Strange Times Triple Deluxe BLACK Vinyl ** Pre-Order** Figured this deserves its own thread…this is probably going to be incredible. Fingers crossed it is.
Thanks. A CD on the way as well, which is of more interest to me. I think (?) the only other remastering Guy Massey has done for the Chameleons is the superb Script from about 12 years ago.
Yeah Guy Massey’s work on script is why I have high hopes, but it will be interesting and I’m sure we’ll hear if it’s good in the first few seconds of mad jack…a soundstage is needed for those guitars.
This is one of my all-time favorite albums. I love the sound of the original US vinyl pressing. They are pretty hard to find in nice shape nowadays, though. I saw one at a record show with the bonus album recently for $80 and it wasn’t in that good of condition. The Geffen CD I have doesn’t sound very good, so I am tempted to buy the CD. The new art work looks great as well and will likely become a collectible someday.
I will probably just get the CD. Massey works in the digital domain for these remasters AFAIK so I don't see much point to getting the vinyl. My tolerance for pressing defects is pretty low these days too and a triple LP pressed at GZ or whatever is just asking for trouble. Additionally, the album has always been my least favorite of the original 3 Chameleons studio albums and I've never liked the production all that much. Although I'm expecting the new remaster to sound a little better, there are limits to what any mastering engineer can really do with a recording like this. The recording and mixing of the original album is what it is. That's before we get into other issues. Still, I like to support the band's efforts here and hope that WDAMB will get a similar treatment eventually.
I passed on a couple of copies for $20-25 around 7 or so years ago because they had issues I didn't like the look of. It's been a long time since I've heard the U.S. Geffen LP (a friend had it 25 years ago and played it for me) but I don't remember it being any great sound quality revelation. It basically sounded the same as other versions I've heard on different formats. Again, IMHO it's a flawed recording and there's not much that can be done about that. As for the Geffen CD versions there are a few of them. The current one is a Canadian single disc pressing and it has all the tracks unlike some of the single disc U.S. editions. From an other thread we determined that the mastering was simply a level shifted version of the 80s UK edition.
Went ahead and ordered the new ST CD. I rarely do preorders but decided to go for it this time. I also grabbed the Reegs CD collection at the same time since I've been meaning to pick it up for awhile.
My black 3LP set arrived today, I played side 1 and 2 sofar, and I really like it. Big sound, vinyl is flat, shiny and centered. Only complaint is: no polylined innersleeves.
If they make the newly remastered cd get a better DR than the first cd edition (1993, DR9), that would be a good starting point. Anyway, i don't have great hopes.
Speaking of Strange Times, has anyone compared the Music on CD release versus the others? IMO, Strange Times is an okay album as it doesn't get as many spins as Script Of The Bridge (mine is a US pressing). I paid $30 for the double LP Canadian release quite a few years ago with hype stickers intact, which uses the same metal stampers as the US release (using the Sterling Sound DMM cuts).
The MOCD release is likely a clone of an old mastering - probably an old Euro CD in this case. Typically they do that, though on occasion they will use a later remaster, which is usually obvious where bonus tracks are involved. The new Strange Times remaster should be going out soon as I already received a notice from the Chameleons store, but the tracking hasn't updated yet. They are probably prepping shipping labels and waiting for stock to arrive or something. RE: Script of the Bridge, you probably know this but the U.S. LP on MCA had 4 songs hacked off the album, so you're really only getting 2/3 of the album that way.
Yeah, which is quite annoying but on the other hand, at least it's not crammed to the point of compromising the audio itself. I'll look into getting the double LP or remastered CD of Script Of The Bridge as I want the said four songs.
Yeah, the album is way too long to be crammed on one LP. Out of the 3 CDs I have, I would say the Abbey Road remastered CD is the best one. The double LP is a GZ in-house cut of that master, or at least it was a few years ago.
DR9 can be fine as long as there is no clipping or excessive compression or limiting. The real issue with the album IMHO is that the production has never been that great and the songs are a bit uneven. I still like the album but it is what it is. Many older versions of this CD are just slightly level shifted versions of the same master IIRC per old threads. That happens a lot with CDs and the only way to tell if it's really a different mastering is to line up the tracks in software and compare the EQ curves for different tracks. If the EQ is the same after level matching, odds are it's the same master. I'll post a log and comment when I get the new remaster. It should be some type of an improvement, but I am tempering my expectations. DR log for my old ST CD below: foobar2000 1.6.16 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1 log date: 2024-04-18 15:03:54 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Analyzed: The Chameleons / Strange Times -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR Peak RMS Duration Track -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR9 0.00 dB -9.64 dB 3:59 01-Mad Jack DR9 0.00 dB -10.99 dB 7:51 02-Caution DR11 -0.22 dB -13.72 dB 5:07 03-Tears (original arrangement) DR9 0.00 dB -9.83 dB 7:30 04-Soul in Isolation DR9 0.00 dB -10.63 dB 5:58 05-Swamp Thing DR9 0.00 dB -10.78 dB 5:42 06-Time / The End of Time DR11 0.00 dB -12.13 dB 3:01 07-Seriocity DR9 0.00 dB -10.07 dB 4:55 08-In Answer DR9 0.00 dB -10.38 dB 4:39 09-Childhood DR11 0.00 dB -13.83 dB 3:47 10-I'll Remember DR9 0.00 dB -11.20 dB 5:09 11-Tears (full arrangement) DR9 0.00 dB -10.57 dB 4:36 12-Paradiso DR9 0.00 dB -9.72 dB 3:34 13-Inside Out DR10 0.00 dB -10.69 dB 4:00 14-Ever After DR9 0.00 dB -10.78 dB 2:30 15-John, I'm Only Dancing DR9 0.00 dB -10.65 dB 6:09 16-Tomorrow Never Knows -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of tracks: 16 Official DR value: DR9 Samplerate: 44100 Hz Channels: 2 Bits per sample: 16 Bitrate: 984 kbps Codec: FLAC ================================================================================
That's the DR log for the MOCD reissue: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Analyzed: The Chameleons / Strange Times -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR Peak RMS Duration Track -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR9 0.00 dB -9.83 dB 3:59 01-Mad Jack DR9 -0.20 dB -11.19 dB 7:52 02-Caution DR11 -0.42 dB -13.92 dB 5:07 03-Tears DR9 -0.20 dB -10.03 dB 7:30 04-Soul in Isolation DR9 -0.20 dB -10.83 dB 5:58 05-Swamp Thing DR9 -0.20 dB -10.98 dB 5:42 06-Time / The End of Time DR11 -0.20 dB -12.32 dB 3:01 07-Seriocity DR9 -0.20 dB -10.27 dB 4:55 08-In Answer DR9 -0.20 dB -10.66 dB 4:43 09-Childhood DR11 -0.20 dB -13.95 dB 3:40 10-I'll Remember -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of tracks: 10 Official DR value: DR10 Samplerate: 44100 Hz Channels: 2 Bits per sample: 16 Bitrate: 683 kbps Codec: FLAC ================================================================================ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Analyzed: The Chameleons / Strange Times -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR Peak RMS Duration Track -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR10 -0.20 dB -11.44 dB 5:10 01-Tears (full arrangement) DR9 -0.20 dB -10.77 dB 4:36 02-Paradiso DR9 -0.20 dB -9.92 dB 3:34 03-Inside Out DR10 -0.20 dB -10.89 dB 4:00 04-Ever After DR9 -0.20 dB -10.90 dB 2:30 05-John, I'm Only Dancing DR9 -0.20 dB -10.85 dB 6:09 06-Tomorrow Never Knows -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of tracks: 6 Official DR value: DR9 Samplerate: 44100 Hz Channels: 2 Bits per sample: 16 Bitrate: 981 kbps Codec: FLAC ================================================================================
My 2024 CD set arrived today. If you're expecting more dynamic range than the old Geffen CD, you'll be disappointed. RMS levels for some tracks are similar, but I would guess there is a bit of compression going on, and from what I can tell with software, EQ is a little different depending on the track. I'll update after I've had time to listen to it fully. Here are the DR logs in the meantime. foobar2000 1.6.16 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1 log date: 2024-04-24 17:31:00 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Analyzed: Chameleons / Strange Times [BAMCD25] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR Peak RMS Duration Track -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR7 -1.00 dB -8.49 dB 3:57 01-Mad Jack DR7 -1.00 dB -9.70 dB 7:49 02-Caution DR10 -1.00 dB -12.35 dB 5:05 03-Tears DR7 -1.00 dB -9.05 dB 7:28 04-Soul in Isolation DR7 -1.00 dB -9.65 dB 5:56 05-Swamp Thing DR7 -1.00 dB -9.59 dB 5:42 06-Time the End of Time DR9 -1.00 dB -10.93 dB 3:01 07-Seriocity DR7 -1.00 dB -8.84 dB 4:55 08-In Answer DR7 -1.00 dB -9.29 dB 4:39 09-Childhood DR9 -1.00 dB -12.27 dB 3:45 10-I'll Remember -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of tracks: 10 Official DR value: DR8 Samplerate: 44100 Hz Channels: 2 Bits per sample: 16 Bitrate: 703 kbps Codec: FLAC ================================================================================ foobar2000 1.6.16 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1 log date: 2024-04-24 17:40:45 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Analyzed: Chameleons / Strange Times [BAMCD25] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR Peak RMS Duration Track -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR8 -1.00 dB -10.75 dB 5:07 01-Tears DR8 -1.00 dB -10.23 dB 4:35 02-Paradiso DR9 -1.00 dB -10.23 dB 3:34 03-Inside Out DR7 -1.00 dB -9.19 dB 3:56 04-Ever After DR8 -1.00 dB -10.10 dB 2:31 05-John, I'm Only Dancing DR8 -1.00 dB -10.84 dB 6:09 06-Tomorrow Never Knows -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of tracks: 6 Official DR value: DR8 Samplerate: 44100 Hz Channels: 2 Bits per sample: 16 Bitrate: 975 kbps Codec: FLAC ================================================================================
My new CD arrived today, and sadly I have to tell you not to spend your cash on this. It's basically the old CD level shifted up a couple of db and then with the top shaved off. It sounds basically identical otherwise. It even has the wrong cut off between Seriocity and In Answer in exactly the same place as the old CD. Hard to believe that Guy Massey put his name to this, it's nothing like the Script remaster at all. I hope the vinyl turns out better for all of you that ordered it.
Huge bummer. The Script remaster is sooooo good. Off topic, but was the What Does Anything Mean remaster (2-CD set I believe) any good?
It was not too bad IIRC, but not really what folks around here were looking for. DR log below: foobar2000 1.6.7 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1 log date: 2021-10-20 10:11:05 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Analyzed: The Chameleons / What Does Anything Mean? Basically (2009 Remaster) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR Peak RMS Duration Track -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR10 -2.10 dB -15.16 dB 1:59 01-Silence Sea and Sky DR9 -0.20 dB -11.53 dB 4:35 02-Perfume Garden DR9 -0.20 dB -12.97 dB 5:16 03-Intrigue In Tangiers DR9 -0.20 dB -10.51 dB 3:27 04-Return of the Roughnecks DR10 -0.20 dB -11.15 dB 4:18 05-Singing Rule Britannia DR9 -0.20 dB -10.78 dB 4:11 06-On The Beach DR10 -0.20 dB -11.65 dB 4:28 07-Looking Inwardly DR9 -0.20 dB -11.17 dB 4:30 08-One Flesh DR10 -0.20 dB -12.63 dB 4:54 09-Home Is Where The Heart Is DR9 -0.73 dB -12.55 dB 4:03 10-P.S. Goodbye DR9 -0.20 dB -10.67 dB 4:10 11-In Shreds DR9 -0.20 dB -11.04 dB 5:26 12-Nostalgia -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of tracks: 12 Official DR value: DR9 Samplerate: 44100 Hz Channels: 2 Bits per sample: 16 Bitrate: 1018 kbps Codec: FLAC ================================================================================ The demos on the second disc are interesting but not as good as the BBC and Peel Sessions tracks of the same songs. Unfortunately the "Radio One Evening Sessions" CD was never reissued but if you are lucky you might find a copy. Between that and the Peel Sessions disc you can make an alternative version of the studio album. I never bought the Peel remaster so I can't comment on that one.
My guess is the band wanted it this way and there was little that could be done about the murky production on the original recording.
Appreciate the quick sidebar. Yeah, those demos are okay (listened on Spotify), but the Peel disc is terrific. I only have the original as well, but if the DR database is to be believed, that was significantly "loudened up" w/ the remaster.
