Steve's Very Best Work

[Jeffrey]

Hi,

What do ya consider the best mastering Steve has ever done? My vote is "Highway 61".

The Music Never Stops,
Jeffrey

[Dave]

Tough call.

I'd have to say either the CCR almost catalogue or The Doors almost catalogue.:D

[Gary]

Based on what I actually own: Jethro Tull / Aqualung.

It was so "lifelike / real" that I though Ian had "curry" breath. ;)

On the other hand, after listening to Riders on the Storm, I knew that those drugged out hippies were right: Morrison IS alive! :D

[Andrew]

That 2-CD Beach Boys set for Razor & Tie ain't too shabby.

[lennonfan]

elvis 24 hits followed closely by Arthur Lyman...those late 50s recordings were truly incredible, and I've thought so since the early 60's:)

[Kym]

Originally posted by lennonfan
elvis 24 hits followed closely by Arthur Lyman...those late 50s recordings were truly incredible, and I've thought so since the early 60's:)

Sadly, Arthur Lyman passed away in Honolulu not too long ago from cancer.

Kym

[Sckott]

HW61 will get you every time.

[romanotrax]

If you don't have it.... Find and pick up the Joni Mitchell "Court & Spark" remaster that Steve did. I don't think I have EVER heard a warmer and full sounding cd. Just Beautiful and my absolute favorite cd!!!

[ED in NY]

I'd have to say Fresh Cream, but to tell the truth as time has passed I don't think I could pick one Steve Hoffman CD over another because I've enjoyed them all. Whether it's King Curtis, Buddy Holly, John Coltrane or Van Halen, they are all special because the man made them sound "Right" !

Thanks Steve !

Best - ED

[AudioGirl]

I vote for Nat "King" Cole The Very Thought of You On DCC Gold and Vinyl

On MCA... Bing Crosby, for sure, also Buddy Holly & The Who!!

I also really like Jim Croce, 24k hits, Ray Charles, Roy Orbison and of course the Beach Boys on DCC

and, and, and.... uh, too, too many to list!!

Oh :eek: was I supposed to pick just one? ;)

[feinstein]

Hearing the DCC "McCartney" album for the first time today, this sure was a revelation. Even though "McCartney" is not such a great album, Steve's work on it was fantastic.

I still have to go for "Buddy Holly -- From the Original Master Tapes" as his best work ever though. Made me a Buddy Holly fan forever!

[SVL]

It is really a difficult choice. The Doors albums and Aqualung are great. I would add McCartney's Band On the Run, and Ella Fitzgerald's Cole Porter set. After the new Verve remasters came out, we can better appreciate the magnificent job that Steve had done with that album... still the best. The lady is right there in the room.

And Queen - A Night In the Opera deserves a mention.

[Mal]

The Genius - Ingredients In A Recipe For Soul

This has to be the best sounding CD I've ever heard :)

[I'm talking about the Gold version - I've not heard the aluminium one.....]

Of course, all the other DCCs I own sound fantastic - but if I have to pick one this is it.

[Doug Hess Jr.]

I would also vote for Ray Charles "Ingredients", but a close second complete with Steve "Emeril" Hoffman's cooking ability really took Hotel California and.. BAM!!! Kicked it up a big notch!!

[pigmode]

Yeah, I gotta go with Heart--Dreamboat Annie. The tone and timbre of that piercing guitar in Magic Man is phenomenal, and of course, the vocals are awesome. I don't see this one mentioned much--it's a sleeper.

[TimM]

I love his work on Court & Spark, but in terms of the greatest

improvement compared to the standard CD issue, I think it is

Linda Ronstadts Greatest Hits Vol.1

[JohnnyK]

Last night I did a test run on a number of various Steve discs. I listened to Nat King Cole, Joni Mitchell "Blue", The Beach Boys on Razor&Tie, The Doors, Elvis 24 Karat Gold, Ray Orbison, The Everly Brothers and Buddy Holly. IMHO, Buddy Holly is the winner by far. I turned off the lights, and I swear that he was standing in the room!!! What an amazing disc.

[pigmode]

I need to get that one...

[Claus]

Steve's remasters belong to the best... Steve's quote is much, much higher than in comparison against from other engineers!

That means... 9 from 10 are spectacular... okay, nobody's perfect!

[John Carsell]

Nat King Cole's Greatest Hits is one if not the very best examples of Steve's work.
One listen to the song Orange Colored Sky and you'll see what I mean. It'll gab you by the ears and demand your attention. Whew!

[NoTinEar]

All these are excellent. For my vote I am going to mix it up a little. Steve did incredible work on his jazz stuff for DCC. If your a rock and roller or primarily into any other genre but have even a slight interest in jazz or hell don't, you owe it to your ears to hear any of his jazz stuff. That said Sonny Rollins and the Contemporary Leaders just blows me away every time I hear it. Steve did a number of Sonny Rollins titles, but in my opinion this is the best sounding. On headphones, the car, on the hi end system, on the computer, etc. It's got some of the most realistic sax sound on a recording, period. The other instruments are not to shabby either..HA. But it's the sax that just takes me right into the studio with these guys. Sorry if I am gushing, its just great stuff.

[Steve Hoffman]

Gush all you want. And everyone else, thanks, too.

It makes all of the hard work worthwhile.

Thanks one and all.

[Andy]

JAZZ SAMBA

[FabFourFan]

Originally posted by Andy
JAZZ SAMBA Yeah, this one has simply astounding fidelity.

And all the DCC GOLDS are nothing less than great, really, as far as I have heard.

But when I play Jazz Samba in particular, my playback system simply seems to disappear, so that's the disc that gets my vote!

[czeskleba]

Speaking of jazz, my vote goes to "Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus/Cast Your Fate to the Wind" by Vince Guaraldi Trio.