2) Osvaldo Pugliese in the Post-78rpm Era
Thanks to early LP production technology, there is a possibility of obtaining a small number of Osvaldo Pugliese’s recordings in their best sound quality when specific LPs in good condition are at hand. Notable examples include "N.N.," "La Cachila," the Stentor recordings, etc. In general, with a discreet selection of commercial CDs and necessary audio restoration skills, you can achieve a satisfying result in preserving Maestro Pugliese’s musical legacy.
Must-haves (24 discs):
Edicion Aniversario 1905-2005 (EA)
A 4-CD compilation that covers Pugliese’s complete era in Odeón. However almost all early (1949-1952) LP transfers have equalization issues that render them pretty dull. My wild guess is that the sound engineer has just set the curve to RIAA while in reality different cases, such CCIR standard, were applied. These early LPs have severe speed issues too, notably Pastoral, the pitch of which drops almost a semitone at the end. However, they are by far the best source you can get, and lot of restoration work will be expected.
EM Memorial Album (MA)
Second-to-none transfers of La Cachila, Mala Junta and N.N.
LanTower - Osvaldo Pugliese 1960 Completo (LanT)
Probably the most unexpected album from the notorious Lantower label, featuring the maestro’s complete output at the small label Stentor in LP transfers. Comparing with EU 16002(14002) which is an absolute failure with excessive noise reduction, this album provides acceptable tracks with, nevertheless, some clipping issues.
EM Bailando Tango (BT)
You need this album for two tracks only: La Yumba and Desde el Alma.
EU-19011 Archivo ODEON, Dos maestros, dos estilos - Osvaldo Pugliese | Alfredo De Angelis
EU Records did not put much effort on Pugliese and this is the only one (excluding EU 16002) featuring the maestro, partly because EMI/Odeón has already done a decent job. The Chiqué transfer from the master tape is just impeccable; Emancipación and N.N. are also good versions you can get.
Polygram El Maestro, Inedito (Inedito)
A magical compilation fixed the holes of maestro’s Philips era. You just cannot find them elsewhere. This album also provides four special tracks recorded without the bandoneón section.
BnF Collection - Osvaldo Pugliese y su Orquesta
If you have ever read Johan’s article of Pugliese’s 8 controversial recordings, you will understand how valuable Barro (1952) and La noche que me esperes (1952-2) are. Transferred from an 1954-print LP which belongs to the archive of National Library of France, this digital release fulfill the ultimate dream of Pugliese’s collectors.
EM From Argentina To The World (FATW)
Best-quality late Instrumental tracks in the 1970s.
The famous DBN Reliquias series of Pugliese offers an almost-complete repertoire of decent reel-to-reel master tape or LP transfers of Pugliese’s Odeón era in these 8 discs. Again, many transfer issues exist (Y mientes todavía starts sharper than #C minor and drops to flatter than C minor by the end! Can you believe that?). When there are identical tracks, the ones from Edicion Aniversario 1905-2005 are usually slightly better; a few exceptions are Malandraca, Pasional, Canzoneta, etc.
DBN Instrumentales Inolvidables Vol.2 (INS 2)
DBN Sus Exitos con Alberto Morán (AM)
DBN Alberto Morán y Roberto Chanel (AR)
DBN Miguel Montero y Jorge Maciel (MM)
DBN Instrumentales Inolvidables Vol.3 (INS 3)
DBN Sus Exitos con Alberto Morán Vol.2 (AM 2)
DBN Jorge Maciel - Tangos que traen recuerdos (JM)
DBN Vidal, Cobos y Montero (VCM)
Polygram Antologias 6 CDs: A series includes almost all the recordings the maestro accomplished in Phillips from 1961 to 1970, excluding a few inedito tracks.
Could-haves:
For some specific tunes, you have no better choices than these albums:
BATC Colección Revista Vol.1
Pagina12 (PG12), Osvaldo Pugliese
Very nice compilation with the best transfers of La Rayuela and San José de Flores
Clarín Tango de Collección Vol.02: Pugliese
Este Es El Tango Porteño 10CDs (EETP)
Decent LP (mostly) transfers. Several are perfectly done. But this set is difficult to obtain and could be very expensive.
Orfeon - Pasional (Orfeon P)
While has some hard-to-get tunes, this album is very likely a bootleg compilation of various others.
BATC Colección Revista Vol.7
EMI - Las 1001 Noches del Tango
Best transfers of La Guitarrita, Nueve de Julio and Zum from the master tapes
DiscoLatina 3009 - 1954-1960 (DL 3009)
DBN Tangos De Siempre - Vol 2
The Comparison List
Tango Instrumental 1949-1960 (Odeón)
Tango Instrumental 1960-1970 (Stentor, Phillips)
Four Special Tunes and Tango Instrumental 1972-74 (Phillips, Odeón)
Alberto Morán 1949-54 (Odeón)
Jorge Maciel 1954-67 (Odeón, Stentor, Phillips)
Jorge Vidal, Juan C. Cobos, Miguel Montero and Others 1949-59 (Odeón)
Alfredo Belusi and Abel Córdoba 1960-70 (Stentor, Phillips)
Milonga y Vals (Odeón, Stentor, Phillips)
