CDs transformed by re-mastering

I'm hoping the remastered copy of Katy Lied I've just receieved is an improvement over the original which I thought sounded rather flat (on CD at least).

The Dan were never happy with the final sonic result of katy lied. The new liner notes of the remastered CD goes to great lenghts to explain the nightmare they had with the equipment they were using at the time.

Having said that the remastered CD sounds really good (even if I do prefer my US abc vinyl copy).

Led Zeppelin, IV
Jethro Tull, Aqualung

Both sounded like dull cardboard until the remastering process was applied.

Procol Harum's Grand Hotel is sounding better these days, being on it's 3rd(?) re-doing (I have the version on Repertoire).

I'm on my fourth copy of In the Court of the Crimson King...the first one was *really* lousy. The new version (coinciding with the new box sets) sounds as good as I recall the original Atlantic Records vinyl l.p. sounding.

When O when will the Beatles' back catalogue be re-done (particularly Revolver)? Probably not until sales of same slow down, eh?

Steve,

Agreed with the Rumours pick.

Many re masters sound great but those which have other tweaks can sound awful. I was recently trying to find some Chris Rea and discoverd that many of the "re-mastered" originals were much more than that. They were re mastered and "modernised" with dance beats added to tracks like "on the beach". Aaargh, horrible!

Possibly those 9 Paul Simon albums thus rereleased last year are sonically superior to CD predecessors.

Any opinions on the (U.S.) re-mastered XTC catalog?

I recently purchased a copy of the remastered "Blood on the Tracks" album by Bob Dylan for £5 from Fopp. It absolutely blats the original copy I have.

I have previously made comment on the remastering process playing tricks on music which has shaped your life. It's dangerous territory! But we can't resist, can we?

I agree with the comments on the remastered "Rumours", but have had different results with the Steely Dan efforts. I thought they were all pretty good except the "Royal Scam" which is for me one of those life shaping albums and I found the Citizen Steely Dan version to be the best thus far.

But as for the Led Zeppelin remasters? I reckon they are due another revamp. Pagey must have been deaf when he had a go. Maybe that's why he hasn't played a decent note since Presence. BTW, all the LZ catalogue is pretty much soul-moulding stuff for me, but I thought I'd just be controversial for once!

Regards, CB

Hi Bhazen,

the XTC re-mastered catalogue is quite good sounding, certainly an improvement over earlier cd releases and vinyl. Of course, I have the problem of comparing it to early 80's Australian vinyl which were particularly crap pressings! The only minor bugbear with them is that, like a lot of the new re-releases, they stick in extra tracks which unfortunately they stick in the middle rather than at the end. This occassionly affects the flow of the album - certainly on Drums & Wires and Black Sea. Skylarking, Big Express and English settlement are less affected. The latter albums, Nonesuch and Oranges and Lemons have nothing added.

Cheap and worthwhile.

Giles

I've been abke to try some more remastered CDs. Any Free fans who have wondered about the re-masters - don't hesitate, they are a huge improvement over the original CD releases.

Make me wonder what an earth was going on when the originals were transferred.

In comparison they sound like tenth generation copies and poor ones at that.

quote:

Originally posted by Steve S1:
Make me wonder what an earth was going on when the originals were transferred.

Bad men with spiv moustaches, smoking cigars, were laughing and stuffing £100 notes into their cummerbunds! Then off to the dog track.

Oooh! Free Hand, Gentle Giant

Interesting thread. Some remasters sound great, others sound no better than the originals IMO.

I really liked the remastered versions of albums by CCR and Paul Simon. If you like CCR, I particularly recommend their remastered CDs. I've refrained from spending money on remastered Steely Dan to date because I always thought the originals were some of the better sounding cds.

Mike

David Bowie's Alladin Sane. Utterly transformed IMO, now sounds like a migraine inducing aid, soooooooooo bright.
For me the original RCA cd pressings way back in the dawn of cd time are the best for Bowie. I find myself selling newer emi editions and going for the rca second hand.

quote:

I've refrained from spending money on remastered Steely Dan

I have the remastered versions of Aja, Katy Lied and Gaucho, they are all much improved on the originals.

Paul Simon's Graceland, Still Crazy After All These Years, There Goes Rhymin Simon and Hearts and Bones are also better than the originals, Graceland remarkably so.

Perhaps not strictly within the remit of the thread, but an album I'd LIKE to see remastered (and would surely benefit from the treatment) is...

Script For A Jester's Tear - Marillion

Okay, so I'm prepared to admit it's not a classic album, but an album of my time and a big favourite of mine.

It always sounds so tinny and light.

Gavin

The whole Winter & Winter Edition. Most of it is of stunning (re-master) quality. I've bought more than one CD that I already own (in its original version). OK, OK... Not always did I realize that I already had the original, because the covers differ...

cheers
Stefan

Hi Gavin B

Script has been 24bit digitally remastered with a bonus disc of excellent demos including a great version of Chelsea Monday and some great notes by Fish

cat no7243 8 57865 2 5 EMI

regards
Nigel

quote:

Originally posted by Sloop John B:
David Bowie's Alladin Sane. Utterly transformed IMO, now sounds like a migraine inducing aid, soooooooooo bright.
For me the original RCA cd pressings way back in the dawn of cd time are the best for Bowie. I find myself selling newer emi editions and going for the rca second hand.

Have you heard any of the USA Rhino transfers?

quote:

Originally posted by Moss:

quote:

Originally posted by Sloop John B:
David Bowie's Alladin Sane. Utterly transformed IMO, now sounds like a migraine inducing aid, soooooooooo bright.
For me the original RCA cd pressings way back in the dawn of cd time are the best for Bowie. I find myself selling newer emi editions and going for the rca second hand.

Have you heard any of the USA Rhino transfers?

Wasn't aware Rhino did the Bowie thing, are they good remasters, Rhino usually are and some are even hdcd?

Sloop,

I was given the 2 CD "Best of Bowie" which I had low expectations of (sound wise), yet it's actually not bad at all.

The tracks that I can compare from the original CDs of Ziggy and Aladdin are much improved.

Maybe there are some better versions out there?

I find that there is quite a few.

Marvin Gaye Deluxe; What's Going on; Let's get it on; I want you. Much clearer than the box set.

JC A love Supreme, Again much better than the previous version.

Santana Moon Flower, much closer to the vinyl version.

Of all the RVG edition Blue notes I only have The Birth of the Cool double. It is a huge improvement on the previous CD which I never really got.

I found the Led Zeppelin remaster from 10 years ago no improvement on the vinyls. I haven't heard the recent remasters though.

The Jimi Hendrix foundation CDs also sounded flat compared to the record.

I'll have to check out the remastered Steely Dans.

A bit sad that we end up buying so many copies of our favourite music. Imagine if we had to do this with books, hardcover, paperback, anniversary illustrated edition, Author's Edit etc,etc. You'd need a spare house just for your books.

cheers
Gus

I must say that if a CD I have sounds good to me (i.e. I feel I'm getting great musical enjoyment from it), my current policy is to not be tempted to buy new, improved versions (that way lies bankruptcy). If, however, I hear the new version of a real fave, and the difference is huge
...

quote:

Originally posted by Sloop John B:
David Bowie's Alladin Sane. Utterly transformed IMO, now sounds like a migraine inducing aid, soooooooooo bright.
For me the original RCA cd pressings way back in the dawn of cd time are the best for Bowie. I find myself selling newer emi editions and going for the rca second hand.

Sloop J B

The cd pressings from David Bowie (space oddity) on to scary monsters, all are failiures. Regardless wich issue. Though the ones that works best are the Rykodisc reissues Imho. Try them if you only play cd´s.

But none of them can match even close to the original Lp´s.

Btw are the Rca pressings still going at high prices? Have not seen them here secondhand for more than 10 yrs.
They were here in Sweden up at approx 15-30£ ca 10yrs ago. (Wich were cheaper than the prices in Germany at the same time as an example)

I´ve bought quite a lot of the Rca pressings before they were discontinued and rose in price but never got around selling them then.

regards
Gunnar

Gunnar:

quote:

Btw are the Rca pressings still going at high prices? Have not seen them here secondhand for more than 10 yrs.
They were here in Sweden up at approx 15-30£ ca 10yrs ago. (Wich were cheaper than the prices in Germany at the same time as an example)

I'm afriad I've no idea, I'm not a Bowie completest just happend to own some RCA cd's which sound fine to my ears and around 2000 bought Ziggy and Alladin Sane whcih as I said are so bright it sounds like their switchblading my tweeters.