I agree with Tom about 'Crime of the Century'...

[Todd Fredericks]

Tom,

I listend to my Speaker's Corner "Crime of the Century" and I agree with your call 110%. It sounds superb! The fidelity and the "life" on that record is amazing. There is so much space on this pressing and nothing "tricky". I got lost in the music. I threw on an old US 70's pressing and it's nothing compared to the SC version. Thanks for the comments about this record...

Todd

[Kevin Korom]

Hmmm, does this mean I need to retire my 3 MoFi vinyl copies, MoFi CD, and A&M half-speed mastered vinyl versions(not to mention the standard vinyl)?!?

Tom, do you have copies? I think I need to hear this one; truly one of my all-time faves...

[Metralla]

All-time favourite - mine too.

I might even have to get a turntable while I'm here in the USA, something I've consciously avoided. I've got a vinyl rig in storage back in Australia but I still have 2 years to go on my H1 visa. I may not be able to make it without hearing that "Crime of the Century".

I have UD I and UD II MoFi CDs. At the very least, I'm going to get the record to take home.

Regards,
Metralla

[Todd Fredericks]

All I can really say is that all of Tom Port's posts about the quality of this release is true. It's an experience...

Todd

[Beagle]

Best version is the original British A&M. It's quite something.

[Ronflugelguy]

Tom, do you have these in stock right now? And when do expect to see the Creedence Clearwater?

[trhunnicutt]

Agreed. The Speakers Corner release is excellent. Too bad they haven't released Breakfast.

I just picked up a White Label promo copy original which equals or betters the Speakers Corner reissue in many ways.

Of course, I can't tell you the stamper numbers ;)

Happy listening.

Tom

[ericpeters]

I just checked the German Speakers corner site? Is this the same record you're talking about (and the same speakers corner)? I doesn't say anything about remastering or whatever, I want to buy it but I also want to be sure I got the right one.

[KLM]

Alright, based on this post, I drove up to York PA and slapped down the $30 at Red Trumpet for a copy of the Speaker's Corner edition. Now mind you I love this album and already have both the MOFI and UHQR MOFI. In a quick comparrison, the Speakers Corner (SC) Lp does sound very good. Compared to the UHQR, the SC, was pressed a little louder and sounded a bit more forward but very full. I'm not sure which one I prefer at the moment but for the price, the SC is very good and may indeed be the one to get (aside from a UK original as Tom suggests).

I'll keep you posted....

[Todd Fredericks]

KLM,

I didn't expect anyone to drive all the way to Red Trumpet... So was it worth the trip? I think it is very exciting to listen to. I actually played it again tonight. What are other differences you find with it between the MFSL & UHQR? Also, Tom if you're reading, what can you describe as the differences with the UK original you have. Don't worry, you don't have to provide stamper numbers...

Todd

[Humorem]

Originally posted by Beagle
Best version is the original British A&M. It's quite something.
I agree completely.

What stampers do you have, may I ask?
TP

[Humorem]

Originally posted by KLM
In a quick comparrison, the Speakers Corner (SC) Lp does sound very good. Compared to the UHQR, the SC, was pressed a little louder and sounded a bit more forward but very full.

KLM,

Ah, but which UHQR? What number is it? A7/B12 or A17/B17?

Regarding the latter, notice how much dead wax there is at the end, over an inch. That's where the bass and the dynamics are supposed to go. No bass and dynamics, no need for wide grooves.

Narrow grooves, more dead wax at the end. (It's not quite that simple but in this case it works.)

Match the levels for both records.

Play "Dreamer" on your MOFI. Listen to the voice, just the voice, of Roger Hodgson, on the SC copy, all the way through. Forget everything else.

Now play your UHQR. If you have the "good" one, the voice will seem very bright and unnatural.

If you have the bad one, the voice will seem a little less bright, still too bright of course, only now the song NEVER GETS LOUD.

It's compressed to death. Ugh.

These qualities I am pointing out to you should be leaping out of your speakers and hitting you over the head. The effect can be heard from another room. None of them are subtle in the least.

Please listen again and let me know what you hear.

TP

[Humorem]

Originally posted by Kevin Korom
Hmmm, does this mean I need to retire my 3 MoFi vinyl copies, MoFi CD, and A&M half-speed mastered vinyl versions(not to mention the standard vinyl)?!?

Tom, do you have copies? I think I need to hear this one; truly one of my all-time faves...

Yes, you will have to retire them. They will be very painful to you after you start to recognize what MOFI did to the tonality.

The A&M is a real turd, but the A&M that takes the cake is Breakfast. It is one of the top 5 audiophile disasters ever! One for the record books.

And we keep Crime in stock, but it's a $50 minimum, so if you want one, find something to go with it. I make about $5 on that LP, and that's the truth.

TP

[Beagle]

Originally posted by Humorem

I agree completely.

What stampers do you have, may I ask?
TP I will check when I get home. I have two UK copies. One sounds great, the other not. Also a Canadian A&M STERLING copy, which sounds closest to the good UK copy, but a bit warmer. Also, Dutch pressing, and A&M half-speed, both of which sound dull and unexciting.

[Humorem]

The right Dutch pressing can be good though.

Sold one for $75 to Joe Regalbuto, the actor from Murphy Brown, and he still raves about it and plays it for demo.

TP

[Beagle]

I'll check that one too...

[ericpeters]

I have the Dutch pressing (only one copy), should I wait for my nitty gritty to arrive or should I try to get the Speakers corner version as well.

Because this is one of my favorites I wouldn't mind getting more than one copy. But I somtimes wonder if you all listen to the music or just compare copies?

[KLM]

I didn't expect anyone to drive all the way to Red Trumpet... So was it worth the trip?

Todd, I sometimes drive up to Red Trumpet as it is only 40 minutes each way. The guys there are great and I always enjoy looking around the warehouse for some hidden treasures not mentioned on their website. I also like to talk to these guys as they are very knowledgeable about what sounds good and what is coming out in the near future. While I was there, some guy drove up from Virginia to demo a VPI Aries with 10.5 JMW tonearm. I wish I could have stayed to listen but alas I had to return home..arms full of some new titles including the Crime Of The Century.

Tom, I will give another listen when I have time later and get back to you all.......

[Humorem]

Originally posted by ericpeters
I have the Dutch pressing (only one copy), should I wait for my nitty gritty to arrive or should I try to get the Speakers corner version as well.

Because this is one of my favorites I wouldn't mind getting more than one copy. But I sometimes wonder if you all listen to the music or just compare copies?

Get the SC version; it's the standard by which you can judge what you have.

(If you bought the Dutch from Chad, it sucks btw.)

I play Crime about once a month on average, all the way through. I demo with it; those first two cuts are stunning over here.

I own big speakers BECAUSE of records like that. Can't be done any other way.

Amazing LP + big amps + big speakers @ high volume = transcendent musical experience.

TP

[KLM]

Ok, finally had a chance to compare the Speakers Corner (SC) version to the MFSL UHQR lp. I also threw in the regular MFSL version as well. Here are my topline thoughts:

Ah, but which UHQR? What number is it? A7/B12 or A17/B17?

My UHQR was the a17/b17 pressing.

Play "Dreamer" on your MOFI. Listen to the voice, just the voice, of Roger Hodgson, on the SC copy, all the way through. Forget everything else. Now play your UHQR. If you have the "good" one, the voice will seem very bright and unnatural. If you have the bad one, the voice will seem a little less bright, still too bright of course, only now the song NEVER GETS LOUD.


I must have the bad pressing because I didn't hear any distortion but the sound was never as loud or full probably due to the compression used used. It's not horrible but certainly noticeable when compared to my two other versions. And as Tom pointed out, there is a lot of dead wax at the end.

Now comparing the regualr MFSL to the SC edition was much harder. Surprising, the MFSL had the least dead wax at the end but was recorded at a slightly lower volume as compared to the SC version. The SC lp seems to have a wall of sound as compared to the MFSL which was not as energetic. In some cases, this wasn't so bad as there is a lot going on in the music. I thought the sound of the two to be very close. In fact I didn't have a clear preference of one versus the other.

So it seems that the UHQR version is not the one to get. Regarding the other two, in my opinion it would depend on what price and condition you could acquire either the SC or MFSL lp.

And then there's the UK and Dutch versions that Tom speaks of that I haven't heard.....

[Ronald]

redtrumpet.com (http://redtrumpet.com/software/item.php3?item=3551&sid=115587) has it for $27.99. They'll even let you return it if there is a defect.

I had a copy with a skip on the first track on side 2. They took it back with no problems. No shipping charges.

If you are an elusivedisc.com e-mail subscriber, you can be eligible for a 10% discount too off the $29.99 price. They will also accept defective copy returns with free shipping.

The reason I mention defective copies, in my experience the Speaker's Corner re-issues suffer from QC problems. My copy of "Can't Find a Thrill" had a gouge, the skip in "Crime" above and Joe Cocker has a woofer pumping pop.

The sound keeps me coming back though.

[ericpeters]

I've been on the phone with elusive disk, they couldn't supply the sc to me.

Maybe someone knows a European source for these (Claus?) I will be old and grey if I have to wait for USPS to ship me records from the us. (Currently waiting for 3 shipments, 3-5 day delivery promised but waiting for over a month now)

[Beagle]

Originally posted by Humorem
What stampers do you have, may I ask?
TP OK, found 1 UK, serial number plus A6/B6, 2 Holland pressings, VR20201-AIII/BII and AMLH19-68258-2A-1/2B-2

[Humorem]

I have A5/B6 and A6/B6, both are excellent but not quite the same.

TP

[Todd Fredericks]

KLM,

I'm glad it's only a 45 minute drive. I was just imagining from your post driving something like 200 miles to get to Red Trumpet. I'm terrible with geography. I've never been there myself but one day I'd be interested in dropping by there. I'm glad you like the SC 'Crime of the Century'. As I've been posting, I've really been into this pressing. My copy is fine quality wise except for a few clicks at the begining of each side (my anal side says "oh no" but I'm getting it under control). I'd love to one day hear the original british and also a Dutch pressing. How much do those usually sell for in NM condition?

Todd