I can't remember the details now correctly but in the 1960s I remember perusing the Classical Music Guide (or whatever it was called before it morphed into the enormous RED catalogue). The joy was not only seeing, at a glance, all the available recordings of a particular work, but the eye could take-in other/unknown works and composers in adjoining entries. There was no need to spell out a composer's name to get the details.
Admittedly, as John & Alan say, the choice then was much smaller but I suspect that, given if I had a copy of the catalogue in my hands, I would find what I wanted as lot quicker than typing in the details online. However, that meant a trip to the store to see the catalogue (until I started to buy it) so overall on-line probably was quicker (if less satisfying). The explosion in entries over the last two or three decades is mind-blowing. However, now when I peruse the PRESTO lists of the week's new releases, there seems to be fewer and fewer orchestral 'romantic-period' works being listed. I hope this is NOT the end of our 'golden age' for unsungs. que sera!
Richard
Admittedly, as John & Alan say, the choice then was much smaller but I suspect that, given if I had a copy of the catalogue in my hands, I would find what I wanted as lot quicker than typing in the details online. However, that meant a trip to the store to see the catalogue (until I started to buy it) so overall on-line probably was quicker (if less satisfying). The explosion in entries over the last two or three decades is mind-blowing. However, now when I peruse the PRESTO lists of the week's new releases, there seems to be fewer and fewer orchestral 'romantic-period' works being listed. I hope this is NOT the end of our 'golden age' for unsungs. que sera!
Richard