Same album, different Recording Studio/Label

Posted by: Joel on 09 June 2015

I know this has been touched on in other posts but can anyone explain why the same album is released on different Labels and produced by different Recording Studios?

For example, London Grammar's 'If You Wait' is available on CD from Studio/Label - PID, Metal & Dust, and Columbia. Is one better recorded than another? Prices can vary as well so is this a reflection of how well it is recorded? Some versions have bonus tracks which may reflect the price difference. Often though, the track listings are identical but there's a difference in price.

Obviously as an audiophile, like the rest of us, I wish to purchase the best recorded version of any particular album without having to buy all versions and conduct a listening test!

Posted on: 09 June 2015 by av in bc

the labels refer to different companies issuing and reissuing the "same" recording.

maybe some are remastered but not rerecorded.

usually sticking to the original issue is best at least true for vinyl.

cd's are more tricky to find the best release and some may prefer one to another.

maybe there is confusion between a "Recording Studio" and a "Record Label".

check out "discogs" to find all the permutations of any of your favourites,

it can make your head spin.

Posted on: 09 June 2015 by joerand

Originally Posted by Joel:

can anyone explain why the same album is released on different Labels

Simple, changes in contracts through time.

As av in bc suggests, seeking the original issue is a good rule of thumb (notwithstanding audiophile-level reissues).

Posted on: 09 June 2015 by King Size

Not all record deals are worldwide and in some cases repertoire owners will opt to license the album to different labels for different territories. London Grammar is a perfect example of this with Dew Process releasing in Australia. Just Music in South Africa etc. A current example of this is Hozier whose debut album was released through Universal companies in most territories but is through Sony in Australia.

Posted on: 10 June 2015 by Joel

Thanks for shedding some light on this. I will have a look at discogs.

Posted on: 10 June 2015 by Joel

Just had a brief glimpse at discogs, good website, I will have a better look later when I get some free time.

Having yet to buy Hoziers album this prompted me to look on a well known cd buying website, not sure I'm allowed to mention the name here, and I'm still finding it a bit bizarre.
Same track listing, one version released by Columbia on 07/10/14 for £8.49 the other released by Island on 22/09/14 for £14.49.
If they sound identical and haven't been 'remastered', which often sounds worse, why would you pay the extra cash for Island's version? I don't know if that is the original version, but if so, is that the justification? Unless you're a collector of originals, no one is going to pay the £6 difference surely! Or are they charging so much more because Island's is a better quality produced cd? This I could understand. But without buying both how would I know that it's the best recording as it doesn't mention this in the description.
Still slightly bemused I'm afraid!

Posted on: 23 June 2015 by King Size

Originally Posted by Joel:

Not sure what site you are referring to but I doubt there is much in this SQ-wise; in this instance the pricing is probably more down to where they are being sourced from and what the respective prices are in the respective territories.

Columbia is a Sony label so this could be an Australian pressing however i'm not 100% sure whether they released the album other territories or not, but I would say it is unlikely. FWIW I know that Australian pressed CD's had a bad rep amongst the audiophile community in NZ for a while. Not sure if this is still the case though.