Jay & The Americans-Best Quality Compact Disc?

...would like a few opinions on the best quality (with the original mixes) Jay & The Americans on Compact Disc?

P.S. Please move this to the music forum. Sorry!

 

No worries Michael, my pleasure.

This one I know nothing about so it will be good to hear what other SH members have to say.

 

...thanks Dave!

 

There really aren't THAT many Jay & The Americans CD's to start with, but I find Ron Furmanek's "EMI LEGENDARY MASTER SERIES" to be the best for sound and content!

This CD has all of the essential hits, PLUS, it has one of my favorite flip sides of all-time..."DAWNING", which is worth it alone! I don't have the CD in front of me, but I think it also had a bonus track P.S.A. (Public Service Announcement) or possibly it was a commercial.

Chris C

 

I have the same one Chris has, but seem to remember studio chatter preceding some tracks, which I don't care for.

I also have a 2fer of albums called Sands of Time / Wax Museum. Some of the hits, but mostly great covers of music that may have been out of style when the albums were recorded. But I like those doo wop and original rock 'n roll songs more now than I probably did in the mid 60s when these albums were recorded.

Must put them on today

 

John B...Check out the musicians on that "Wax Museum" CD...The early rumblings of one Walter Becker and Donald Fagen!!! This is "historic" because of that alone!

You are correct about the studio chatter on "Legendary Master Series"! Most, if not all of that series, added a few tracks with the studio chatter and while I find it interesting to hear "ONCE", it gets in the way on later listens! (Note: Especially when you happen to be a disc jockey!)

Chris C

 

I've said this before, in my opinion, that Jay And The Americans "Legendary Masters" CD is totally RUINED by the extreme use of No-Noise by Bob Norberg. I don't care if Jay Black thinks it sounds great. There is not one note of natural sounding music on that CD. Listen to the No-Noise induced popping and wheezing garbage on "She Cried" and "Tomorrow". Makes me furious.

The "Absolutely The Best" CD on the Fuel label is cloned from the "Legendary Masters" CD.

The "Sands Of Time/Wax Museum" CD sounds OK, but the tracks that also appear on the "Legendary Masters" CD were cloned from that CD for some reason. I guess EMI probably saved a few bucks doing it that way.

 

All we have on CD are contemporary re-mixes except for a few tracks. The Mono "hit" mixes are sitting in a vault...

Bob

 

I have the Legendary Masters CD and I loved it. Everyone's ears are different I guess.

One small note though; as has been discussed in other threads (and not just at this site), don't buy the Canadian version as it goes wonky over time. This happened to my copy and EMI Canada graciously offered another CD of my choice (picked up the 2 cd anthology from Nancy Wilson...sweet!). My USA pressing has not failed me yet!

Cheers everyone from soggy southern Ontario!

P.S. Hey, I think this is my very first post! WooHoo!

 

I originally inquired about a two-fer album CD...don't know if it'll help or not, but here's the link:

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=38850

 

...aren't the Ron F disc's remixed?

 

Thanks! just what I needed to hear...

 

I really liked that CD as well. I'm mad that I traded it in a few years back when I was trying to streamline my collection.

 

I guess it's time to do some needle drops. I have a 45 reissue copy of "Come A Little Bit Closer" that has the original mono 45 mix. Never heard a stereo version of this cut. How does it sound?

 

Hi Jeff,

This track is Mono only. Why? Evidently, the multi-track has been lost. It is Mono on all CD releases...

Bob

 

The Legendary Masters CD is still in print.

 

Jay & The Americans

Let me weigh in and say that I love my Legendary Masters issue of Jay & The Americans. I acknowledge the concern with the studio chatter before some of the songs; it is novel the FIRST time, tedious after that. As far as remixing, it is my understanding that the only remixing that was done was to mix the songs through a digital tape recorder before mastering to achieve the "ADD" sound. When I looked for a Jay & The Americans cd, I sought this issue out because it was remastered and not one of the cheap $5.99 or $6.99 copies you see in every bargain bin.

I have a "two albums on one disc" for Julie London and Gary Lewis and the Playboys that were released after the Legendary Masters series and I am pleased with these also. Again, I looked for these remastered versions above any others. I also have Legendary Masters of Timi Yuro.

By the way, what is the overall opinion of the Capitol Collectors Series of cds? I have the Bobby Darin, the Andrews Sisters, and Merle Haggard and I am pleased with the sound quality.

 

Ok, that explains a lot. Thanks Bob!

 

Except for a select few tracks, the tracks on this disc were re-mxed from the multi-tracks. These new mixes are enjoyable as a listening experience. I simply wish the original "hit" mixes were released on CD. Most are not available on CD...

Bob

 

At least we have the "hit" mix on CD...

Bob

 

I have all the available Ron F. Jay & the Americans, I was hoping for a original non remixed package.

 

remixing a sin?

I understand the desire to have the original mix of an album/song, but considering that many albums and songs were originally mixed with the technology of the day in mind (i.e. cheap hi-fi sets, mono car radios, transistor radios, etc) would some remixing for modern technology (cds, SACDs, etc) be of some benefit? For instance, I know that in the days of the original run of vinyl records, many times the bass was "rolled off" or de-emphasized due to the limitations of vinyl in those days. There may have also been a limit placed on the high frequencies due to the limits of reproducing music in those times. Why not unleash the music for today's resolution?

 

I second that. One of the most extreme cases of NR use I've ever heard