Moody Blues "Days of Future Passed" CD question

Speculating here, but it sounds like the US planted received already printed artwork from the W. German plant. Do they even have printed in US. artwork for any of these US. 1sts of The Moody Blues albums?

 

My favorite LP pressing of Days is the 1973 Japanese pressing on King. It's not as murky as other pressings, but still retains warmth, unlike typical Japanese pressings that are sterile and suffer from boosted midrange. If you come across one, grab it. It's the best I've found. Quiet too.

My second favorite is the Dutch one.

The worst I ever heard was an old RCA record club copy.

 

according to old posts by ffracer, I think that's the name, the MCPS indicates a later pressing not the first. The first pressing of Future Past also says decca not deram.

 

I can't, I now only have the W. Germany 1st pressing and I don't listen on my computer. About all I can tell you is I have never heard a CD-R that equals the original pressing it was taken from. Close, but never exact.

 

I have the Dutch half speed, and recently compared it to the US open reel tape
(which unfortunately is a 3-3/4 speed, not 7-1/2). The sonic difference is the tape
sounds very relaxed and the Dutch vinyl has a harder sound - as though EQ was used to
open up the murky treble-lower mids. I suppose it could be blamed on their electronics . . .
At any rate it's nowhere near as "steely" sounding as the remixed cds or my
(comparing grapes to apples) DMM mastered white vinyl Beatles 'White Album'.

Yeah, the DOFP half speed is murky even still, but lacks the front-to-back depth of the tape.

 

Al - did this lp ever come out on chrome cassette?
If so that might be the best sounding US version.

 

I honestly like the remaster better.......


Better clarity the main reason.

Havent heard the old original CD lately though, but IMMEDIATELY the remaster had a more clear sound to me, and I dont just mean a boosted treble or upper midrange, but almost like it was a few generations closer to the master sound.

 

Alas, no chrome cassette of the original mix in the USA. The open reel might sound very good.

 

It certainly would if it were 7+1/2 ips and not 3+3/4.
(see photo of my own copy)

 

I had a Dolbyized Polygram cassette (bought in the early Eighties) of the album that sounded very nice. Trouble is, I can't remember which mix it was!

Nice!!

 

My 80's US Polygram cassette is the *original* mix. Though, mine was purchased in the late 80's. Luke has a copy as well.

 

The early Polygram cassette sounded very good for the era. I remember my first copy was one of the last London tapes relabeled with the Polygram information on a sticker. I wore out that cassette. I wound up replacing it with a PolyGram made tape which was a remixed version.

 

Indeed, although I can't claim to know exactly when it was produced, as I got it used.

I do know that it doesn't sound great on its own, but when I've compared it to a couple LPs in the past it has bettered them. Or at least I thought so at the time...

 

The cassette I had sounded pretty great. If that was the original mix, perhaps we really got shafted by whoever cut lots of those LP pressings?

 

No, I wasn't aware of that. Which mix is on the Singles+ collection? Is it stereo or mono?

 

Stereo.

 

Is there a definitive collection of the singles mixes anywhere? Or does one have to assemble one from the various compilations? Ah, now that would be something to behold, original singles mixes plus non-album B-sides. This question probably belongs in Ed's Moody Blues Appreciation thread.

 

For what it's worth I'd also chime in that I prefer the Mo-Fi for DOFP over other pressings on CD although I haven't ever had the W. German first pressing that Dave seems to like.

I used to have an American first U.S. pressing that I inherited from my older brother when he was drafted. I honestly can't tell you how it compares to later pressings including the remaster except to say as others have that I wasn't that impressed when listening to it even on a middlin' stereo system back in the day.

So I would assume that the original safety tape is still around somewhere and wonder why no one thought to issue that as part of the deluxe 2006 editions.

Any thoughts?

 

No Kidding, You can buy the reel tapes? What company made these?

 

Listening to a West German, silver to center version I got for $3.50, but the CD itself says Made in the UK. A remix, but it does sound fantastic. Looking ahead, and seeing that top version of the Timeless Flight box set had 11 CDs and 6 DVDs (and a price tag way over $300), and that DOFP celebrates its 50th anniversary in two years, you know they are gonna go all out. Mono mix, original mix, remix, single and alternate versions (how many versions of Nights in White Satin were on 45?), and other stuff in the archives that I'm sure we're not aware of yet. I have a feeling this could be something that will cost at least $150. And then there will be vinyl versions....

 

I see I also have a silverface (or aluminum) hub USA PDO cd with W. German inserts with the same EAC numbers. The cd face has the "Made in USA" credit under the catalog numbers. The cd reverse matrix is "820 006-2 01 # PA".

AND.... Opposite the matrix...

is a "MADE BY PDO" credit. NOT "MADE IN USA BY PDO", "MADE IN USA", or even "MADE IN W. GERMANY BY PDO" which I have encountered routinely on other cds from PDO.

I'll initially speculate the "MADE BY PDO" cd reverse credit is perhaps uncommon and may have been one of the first cds pressed at the PDO Kings Mountain plant.

Has anyone encountered the "MADE BY PDO" credit on the Days of Future Passed cd (please look if you have time) or perhaps any other PDO USA cd.

Best regards...