Stones' Hot Rocks German PolyGram CD

[tenuous]

I recently heard a copy of this cd, which according to the packaging was mastered by Mobile Fidelity for PolyGram. I was absolutely stunned by the sound. I never thought my equipment could sound this good, nevermind Stones music.

I compared this cd to a handfull of the same tracks from a "mickboy" remaster, and this came out on top every time. So does anyone else have this cd? What do you think?

[joachim.ritter]

Originally posted by tenuous
So does anyone else have this cd?

I guess about 50% of the forum members have this CD or at least a CDR copy of it ... :cool:

Joachim

[Oatsdad]

Originally posted by tenuous
I compared this cd to a handfull of the same tracks from a "mickboy" remaster, and this came out on top every time.

I've seen some mentions of this "mickboy" stuff - what's that about?

[Andrew]

Originally posted by tenuous
So does anyone else have this cd? What do you think?

One of the titles in my collection that never gets loaned out, nosiree!

[tenuous]

Originally posted by joachim.ritter


I guess about 50% of the forum members have this CD or at least a CDR copy of it ... :cool:

Joachim

Hmm, I didn't think it was that popular. I guess that is a testament to how good it is!

[tenuous]

Originally posted by Oatsdad


I've seen some mentions of this "mickboy" stuff - what's that about?

Some guy named mickboy mastered a few Stones cds from original vinyl pressings of the albums. The sound was good, but nowhere near as impressive as the German CD.

[Sckott]

Be careful to what you say about the German CDs. Although on the Hot Rocks there are some track differences to the domestics (now out- ugh) the US issues aren't different where the same mix is employed. It's only when the Hot Rocks series does have Stereo track exclusivity that the difference is definately a big difference.

Then there's the London "Aftermath" CD from London, Germany. That CD *IS* amazing all on its own.

[tenuous]

One more question: where can I buy it? I only have a cdr.

[Vivaldinization]

Originally posted by Sckott
Be careful to what you say about the German CDs. Although on the Hot Rocks there are some track differences to the domestics (now out- ugh) the US issues aren't different where the same mix is employed. It's only when the Hot Rocks series does have Stereo track exclusivity that the difference is definately a big difference.


Not true at *all*. As Tears Go By sounds much, much better on non-ABKCO CDs, despite still being in mono (for example, the edit between "smiling faces" and "I can see" is MUCH more obvious due to the bad EQ on the ABKCO version, as is this odd, grumbly tape-hiss). Additionally, Let's Spend and Ruby Tuesday, despite being in the same phase as the ABKCO version, sound much better on the London CD.


-D

[Uncle Al]

Originally posted by David Goodwin


Not true at *all*. As Tears Go By sounds much, much better on non-ABKCO CDs, despite still being in mono (for example, the edit between "smiling faces" and "I can see" is MUCH more obvious due to the bad EQ on the ABKCO version, as is this odd, grumbly tape-hiss). Additionally, Let's Spend and Ruby Tuesday, despite being in the same phase as the ABKCO version, sound much better on the London CD.


-D

Well - I gotta throw a bone in here, I've always thought the standard isssue ABCKO "Flowers" contains the superior version of Ruby Tuesday. The ABKCO looses some of the bottom found on the London Hot Rocks, but possesses a clarity that is just not evident on the London. Listen to the cellos - in between each line of the verse the cellos just barely "scrape" the strings..... "while the sun is bright (scrape scrape), or in the darkest night...". Strain your ears to hear it on the London discs - clear as a bell on the ABKCO.

But that's about the only song that is superior on ABKCO.

[Vivaldinization]

Originally posted by Uncle Al


Well - I gotta throw a bone in here, I've always thought the standard isssue ABCKO "Flowers" contains the superior version of Ruby Tuesday. The ABKCO looses some of the bottom found on the London Hot Rocks, but possesses a clarity that is just not evident on the London. Listen to the cellos - in between each line of the verse the cellos just barely "scrape" the strings..... "while the sun is bright (scrape scrape), or in the darkest night...". Strain your ears to hear it on the London discs - clear as a bell on the ABKCO.

But that's about the only song that is superior on ABKCO.

I don't know about the ABKCO Flowers (don't have the disc), but almost every other ABKCO CD uses a clearly inferior version of Ruby Tuesday. There are actually two versions:

a) One (appears on the versions of the ABKCO Hot Rocks that have the guitar-intro version of Time is On My Side) has a clear tape-chewing noise right before "Yesterday don't matter"

b) The OTHER (which is on the other ABKCO Hot Rocks, their BTB, and I'm PRETTY sure their Flowers) is slightly better, but has lots of "ticks" around the same area, i.e. *tick* Yesterday *tick* don't matter. The tape also seems somewhat "warbly" around the rest of the song.

The London version uses a much superior tape, IMO, with better low-end response...I do agree that it sounds "muddier" than the ABKCO version, but that's mostly an EQ issue.

-D