Piper At The Gates Of Dawn - Pink Floyd

[Joe D.]

Question 1:

Is the mono UK CD from '97 all that bad from what I've read?

Question 2:

I have a late '70s early '80s stereo UK LP that sounds very good.

How is the latest remastered CD?

Thanks

[Patrick M]

Originally posted by Joe D.
Question 1:

Is the mono UK CD from '97 all that bad from what I've read?

Yes.

[Sckott]

I don't totally agree with Patrick for the main fact that I *do* like the different mix of Interstellar Overdrive an the few odd differences.

I agree to this extent: Don't break your legs getting a copy of the MONO Piper. Nah, it's OK, but that's about it.

The remasters, in whole for Pink Floyd now sound better than before. I haven't landed a PF remaster I didn't like yet, except I like the MFSL Meddle more, and I tend to like the MFSL Atom Heart Mother quite a bit too, so I skipped both.

[Togo]

Hello all,

I sometimes wonder if we get slightly different versions of these CD's in the UK...my neat little limited edition box set copy of the mono Piper sounds pretty good to me...I get that "breath of life" when I hear it.

It also received good reviews in UK press (MOJO for example) when it was released.

As to the new remasters..I've heard good reports from friends but I'll reserve judgement until I purchase one.

[vinylrec]

Originally posted by Togo
Hello all,

I sometimes wonder if we get slightly different versions of these CD's in the UK...my neat little limited edition box set copy of the mono Piper sounds pretty good to me...I get that "breath of life" when I hear it.

That's the verson I've got. Although it's not the greatest sounding CD ever, it's hardly the worst. Considering the modern re-mastering efforts from EMI, it's not all that bad......

Grant

PS. I like it better than Beatles For Sale (that's for sure)!

[Dave]

Origiially posted by Sckott
I tend to like the MFSL Atom Heart Mother quite a bit too.

Really? This one really gets to me after a while. (shrug) My least favourite Pink Floyd.

[Patrick M]

I'm not talking about the mix, I'm talking about the SQ of the CD. The mix is worth having, the CD is pretty bad (try "Lucifer Sam").

I was leaving the floor open for David Goodwin to complain here. This CD is one of his favorite causes. Of course, he owns two copies and I only own one. :)

BTW, yeah, we're talking about the neat little box from the UK. I think mine was about $26.

[Vivaldinization]

Sorry, I was away for the day.

I ended up with two copies because--for some reason--I thoguht they were fantastically rare. I ordered from one place which didn't seem like they were going to deliver them, so I finally bought a copy I saw in the village...and then the first place pulled through.

My problems with this disc:

a) The packaging isn't all that deluxe...I'm confused as to what the box, etc. have to do with the album.

b) The sound quality is absolutely abysmal. Obviously taken from bizarrely-EQed copy tapes.

c) Stuff is MISSING. The end of Flaming is truncated, for example. I KNOW that doesn't happen on the mono LP (as I own it!)

d) Digital clicking worse than anything Tommy ever saw plagues this disc. It starts around Lucifer Sam, and peters out around the Gnome. An easy way to realize it's digital clicking: it's in stereo! OOPS any track from this disc...the clicks (and the stereo ghost) are all that's left.


AWful. Nice concept, but absolutely awful execution.

-D

[btomarra]

Quoting Sckott,

I haven't landed a PF remaster I didn't like yet, except I like the MFSL Meddle more, and I tend to like the MFSL Atom Heart Mother quite a bit too, so I skipped both.

Are you referring to the UD I of Meddle? I picked up the UDII and a/b'ed it to the Shine Box set. I found the MOFI dull, muffled, with the cymabls on Echoes to be very faint.

Is the UD I substantially different?

Thanks,

Brian

[Dave]

I have the UD1 Meddle and I'd have to say that it sounds great. Yes the cymbals are a little laid back but so are they in just about any UD1 or Aluminum MFSL

I always found the standard master to be hard and bright as opposed to liquidy, etheric, and smooth sound of the MFSL.

[Sckott]

Originally posted by btomarra
Quoting Sckott,


Is the UD I substantially different?

Thanks,

Brian

Meddle/MFSL:
I've only heard the UDI that I own. It's absolutely beautiful. I originally bought it because my US/Capitol stock issue was missing a 1/2 second of sound on "Echoes". The 1st piano note in the song is "half-missing". Talk about *&^%$ annoying. I got the MFSL used for about $15 while it was in print.

I recently also got a SHVL issue on vinyl (Meddle) and I have to say, SCREW the Capitol pressings both as Harvests and Capitols. They all are horrible. The jacket for Meddle (UK) was also very flimsy and floppy...more-so than any other UK vinyl I've owned. You hold the jacket in your hand, and it feels like it's a piece of wet paper. It's really (originally) textured paperboard, double-ply. Still, the vinyl inside is farily incredible.

So far, the MFSL sounds best against every known version I've tried.

[btomarra]

Sckott,

Sorry to hit you with another question. The sealed or used copies on the web that I am coming across are UDII's. A sealed copy of a UDI seems to go for $150.00. Is this a tad too high for this disc?

Thanks again,

Brian

:)

[Sckott]

Yes, that IS high, but they usually are seen for $80 used, sometimes $60. Why buy a sealed one? Might be a re-seal too, ya know.

PLEASE be careful when you start buying Cds over $50. There's lots of things you can do $150 with, and it's not ONE CD.

You may like the remaster better too. Don't just take anyone's word for it. I say, see if you can get a CDR of the disc before plunking good money down, make better decisions, buy better discs.

Cds, Lps, Tubes, eBay. Man, it feels like a gambling problem! I bought some Mullards last week. I think that'll do me for a few months before I go back to eBay-land.

[btomarra]

Thanks Sckott

Good advice as always!

Brian

[Dave]

Brian,

Geeze that is really high!

Usually more often than not you can pick up the UD1 version on ebay for under $50.00.

Keep lookin' you'll get it.;)

[btomarra]

I know Dave.

Here lately, the only ones that are available are UDII's and then not in good condition. I guess I need to be more patient.

Brian