Moody Blues Remasters

[TimM]

I am getting ready to replace my worn out vinyl copies of A

Question Of Balance and On The Threshold Of A Dream and was

wondering what people consider to be the best versions of these

discs. Thanks

[mcow1]

Personally I don't care for the remasters. I think the mix is all wrong, makes some sound like totally different songs. Question of Balance in particular, Melancholy Man is so wrong It's hard to listen to. Probably if you can find them MOFI is the way to go. Although IMO it's not up to the original vinyl either.:cool:

[TimM]

Thanks for the input. I would prefer to replace them with mint

vinyl but that is getting harder and harder to find. I have bought

several LP's graded near mint that I didn't think deserved that

rating. This always makes me leary on E-Bay.

[Sckott]

Dittos here. Moody's been remastered 3 times already. The Deccas (or Derams) with the grey J cards on the back (track listing) are still the best way to go, barring hunting for some MFSLs.

Those were done very well. Even "Days/Future" still sounds impressive on the 1st Decca/Deram issue.

Ever seen Foghorn Leghorn cartoons...? When he goes up to the dog with a trashcan and a 2X3 plank? He picks the dog's head up out of a sleep, puts the trashcan on the dog's head and gives the can a few good whacks with the plank? The dog wakes up dizzy and the rooster walks away laughing.

Well....hey that's how I feel on some new remasters. Ouchie.

[Ted Bell]

Tim,
I know what you mean about E bay. I just started buying LPs there and just about everything is graded "NearMint". Unfortunately, I've found very few that are actually in that category including some I would grade Fair at best. One of the ones I purchased was totally unlistenable.

Jay N.

[mcow1]

Remeber to check seller's feedback on ebay and to leave feedback if someone misgrades their product. I have bought quite a few LPs on ebay and have definitely received a lot of crap graded as "near mint" , but I have got several that were under graded too, (a really nice Magical Mystery mono). However several of the sellers made it good afterwards. I did see quite a few MOFI Moodies out ther the other day though.

[TimB]

I have all three, the Natilus LP, and both MFSL (CD and LP) of Threshhold, and I still think the MoFi is the best. Good luck finding the MFSL Question, it is rare, and I have still not found a copy of it. The remastered CD's are ok, but MoFi are the best by far. If you can find UK 1st pressings, they sound wonderful as well, but I have not listened to one or seen one for sale in years. All the above, IMHO!:rolleyes:

[TimM]

Thank you all for the input. I think I'll stay away from the

remasters for now and see what I can find on E-bay.

[Todd Fredericks]

I guess I've been lucky but I seem to come across a lot of Moody Blues vinyl in NM condition via thrift shops. The only one I'm looking for another copy of is "Question". My copy looked NM but on the 1st song there's sadly a skip. I've come across every other album except this one recently. I'm sure It'll pop up soon. The most common one I see "Days". I think the US first pressings sound great. I have a JAP pressing of "Days" and the US one is much open sounding. I also have a MFSL of "Every..." and the US one wins again, IMO.

Todd

[btomarra]

Tim,

I will add that the MFSL are worth pursuing. I have had fairly good success on Half.com. I bought ISOTC and DOFP for about $45 a piece and they were mint. I won't buy it if it's too high. Seventh Sojourn fetches $150. Ouch!!!

I don't like the US versions that came out in the late 80's due to the fact that they forced a crossfade between sides one and two. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. My copy of This Is The Moody Blues has that crossfade technique.

The Mofi's at least reproduce the booklets (On The Threshold...) and lyrics. Something the new remasters didn't. The sound is pretty decent.

Oh, and if you can find Prelude get it! It is available as an import. It's the only place that has the original stereo mix of A Simple Game full length (3:44). It was remixed and edited on This IS...as well as the b-sides of Fly Me High (Really Haven't Got The Time) and Love and Beauty (Leave This Man Alone).

Brian

:cool:

[Beagle]

Originally posted by Sckott
Ever seen Foghorn Leghorn cartoons...? When he goes up to the dog with a trashcan and a 2X3 plank? He picks the dog's head up out of a sleep, puts the trashcan on the dog's head and gives the can a few good whacks with the plank? The dog wakes up dizzy and the rooster walks away laughing.

Well....hey that's how I feel on some new remasters. Ouchie.

LOL!

[Gary]

Yes, that's a VERY apt description!

Good one, Sckott! Sadly, it's true......... :mad: