Metal Mothers, Stampers and dead wax (Oh, my!)

[Gary]

First: Just picked up one hour ago, Elton John / Don't shoot me... on the MCA Black label. $6.99, used of course. There is no such thing as $1.00 records that are playable in this neck of the woods. I believe it is an early issue (made in USA) and hope it sounds better than the MCA brown / beige label that I have at home. At least I THINK it's that label at home. Could be the MCA blue or black with rainbow – I’ll find out!

Second thought: It looks like the MFSL vinyl stamper issue of DSOTM is dead as not many have listed their dead wax information on the post by Humoreum. Not that I was thinking I'd have the "hot" version (since I bought it from a retail store years after the first release) or that I could score a "virtually free" "hot" version - especially since I have NEVER seen a used copy around here - but I was hoping that I'd learn a bit more about numbering.

So I thought I'd bring this up again. Here we go:

EJ – Don’t Shoot Me…..

Black label: Stereo MCA-2100 / Side 1 MCA5. Side 2 MCA6.

On the dead wax, there is only a hand written notation as follows: Side 1: MCA-5 W-1 Side 2: MCA-6 W-1.

What do these numbers – and lack of numbers mean? Anyone?

My guess MCA-2100 = the MCA catalogue number. MCA-5 & MCA-6 = metal mothers 5 and 6. First original pressing. I hope!
:D

[Steve Hoffman]

MCA-5 W-1 Side 2: MCA-6 W-1

MCA-5 and MCA-6 are the MG numbers that the master tape copies are stored under. MG stands for Microgroove. When they changed from Decca and Uni to MCA, the LP tape prefixes and numbers changed to MCA instead of MG. But the philosophy still held.

So, what you have is an original original:

MCA-5 W-1 means first approved lacquer used for pressing MCA-5 (side one of "Don't Shoot Me").

Now, in this case this is a BAD thing, because (for whatever reason), this LP was cut with the Dolby A control OFF! So the things sounds all weird and top end heavy. God awful.

A later recut (rainbow label or even that brownish label) might sound better. Heck, Kevin Gray might have even done the recuts.

Then of course, only ONE side might have been recut and the other, well, not.

Sheesh!

[Gary]

Thanks, Steve! I'll give it a spin tonight and listen for myself (not that I'm doubting you or anything!) but I'm curious as to what this would sound like!

Hope the guy takes returns. I think he would - I'm a good customer! ;)

Is there, like, a book with all this stuff in it? How do you KNOW all this? You must have done a LOT of research!

:D

[McIntosh]

[i]

Is there, like, a book with all this stuff in it? How do you KNOW all this? You must have done a LOT of research!

:D [/B]

I have asked this b4 also, would be nice to just to learn a little about what everyone is talking about...............

[Steve Hoffman]

Heck no. Research?

If it had been on ANY other label, I would have not butted in, but since it was on MCA, I knew.

Give a listen to the album tonight. Remember, this is the way all of North America heard this album for years, so it must have had something right about it!

[Steve Hoffman]

Oh yeah, if you want to hear an MCA black label version that sounds pretty good, you need to find the 45 RPM hit single of "Croc Rock/E. Wine" THAT was Dolby A decoded correctly!

[Beagle]

Originally posted by Steve Hoffman
Now, in this case this is a BAD thing, because (for whatever reason), this LP was cut with the Dolby A control OFF! So the things sounds all weird and top end heavy. God awful.I always wondered why the hi-hat and vocal sibilants on "Daniel" were so hard to track and ripped your ears off.

The MCA CD sounds quite nice.

[Steve Hoffman]

Yeah, that's why. Imagine selling 3 million copies of that album cut like that? Egad!:eek:

[Humorem]

Originally posted by McIntosh


I have asked this b4 also, would be nice to just to learn a little about what everyone is talking about...............

No book. Trial and error. Needle and groove.

There are some times when inside info like Steve's can point you in the right direction, Bravo Steve, but almost everything I ever learned I learned by playing copy after copy of the same record, some of them brought to me to buy, some picked up in stores. I can't master, but I can do the next best thing: choose the mastering job I like best. It's as simple as that.

But I tend to go with the Brit Elton's. MCA stuff and UNI before it is almost always EQ'd hot on the top and grainy and transistory as hell, in my experience. I avoid them like the plague. Waste o' money.

And when you find one magic copy, just one, you will become a true believer like me and my friends, checking the stampers and shooting them out. All it takes is one. Especially if it cost two bucks.

TP:)

[Humorem]

Originally posted by Gary
It looks like the MFSL vinyl stamper issue of DSOTM is dead as not many have listed their dead wax information on the post by Humorem.
:D

Well, it ain't dead but it's not feeling very well. Results, such as they are, are being posted shortly. Get the tar and a bag full of feathers ready.

TP

[Dugan]

Well I'll have to give both a spin too. Although my Crockodile Rock 45 is really beat.