MacCartney 'Driving Rain' production

[Unknown]

I intended to wait till LP version of Driving Rain is released and buy myself one. Then I've read conflicting comments at Amazon site and decided to try the record over the Internet. Although the music is quite good (not up to Flaming Pie standards, IMO), but, guys, what he has done with the sound?! It looks like an attempt to have a modern, "alternative" sound, but it's just a BAD sound to me! And it's McCartney, who is well known perfectionist in terms of production (at least, on his studio records). Now I think CD is enough, cause sonically there's nothing to expect. Am I wrong?

Any comments are highly appreciated.

[Dave]

Sanfi4u,
I'm no vinly expert but IMO (in my opinion) there usually isn't that much difference between the vinyl/cd releases when done by the same engineer/record company.
Do you have a high-end system and have you ever heard DCC's McCartney releases? Nothing that I've heard even comes within a hundred miles of the DCC versions.
PS. Welcome to the board newby. http://ubb.fanasylum.com/smiles/wavey.gif

[Unknown]

Originally posted by Dave:
Sanfi4u,
I'm no vinly expert but IMO (in my opinion) there usually isn't that much difference between the vinyl/cd releases when done by the same engineer/record company.
http://ubb.fanasylum.com/smiles/wavey.gif

Dave, in certain sence you are right. But still mastering and a front end is different, which lead to a different sound. On the other hand, in case of bad production there is nothing to hunt for.

Originally posted by Dave:
Sanfi4u,
Do you have a high-end system and have you ever heard DCC's McCartney releases? Nothing that I've heard even comes within a hundred miles of the DCC versions.
http://ubb.fanasylum.com/smiles/wavey.gif

Yeah, I have hi-end system, I'm a long-time Macca fan, I have some DCC reissues on vinyl (P.Simon, J.Tull, Queen) and CD (Badfinger), but I never tried Macca DCC CD reissues, praised by many people in this Forum. The reason is simple: my experience tells me that in 99,9% of cases original press LP gives you the best sound possible if it's 50-70ies music. (Sorry, Steve. You are doing a great job!). That's why I gradually started to buy more original LPs instead of (even good, like DCC) reissues.
This topic was disscussed too many times in this Forum, so I'd better stop here.
Thanks for your answer. But I still wonder what is the sound of McCartney 'Driving Rain'? Any experience here? :confused:

[Todd Fredericks]

Sanfi4u,

I agree with you 95% about most original first pressings being the best but there are a few hitches...

Vinyl took a big noise dive quality wise starting in the early 70's. The energy crisis drove many plants to recycle vinyl (even with the labels in the mix) which added tons of surface noise/garbage to the music. Records started getting thinner and thinner (also the jackets/increase of warp problems). Quality was racing towards the past. That's one of the reasons MFSL made such a big impact...

Now let's talk about DCC gold CD's and vinyl. Steve only uses the absolute "original" master tapes (thank goodness). Original pressings are very hit and miss in this aspect. Is it an LP/eq copy? Which country had the master and which used a copy (maybe played on a bad machine). How many pressing were done on the same stamper (was your album pressed after 35,232 others)? With these great DCC releases you know 100% that you are getting something that is directly from the source with no sugar or perservatives added. Also, you know how much time, attention, research and labor Steve puts into his work. He wants to extract the truest tone and intention from those tapes (searches for the best viewing light and environment to exhibit the Mona Lisa).

Anyway, about 'Driving Rain'. I don't know too much about the production value yet because I haven't had a chance to pick it up. I'll most likely get it on vinyl (it's fun) and I'm sure it'll sound great (Ram cares about the quality on his "current" projects/there was a nice mention in an article a few years ago about the listening tests he was involved in to find the best CD pressing proceedure for 'Flaming Pie")...

Todd

[PsychFan]

Originally posted by sanfi4u:
But I still wonder what is the sound of McCartney 'Driving Rain'? Any experience here?


I picked up the CD the day it was issued, and have been enjoying it since. I find nothing really wrong with the sound, considering how it was recorded, and some of the music is rather fine.

The liner notes specify that basic tracks were recorded on analog tape, while overdubs (and presumably mixing) were done on digital equipment. Given this, I find it more than listenable. McCartney's bass, in particular, is captured quite well, and most of the vocals sound good too, to my ears.

YMMV, of course ... Normally I would have gone for the vinyl, but it seems available only as a UK import for $20-25, and I'm not sure whether it will contain the "bonus track" "Freedom" as the CD does.

[Sckott]

In many cases, new releases on vinyl don't adhere to the same standards of quality as the CD does. In fact, the labels look at the LP as a novelty, and not a proper listening experience.

It's only by sheer luck that some of the new-release vinyls have sounded good (or OK). Some do not, and I'm sure if you wait and ask, someone might tell you what you want to know. I'd say the McCartney vinyl shouldn't sound bad, but....

There have been suprises. Hopefully more of them will generate happy faces?

[BradOlson]

Sckott, you and I look at vinyl as proper listening experiences, especially properly mastered vinyl.

[Unknown]

Originally posted by Todd Fredericks:
Sanfi4u,

Now let's talk about DCC gold CD's and vinyl. Steve only uses the absolute "original" master tapes (thank goodness). Original pressings are very hit and miss in this aspect. Is it an LP/eq copy? Which country had the master and which used a copy (maybe played on a bad machine). How many pressing were done on the same stamper (was your album pressed after 35,232 others)? With these great DCC releases you know 100% that you are getting something that is directly from the source with no sugar or perservatives added. Also, you know how much time, attention, research and labor Steve puts into his work. He wants to extract the truest tone and intention from those tapes (searches for the best viewing light and environment to exhibit the Mona Lisa).

Todd

Absolutely agree on that, Todd. Minor addition. Do not forger master tape is 25-30 years old. It makes the task to produce a good LP/CD out of it really challenging. And DCC do it surprisingly good (Thanks, Steve!).

[Unknown]

Guys, I tried "Freedom" in the shop and decided this song along worth buying the CD
and I got myself US capitol release.

My impressions: Music is much better than I expected, although not up to the
Flaming Pie standards, IMO. But the sound didn't give me any surprises - it's
bad as I expected it to be from my Internet experience. To be correct I took
3 last Macca releases: Flaming Pie,
Run Devil Run and Driving Rain. That's what I heard:

Flaming Pie - Producers: Paul McCartney, Jeff Lynne, George Martin
Engineer: Geoff Emerick
Brilliant production, excellent sound. One can enjoy every note off the record.

Run Devil Run - Producers: Chris Thomas & Paul McCartney
Engineer: Geoff Emerick & Paul Hicks
The sound is not up to the standards of the prevoius record, but I suppose they tried
to simulate 50'ies sound. Anyway it's decent and listenable.


Driving Rain - Producers: David Khane
Engineer: Mark Dearnley
The sound is a kind of "alternative", IMO almost unlistenable.

Paul is not only great musician and composer, he proved to be a very good producer.
As I understand inviting David Khane he made it intentively. This kind of production
was the goal in order to avoid doing the same 30 years and involve new audience.

I think it was a sad mistake. There is no need for Paul to prove anything after all
these years. He can hardly get himself 15-year old fans by giving them 'familiar sound'.
They have their own idols. All he needs to do is to play good music recorded in a
proper way. Sorry if it sounds instructively but this is most of the people waiting from him.
He has every right to go into any experiments but keeping production up to the standards, IMO.
If he don't want to produce the record himself why not to invite George
Martin (Tug of war is an excellent record!) or Jeff Lynne? These people are a kind of guarantee
of an excellent production.

I'm a long time McCartney's fan and it makes me really sorry the Driving Rain is recorded
the way it is. Again - the music is very good, I like it a lot. But I don't think there is any reason
to go for LP cause obviously vinyl can hardly cure production flaws.

[Todd Fredericks]

I broke down and got it on CD Saturday (I kept waiting for a vinyl release locally and no luck). I popped it on during a the tail end of a dinner party and it was pretty disappointing. We all thought it lacked his usual spirit and quality. It mostly sounded like uncertain b-sides with cheap experimental sampling stuff. The artwork photos created from his digital watch camera (funny, he included Larry King from the interview) kind of supported this quick, knocked-off feel. I wasn't thrilled with the crappy processing done on his voice (it sounded like cheap effects pluggins). I listended to it again today (without that many distractions) and I enjoyed it little bit more but why should I have to struggle to enjoy an album ("Flaming Pie" was easy to enjoy)?? My wife said something like after losing Linda and all the balancing he must be going through to deal with the changes in his life, he's allowed to release a stinker without too much critism. Good point...

Todd

[Unknown]

Todd,

According to Diverse Vinyl release of Driving Rain LP is postponed util next year. Here is the link: http://www.diversevinyl.com/htm/news.php?id=54

[Todd Fredericks]

Thanks Sanfi4u! At this moment I'm not too crazy about this album to merit a second format purchase. Maybe by next year my opinion will change. It's possible they delayed the vinyl release to include "Freedom" (last minute addition) on it like the cd?

Todd