Canadian Vs. US Vinyl

[Bruce Burgess]

I know that UK, German and Dutch vinyl is generally superior to Canadian and American vinyl. However, I am wondering whether there is any significant difference in the quality of Canadian and American pressings.

[Gary]

The answer is probably a case-by-case situation considering what they did with the master tapes, manufacturing facilities, etc.

Apparently the earliest LP version of The Wall (Pink Floyd) without the bar code is the one to get. I think someone once said that Canadian Beatles LPs sound better than USA Beatles LPs (but not by much).

Then you get into where it was recorded. I have a USA copy of Michael Nesmith / Infinite Rider on the Big Dogma which sounds much better than my USA pressing. So - theoretically - a pressing from the country of origin should (note that I said "should") sound best.

That's my theory and I'm sticking to it! :D

[Sckott]

Original "Litho in Canada" LP of Pink Floyd's "The Wall" sounds really nice. No idea why, but it seems to beat out every other issue I own....

[Bruce Burgess]

I've read about that excellent Canadian pressing of THE WALL, although I don't have a copy.

As for the Beatles, I have all of the Beatles' Capitol stereo albums and some of the mono albums on Canadian vinyl. The three uniquely Canadian albums (BEATLEMANIA, TWIST AND SHOUT and LONG TALL SALLY) all sound great, largely because they used the British mixes. The Dextorized albums all sound lousy, like their American counterparts.

What I am wondering about is the actual vinyl itself. My perception is that Canadian vinyl is somewhat quieter, but I only have a few US pressings in my collection.

[Sckott]

Gary's post would stick to this question. IMHO, I'm not that fond of the Canadian Capitol plant, but it can be objective. Both good and bad vinyl are found. Some Canadian vinyl is neat, but like US vinyl, it can be hit or miss.

[mne563]

Originally posted by Sckott
Original "Litho in Canada" LP of Pink Floyd's "The Wall" sounds really nice. No idea why, but it seems to beat out every other issue I own....

AFAIK, "Litho" means lithography, a type of printing. That would mean your Wall Lp was printed in Canada, no explanation for the sound/mastering... I guess we should look at the inner-wax markings for mastering differences...

Just a thought. :)

[Beagle]

Originally posted by Sckott
Original "Litho in Canada" LP of Pink Floyd's "The Wall" sounds really nice. No idea why, but it seems to beat out every other issue I own....
Canadian originals of "The Wall" have TML (The Mastering Lab/Doug Sax) in the deadwax. Those should sound about the same as the US counterparts, depending on the lathe used (i.e. M, S, X etc).

Early 70's Can. WEA, CBS stuff generally sounds fuller, warmer, a bit rolled on top. Same stuff starts to get really bright as we approached the early to mid 80's.

Arista, Capitol and A & M Canadians (mid 70 to early 80) are usually whatever the US mastering was. Except, of course, anything that has TLC in the deadwax, which was The Lacquer Channel who made the most horrid sounding records. Messed up pretty much all the Virgin and Capitol stuff in the 80's (compare the US Red Rider "Neruda" to the yucky Canadian).

Canadian Chrysalis stuff was all over the place (JAMF, TML, TLC, MASTERED BY CAPITOL etc). Much of the latter 70's Canadian Capitol stuff was pressed off centre and full of non fill noise garbage.

From mid 70's to early 80's, the US pressings are usually clearer, hotter, more dynamic. There are exceptions (besides the ones above)

Original "Burbank" Canadian Warners pressings of "Van Halen" and "The Doobie Brothers "The Captain and Me" and "Stampede" sound hotter and more dynamic that the US ones. Weird.