Van Morrison "The Best of Van Morrison" CD question

When I was trawling for CDs today, I found a used copy of "The Best of Van Morrison" (Polydor 841 970-2) for $8; also in the bin was the same CD, new and remastered (for $15). I bought the used one. Anyone ever compared the two, sound-quality wise?

Cheers
Bruce

 

I haven't. Does it say who mastered the Polydor?

 

The remaster is much better. It's not as bright and has the uncensored stereo version of "Brown Eyed Girl". I got rid of the original when I picked up the remaster.

 

That original CD is as bright as two suns on a cloudless day.

 

!@#$; figures... I thought I might save a few $ and get a better version!

Cheers
Bruce

p.s. Pig Whisperer, there's no mastering credits. Prescience?

 

I have the original. Sounds quite tolerable to me.

 

The original was bright on some tracks and a little on the dull side on others. The remastered version is more consistent.

 

Same with the vinyl. Kind of funny that the brightest track was "The Bright Side Of The Road".

 

The original is too bright on some tracks, YES< but that is how the albums were, so here is a case of revisionist remastering. Do you buy what sounds LIKE the original albums, just CAUSE, or do you go for the remaster which SOUNDS better, but ISNT faithful to the original.....?? I Tend to like the remaster, but its more consistent because its IMPROVED over the original vinyl on some tracks.

 

I have to admit I personally like sonic consistency in a compilation (at least up to a point). Some of the EQ differences on "The Best of Van Morrison" were a bit extreme.

 

I guess it doesn't really need to be said that these songs should be heard in their proper contexts. I mean, you don't know what you're missing if you haven't heard Jackie Wilson Said as an opener for Gypsy, I Will Be There, Listen To The Lion and so on.

If it wasn't for the one rarity, namely Wonderful Remark, this comp (or any comp of Van's work) should be avoided. Just buy all the albums instead!

 

That's the only reason I bought his disc. Just to get that one track.

 

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Is this the same version as on the Soundtrack The King of Comedy?

 

As a sort-a fan of van morrison, I don't even think that greatest hits does a good job of introducting a sort-a fan to his music. All it sold really well, and people love Brown-eyed girl, it just doesn't flow well.

 

If you think the CD comp is a strangely arbitrary thing, try the import, single-Lp vinyl...

 

Me too!

 

The original CD has the single version of "Brown Eyed Girl," a good reason in and of itself to have the original mastering.

 

The original version has the the edited/censored version and I think the remaster has the uncensored version (but I don't have a copy of the remaster to check for sure).

 

That's probably correct. The original CD has the mono 45 mix(which is censored, yes), so the remaster likely uses the stereo mix, which should be uncensored.

 

I have not heard the remaster, but I own the original U.K. version of this CD and I think it sounds fantastic.

 

I have the remastered version and 'Brown Eyed Girl' is the "making love in the green grass behind the stadium with you" version.

I also have "Bang Masters" which has the "making love" version and an alternate version which sounds like they are still trying the song out.

The real flaw with "Best Of " isn't the mastering, but the song sequencing. It sucks. Did they pull the songs out of a hat? I get a sense of what they were trying to do, but they missed the mark. "Volume 2" is much better IMHO (but not perfect, either, as far as selection goes - the Them tunes don't fit).