ABBA - The Albums (9-CD Box Set) - new in November 2008!

Has anyone heard the mastering on this new box set?

The set was apparently mastered by Henrik Jonsson. I don't know the guy, but I think he also did some of the deluxe editions of the individual albums. Haven't heard any of them. How do they sound? Are they totally butchered or at least somewhat decent?

Here's a link:
http://www.abbasite.com/news/index.php?ret=/news/index.php&id=1654&flash=yes

And here's a pciture of the set:

 

Henrik Jonsson also remastered the CSR set from a few years ago. The mastering is probably the same but I don't know for sure.

 

Yes, I think it is the same mastering.

Did a little research on this forum, and it seems like his mastering is quite loud/compressed. Probably nothing I would enjoy.

 

I didn't care for the mastering on the Complete Studio Recordings box at all. Way too loud and aggressive sounding. A shame, too, because my understanding is that they did use all original master tapes.

If this new release is just a reissue of the same mastering, I will definitely pass.

It's frustrating how difficult it is to get decent sounding Abba on CD. Since the much-touted old WG and Atlantic pressings are practically impossible to find, my compromise has been the old Polydor CDs. I'm sure these use lower generation tapes, but the mastering is inoffensive. I also tried EQing the "Gold" sets and "Thank You For The Music" box to tame the high end, but could never get it to sound right.

 

Yes, inquiring minds want to know. Does anyone own this? Any comments on the mastering?

 

I never knew ABBA had 9 albums....

I didn't think they were together that long.....

 

They're also going to release all of the ABBA albums in card sleeves in the SHM-CD format in Japan in January.

http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/list_from_code_banner.html?key=34485

I've never heard one of these SHM CDs (Super High Mapping, or something like that).

Harry

 

SHM=Super High Material

No mapping involved.

 

They only had 8 studio albums. The 9th is a bonus disc of one off singles, B-sides & Swedish songs.

They also released 1 Spanish language album & 3 "Hits" albums during their time together. A LIVE album was also issued in 1986.

These discs are the same as what's found on 'The Complete Studio Recordings' Box Set, remastered from the original tapes.

 

not to mention, the new ps3 game Singstar ABBA!!

 

Well at least I got the "Super High" part, so that's something, right?



Harry

 

Good compromise - Polydor continued using the old WG masterings right up to 1997 so they represent a cheap way of hearing them if you are not a hardcore collector...

 

Here are the wave forms of "Super Trouper" from the 2008 version (top) compared to the 2005 version (bottom). It would indeed appear that the original dynamics are much better preserved on the new 2008 remaster.

 

Wow. Thanks for posting the waveforms.

 

*picking up jaw off the floor*

I am pleasantly surprised, might just open up the wallet once more. The waveforms aside, how does it sound?

 

Wow!

Can you post a sample?

 

Extremely surprising!

 

So I did a little snooping. Mastering Engineer Henrik Jonnson works for/at Masters of Audio (http://www.mastersofaudio.se) and his e-mail address (published on the site) is: [email protected].

Anyone care to invite him to this site where we can discuss the mastering differences associated with the latest ABBA box?

 

I saw a used Polydor Abba CD today with some sort of Spanish title. What is that ? Spanish language redubs of their "hits" ?

 

Go right ahead! It was your idea

The price seems very reasonable for 9 CD's. I saw it for $45 earlier today on a European on-line store, IIRC it was Amazon.uk.

 

ABBA released several different iterations of their songs in Spanish, but generally they all contain the same songs.

I believe the first one was called GRACIAS POR LA MUSICA.

At around the time of GOLD, they had a Spanish counterpart called ORO.

In their remastered albums and box sets, these tracks tend to be included as bonus tracks on the albums with their English counterparts.

Most recently, a compilation called EXITOS ETERNOS was released as Universal continues to churn the catalog.

Harry

 

It's funny that this thread comes up now because I was just about to ask an ABBA question. Went to a record store (WAX TRAX) in Denver awhile back while on business. Mistake was to take my wife. As I was looking through some Beatles, I happened to look up and saw my wife pilling up albums. Well, I think I need to check this out so I wondered over and to my surprise (or maybe not), she was stacking up ABBA albums. I cried out (a little to loud maybe)...ABBA, are you kidding me? The store manager starting laughing. I then said...You need to save some for other customers. Again the manager was laughing, this time out loud.

Well, I ended up buying them anyway, knowing good and well she would never listen to them. Just like the 5 or 6 ASIA albums she got last time we went to a record store that she never listened to.

My question, I don't think I have ever heard an ABBA song. Where/what LP should I start with (I think she got them all). I don't want to have to listen to all of them to find the best one. Besides, I don't even know if I like them...LOL

Thanks
Randy

 

I just ordered The Albums on Amazon.co.uk. After VAT, the price was only US $38.00!

The Amazon.com (US) price is $71.99. ?!#?!@!?

 

Unless you live on a desert island, I am sure that you have heard an Abba song, probably many of them. Start with a Greatest Hits album, if you have one. If not, then Voulez Vous, Arrival and "The Album" represent their commercial peak, so you might as well start with one of those. I don't find one particularly stronger than the others -- for me, it just depends on whether I enjoy the individual tracks. They were never an album concept band (unless you count their last release "The Visitors").

By the way, I am also very interested in whether the new issues are an improvement over the Polydors. I can't imagine that they are, but let's hear some comments.