Velvet Underground

[Chris M]

Any opinions of the MFSL's of the first album and White Light, White Heat? The 'Banana' album will be released as a 2CD Deluxe Edition soon. Anyone think they can improve on the MFSL? I'd like to hear some discussion on the mono/stereo mixes of the Banana album as well as the 3rd LP. Anyone prefer the 'closet' mix?

Chris

[lbangs]

To these ears, My MFSLThe Velvet Underground and Nico sounds great. I only had the old compact discs previously, however, and have yet to compare the MFSL to the new remasters released a few years ago; so I don't know if the gold disc is a major improvement over the standard release. The MFSL still has some tape hiss, so I doubt they over did the processing. Great album, great sound - I'm pretty happy with it!

One amateur's opinion...

Shalom, y'all!

L. Bangs

[Douglas]

I agree with Lester Bangs (it's Lester, right?), although I'm not happy with the way he treated Lou in some of his Creem interviews. I have A/B'd the MFSL to release to the current remaster and the Peel Slowly and See CDs of The Velvet Underground and Nico, and the MFSL wins hands down. The remasters sound shrill and tinny (do I detect Bill Inglot lurking in the Polygram studios?), while the MFSL release sounds warm and natural. I've not heard WL/WH on MFSL so I can't comment on that one.

As far as the closet mix of the 3d album, I like it, and it's available on Peel Slowly and See. I don't think it's a better mix than the standard one; it's different. They're both acceptable.

[PsychFan]

I've got the "banana" album on MFSL CD ... and I also have the version in the Peel Slowly and See box set (which I think might be the same remastering job as the individually reissued CDs from a few years ago ... not certain). (I also used to own the 1st-issue standard CD, but don't remember much about its sound.)

I've not done any immediate A/B comparisons of the two, but I have no real complaints about the sound of either. Truth be told, when I go to that album I'm not really listening for hi-fi qualities, but neither seem to have any glaring problems, at least to my ears. I guess if I had to pick just one, I'd go MFSL ... My impression is that the sound is a little warmer on that, but I'll have to listen again and compare the two.

The box set also contains the "closet mix" of the 3rd album, which I personally like better than the one on the 1st-issue standard CD I also have. Great album, probably my favorite by them.

I didn't know the "banana" album was coming out in a Deluxe Edition ... thanks for the info.

[lennonfan]

i have both the box set and the 2 mfsls. wl/wh, let's face it, is an audiophile nightmare;) that has to be one of the most poorly recorded albums in history. It's muddy, over-dense, low in dynamic range and just plain BAD. Still, the music is pretty good however;)
The mfsl wins on this one, but as a schoolgrade recording it would be like going up from a D- to a D.
nothing to write home about.
'Hey ma! Sister Ray has dynamics you can really hear the blood splurt on'!
All I can say is, the drugs must have been good.
regards from lennonfan