Canadian Remasters?

[Ron Stone]

Before placing my order through HMV.com order for the Steve Hoffman-remastered Who discs, I wanted to know if anyone knew of other, preferred Canadian versions of their favorite music, or even greatest hits albums or compilations unique to that market.

[JJ3810]

Word is that the Canadian Fleetwood Mac "Rumours" CD is the original version, before it was reissued to sound brighter. You might look for that if you're not happy with the current (RE-2) issue.

[Dave]

Ron, another SH mastered album is The Fixx: Reach The Beach. The cheap one though, just like the Who albums, not the remastered crap!

BTW Why not just view the discography here in one window and view HMV in another and then you can see exactly what you're after?;)

[Ron Stone]

I meant ANY Canadian remasters, not just those by Mr. Hoffman. I remember one U.S. mail order house sold the Canadian Sarah McLachlan discs, claiming the home label had better sound.

Incidentally, on HMV.com, they list their ABCKO Rolling Stones discs as having been remastered and released last year. I'll wait for the dual-layer SACDs in the pipeline, but does anyone know what's with the Canadian Stones CDs?

[chip-hp]

Originally posted by Ron Stone
... not just those by Mr. Hoffman.


Steve,

I don't know about you ... but it makes me feel old (I'm a young, spry 54) when someone calls me "Mr.".:(

[Khorn]

Originally posted by Ron Stone
Before placing my order through HMV.com order for the Steve Hoffman-remastered Who discs, I wanted to know if anyone knew of other, preferred Canadian versions of their favorite music, or even greatest hits albums or compilations unique to that market.

There have been many cases over the last decade or so when a title has been re-mastered in the USA but the Canadian pressings (in a great many of cases done by the local company CINRAM) still used the earlier "original masters" to press discs for the Canadian market. This was the choice of the individual record companies and in many cases was (they say) for economic reasons. I always looked for the newer re-masters when I heard that they were being issued in the States. Many times when I asked why we weren't getting the newer re-masters pressed here I was told (by the individual labels) that it wasn't worth their while to supply the new masters to the local plant as it was too costly cost (read cheapskates) just for the Canadian market.

This attitude seemed to change in the latter part of the nineties but, as we are seeing more and more, just because something is re-mastered it doesn't necessarily mean that it is better. There has been talk over the years that the "home masters & pressings" are better than the same titles pressed simultaneously in other markets but I can't see any technical reason why this should apply if identical masters are used and equivalent competence of the pressing plants exists.

[SamS]

Is the SH "Fixx" CD the regular american version, or the Canadian a la Who's Next?

[Dave]

SamS,

I believe that it is the same in the US. as here. If it is it will be one of those "compact price" ones.

[Dave]

Ron,

Stones Abcko is still Stones Abcko even up here.;)

It's a really hard one Ron as I don't know alot of US. pressings. I mean, I could tell you that Aldo Nova's first 2 albums are quite good (don't know if you have the same mastering down there), or that Loverboy: Loverboy is really good. But how do I know if you even know about these 2 acts?

I believe that you guys down in the US. have alot of the same masterings that we do, with the exception of MCA on Cinram.;)

[Holy Zoo]

Originally posted by SamS
Is the SH "Fixx" CD the regular american version, or the Canadian a la Who's Next?

To my knowledge (which is pretty durn good, as I'm the webmaster for www.thefixx.com, their official website), Reach The Beach has never been remastered.

Meaning, any version you find will be Steve's.

http://www.thefixx.com/discography/images/Records/ReachTheBeach.small.jpg

For what it's worth, the old versions of Phantoms and Walkabout also sound really good. I also wonder/suspect that Steve had his hand at these as well.

Alas, the recent 2001 reissue of Phantoms has been remastered with additional compression. Not a lot, but enough to tell. So if you feel as I do that Phantoms is their definitive album, seek out an old copy. Should be easy to find now on ebay since the remaster came out - lots of people dumped their precious old copies (it was out of print for 12+ years) to get the remaster.They had been going for $20-$30 on ebay, now they're $4.

http://www.thefixx.com/discography/images/Records/Phantoms.small.jpg

[SamS]

Thanks, HZ.

I think I'll go pick up Reach the Beach and look into others as well.

BTW, great Fixx website!

[Dugan]

I ordered it yesterday from HMV.com and got a email today saying it was on backorder. Hopefully they will get it in.

[Dave]

Curiously Dugan,

How much are they going to charge you including S&H?

[Beagle]

I like The Fixx. I have the original MCA CD's of the first four. Walkabout is my favourite and I still think the original MCA CD sounds terrific. I found a German copy of it recently but it does not have the hidden track at the end.

What is the story behind the Poco Legend MCA CD? The Steve Hoffman biography says it was never released but I have a copy (Canadian MCABD-31019). Is this in fact a SH mastering?

[Dugan]

Originally posted by Dave
Curiously Dugan,

How much are they going to charge you including S&H?

The disc was $9.99 CND ($6.57 US) and S&H was $5.99 CND, whichs I believe is $4 something US. The total was only $11. and change US. Well wotrh it for Steve's disc.
BTW I got an email today saying it was shipped.... Yippee!!!

[Evan]

Originally posted by JJ3810
Word is that the Canadian Fleetwood Mac "Rumours" CD is the original version, before it was reissued to sound brighter.


Has anyone been able to confirm this?

[Ronflugelguy]

Dugan, you're reall going to like Steve's "WHO'S NEXT"!!!!!!!!

[mjb]

Can't speak about the McLachlan discs, although I've heard the same rumor over the years.

The Canadian version of FOR THE BEAUTY OF WYNONA apparently features an alternate mix to the US version, not to mention unaltered/uncensored cover art. I had the Canadian disc years ago, but it was stolen and never replaced.

One of the more interesting Canadian releases of the last decade was THE HOLY BIBLE by Manic Street Preachers. After its 1994 release in the UK and Europe, a remixed version was prepared for North America to coincide with the band's forthcoming tour in 1995. However, chief lyricist and second guitarist Richey Edwards suddenly disappeared in Feburary. The tour was canceled and the remixed album, which had only been released in Canada, was pulled from stores (the disc ultimately never received an American release). It became a great rarity, and the occasional copy which surfaces often sells for $300+ in online auctions.

[Dave]

Originally posted by Evan

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by JJ3810
Word is that the Canadian Fleetwood Mac "Rumours" CD is the original version, before it was reissued to sound brighter.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Has anyone been able to confirm this?
Evan, consider it confirmed! I just got it yesterday and it's really nice! No harsh pounding bass, and no screaming treble, and no added echo to Stevie's voice. This cd says "crank me up".

A couple of the songs are a very tiny bit edgey in the high end, but other than that, it's a keeper. Nice and smoooooth.;)

[ACK!]

Rush rules!

:rolleyes:

[nashreed]

I'm glad I never got rid of my original "Phantoms", but then I never get rid of any CD with a smooth sided jewel case....ahhhh.

One of the more interesting CD's in the Hoffman discography was his doing the "Miami Vice" soundtrack. How is that? Why was his work with MCA so schizo? I'd really like to hear his Golden Earring "Moontan" as well. Did he ever do any of those 3" inch CD's from the late 80's?

nashreed

[BradOlson]

Speaking of Canadian CD's, I just got a copy of the Dr. Hook Revisited CD on Columbia that is a Canadian import. Same mastering as the US CD though. This is a CD that within its 10 songs provides "key tracks" from their Columbia albums recorded as "Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show" and all songs were written or co-written by the Shel Silverstein. It is a reissue of the 1976 compilation, mastered in the 1980's and has the "Collector's Choice" stamp logos on the artwork.

[Dugan]

Originally posted by Ronflugelguy
Dugan, you're reall going to like Steve's "WHO'S NEXT"!!!!!!!!

Got it the other day... Very, Very Nice. :)

[Evan]

Originally posted by Dave

Evan, consider it confirmed! I just got it yesterday and it's really nice! No harsh pounding bass, and no screaming treble, and no added echo to Stevie's voice. This cd says "crank me up".

A couple of the songs are a very tiny bit edgey in the high end, but other than that, it's a keeper. Nice and smoooooth.;)

Cool! Thanks a million, Dave. I ordered my copy from HMV yesterday. :cool:
BTW, does it fade up for Gold Dust woman or is it the cold start?

[Dave]

Evan,

It has the cold start. How long is the fade up version? This version is 5:03

I think your going to be very surprised and happy when you get it.;)