Songs/albums that could benefit from remixing.

[AKA]

Come on; even you purists can concede that there are many benefits to remixing. So are there any songs or albums with absolutely horrid mixes that can be improved by simply going back to the original tapes and creating a whole new mix?

Discuss.

[Matt]

I would like new stereo mixes of the Frank Sinatra Capitol albums, the Ella Fitzgerald Songbooks, and all the great music recorded at RCA Victor that was subjected to their ridiculous "stereo" mixing methods. (new mixes where they can be made, of course)

[Bob Lovely]

Originally posted by AKA
Come on; even you purists can concede that there are many benefits to remixing. So are there any songs or albums with absolutely horrid mixes that can be improved by simply going back to the original tapes and creating a whole new mix?

Discuss.

Aka,

Please see the recent "remix" thread, Remixes--Sonic Improvement or Artistic Violation? Should be be good reading for you on this subject!

Bob :)

[lukpac]

All of the Rolling Stones' pre-Aftermath RCA material.

[Angel]

"Remixes: Sonic improvement or artistic violation?"

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3064

Steve Hoffman is the only person I would ever want to do any kind of a "historic" remix. The ONLY person.

[Bob Lovely]

Angel,

Thanks for posting the actual thread!

Bob ;)

[Andrew]

"I'm A Believer"

and

"Do You Believe In Magic?"

(the "stereo" versions, that is)

[Michael]

Girl Don't Tell Me-The Beach Boys.

[mcow1]

Rod Stewart - Smiler

[Vivaldinization]

Albums? Well...

a) Odessey and Oracle. THe current stereo mix is ****** (not surprising, given the conditions of its gcreation) and the outtakes from the album sound quite a bit better than the album itself.

b) Between the Buttons/Satanic Majesties...tons of outtakes exist from both albums, and both beat what eventually resulted into dust. Seriously.

c) All Things Must Pass. A traditional pick, although it's unlikely that any remix could NOT be heretical (BTW, in case the Eight Arms guys are reading this...what're your opinions of the current remaster? Negative or positive? I think it's a step down--turning muddy into unlistenable...)

d) Argent's self-titled album. Sounds abysmal in its current state, although god knows whether it could sound better.

e) Zappa WOIIFTM. This one's precarious, I'll admit, but done well it could be revelatory...who knows? Better safe than sorry, though.

f) Kinks' Village Green. D'uh.

g) This one'll be an oddball for most of you, but the Turtles' Battle of the Bands; the remix of Surfer Dan that RHino created in 1978 for their EP was right on the money. A drum sound that unnatural needs to be centered at the very least..^_^

h) Ogden's Nut. Remnants of some very bad 60s ideas on that one. In fact, with all of the SF comps out there, it's amazing that only Charley ever thought of remixing some of the tapes (and their results--sparkling stereo versions of Wham Bam and Donkey Rides, that show up on both the Immediate 4 CD set and the "Masters" 2 disc set--speak for themselves)

-D

[HeavyDistortion]

Again, I have to mention "Deja Vu" by CSNY, which I believe Steve could do wonders with. On an earlier thread, even Stephen Barncard, one of the recording's engineers, says that it drastically needs to be remixed; hopefully in Steve's capable hands.



HeavyDistortion

[TimM]

I would second both Deja Vu and All Things Must Pass. The later is a terrible remaster and does indeed sound worse than the original to my ears. I would also add Beatles For Sale which sounds dull and lifeless on CD.

[lukpac]

Originally posted by TimM
I would also add Beatles For Sale which sounds dull and lifeless on CD.

I think we're going overboard here, folks. BFS doesn't need remixing, it just needs a good remastering. Go find a good stereo LP. It sounds great. No need to play with things that don't need playing with...

Luke

[TimM]

I do own a stereo LP version of Beatles For Sale, and while I would agree that it is much better than the CD, I would not call it great.

[Jeffrey]

Originally posted by TimM
I do own a stereo LP version of Beatles For Sale, and while I would agree that it is much better than the CD, I would not call it great.

Hi Tim,

Have ya tried a MFSL lp of Beatles for Sale? I love mine.

Jeffrey

[CM Wolff]

I would be interested in a Born to Run remix. Like All Things Must Pass, I think reassembling a Wall of Sound production could produce some good results, especially based on how good the Born to Run outtake "Linda Let Me Be The One" sounds on Tracks. On the other hand, I don't know if it would be even possible to remix Born to Run, and Bruce himself probably has no interest in it, so this is probably just a moot point/fantasy discussion only. Also, knowing how Bruce works, I much rather see him spend his time finishing the Brendan O'Brien-produced album that is rumored to be so hot and still a possibility for this year, rather than any backward-looking project like remixing Born to Run.

[Beagle]

Anybody remember Marshall Crenshaw's "Field Day" album, and how critics were annoyed with Steve Lillywhite's production and the bitching spread like wildfire? Consequently, an EP was released with some of the songs "stripped down" by John Luongo. I think Be-Bop Deluxe's "Futurama" could use this treatment.

Here's what I would NOT like to see:

Al Stewart-Year Of The Cat (remastered by Jon Astley)
Led Zeppelin IV (drums and guitars erased and rerecorded with Jason Bonham and Dweezil Zappa)
The Beatles-Revolver (remixed and compressed to hell by Brendan O'Brien)
Miles Davis-Kind of Blue (additional production and remix by Tom Lord-Alge)
Procol Harum- Grand Hotel (drum tracks erased and replaced by Ozzy's drummer)
Dave Brubeck Quartet-Time Out (remixed and edited by Arthur Baker)

[Bob Lovely]

Originally posted by Beagle
Anybody remember Marshall Crenshaw's "Field Day" album, and how critics were annoyed with Steve Lillywhite's production and the bitching spread like wildfire? Consequently, an EP was released with some of the songs "stripped down" by John Luongo. I think Be-Bop Deluxe's "Futurama" could use this treatment.

Here's what I would NOT like to see:

Al Stewart-Year Of The Cat (remastered by Jon Astley)
Led Zeppelin IV (drums and guitars erased and rerecorded with Jason Bonham and Dweezil Zappa)
The Beatles-Revolver (remixed and compressed to hell by Brendan O'Brien)
Miles Davis-Kind of Blue (additional production and remix by Tom Lord-Alge)
Procol Harum- Grand Hotel (drum tracks erased and replaced by Ozzy's drummer)
Dave Brubeck Quartet-Time Out (remixed and edited by Arthur Baker)

Or ruined by Rick Ruben!

Good examples of remixes we would not want to see!

Bob ;)

[Matt]

Originally posted by TimM
I do own a stereo LP version of Beatles For Sale, and while I would agree that it is much better than the CD, I would not call it great.

Just throwing this out there, but awhile back, Steve and a bunch of other Beatle collectors got together and did a shoot-out on the best Beatles For Sale on vinyl. Hands down, the winner was an original Parlophone tube cutting. Of course, few us could probably afford to get our hands on one...

[AKA]

I really think the recent remixes worked wonders for Phil Spector's "John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band" and "Imagine."