Jackson 5 Motown Twofer CDs

[Kevin Sypolt]

Has anyone heard the recently released Motown Jackson 5 Two-for-one CDs? In general, I don't trust the newer Motown stuff, but I thought just maybe they found someone who didn't produce steely no-noised, compressed product... I know, wishful thinking...

[Grant]

Originally posted by Kevin Sypolt
Has anyone heard the recently released Motown Jackson 5 Two-for-one CDs? In general, I don't trust the newer Motown stuff, but I thought just maybe they found someone who didn't produce steely no-noised, compressed product... I know, wishful thinking...
Well, you guys just knew I was going to respond to this, right?:D

Well, I have been VERY vocal about my disapproval of most of these. They sound MUCH more compressed-not louder, just compressed. Motown vinyl was always kind of dry and dynamic, despite the lousy, cheap vinyl they used back in the 70s and early 80s. The compression, especially on the "Third Album"/"Maybe Tomorrow" CD ruins it for me. I understand from a friend in Canada that the British import 2-fers are much less compressed than the US versions. They are not by the same remastering engineer.

I was all excited last summer when these were announced because all of my old LPs are worn.

What I don't understand is that the mastering engineer who did these (who's name I really don't want to mention anymore) did much better work on those Motown Year-by-Year CDs! He absolutley compressed the hell out of the deluxe edition CD of Rick James' "Street Songs". My vinyl LP sounds better!

Why has this guy gotten the compression bug all of a sudden?

[Kevin Sypolt]

Darn! :(

Thanks Grant. I suspected the worst, and hence did not purchase it. I have never been "completely" satisfied with the J5 offerings on CD. Is there a "definitive" version (sonically) for the J5 CDs? Looks like I will have to attempt to get some quiet, MINT versions on LP somewhere....

Thanks,
Kevin

[Grant]

Originally posted by Kevin Sypolt
Is there a "definitive" version (sonically) for the J5 CDs?
Thanks,
Kevin

Well, yes, but they are not the LP titles proper. The now OOP box set, "Soulsation" remastered by Kevin Reeves was the best, IMO. I'm glad I bought it when it first came out.

[Jeff H.]

I echo Grant's sentiments on the J5 2-fers. The UK CD's are the ones to get. I went out and bought a couple of the US 2-fers, then promptly got rid of them. Definitely over compressed and unnatural sounding compared to the original LP's. But then clean original US Motown pressings, especially the first two albums are extremely difficult to find. In fact I'm still looking for a mint copy of "ABC" if anyone has one for sale. You should get the "Soulsation" box set. Even though it's now out of print it shouldn't be too difficult to find. Certainly the best sounding Jackson 5 on CD.