Tales From Topographic Oceans Mastering

I know this has been discussed in previous threads, but cannot seem to get a specific answer. Did Barry Diament master the original cd version, and is it worth pursuing? I currently listen to my US vinyl, and was going to try to find a UK or Japanese pressing lp. Would anyone recommend the original cd, or should I stick with vinyl. I thought the Gastwirt and HDCD cd versions were not good at all.
Thanks!
Dan

 

My recommendation is to stick with vinyl.

I don't know who mastered it, but the original cd version sounded very dull, as if someone turned the treble down - way down. Perhaps that's what the master tape sounds like? The LP wasn't exactly bright, but I found the lack of high end on the CDs distracting and therefore didn't play them very much.

 

This is one case where HDCD sounds really good.

 

I like the Rhino.

 

I tend to agree on this one. Much less murky than the Gastwirt and I like the extended intro to "The Revealing Science Of God". The Inglot approach really worked here, perhaps for the same reason Anton likes the Japanese HDCD. Some help was definitely needed with the highs.

 

Well I like the original CD...count me in as the first detractor....I think is is very nice on the ears!

 

There is no mastering credit in the original CD. It is duller than dull, but perhaps a *tad* more exciting than the Gastwirt.

This album has never really been done right on CD.

 

Thank you all for your thoughts.
If I go vinyl, I understand that the George Piros mastering is the one to try to get. I saw what to look for in the deadwax, but does anyone know the country and catalogue number of his pressing or how to get one?
If that one is impossible to find, any thoughts on the UK or the Japanese?

 

George Piros would have done the initial U.S. Atlantics....so look for AT/GP in the deadwax....you'll find one eventually!

Cheers and happy hunting! Keep a look out for his cut of "The Yes Album"....pure brilliance!

 

It won't be. There were probably half a million pressed.

 

Well, maybe after Fragile getting it's day in the sun recently, next we'll see Topographic Oceans appear on MFSL Gold Disc and Hoffman/Gray LP. It can happen.

 

Well, I only compared Gartswirt (or whatever the guy's name is) with HDCD and the HDCD was breathtakingly superior. I know HDCDs are hated here (and some of them indeed sound dreadful) but this is the case where the soud is wonderfully enhanced, dynamics not squashed and tonality warm and musical. Too bad the album itself kinda sucks so I traded it anyway!

 

I guess most would prefer other 69-72 albums to be released instead. I sure would. Tales is where Yes became more ridiculous than Spinal Tap.

 

Great. I will start looking.
Did George Piros master any other Yes Vinyl titles?

 

This one needs it, alright. The fact that people listen to stuff like the Rhino and the Japanese HDCD are evidence of that, IMO.

 

I bought the Canadian pressing right when it was released. It sounds quite nice (IIRC) but, the initials "PR" are in the deadwax. Anybody know whose initials these would be?

Cheers,
Chris

 

Well if you mean by this that Tales is one of the greatest albums ever made, then yes, you are correct!

 

TFTO is, in it's critical reception, like The Lord of the Rings:

The Lord of the Rings
is one of those things:
If you like it, you do
If you don't then you boo! (doggerel by J.R.R. Tolkien!)

Personally, I've loved 'Tales' since I first heard in on it's LP release. The original CD release never sounded good to me, and I unloaded it as soon as the Gastwirt remaster came out. I also have the HDCD. Both of these later versions sound great to me, and since they're slightly different (in content as well as mastering), I happily keep them both!

 

What's different about the content?

 

I have to agree.

 

The Rhino has the extended intro, remember?

 

As well as two side-long bonus tracks...

 

Correct. I forgot about those.

 

But he was referring to the Gastwirt and the HDCD. He never mentioned the Rhino.

 

But the Rhino's are HDCD!