Rolling Stones: Virgin releases

[Gary]

I know we discussed the Stones in some depth in the past (on the DCC site). However I don't recall comments on the Rolling Stones CDs released by Virgin.

They reproduced the original sleeves in CD size as a limited edition release. The same mastering is on the regular releases. I don't think *everything* was released - I've seen Balck & Blue, Goats Head Soup, Sticky Fingers, It's only Rock & Roll and a few others.

I was just told that the Abkco releases were mastered in the '80's and the Virgins are much more recent. Any comments regarding the sound quality of the Virgin releases?

Thanks :)

[christopher]

i'm quite happy with the stone's virgin remasters, but then, i've always enjoyed bob ludwig's work.

later, chris

[Uncle Al]

I have the Virgin remasters of Exile On Main Street and Tatoo You. Exile is a little "crisper", not harsh, just more focused. The bass has been "tightened up" as well. Most importantly, they fixed a major dropout in Sweet Virginia that existed on the Columbia CD.

I do not have have the previous CD version of Tatoo You to compare, but overall it sounds fine - a little on the harsh side when compared to the original vinyl. I don't know if any of this one was REMIXED - but the song "Slave" runs almost a full 2 minutes longer than the lp version (the credited time on the CD or cover is wrong, the version on the disc clocks in at over 6 minutes). i undertstand that this version WAS NOT on the previous CD issue.

[Sckott]

No, it wasn't. Bob did a great job. The original CBS CDs were hit and miss, but the Virgin ones are a great bunch. the 6-min version of "Slave" never appeared on any other Cd until now.

[lennonfan]

I have these remasters and can't say enough good things about 'em. Sticky Fingers is way better than the Columbia issue. Black and Blue has real punch, and I like the sound of Exile very much as well. Raves all around;)

[Matt]

It's a shame the Stones don't have control over their earlier recordings, or they would have been given some decent treatment by now, too.

"Exile" is my favorite album of all-time, and even though the recording has never sounded that good (nor most of the vintage Stones recordings, either), I think Bob did an excellent job with what he had.

[Vivaldinization]

What I've never been able to understand is how some of the "outtake-final-mixes" from the RS Records era sound better than the official CDs. Sister Morphine on Time Trip 1, some of the alternate Brown Sugars...I think it's just due to processing (i.e. the final mixes before they were compressed, etc.) but it's always struck me as odd.

[Aquateen]

Who do the Virgin vinyl releases sound?

[Gary]

There were Virgin vinyl releases with the CD releases? News to me!

[Oatsdad]

They reproduced the original sleeves in CD size as a limited edition release. The same mastering is on the regular releases. I don't think *everything* was released - I've seen Balck & Blue, Goats Head Soup, Sticky Fingers, It's only Rock & Roll and a few others.

I was just told that the Abkco releases were mastered in the '80's and the Virgins are much more recent.


For the Virgins, all of the studio albums came out in 1994 right around the summer release of "Voodoo Lounge" and the start of that tour. The ABKCOs all came out in 1986. In regard to the Virgins, the live albums came out a few years after the studio ones, but I don't recall the exact timetable.

As for the LE versions, they did that for all of the studio albums from "Sticky Fingers" through "Tattoo You". They didn't bother to give "Undercover", "Dirty Work" or "Steel Wheels" that treatment, although I'm pretty sure the Virgin remasters of those albums also came out in 1994...

[Ron Stone]

Trust me, you DON'T want the Virgin mini-LP versions of these discs. Unless you plan to just look at them, these things are an incredible pain to deal with, and the hard plastic liner gets beat to **** very quickly, especially STICKY FINGERS (with its genuine zipper scarring the package every time you pull the disc out) and EXILE ON MAIN STREET (which is simply too big for its liner). And the protective liners can't be replaced.

I wish I had waited on the regular jewel-box release of these excellent remasters. I may eventually violate my own rule and buy these albums a fourth time (vinyl, CD, remastered CD, remastered CD-with-normal-package) just to get rid of the damn mini-LP packaging.

As noted in the previous post, there were no mini-LP issues for UNDERCOVER, DIRTY WORK, STEEL WHEELS, or for the live albums (LOVE YOU LIVE, STILL LIFE, FLASHPOINT) from this period. Also, the various anthologies -- MADE IN THE SHADE, SUCKING IN THE SEVENTIES, REWIND -- have not been reissued by Virgin in any form.

[Todd Fredericks]

Ron, I'm sorry about your difficulties with the Virgin Stone's Collector cases. I brought all of them when they were released and really haven't had any trouble. I kept the shrinkwrap on the cases (made a simple slit in the opening) and they're all fine. My 'Sticky Fingers' (theirs not mine) came with a piece of thing plastic to act as a scratch proctector for the zipper. I also have the inner sleeves arranged so they just slide out instead of pulling all the packaging out of the plastic case. I guess I've been lucky...

Todd

P.S. Isn't it weird at the start of this old thread there's mention of it being a shame the "old" catalog isn't remastered like the Virgin releases. For me, it was kind of like this big thunderous wave that happened when ABKCO announced these remasters. Every thing was as normal then whoooosh...

[dwmann]

I wish I had waited on the regular jewel-box release of these excellent remasters. I may eventually violate my own rule and buy these albums a fourth time (vinyl, CD, remastered CD, remastered CD-with-normal-package) just to get rid of the damn mini-LP packaging.

If you still have the original Columbias, just swap all the discs with the Virgins and use the Columbia boxes. Then you can keep the mini-LP sleeves somewhere safe.

[Mike V]

Originally posted by Gary
There were Virgin vinyl releases with the CD releases? News to me!

Yes there were, and they sound like poop! Pressed at RTI though, for what that's worth.

I bought Sticky Fingers, played it once, and shelved it.

[MikeT]

Originally posted by Todd Fredericks
I brought all of them when they were released and really haven't had any trouble.

I'm with Todd on this one. I have all the mini-vinyl CD versions of the Virgin releases and haven't had a single problem.

Granted, the zipper on Sticky Fingers can be a problem if you didn't keep the plastic guard that came with the disc. And the packaging design on Exile does make it very difficult to get to the disc and postcards (since they are so small). But if you are very careful, not saying that Ron isn't, I don't think these should be problematic. Mine are in as pristine shape as they day they were purchased. (And I traded almost all my Columbia discs away when these were released).

[tim_neely]

Originally posted by Mike V


Yes there were, and they sound like poop! Pressed at RTI though, for what that's worth.

I bought Sticky Fingers, played it once, and shelved it.

They weren't at the same time -- they came out in 1999 with a handful of other vinyl reissues from the EMI-Capitol catalog, ostensibly to celebrate the EMI 100th anniversary. There were a lot issued in England, but only a handful came out in the States. Most of them were ripped savagely in the audiophile press and have been sitting on shelves and in the back rooms of stores ever since.

The only ones that came out on vinyl from the Stones were "Sticky Fingers" (with the UK zipper cover, which is different from the US zipper cover), "Exile" (with the inserts restored) and "Some Girls" (with the altered "under reconstruction" cover).

For completeness' sake, the others to come out were Steve Miller's "Fly Like an Eagle," R.E.M.'s "Document," Heart's "Dreamboat Annie"; Grand Funk's "We're An American Band" (on gold vinyl with inserts restored); and Paul McCartney & Wings' "Band on the Run" with the bonus record. Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" was announced but never issued.

[GoldenBoy]

Ditto for me on the packaging, no problems here. I have the Virgin limited edition mini-lp sleeve Exile, Sticky Fingers, Goats Head Soup, It's Only Rock and Roll, Tattoo You, and Some Girls. The packaging is all fine and the sound is excellent. don't even bother with the Columbia releases. Exile, in particular, never sounded so good to me.

[Todd Fredericks]

I know about the 3 RTI releases in 1999 but I recall seeing a "Virgin" Sticky Fingers in late 97/early 98. Which one was this?

Todd

[-Ben]

Originally posted by Todd Fredericks
I know about the 3 RTI releases in 1999 but I recall seeing a "Virgin" Sticky Fingers in late 97/early 98. Which one was this?

Todd

The 97 version was the "UK" EMI Centenary LP.

BTW, I get the feeling some folks are getting confused on this thread because it keeps changing from CD mini-LP packages to LP versions.

BC

[Todd Fredericks]

BC, thanks. I think that's the one (it had a Virgin logo on the back). Back to the CD versions...

[Grant]

The Virgin CDs sounded quite good for thier time. After hearing the red-book layer of "Brown Sugar" and "Wild Horses" on the new ABCKO CDs, and comparing them to the same tracks on the versions on "Sticky Fingers", I realize they could sound even better with DSD technology.

Bob Ludwig does a great job, but I did think the "Black & Blue" remaster sounded a bit uneven, sonically.

[GoldenBoy]

I added Some Girls to the ones I had in my original message. I seemed to have overlooked that one. :eek: Apologies.

[Mike V]

Originally posted by tim_neely

For completeness' sake, the others to come out were Steve Miller's "Fly Like an Eagle," R.E.M.'s "Document," Heart's "Dreamboat Annie"; Grand Funk's "We're An American Band" (on gold vinyl with inserts restored); and Paul McCartney & Wings' "Band on the Run" with the bonus record. Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" was announced but never issued.

Thanks for the info here. I actually do have a copy of the RTI "Document" and I have been very pleased with it. Very fine sound. And up until recently, I was still seeing sealed copies for $12.

[audiomixer]

Originally posted by Gary
I know we discussed the Stones in some depth in the past (on the DCC site). However I don't recall comments on the Rolling Stones CDs released by Virgin.

They reproduced the original sleeves in CD size as a limited edition release. The same mastering is on the regular releases. I don't think *everything* was released - I've seen Balck & Blue, Goats Head Soup, Sticky Fingers, It's only Rock & Roll and a few others.

I was just told that the Abkco releases were mastered in the '80's and the Virgins are much more recent. Any comments regarding the sound quality of the Virgin releases?

Thanks :)

They were all released that way...

[Todd Fredericks]

All the albums after 'TY' were only the standard jewel box releases (maybe Virgin forgot vinyl was still being produced after the introduction of the CD?)...