering of the 2LP "Quadraphile" (SQ, QS, UD-4 , CD-4)

Darn!

 

[fizzywiggs41]

Neither, Vanguard reels playing front channels on one FM station carrying the front 2 channels. The other FM station carrying the rear chanels syncronized with the other station's signal. A discrete, 4-channel tape broadcast as discretely as two separate FM multiplex decoders can replicate it. Repoduced through four discrete channels of amp and four separate speakers.

That's very interesting Q L .

I was just reading an article regarding Acoustic Research's sponsored transmission of Discrete music of The BSO at Tanglewood captured on Quad Reels on two local Boston FM stereo stations (WGBH , WCRB) for the fall of 1969. They used an FM-Multiplex system .

They( AR) , continued sponsored broadcasts of The BSO in March 1970.using a FM-Multiplex system for Discrete Reels made by Acoustic Research.


But what I found most interesting was that they were making recordings on Quadraphonic Tapes (QR) , at the same time in 69 as Vanguard.

One such tape was The Eastman School Of Music in Rochester New York . Warren Benson's Symphony For Drums And Wind Orchestra . Quad mix engineer none other than Thomas Mowery.
And it would seem he also mixed in quad a few other of A R 's Reels. (High Fidelity Magazine September 69).

There is also Artist's information of upcoming Vanguard's first Quad Reels.

Now had Acoustic Research signed with a Record Label like Vanguards we may very well have seen Quad Tapes and L P 's at about the same time as Vanguards.
Maybe even before.
Also lies the possibility of those records using Audiodata's quad system (Scheiber matrix).
One such recording did in fact end up being on the Scheiber matrix Sampler , The recording of Henry Brant conducting Eastman School Symphony featuring "spatial music" .

Additional music broadcasting using 2 FM stations with FM- multiplex for Discrete quad were also broadcast before March 70, in New York City and ....were also sponsored by Acoustic Research using stations WNYC and WKCR.
(Stereo Review December 69)



Stereo Review Dec 69

*

 

[ubertrout]

That's very interesting Q L .

I was just reading an article regarding Acoustic Research's sponsored transmission of Discrete music of The BSO at Tanglewood captured on Quad Reels on two local Boston FM stereo stations (WGBH , WCRB) for the fall of 1969. They used an FM-Multiplex system .

They( AR) , continued sponsored broadcasts of The BSO in March 1970.using a FM-Multiplex system for Discrete Reels made by Acoustic Research.


But what I found most interesting was that they were making recordings on Quadraphonic Tapes (QR) , at the same time in 69 as Vanguard.

One such tape was The Eastman School Of Music in Rochester New York . Warren Benson's Symphony For Drums And Wind Orchestra . Quad mix engineer none other than Thomas Mowery.
And it would seem he also mixed in quad a few other of A R 's Reels. (High Fidelity Magazine September 69).

There is also Artist's information of upcoming Vanguard's first Quad Reels.

Now had Acoustic Research signed with a Record Label like Vanguards we may very well have seen Quad Tapes and L P 's at about the same time as Vanguards.
Maybe even before.
Also lies the possibility of those records using Audiodata's quad system (Scheiber matrix).
One such recording did in fact end up being on the Scheiber matrix Sampler , The recording of Henry Brant conducting Eastman School Symphony featuring "spatial music" .

View attachment 72214 View attachment 72215 View attachment 72216 View attachment 72217


Additional music broadcasting using 2 FM stations with FM- multiplex for Discrete quad were also broadcast before March 70, in New York City and ....were also sponsored by Acoustic Research using stations WNYC and WKCR.
(Stereo Review December 69)



Stereo Review Dec 69

*View attachment 72218

I wonder who owns the tapes? QXR was owned by the New York Times, but would it be property of the orchestra? KCR is the Columbia University station, they might well have tapes?

 

[fizzywiggs41]

I wonder who owns the tapes? QXR was owned by the New York Times, but would it be property of the orchestra? KCR is the Columbia University station, they might well have tapes?

My BEST guess would be "Acoustic Research" ....collecting dust in their Laboratory Archives.

That is unless they turned them over to the respective Orchestras , The Eastman School of music in Rochester N Y .

I suppose it's possible they may not still have them , though. And if so who does ?
I'd think The Boston Symphony Trust has some , if not all of the Tanglewood performances.

Something to ponder I think.
Acoustic Research went to a lot of effort and expense , to promote quad at the same time as Vanguard ! So you really have to wonder why no Record Company picked up their tapes . The article by Robert Long says he preferred the A R Quad Recordings over Vanguards.
Also When I was reading those early 1969 articles regarding both the quad recordings from Acoustic Research and Vanguard it would seem like it was a race to see who could install Quadraphonics first ,....... and Vanguard won.

Anyone that has a contact with Acoustic Research might want to check out their availability.



Well it's a mystery to me.

 

[ubertrout]

My BEST guess would be "Acoustic Research" ....collecting dust in their Laboratory Archives.

That is unless they turned them over to the respective Orchestras , The Eastman School of music in Rochester N Y .

I suppose it's possible they may not still have them , though. And if so who does ?
I'd think The Boston Symphony Trust has some , if not all of the Tanglewood performances.

Something to ponder I think.
Acoustic Research went to a lot of effort and expense , to promote quad at the same time as Vanguard ! So you really have to wonder why no Record Company picked up their tapes . The article by Robert Long says he preferred the A R Quad Recordings over Vanguards.
Also When I was reading those early 1969 articles regarding both the quad recordings from Acoustic Research and Vanguard it would seem like it was a race to see who could install Quadraphonics first ,....... and Vanguard won.

Anyone that has a contact with Acoustic Research might want to check out their availability.



Well it's a mystery to me.

Looks like it's now owned by Audiovox: Acoustic Research - Wikipedia. Unless it's a different Acoustic Research.

 

[fizzywiggs41]

Hmmmm. sold a couple times since.

BTW is that our Lynn Olson ? with a speaker review link , at the bottom in references.

 

[fizzywiggs41]

That's very interesting Q L .

I was just reading an article regarding Acoustic Research's sponsored transmission of Discrete music of The BSO at Tanglewood captured on Quad Reels on two local Boston FM stereo stations (WGBH , WCRB) for the fall of 1969. They used an FM-Multiplex system .

They( AR) , continued sponsored broadcasts of The BSO in March 1970.using a FM-Multiplex system for Discrete Reels made by Acoustic Research.


But what I found most interesting was that they were making recordings on Quadraphonic Tapes (QR) , at the same time in 69 as Vanguard.

One such tape was The Eastman School Of Music in Rochester New York . Warren Benson's Symphony For Drums And Wind Orchestra . Quad mix engineer none other than Thomas Mowery.
And it would seem he also mixed in quad a few other of A R 's Reels. (High Fidelity Magazine September 69).

There is also Artist's information of upcoming Vanguard's first Quad Reels.

Now had Acoustic Research signed with a Record Label like Vanguards we may very well have seen Quad Tapes and L P 's at about the same time as Vanguards.
Maybe even before.
Also lies the possibility of those records using Audiodata's quad system (Scheiber matrix).
One such recording did in fact end up being on the Scheiber matrix Sampler , The recording of Henry Brant conducting Eastman School Symphony featuring "spatial music" .

View attachment 72214 View attachment 72215 View attachment 72216 View attachment 72217


Additional music broadcasting using 2 FM stations with FM- multiplex for Discrete quad were also broadcast before March 70, in New York City and ....were also sponsored by Acoustic Research using stations WNYC and WKCR.
(Stereo Review December 69)



Stereo Review Dec 69

*View attachment 72218

RE : The audio journalist's statement... " I see no need for the regular audiophile to scrap his present equipment,"

You know one thing I noticed with the majority of these authors in Audio magazines in the late 60's and 70's as well is that they are all under the assumption that the only humans that invest in high end audio , are Male .
And quad is included.
I know females may be in the minority for this time period , but you'd still think their terminology would not be so sexist. I wonder how many future female audiophiles were dissuaded with quadraphonics because of these types of comments. The term "narrow minded" might be suitable and hopefully this type of singularity has ended .

I know on QQ we have both male and females involved with surround (and quad).
Me thinks our regular QQ moderator Quad Linda might agree.