TS 4.01 - Carlos Di Sarli 1958 Nov
Tags: Carlos Di Sarli, Singer, InstrumentalCategory: AlbumSamples
The late 1950s marked the twilight of tango’s Golden Age. Even Carlos Di Sarli could not escape the shifting tides. In 1957, magazine "Cantando" voted his orquesta the most popular of the year. Yet in 1958, Víctor sharply curtailed tango recording plans under new management which led to Di Sarli’s decisive departure. He joined Philips, a label re-entering the Argentine tango market with the latest recording technology.
TS 4.01 brings together five instrumental masterpieces, including "El Abrojo" and "Indio Manso", both recorded for the first time. Di Sarli’s orquesta featured a gigantic string section of eight violins, with figures such as Roberto Guisado, Elvino Vardaro, and Simón Bajour, alongside a formidable bandoneón section with Félix Verdi, José Libertella, and Julián Plaza. What a line-up!
The vocal spotlight shifts to the young Horacio Casares, acclaimed for his work with Orquesta Símbolo Osmar Maderna before joining Di Sarli. He appears on four tracks here, each a classic. We include three recordings by Jorge Durán, with "Nubes de Humo" standing among the cantor’s finest achievements.
Few groups maintain such a level in their final years — Di Sarli is an exception. Recorded at the dawn of the hi-fi era, these recordings well preserve the "sacred flame." The Philips CD mastered and issued in the 1990s was handled carelessly. TangoSparks’ restoration allows these recordings to shine once more, surpassing the Víctor-era sound, captivating DJs and dancers.
Di Sarli first experimented with magnetic tape recording in 1951 at Music Hall. In 1958, working with Philips, he once again stood at the forefront of technology, this time adopting instrumental and vocal multitrack recording. It is not unreasonable to believe that, had Di Sarli’s health allowed him to remain active into the 1960s, he would have become one of the pioneers of stereo recording in tango.
The multitrack workflow also explains the uncertainty on the exact recording dates. Based on oral and written notes, and the audible tape splices within the tracks, it is reasonable to conclude that throughout November 1958, both the artists and Philips devoted considerable time and care to refining these sessions.
As for the sound itself, Philips’ studio placement clearly foregrounds Di Sarli’s piano, so much that the subtle creaking of his chair can be occasionally heard. The string section is more evenly balanced, avoiding the frequent overloads typical of Victor’s recordings. The overall frequency balance is remarkably even, requiring minimal corrective EQ carving in post-production.
It is worth noting that Jorge Durán recorded five tracks during the November sessions. Two of them, "Dónde Estás" and "Si Nos Queremos Todavía", have never appeared on any verifiable vinyl releases, and we have therefore excluded them from TS 4.01. Should superior source material become available in the future and surpass the CD versions, we will consider releasing them.
The four dubbed recordings made with Rivero in 1960 are highly unlikely to be approved for release, had the maestro been alive. We have chosen not to include them.
TS 4.01 presents the finest selections from El Señor del Tango’s final recordings, restored to a near hi-fi sound, even to today's standard. The dynamic range and density rival any monophonic recordings of the 1960s. This album is an essential must-have.
Frank Jin
| Date | Track | Genre | Singer | Label | Matrix No. | Pitch | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958-11-12 | Una Fija | Tango | Instrumental | Philips | 1h42049 | 442 | 02:51 |
| 1958-11-12 | Hasta Siempre Amor | Tango | Horacio Casares | Philips | 2h42049 | 442 | 02:48 |
| 1958-11-13 | Champagne Tango | Tango | Instrumental | Philips | 1h42051 | 442 | 02:47 |
| 1958-11-13 | Llámame Amor Mío | Tango | Horacio Casares | Philips | 2h42051 | 442 | 03:26 |
| 1958-11-13 | Nubes De Humo | Tango | Jorge Durán | Philips | 1h42052 | 442 | 02:56 |
| 1958-11-13 | Indio Manso | Tango | Instrumental | Philips | 2h42052 | 442 | 02:52 |
| 1958-11-13 | Duerme Mi Amor | Tango | Horacio Casares | Philips | 1h42053 | 442 | 02:56 |
| 1958-11-13 | El Abrojo | Tango | Instrumental | Philips | 2h42053 | 442 | 02:47 |
| 1958-11-14 | Bahía Blanca | Tango | Instrumental | Philips | 1h42055 | 442 | 02:49 |
| 1958-11-14 | No La Maldigas Por Dios | Tango | Jorge Durán | Philips | 2h42055 | 442 | 03:01 |
| 1958-11-27 | No Me Supiste Amar | Tango | Horacio Casares | Philips | 1h42095 | 442 | 02:59 |
| 1958-11-27 | Por Quererla Así | Tango | Jorge Durán | Philips | 2h42095 | 442 | 03:19 |
