Which old "non-remastered" CDs to hang on to?

Thanks Steve. I'm pretty sure mine is just a plain "Warner Bros." (not Warner/Rhino) release. And the sound sure matches your description.

I'd urge anyone who likes even just a few Rascals tunes to track that disc down. I bet you'll find yourself seduced by at least a few of the lesser-known tunes they don't play all the time on oldies radio ...

 

There's the key phrase, "case by case"! And, not ALL newer CDs sound bad.

If you take another look at my equipment profile you will see that even with what I have I can plainly hear the limiting/compression action on many newer CDs, including the Madonna CDs I like so much to the new Chicago remasters. But the question is, is the action intrusive on the music? Does it destract me? The answers are very subjective. Where I could tolerate a bit of compression/limiting, another person may not have have any tolorance for it, whatsoever! And, the musical style and content is a major factor on if these techniques work or not.

There are some old CDs I stick with, some new ones I prefer, for whatever reason.

I kept BOTH CDs of the Madonna "Like A Virgin" because it is the first CD I ever bought in 1984 and the label has a nice blue silkscreen, but I play the remaster!

 

Dave, the two Zep's that I own are Zep. 3 (CD 19128) and the self titled Led Zeppelin (A2-19129, I do realize that this one is the second generation pressing, but still better than the Page remasters).

Later, I'll post all the regular CD's that I've uncovered to be better than their remastered counterparts.

 

I prefer the mono anthology...because of the mixes themselves...

 

I have the Velvet Underground & Nico CD pressed in West Germany which sounds great. But I noticed something in the liners about it being a remix (AAD, so remixed in analog I guess). Dennis Drake either mastered it or supervised the mastering/remix - I can't remember offhand. Like I said, it sounds really good, but are all the new Velvet Underground & Nico remasters we've seen since then from the original master tapes or from this remix? Anyone?

 

Beagle,

Thanks! Maybe this should have it's own forum....can I be the mod?

Steve H.,

I couldn't agree more. My recent speaker upgrade (B&W Nautilus 802's) has revealed compression and other digital anomolies plain as day, hence my renewed desire to find the most accurate versions of recordings available.

Dave,

I'll be waiting anxiously with your list.

Keep up the good examples everybody.

 

Do you have an HDCD player Beagle? I like the remaster on my HDCD player. It blows away the sound on the old greatest hits but I don't have the original Avalon to compare.

 

Nice speakers! Just checked your profile - Good system too.

 

The old three-cd "First National Band Complete on the Pacific Arts label is superior to the current remastered versions on British RCA/Camden.

 

Thanks John B, I just added my HT system too....but we 'round here only care about music, right

czeskleba, thanks, keep 'em coming.

 

I never heard any word that these were different masterings. Anybody else know?

 

Yes. I have the Rotel RCD-951 HDCD. Oh, it sounds clean and non-irritating and the music is all there, but the original dynamics and air sound squeezed out. I prefer my original UK LP overall.

Sam, I think it would be great to have a reference area on the board for this stuff. It could be a reference and remaster review area.

 

I think David Modny knows more about this than I do, but I'll try to jump in.

I *believe* there were two issues of this done - one has a certain song in mono/fake stereo, while the other has said song in true stereo. I don't know what song that is, although I believe there was discussion on BSN awhile back about it.

IIRC, one issue has a picture of the band on the cover, while the other one does not. I *want* to say the one without the picture has the extra stereo track, but I'm not certain.

FWIW, I just saw a copy (with the picture) at Best Buy the other day. I think they are still around.

 

What's the difference between the first and second version other than the stereo version of "I Ai'nt Gonna Eat My Heart Out Anymore"? I have the second one with the group picture on it.

 

Another good one is "Otis Redding - The Ultimate Collection" and "The Otis Redding Story." The former is still widely available, the latter out-of-print but cheap and easy to find via BMG music and used outlets. If you like Otis in stereo, these are the ones to get. The Ultimate Collection was produced by Inglot and Hersch, who also did the Stax/Volt box set, and just as they did with that set, they use the original tapes, without the EQ many have associated with them. Flat and unfutzed from the right tapes.

 

To add... I think the Rhino Handmade Rascals box set sounds pretty damn good! Much better than the Ultimate CD in my opinion.

 

1993 Tommy CD

Hrmm...I've never noticed the stuff you speak of. While it doesn't necessarily make it so, that CD is *generally* regarded as being the best version of the album on CD.

 

Congrats Mike!!!!

 

There's one on ebay right now (a minute ago, videopimp snagged another copy for $12; gee, I wonder if he saw this thread?):

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=896917853

 

According to Mike Callahan's "Oldies On CD", the 1986 first pressing ("FP") has "Rock 'N' Roll Classics in Digital" in the title written on the front and the 1991 second pressing ("SP") has a picture of the group on the front. The FP has a running time of 60:31 while the SP has a running time of 61:22. The time difference is due to the FP "having a truncated version [from LP version at the beginning] of "It's Wonderful" which runs 2:14 and doesn't have the usual ending; [while] the [SP] has the 3:09 45 version with the ending. For the [SP], they also cleaned up the board clicks on "Lonely Too Long" somewhat, and substituted the mono version of "I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore" [for the stereo version on the FP]. Other than that, they're the same." I won't bother with MC's ratings of the 2 versions, cuz I don't want to get yelled at. I have the FP and I like it.

 

Aww, why would any sensible human being yell at you?

 

I have noticed, especially in the "Off Topic" threads over the last few days, that everybody here isn't always "sensible" all the the time.

 

Ah, point well taken. Well, if MC is right on the money, then both versions sound just fine. On the one hand, you can get a stereo version of the first track, on the other, you get the 45 version of another, etc.

 

You are going to force me to stick my neck out ... thanks a lot. MC gave the FP a rating of "D" and the SP a "C". Remmeber those are MC's ratings not mine.