Which old "non-remastered" CDs to hang on to?

Just logging on after a nice weekend in the sun . Nice collection you've got there, Grant! I'm definitely interested in your list when you compile it. Send me a PM, or better yet start a thread letting us all know if you're able to put something together. Thanks!

Mike

 

Maybe it is, but I think this is really a case where a flat transfer is not that great. A lot of the album has somewhat of a midrangy sound to it. A friend of mine remastered While My Guitar Gently Weeps (from the CD) and it sounds a LOT better. Not so squashed...

 

I don't hear a midrangy sound so much as I do increased treble and a certain thinness.

 

The Pair Association CD was the best sounding CD available for years. Has anyone compared it to the new Rhino 2 CD Association Set?

 

Thanks for the 2 posts of suggestions. Based on your enthusiastic recommendation, I jumped in with both feet and bought MTSB on half.com for $3.45 including shipping.

 

chip,

That's a GREAT price! I can get it locally for (no lower than) $4.99 or more! I think you will be pleasantly surprised with your purchase.

 

I have, somewhat informally. The Pair sounds a bit more "low-key," if that makes any sense, but there really isn't too much difference IIRC. I'll check in a more detailed fashion tomorrow.

The Pair Small Faces comp I have is absolutely AWFUL, though, and their Beefheart release (At His Best or the Best Beefheart...another Safe as Milk varient) sucks just as much as all non-One Way pre-Buddha reissues (and that ONE mono version that came out).

-D

 

What's the general opinion on Little Feat CDs? Originals, or remasters (via box sets, compilations, etc.)?

 

I found a used copy of Led Zeppelin II yesterday. Sounds like a straight transfer, clean, breathes properly, tape hiss intact. Credits indicate it was mastered by Barry Diament.

 

Good score, Dave. I'm actually having a bit of trouble getting the older Zep CDs in the used bins. Harder than I thought! I guess I'll just have to be patient and keep looking.

 

It is more difficult than one would think. Zep stuff is pretty common but it is snapped up right away in most cases. You have to check on a daily basis.

 

Dave, I'm not sure about this one. I know the LP's well and "Don't Fight It" and "As Far As Siam" are night and day, with the former sounding very natural and warm, the latter harsh, processed, and blown out of proportion (especially the drums).

I revisited the "60 min" CD, and found that there is a curious sonic sameness to all the tracks, which are from four different albums. Sounds like whoever mastered this CD used the opening "Neruda" tracks as a sonic yardstick, then matched the others to those.

I compared the 1994 Bob Ludwig remastered CD of "Don't Fight It" to the selected DFI tracks on "60 minutes..", and I sense a bit of EQ adjustment on those.

Of course for me, the original purple label Capitol LP of "Don't Fight It" sounds best, one of my favourite recordings of all time, musically and sonically. Everything seems to gel just right.

 

Hi Dave,

If memory serves, Barry Diament did all of 'em.

-Jeffrey

 

Thanks David,
I'll look forward to your comparison.

 

4 Beagle,

You're probably right about the vinyl. I would have no way of knowing. The CD just sounds good on my system not equed and compressed heavily.

 

Haven't played my original CDs for a while but I recall not being very impressed with the sound especially when I remember The Last Record Album being just about the best sounding LP in my collection.

The box set sounds pretty good though.

 

I just received my copy of this CD (gotten from Ebay). The booklet is exactly as Steve described. Imagine my disappointment when I fired it up and "I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore" comes out in glorious MONO.

Yep, it's the second pressing, with the first pressing booklet. Nice.

On top of it all, I already had the second pressing. Well, now I have two. At this point, I am going to give up and be content with what I have.

My original (longbox) second pressing is also numbered 9-27605-2 (though it does have an RE-1 designation). My new (Canadian) second pressing is CD 27605.

 

I just pulled out "The Ultimate Otis Redding" yesterday for a listen...it sounded great! "I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)" and "Ole Man Trouble" are different takes used for the stereo release of "Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul" as opposed to those takes found on the mono pressing. IMHO, they're the better takes of the two released. If you don't have this CD, it can still be found in stores on ocassion.

 

I bought the "The Otis Redding Story" from BMG a couple of months ago. I also have the mono Rhino disc as well.

It's nice to have both as comparisons, but this is one case where the mono versions have so much more impact to me. Otis just doesn't sound as powerful relegated to only one channel.

 

Dan,

Agreed...the "Otis!" boxset from Rhino is pretty solid. I generally prefer Otis in mono, but on the two stereo tracks I mentioned, his singing is more intense IMO...they just sound like better versions vocally. The horns in "I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)" near the end also build up to a more intense level. Still, I like both...afterall, the mono version of "I've Been..." is the true hit version!

 

Great comparison.

 

Dan & Arin,

Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul on MFSL in Mono is pretty incrediable and highly worth the extra dollars IMHO

 

Dave,

I've got it...and it sounds great to me, too! Also have both Aretha Franklin two-fers. All sound like straight transfers to my ears. Actually, for anybody interested in any of these 3 MFSL titles, they seem to be fairly reasonable whenever I've seen them on eBay...not nearly as high as most of the other titles.

 

Of course you do realize that it is not from the original master tape. It is either a dub or an LP master, I forget which. Still, better than the Bill Ingot/Dan Hersch re-master (which was from the original master tape??), IMO. But what do I know?