Pink Floyd Echoes LP Boxset

[KLM]

I've been waiting for this ever since the originally scheduled November release date. Well it's out and I just got my copy in the mail yesterday. Today, I decide to take a look and listen. At first I was dissapointed to read Digital Remaster in the fine print under the various tracks. I then take it out for a little spin on the VPI and must say the sound is pretty good. Now I didn't compare the tracks to some of my MFSL lp titles or even the japanese pressing of the Wall that I have, but from memory and sheer enjoyment, this seems like a good mastering and pressing. Anyone else received their copy and any thoughts?

FYI: I didn't purchase the cd version so this was my first introduction to the sound and resequencing of songs.

[Sckott]

I like the idea and the artwork of Echoes, but the EMI pressing of the record is alright. Not incredible. Yep, it's a digital making. Try and compare it to your "Peep hole" issue EMI UK reissues of some of that material. Know which issues I'm talking about? The UK LP pressings of the anniversary issues on EMI? Those will sound pretty much the same as Echoes. Same process, ideas, sounds, mastering fer the most part.

But if you have earlier UK issues of DSOTM or maybe a Harvest or even an earlier USA Columbia of WYWH (with stamped-in numbers), you might be a little hesitant to listen to Echoes.

But Echoes is fun to listen to, made for the CD listener, and collector. Them's BETTER out there for PF vinyl, but Echoes is a nice piece! (Ouch, expensive too!) :p

[Humorem]

Originally posted by Sckott
Try and compare it to your "Peep hole" issue EMI UK reissues of some of that material. Know which issues I'm talking about? The UK LP pressings of the anniversary issues on EMI? Those will sound pretty much the same as Echoes. Same process, ideas, sounds, mastering fer the most part.


Sckott, who told you those were digital may I ask?
TP

[Sckott]

I wouldn't think they'd do it any other way (Echoes). Besides, I sincerely doubt they crossfaded all the songs in an analog process. Uh-uh. No way. Not truely.

I do know the individual "peep hole" titles weren't analog. Not sure if I saw that on Red Trumpet that they *were* digital, but why would they roll analog at EMI? Bah, too much work. They sound JUST like the CDs.

NOT putting a bad connentation on the word "DIGITAL" though.

[count.d]

Can I ask,
Why did you buy the Echoes?

A compilation of Pink Floyd just doesn't work.

I would have thought that this compilation was aimed at the person who has basically never heard Pink Floyd, so they get a taste from many albums.

It's not cheap so you could have bought there more well known ones for the same price.

I would have thought anyone who has quality hifi like Naim must have at least two of there albums.

Just a thought.

[Sam]

By "Peep Hole" issues I assume you mean the ones that were also called "back catalog" and featured the color insert of the lovely naked ladies sitting on the pool edge with the floyd artwork painted on their backs?

Well, that's the version I have for "The Wall." And I am here to state that this is the best version of this material that I have heard. Now, as Tom Port always says, "What did you compare it to?" I compared it to the regular U.S lp version, the highly acclaimed Japanese pressing and the MOFI gold CD.

The U.S. version was average at best in comparison. Noisy vinyl with ok dynamics.

Japanese pressing was more detailed. Quiet vinyl. Increased dynamics.

MOFI GOLD CD. Bass GALORE. My God, shook the room. This was clearly kicked up by mofi. But, clarity suffered on this cd. It was one of the few cd's that I owned that DID NOT exhibit any of the normal digital hardness that I used to hear with all my other cd's. But, as I said, something about the sound was veiled. Murky.

EMI BACKISSUE with the out of focus circle on the front cover. Don't know if it's digital, but the sonics are all here! Clarity, dynamics and bass. Superior Soundstaging in comparision to the other pressings. The only negative: well two negatives: ULTRA-THIN vinyl and somewhat noisy vinyl.

What's your opinion fellow members (and Mr. Port) ?

[Todd Fredericks]

Sam,

I have the "Peep Hole" vinyl of the Wall. I got in London when it came out. I think it sounds great compared to the US first pressing vinyl and a 1,000 times better than the first issue US CD. Yes, the vinyl is quite noisy in some sections. I recall that it has very nice dynamics. I haven't listened to it in a while...

Todd

[Paul Chang]

Originally posted by count.d
Can I ask,
Why did you buy the Echoes?

A compilation of Pink Floyd just doesn't work.

I would have thought that this compilation was aimed at the person who has basically never heard Pink Floyd, so they get a taste from many albums.

It's not cheap so you could have bought there more well known ones for the same price.

I would have thought anyone who has quality hifi like Naim must have at least two of there albums.

Just a thought. Some people liken it to Beatles 1. Gilmour felt "it was a good look at our entire career". He and Waters picked the 24 tracks through "a voting system".

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1738

A more complete compilation than A Collection Of Great Dance Songs. A montage for the completist fans to buy. Won't hurt the band members' pockets.

[Sckott]

Echoes is not a BAD set, but it DOES ruin the concept for which each of the songs fit more confortably in. Linking a song from DSOTM with something from The Final Cut made even ME go, "WHAT?!"

But then again, it's more accessable for the people with small collections and who want the poo-poo-platter of Pink Floyd rather than the whole-dish feature of the concept. Ironcally, the album was compiled to sound like it "fits together".

I didn't want to be a grouch, but anyone's better off collecting the Lps (or CDs) as they were released. True. It's still a fun set. Not something that I kept in the house, tho. :(

[Humorem]

Originally posted by Sam

Well, that's the version I have for "The Wall." And I am here to state that this is the best version of this material that I have heard.

EMI BACKISSUE with the out of focus circle on the front cover. Don't know if it's digital, but the sonics are all here! Clarity, dynamics and bass. Superior Soundstaging in comparision to the other pressings.

What's your opinion fellow members (and Mr. Port) ?

My opinion? My opinion is that EMI told me they were analog, I said they were analog, they sound analog, and as the saying goes, if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's a duck.

And Sam, thanks for listening. I think some of the titles in that series were outstanding, every bit as good as the best. You are an asset to this forum, I can see that now. Vinyl rules.

Noisy vinyl, yup. I have about 30 LPs from that series on a shelf in the backroom, too noisy to sell. At $18 wholesale, that's too painful to think about. Thanks for reminding me.

Please, everyone, read my posts on the record cutting machine thread about "ideas" and why I don't like 'em. It answers some of the posts above.

But more to the point: Sckott is dead right about the album: hated it. You just don't compile Pink Floyd. It doesn't work. It can't work. It was a dumb idea, badly executed at that.

I've already sold 5 of them on vinyl. Pink Floyd? Vinyl? I'll take one! :confused:

I hope they like it better than I did.

TP

[Paul Chang]

So "Peep Hole" is what others call "Psychedelic Cover". I heard that it was supposed to be pressed on 180 gram vinyl but instead got the 120 at first. Then EMI pressed the 180 version and the quality got worse, with scuffs and scratches all over the surfaces.


Tom,

Now that the MoFi "hot Stamper" DSOTM ranks #1 in your book, I take that EMI 100 has dropped to the second best. Is it any different from the "Peep Hole"? I can't listen for myself for I got no EMI 100 DSOTM.

Originally posted by Sam
What's your opinion fellow members (and Mr. Port) ? Wait a minute! Mr. Port is fellow member, too.

For he's a jolly good fellow,
For he's a jolly good fellow,
For he's a jolly good fellow,
Which nob'dy can deny. (i.e. you are a nob'dy if you deny it. :D)

[Humorem]

Originally posted by Paul Chang

Now that the MoFi "hot Stamper" DSOTM ranks #1 in your book, I take it that the EMI 100 has dropped to the second best. Is it any different from the "Peep Hole"?
Remastered baby! Not the same stampers. Didn't like it as well. That was a long time ago though so don't hold me to it, please.

Boy, if I had an "idea" that there was no reason to remaster it, since they just mastered it recently, I could've been fooled, big time.

But I play the records. Look at the stampers too!:eek:



TP