Essential Barry Diament masterings

Well, it's much easier making a list than doing the actual mastering.

Bob Marley corrected.

 

That's true.

 

Thanks, do you have a catalogue number, year of release etc. to make it easier to identify?

 

Quick question: Has Barry mastered for vinyl?

 

I don't think he has ever mastered for vinyl. I'm sure Barry will confirm anyhoo shortly as he always does.

 

A really obscure one here:

The Questionnaires - Window to the world

 

Hi Darcy,

Yes, I did this one. (Great music.)

Best regards,
Barry
www.soundkeeperrecordings.com
www.barrydiamentaudio.com

 

Hi motorcitydave,

Yes, I have mastered for vinyl.
It was a long, long time ago.

When Atlantic got the gear to master for CD in 1983, that became a main focus for me. (I had to very severely curtail even listening to vinyl, lest early digital would have been completely impossible for me to listen to day in and day out. Long story for another time.)

Best regards,
Barry
www.soundkeeperrecordings.com
www.barrydiamentaudio.com

 

I've recently been going about acquiring (or confirming I have already) CD's that Barry mastered, thanks to the forum and this thread. Several I've had for years and listening to them again with greater appreciation - others are completely new. Can you imagine never having heard 'Hell's Bells' until last week, and the first time being Barry's mastering?

Anyway, I thought it might help to start filling in the specific info for each disc, which will help others trying to locate these. Here's what info I can supplement to the thread. Also added the dialogue/sample version of Psychoderelict.

AC/DC - Back In Black Atlantic A2 16018 EUROPE: 050 735

Edie Brickell & New Bohemians - Shooting Rubberbands At The Stars Geffen 24192-2

The Call - Reconciled Elektra 60440-2

The Eagles – The Eagles Asylum 5054-2
The Eagles - Their Greatest Hits (?) Asylum 105-2 EUR 253017
The Eagles - Greatest Hits Volume 2 Asylum 60205-2

Genesis - Selling England By The Pound (?) Atlantic 19277-2
Genesis - Duke Atlantic 16014-2

Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin (supplied with the "reverse channel" tape. This tape has been used for other vinyl masterings). Atlantic 20P2-2023 (Japan)
Led Zeppelin - II Atlantic 191127-2
Led Zeppelin - III Atlantic 19128-2
Led Zeppelin - Houses Of The Holy Atlantic 19130
Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti (2xCD) Swan Song A2-200

Pete Townshend - All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes (mastered by Zal or Barry or done twice?) ATCO 38-149-2
Pete Townshend - Psychoderelict - Atlantic 82494-2
Pete Townshend - Psychoderelict - Music Only Atlantic 82535-2
Pete Townshend - White City ATCO 90473-2
Pete Townshend - Deep End Live ATCO 90553-2

U2 - War Island 422 811 148-2

Yes - Close To The Edge Atlantic 19133-2
Yes - 90125 Atlantic 90125-2

 

Hi Ere,

There was also a "censored dialog" version of "Psychoderelict".
PRCD 5103-2 (a promo CD?) contains this version along with a second disk that has the "no dialog" version.

Best regards,
Barry
www.soundkeeperrecordings.com
www.barrydiamentaudio.com

 

I just picked up a copy of Barry's Dirty Deeds...very nice work!

 

While I don't have the CD of the single mix I do have the 45 vinyl and I like it better than the full version.

Pat

 

Hi Barry,

What Stevie Nicks and Meatloaf did you work on?

Pat

 

Question for Barry: Did you work on any Prince titles for Warner? If not, do you know who did?

Thanks for taking the time to answer all our questions.

 

Hi Barry,
Yes, that number would indicate a promo. Could we also add

Pete Townshend - Interview with a Psychoderelict Atlantic PRCD 5161-2

? This has a 30 minute produced interview with Pete and includes either complete
or lengthy excerpts of 'English Boy' 'Let's Get Pretentious' 'I Want That Thing' 'Now and Then' 'I Am Afraid' and 'Fake It.'

BTW, 'Now and Then' is one of my all-time favorite songs Pete has done.
Thanks for your role in making it sound so good.
cheers,
Ken

 

I don't mean to poop on this idea... it's a good one!

But adding catalog numbers to this one is gonna get weird without additional qualification. For example, the 'A2' designations in your listings indicate record club pressings (again, for example, the non-club catalog number for Physical Graffiti is "SS 200-2"). There's nothing wrong with that, but this supplemental info should probably be annotated as well.

 

So you're volunteering, right?

As I understand it, whether it was sold by BMG or Columbia House doesn't matter if it is confirmed to be Barry's mastering. And as you note there are different catalog numbers for the same title. It would be helpful to provide a listing of all known catalog numbers for relevant pressings and maybe even indicate those where he is credited in print. Don't know if matrix numbers are necessary...?

I thought it would be helpful, in any case, since if one is looking for a particular disc, to have ready the attributes which identify it conclusively when shopping (asking an eBay seller, etc.).

 

Hi Pat,

Fishing for the memory cells again but I can make a guess or two:

For Stevie Nicks, I think it was at least the first two, "Belladonna" and "Wild Heart"(?) (in both cases, from EQd limited copies created during vinyl mastering).

I mastered the Meatloaf CD after I left Atlantic and this was from original mixes. I can't remember the name of the album though. All I know is I did it between '87 and '95, probably between '90 and '95.

It was for an independent label (not a CBS or a Warner, etc.), the name of which also eludes me at the moment. For all I know, the label does not exist any more and the rights to the album may have moved to a large company. Which I could tell you more.

Best regards,
Barry
www.soundkeeperrecordings.com
www.barrydiamentaudio.com

 

Hi Keith,

I never worked on any Prince CDs. Since Prince was with Warner, I would guess Joe Sidore did those but it is only a guess.

Best regards,
Barry
www.soundkeeperrecordings.com
www.barrydiamentaudio.com

 

Hi Ken,

I didn't work on any interview disks that I can recall.

"Now and Then" was one of my early favorites on that album too.

Best regards,
Barry
www.soundkeeperrecordings.com
www.barrydiamentaudio.com

 

Thanks Barry. I took those artists names from your credits on your website.

Pat

 

Hi Pat,

I definitely worked on CDs from these folks. In the intervening years, I just kept better records of "who" than of "what".

Best regards,
Barry
www.soundkeeperrecordings.com
www.barrydiamentaudio.com

 

I'm happy to help, as I think this is a really worthwhile thread. My contributions will have to wait, though, as I'm on an extended business trip... and away from my collection. Don't ask how I knew the catalog number to Physical Graffiti!

 

I figured you just remembered the basics. I was just looking thru my Stevie Nicks and Meatloaf CD's and did not see you mentioned. Those early Nicks CD's just carried over the LP liner notes, I believe. Nothing about CD mastering.

Pat

 

I don't remember a credit on any of the Nicks CDs but there should be one on the Meatloaf CD. (I believe all of the work I did after leaving Atlantic is properly credited.)

Best regards,
Barry
www.soundkeeperrecordings.com
www.barrydiamentaudio.com