Van Morrison - Astral Weeks

audiodrome · 11-20-2002, 09:41 PM

How does the current WB CD of this sound?

Ed Bishop · 11-21-2002, 05:00 AM

Well, it's been remastered overseas, but probably not here, unless WB redid it and didn't tell anybody. The original CD(possibly the current one)sounds fine to me. Flat transfer, nothing special done to it, some hiss. Very good, overall. One of the great albums.

ED

FredCamp · 11-21-2002, 08:10 AM

I'll have to agree with Ed. The current ASTRAL WEEKS is fine, but I remember buying that disc back in 1987. Given its age and the sound of the other Van remasters, I can only wonder (and hope and dream) the effect a good remastering will have on it. Personally, I'd love to hear a SACD disc of ASTRAL WEEKS as long as the remastering is of the same quality as , say, BLONDE ON BLONDE.

Ed Bishop · 11-21-2002, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by FredCamp
The current ASTRAL WEEKS is fine, but I remember buying that disc back in 1987. Given its age and the sound of the other Van remasters, I can only wonder (and hope and dream) the effect a good remastering will have on it. Personally, I'd love to hear a SACD disc of ASTRAL WEEKS as long as the remastering is of the same quality as , say, BLONDE ON BLONDE.

For us, that will be DVD-A, since WEA still has rights to that one here, MOONDANCE(which we're still waiting for--will it ever come out?)and maybe HIS BAND AND THE STREET CHOIR. Would make for a very interesting 5.1 mix. If I come across a remastered import sometime will have to check it out; usually these upgrades are modest at best, especially when the original mastering was pretty good to begin with.

ED

Sckott · 11-21-2002, 08:40 AM

I've still found the budget WB stock CD as an Australian import budget, and it's the same flat WB original transfer. It may be the best sound unless you score a green-label WB and have a great analog front end.

If it were up to me, I would do this as a dual layer with stereo and 5.1 SACD, and make this CD first to appear in high rez. I love Moondance, but this album is a breathtaker. I sometimes have to hold on to my conscience before I hit play. The album is just that damn good.

Ed Bishop · 11-21-2002, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sckott
I've still found the budget WB stock CD as an Australian import budget, and it's the same flat WB original transfer. It may be the best sound unless you score a green-label WB and have a great analog front end.

If it were up to me, I would do this as a dual layer with stereo and 5.1 SACD, and make this CD first to appear in high rez. I love Moondance, but this album is a breathtaker. I sometimes have to hold on to my conscience before I hit play. The album is just that damn good.

Thanks for the info, Sckott. I suspected as much; WB hasn't been keen on doing a lot of remasterings; when they do, they tend to broadcast the fact, as with the VH discs. Still, I think I've seen imports that claim 'remastered classics' or something like that. Nothing like an original W7 green label for this one, though I'd almost kill for a canaadian gold label, which would really be neat

. I still hold out hope for a DVD-A; only fair for one of the truly Great Albums of the 20th Century.

ED

David Powell · 11-21-2002, 09:55 AM

One would have thought that this landmark album would have been reissued properly by now, unless there's some sort of problem locating the master tapes. Hasn't RHINO basically taken over the reissue projects for the Warner labels? Since "Astral Weeks" was originally reissued in November of 1968, next year would be an opportune time to release a "deluxe" 35th anniversary version. From what I've read, there's only two outtakes from the sessions -- both blues-based songs that didn't fit the mood created by the other songs. In a recent bio, Van the Man supposedly dispelled the rumor that an epic 45 minute song was recorded.

RDK · 11-21-2002, 10:10 AM

Given the current state of remasters, do we really want a new one? Be careful what you wish for...

David Powell · 11-21-2002, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by RDK
Given the current state of remasters, do we really want a new one? Be careful what you wish for...

You're probably right

Guess I best take Sckott's advice & remain content with my old green-label WB LP.

peter · 11-21-2002, 11:07 AM

Ed:

Why a Canadian gold label? I have one sitting at my parents house in Vancouver (along with 15 other boxes of LP's). Is there something special I should know? I do have a US green WB "1A" pressing and that IS fantastic.

-Ben · 11-21-2002, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David Powell
take Sckott's advice & remain content with my old green-label WB LP.

FWIW, I cast another vote for green label WB. In fact, all Van the Man's green label WBs are great.

BC

Gardo · 11-30-2002, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by FredCamp
I'll have to agree with Ed. The current ASTRAL WEEKS is fine, but I remember buying that disc back in 1987. Given its age and the sound of the other Van remasters, I can only wonder (and hope and dream) the effect a good remastering will have on it. Personally, I'd love to hear a SACD disc of ASTRAL WEEKS as long as the remastering is of the same quality as , say, BLONDE ON BLONDE.

Hey FredCamp, welcome to the forum! Which of the Van remasters do you recommend in particular?

Ed Bishop · 11-30-2002, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by peter
Ed:

Why a Canadian gold label? I have one sitting at my parents house in Vancouver (along with 15 other boxes of LP's). Is there something special I should know? I do have a US green WB "1A" pressing and that IS fantastic.

Actually, no sonic difference I know of; I just love that old WB gold label(so does Tom Petty, as you may have noticed since he signed to WB)and have a few Canuck and Mexican WB's on gold vinyl that were issued in the US on the W7 or green WB label. As many here know, I'm kind of a label freak. Not the only one, either...

ED

GoldenBoy · 11-30-2002, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gardo

Hey FredCamp, welcome to the forum! Which of the Van remasters do you recommend in particular?

Well, I'm not Fred, but I'll chime in anyway.

Personally, I like the remaster of No Guru, No Method, No Teacher and the one with The Chieftains, Irish Heartbeat.

Khorn · 11-30-2002, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ed Bishop
Well, it's been remastered overseas, but probably not here, unless WB redid it and didn't tell anybody. The original CD(possibly the current one)sounds fine to me. Flat transfer, nothing special done to it, some hiss. Very good, overall. One of the great albums.

ED

Just played it the other day and it (the CD) sounded better than I had remembered. Sure it would be great to have it properly redone (in my case SACD) but, I guess we'll have to do with what we have for now.

GoldenBoy · 11-30-2002, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Khorn

Just played it the other day and it (the CD) sounded better than I had remembered. Sure it would be great to have it properly redone (in my case SACD) but, I guess we'll have to do with what we have for now.

Hey Khorn, I was wondering if you have heard, heard anything about, or maybe have an opinion of the Klipsch Quintet MicroSystem speaker package? I know this is off topic here, so if you want to reply, you can do so in a thread I started over in the Hardware forum entitled Yet Another Multichannel Dilemma. Thanks in advance.

quentincollins · 11-30-2002, 01:45 PM

Funny that this happens to be brought up again, as I just checked this out at the library last night after waiting for it on hold for a good month or so.

Sounds fine to me, no complaints here. Does sound like a flat transfer, not too hard on the ears. Once I get myself a new (to me, at least) record player, I'll have to hit the used vinyl stores in Seattle for this one. That, and scour eBay for a Beatles Blue LP Box.

FredCamp · 12-02-2002, 04:41 AM

Well, I am Fred, and I'll gladly second the NO GURU, NO METHOD, NO TEACHER praise. That remaster is probably my favorite, but TOO LATE TO STOP NOW runs a close second. HARD NOSE THE HIGHWAY is also fine.

Beagle · 12-02-2002, 05:39 AM

I recently found a used Warners copy of 'St Dominic's Preview'. After listening to it, I ditched my Polydor remastered version. The Warners version sounds very close to my green label WB LP's.

I have gold label copies of Moondance and Astral Weeks but oddly enough, I'm not that fussy about the sound.

peterC · 12-02-2002, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Beagle
I recently found a used Warners copy of 'St Dominic's Preview'. After listening to it, I ditched my Polydor remastered version. The Warners version sounds very close to my green label WB LP's.

I'm surprised. I find the remaster to be an improvement.

What always bugged me about the original CD (my German version) is that the beginning of the first note of Listen To the Lion is chopped off. Hardly noticeable, but chopped nonetheless.

11-20-2002, 09:41 PM	#1
audiodrome Forum Hall Of Fame Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: North Of Boston Posts: 7,195	Van Morrison - Astral Weeks How does the current WB CD of this sound? __________________ Paul Last edited by audiodrome; 11-20-2002 at 10:02 PM.

11-21-2002, 05:00 AM	#2
Ed Bishop Vinyl Hound, Esq. Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Between D.C. and Charleston Posts: 24,568	Well, it's been remastered overseas, but probably not here, unless WB redid it and didn't tell anybody. The original CD(possibly the current one)sounds fine to me. Flat transfer, nothing special done to it, some hiss. Very good, overall. One of the great albums. ED __________________ "A Bad " ...have a question about Quad and Multichannel discs? Visit QQ

11-21-2002, 10:10 AM	#8
RDK Forum Hall Of Fame Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 5,777	Given the current state of remasters, do we really want a new one? Be careful what you wish for... __________________ Ray "If memories were all I sang, I'd rather drive a truck..." - Rick Nelson

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11-21-2002, 08:10 AM	#3
FredCamp Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Virginia Posts: 799	I'll have to agree with Ed. The current ASTRAL WEEKS is fine, but I remember buying that disc back in 1987. Given its age and the sound of the other Van remasters, I can only wonder (and hope and dream) the effect a good remastering will have on it. Personally, I'd love to hear a SACD disc of ASTRAL WEEKS as long as the remastering is of the same quality as , say, BLONDE ON BLONDE.

11-21-2002, 08:40 AM	#5
Sckott Goodbye. Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: MA Posts: 19,949	I've still found the budget WB stock CD as an Australian import budget, and it's the same flat WB original transfer. It may be the best sound unless you score a green-label WB and have a great analog front end. If it were up to me, I would do this as a dual layer with stereo and 5.1 SACD, and make this CD first to appear in high rez. I love Moondance, but this album is a breathtaker. I sometimes have to hold on to my conscience before I hit play. The album is just that damn good.

11-21-2002, 09:55 AM	#7
David Powell Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Atlanta, Ga. Posts: 2,117	One would have thought that this landmark album would have been reissued properly by now, unless there's some sort of problem locating the master tapes. Hasn't RHINO basically taken over the reissue projects for the Warner labels? Since "Astral Weeks" was originally reissued in November of 1968, next year would be an opportune time to release a "deluxe" 35th anniversary version. From what I've read, there's only two outtakes from the sessions -- both blues-based songs that didn't fit the mood created by the other songs. In a recent bio, Van the Man supposedly dispelled the rumor that an epic 45 minute song was recorded.

11-21-2002, 11:07 AM	#10
peter Forum Hall Of Fame Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: san francisco Posts: 4,199	Ed: Why a Canadian gold label? I have one sitting at my parents house in Vancouver (along with 15 other boxes of LP's). Is there something special I should know? I do have a US green WB "1A" pressing and that IS fantastic.

11-30-2002, 01:45 PM	#17
quentincollins Forum Word Nerd Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 1,952	Funny that this happens to be brought up again, as I just checked this out at the library last night after waiting for it on hold for a good month or so. Sounds fine to me, no complaints here. Does sound like a flat transfer, not too hard on the ears. Once I get myself a new (to me, at least) record player, I'll have to hit the used vinyl stores in Seattle for this one. That, and scour eBay for a Beatles Blue LP Box.

12-02-2002, 04:41 AM	#18
FredCamp Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Virginia Posts: 799	Well, I am Fred, and I'll gladly second the NO GURU, NO METHOD, NO TEACHER praise. That remaster is probably my favorite, but TOO LATE TO STOP NOW runs a close second. HARD NOSE THE HIGHWAY is also fine.

12-02-2002, 05:39 AM	#19
Beagle Forum All Star Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Ottawa Posts: 3,620	I recently found a used Warners copy of 'St Dominic's Preview'. After listening to it, I ditched my Polydor remastered version. The Warners version sounds very close to my green label WB LP's. I have gold label copies of Moondance and Astral Weeks but oddly enough, I'm not that fussy about the sound.