With one caveat: it's --- digital. Soundsteam digital. From...1980 or so. GASP!

Heard em all now; even Scherchen's (huge disappointment).

Levine got to conduct Solti's Chicago orchestra, famous for its brass section (accurate down to 10 decimal places).

Unlike Solti's harsh, insensitive and relentless 70's London recording, Levine reigns in the brass, yet they're still fabulously responsive.

In the first mov't, with so many of Mahler's luminous, lyrical lines framed with delicate fanfares, no other brass section inspires confidence (or, in otherwords, becomes invisible, so to speak), like the Chicago. Mahler's ideas are supported well here.

Levine also builds chords from the bottom up, much like Furtwangler, thus the mid-mov't "moonlight" music really glows because all the open fifths/octaves given to the bass are encouraged to "ring" and/or stand out, and RCA's engineers capture them well. To me, this nocturnal interlude (before the first mov't wraps up) is the heart of the symphony; it's one of the most beautiful passages in all of Mahler.

In the "bells and whistles" dept, the bass drum is also deep and resonant, adding much atmosphere throughout the symphony. Non-existent in other recordings.

IMHO, Levine "gets" the symphony like no other, at least in the Lp era.

Of the competition: Scherchen is decidedly not his caffeinated, infinitely imaginative self, and his "LSO on the down-low" is having a bad day as well. In this one instance, the ensemble lives up to wanna-be critics' complaints.

Klemperer's interpretation is infamous and well-documented. I was hoping that the slow tempi would fascinate in their own right, (think Sinopoli's Elgar 2nd), but it sadly wasn't the case.

Typical DGG: poor Kubelik isn't well-served in the bass dept, but--other than his completely insensitive handling of the moonlight music, Solti-style--I'd still recommend **any** of Kubelik's Mahler based upon the "freshness" of his performances.

Abbado? I don't get Abaddo's Mahler. Never did. Ever.

Bernstein? I like his DGG recording better than the original, famous Columbia. Much more whimsy, and DGG got good recording results in NY. You'll have to pay a pretty penny though. Regarding the Columbia, the playing is a bit rough, as is the bass-lite recording. I'm not hearing the "magic" that other's hear in this early performance either.

Which brings us to Haitink: His earliest Philips recording is a bit surface and bass-lite. His later Philips recording (digital) comes closest to Levine's in sheer beauty, but still not as much "angst" and/or "mystery."

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Do give Levine's a try, if you like this piece. For me, the 1st mov't makes or breaks the symphony, followed by the 3rd mov't. The 2nd, 4th and 5th movements seem "unbreakable" to me.

RCA gets good recording results in Chicago, but we're not talking Decca quality. But still better than Columbia, or RCA in Philly with Ormandy.

 RE: Yup, no question now: if you want the best Mahler 7th on Lp, Levine is it - Mel 20:03:38 07/26/15 (1)
 RE: Yup, no question now: if you want the best Mahler 7th on Lp, Levine is it - jdaniel@jps.net 20:36:42 07/26/15 (0)
 Neumann/LGO (on the Eterna label) - Chris from Lafayette 12:41:12 07/26/15 (0)

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 RE: Yup, no question now: if you want the best Mahler 7th on Lp, Levine is it - Mel 20:03:38 07/26/15 (1)
 RE: Yup, no question now: if you want the best Mahler 7th on Lp, Levine is it - jdaniel@jps.net 20:36:42 07/26/15 (0)
 Neumann/LGO (on the Eterna label) - Chris from Lafayette 12:41:12 07/26/15 (0)
 Great survey - TGR 11:55:01 07/26/15 (2)
 Thanks. During the first MTT live Mahler 7th, the poor posthorn soloist gaffed and cracked literally 6 or 7 - jdaniel@jps.net 12:33:30 07/26/15 (1)
 S@$% happens... - TGR 12:40:05 07/26/15 (0)
 RE: Yup, no question now: if you want the best Mahler 7th on Lp, Levine is it - SgreenP@MSN.com 09:18:29 07/26/15 (1)
 Heard him do it live twice, (the second time for his SACD recording). - jdaniel@jps.net 10:21:00 07/26/15 (0)
 RE: Yup, no question now: if you want the best Mahler 7th on Lp, Levine is it - learsfool 08:31:43 07/26/15 (4)
 RE: Yup, no question now: if you want the best Mahler 7th on Lp, Levine is it - fstein 15:28:10 07/29/15 (0)
 I know Abaddo's DGG 7th well. I just don't "get" Abaddo's Mahler. Nothing about it seems to stand out to me. - jdaniel@jps.net 10:12:29 07/26/15 (2)
 RE: I know Abaddo's DGG 7th well. I just don't "get" Abaddo's Mahler. Nothing about it seems to stand out to me. - learsfool 22:35:09 07/26/15 (1)
 Not sure if there's a connection between audiophila and tepid feelings towards Abaddo.... - jdaniel@jps.net 07:33:24 07/27/15 (0)
 This is a US pressing, right? - vinyl1 05:39:00 07/26/15 (1)
 That's a stock pic, but gatefold cover says "plating," "matrixing," and "pressing" Europadisc - jdaniel@jps.net 08:19:03 07/26/15 (0)
 RE: Yup, no question now: if you want the best Mahler 7th on Lp, Levine is it - Dave Billinge 02:11:34 07/26/15 (1)
 Can't believe I forgot Tennstedt! His Mahler 8th is my #1 choice, but I don't remember being taken by his 7th, - jdaniel@jps.net 07:51:20 07/26/15 (0)
 Levine rarely disappoints - kavakidd 23:35:42 07/25/15 (0)
 The best I have heard was CSO/Haitink Live... - kuma 22:15:04 07/25/15 (4)
 RE: The best I have heard was CSO/Haitink Live... - jdaniel@jps.net 08:02:32 07/26/15 (3)
 Heard MTT's 9th 2 years ago with CSO... - kuma 09:42:54 07/26/15 (2)
 Generic conductors who occasionally hit a home run.... - jdaniel@jps.net 10:48:29 07/26/15 (1)
 Agreed....add one more generic conductor.... - kuma 11:59:01 07/26/15 (0)

I'll look for a Levin's 7th on vinyl. I usually peg him rather *generic* from that era ( I've his Brahms with CSO from the 70s ) but never know till I give it a listen.

Maybe some day they will, and I'll listen again, since you're enthusiastic about them.

Take my subject line with a grain of salt though. : )