Advice on Tom Petty's "Damn the Torpedoes"

[Matt]

How does the new HDCD remaster compare the MFSL Ultradisc I?

[Sckott]

The HDCD master sounds like you're physically BEATEN with the record about the neck and head. The box set was mastered exactly the same way. The TP remasters should say: Warning - May cause deafness even at low listening levels.

The normal MCA pressing sounds like music, the MFSL even more so (Hmm, am I quoting someone? Totally non-intentional!). MCA mastered the stock issue with enough dynamics and feel, so if you can only find a plain-window-graphic-on-the-back MCA, get one used for $6.

I saved my MCA and MFSL after a/bing them. The HDCD sounds interesting through "Hard Promises", but even THAT MFSL and MCA sounds more like music too...

(edited because my spellingg sukks.)

[Steven]

I haven't heard DTT, but the Long After Dark remaster is one of the most overcompressed overly bright remasters I've heard. It was done by Joe Gastwirt who did a much tamer job on the early 90's Self Titled and You're Gonna Get It Gone Gator CD's, although even they are slightly harsh (but still listenable).

I have however heard the the original MCA DTT and the MFSL. I would try to get the MFSL. The orig MCA is pretty tinny and more hissy than I would imagine the master is. The MFSL sounds about right.

By the way, on the SH discography it says Steve did the original MCA cd of You're Gonna Get It. Does this CD exist? I have never seen it and I've been looking on ebay for months. I've only ever seen the Gastwirt/Gone Gator cd.

Steven

[Rspaight]

When the Gone Gator discs came out, it was widely reported/assumed that it was those two albums' CD debut. The "original" MCA issue must have been quite small.

Ryan

[Sckott]

For a while "Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers" and "You're Gonna Get It" were available, but then went completely out of print and missing for quite some time before the Gone Gator ones came out.

If Steve takes credit for "You're...Get It", then he's been the only guy to use the normal mix of "Listen To Her Heart". which IMHO sounds better than the vocal mix that was doubled-over. In radio, I used to use the Gone Gator 4-track sampler, and I have the Playback HDCD box. If its any indication, etc - then neither has the "correct" mix of that song.

[BitShifter]

I have to agree with Sckott; I had the stock "Compact Disc, Compact Price" original MCA of Hard Promises, and found a sealed copy of the MOFI for $13, so I picked it up. The MOFI really wasn't too different from the stock; maybe a bit more "full-bodied", but some might say with "less clarity". I picked up the new MCA remaster when it came out. I don't have a super problem with a CD being "up-volumed" or normalized to about -6db RMS the way most modern discs are (although I prefer less, about -9db RMS when I make CDs from vinyl). But something they did in the remastering makes the new one sound different from the original.

If you had never listened to the original a lot, you might think the remaster sounds fine; but if you're familiar with the original at all, you will probably think the new remaster sounds "wrong" (drums too loud, vocals lost a bit in the music). So about $25 later, I still prefer the original MCA issue, at least for "Hard Promises".

[Dave]

IMHO the MFSL UD1 is the way to go. I really like this album but I find that the orig. MCA pressing gives me audio fatige where as the MFSL I can listen to all day.

[Highway Star]

If liking the new remastered Damn The Torpedoes is wrong, then I don't want to be right! Just picked this up a couple of weeks ago and I was under the impression (or delusion?) that it sounded good. It only set me back about $8 new, so no big loss there. 'Splain Lucy, why shouldn't I be liking this? I have the original MCA, which I just A/B'd with it, and the original MCA sounds very anemic. I'm not as experienced a listener as many here are on what sounds right and what sounds wrong, but I'm willing to learn. Anyway, it does have nicer packaging.

[Dave]

Telefunken,

You could very well be correct. I haven't heard the new release yet. All I know is that when compression is used to "pump up the volume" there is alot of missing sound that gets squeezed out of the final mix.

[Matt]

HDCD's usually do have the volume pumped, but on their website, they claim they're able to do this because of the extra information they fit on their discs. I try to take their word for it, but some HDCD discs I have do sound compressed (in addition to being louder) when I compare them with other issues.

The one example that pops out in my mind is "Scarecrow" by Mellencamp. The MFSL CD sounds the best, for me, on CD, while similar tracks on the Best of (which supposedly is done in HDCD even though the logo isn't on there) has that trademark sound I just mentioned.

Anyway, thanks for the advice everyone. I'll probably stick with the MFSL version.

[Todd Fredericks]

I have the MFSL UD1 of "Damn the Torpedoes" (I found it in mint condition at a thrift shop several years ago for $5). It sounds very good and no harshness. I like the first pressing LP of this too. Petty's earlier stuff always had a great "record" type of sound...

Todd