My copy seems to sparkle on the highs. There's all this great action for all the soloists, the guitar, fiddle, and pedal steel.
From an interview of Robert Ludwig that I've read, I understand that he does not prefer to be called Bob. People whom he knows apparently call him Robert. Can anyone confirm this?
I haven't heard either way. Lots of his mastering work says "Bob", so if he wants to be called Robert it is an uphill battle. I have a friend who's stepfather's name is Jim. My friend called him Jim for as long as he can remember. When I was introduced he was Jim. One day the dude wakes up and decides he wants to be called James (James = Jim). He goes around correcting everyone who has ever know him, "it's James," with a real arrogant attitude. Came off sounding like a complete @#%! I hate it when that happens. Hook, line and sinker.
I can't believe anybody didn't mention this one: The Band S/T Find a nice, clean original Capitol green label. Easily the best-sounding version of this seminal work I have heard. Some others previously mentioned in this thread: Police: Synchronicity - Listen to "Wrapped Around Your Finger" which is superb. Dire Straits: Love Over Gold - Long considered an Audiophile darling. Rush: Moving Pictures - A bit of a surprise, but a pleasant one at that. Roxy Music: Avalon - sonics to die for. Usually, almost any Lp with "RL" scribed into the dead wax usually assures me that somewhere in the grooves good sound is to be found.
For the jazz heads in the house another early Robert Ludwig-mastered album is Airto Moreira's Seeds on the Ground: The Natural Sounds of Airto (Kama Sutra, 1971). it my favorite Airto album, and better than the somewhat-more-recognized Fingers, IMO.
I second that! Especially The Police, Synchronicity. My copy only has RL on one side with MASTERDISK on both sides, the matrix ends EUR-1 and EUR-4, and it is so clear, focused, deep, wide, etc. This copy that I have is just incredible. By the way, any RL Dire Straits sounds excellent.
It is Direct Metal Mastered, too; not my favorite sound--too harsh and brittle. Tracy Chapman's first album and Paul Simon's Graceland are worthy exceptions. However, I understand that the DMM cutting process has improved since the late 80's.
I've always liked The Joshua Tree, and that's DMM. For some reason, it fits the sound of that record.
You're talking the "light" green Capitol label right? I have the dark green solid-colored label and it just has the "mastered by Capitol" stamp in the run-out groove.
And Mr. Ludwig, I.I.N.M., was never at Capitol. So it'd have to be the first-press light lime-green issue.
another 'Sterling RL' title to look for is Stackridge - Pinafore Days (Sire, 1974). this is the album George Martin produced, and it's a beautifullly-recorded and mastered title. excellent songs, too. it seems to have been lost to the mists of time, though, as i rarely hear its praises sung or see it in the racks.
