Hall & Oates comp help

Hi,

Needing a thorough Hall & Oates which has all the hits but has limited or no compression and no harsh eq.

The box set is way too much for me BTW

 

The 3 cd set 'Legendary Hall & Oates' is EXACTLY what you want.

http://www.amazon.com/Legendary-Hal...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1301929242&sr=8-1

 

Thank you. I read conflicting things about Essential. The words compressed bright get tossed around. Looking Back is missing a lot of hits...like Say It isn't So.

 

I have The Ultimate Hall & Oates, but the sound is lacking a bit of warmth. I remember it getting a lot of criticism when it came out. I also understand that it was used as the Essential collection too.

If you don't need all of the singles, the "Rock N Soul" remaster will fit the bill. It's expanded from the original configuration.

 

Avoid this import compilation from 1997. It's a mixed bag mastering-wise.

 

I used to think the box set would be too much H&O but I quite like it, especially the early stuff on disc 1.

 

Is that the Staring Over comp? Thank you for the heads up

 

How is that compression-wise I think Joseph Palmaccio did that...

 

It's actually called "Starting All Over Again", but in looking at the cover, "Staring Over" seems more appropriate.

 

Yes, Starting All Over Again, or "staring" based on the photo.

Some of the tracks sound like the old first-press Rock 'n Soul CD, others are more modern masterings.

 

I guess I would be staring after listening to the mastering?

 

I don't think I've heard a single 2-cd set called "Essential" or "Ultimate"
issued in the last ten years that made the grade fidelity-wise.

Sometimes they have some REALLY neat & unexpected songs included,
like the 2-cd 'Cheap Trick' on Epic/Legacy which (although mastered by
the usually spot-on Vic Anesini) is too god-forsaken bright / brittle sounding.

 

Save up another $25 and get the box set. Every other mastering is inferior IMO.

 

Posts have been very helpful. Looks like I am leaning towards that box set.

 

I'd compare it to some of the best "Gold" series CD comps by Universal. Warm and a tad soft, but very good.

 

Or wait until Thursday, when it's likely that the box will be the Pop Market deal of the day.

 

I caved in and bought the box. Great sound.

One question, what are your thoughts on the live cut of Everytime You Go Away instead of the studio version...?

 

I like the studio version ok but I'm really glad to have that live version. It sounds like Darryl is straining to hit some of those high notes, but overall that performance has more soul than the original. I especially dig that sax solo.

Interestingly enough, I had no idea that was a Hall & Oates song until just a few years ago. I'd known only Paul Young's version.

 

Thanks. That was my reaction to it. I may be off here but the studio versio sounded stiff. the loose and soul feel to the live version really helps that song.

Sam posted waveform on the box and that alone along with Vic's mastering has made me want to ditch the Essential comp.

 

I second for the Legendary Hall & Oates 3 disc set. It has all the hits & then some. Best mastering I have heard of Hall & Oates on CD & it can be had for dirt cheap.

 

I love the Box set , they did such a great job with it , i had one of the 2-cd sets & the sound of the box is so much where it should be A+++

Enjoy!

 

Sam, didn't you once praise the budget "Playlist" release in the eco-pack? I seem to recall this well before the release of the box set. Have you compared the two?

 

It looks like the box set may be on sale this Thursday only at Sony's Popmarket...

"PopMarket" <[email protected]

 

sorry, try this link for "This Week's Deals"...


http://www.popmarket.com/pages/5693...404&utm_medium=legacy-email&utm_source=market

 

Yes, "Playlist" is great, and as far as I can tell, uses the same mastering as the box set. However, I think with 14 tracks (and most of those are 45 or video mixes), I consider it too limited in scope, or has mix variations that could perturb the casual fan.

The OP wanted a "thorough" collection, I don't feel this qualifies, so I didn't lump it in with the other 2+ disc collections.