Pink Floyd - The Wall

Posted by: JohnS on 13 April 2002

Having a strange urge to listen to The Wall I looked in my local CD store/exchange and the theiving bastards wanted $32 for it new. I looked on eBay and saw the following offerings, which somewhat confused me:

The 24k CDs are obscenely expensive ($80-150) so I wondered if there was an audible difference between the remastered and original CDs?

Thanks

John

Posted on: 13 April 2002 by Ron The Mon
Have you replaced your cartridge yet? It would be less expensive to buy something like a cheap Grado and play the vinyl vs. any CD version. The Wall to me is a four-part record in which the CD loses continuity. I recently watched the DVD of the movie and it looks and especially sounds amazing. It then gave me the urge to replay the record, which I hadn't played in about 15 years. The Wall is one of those records that must be played start to finish in one listening session.

Ron The Mon,
Arch Kan defender and wall driller.

Posted on: 13 April 2002 by JohnS
Funny you should ask that Ron. I just took the LP12 to Larkspur for a check-up/service and installation of a Karma. I also need some K boards as I don't have a Stageline/Prefix frown .

Sadly I don't have a vinyl copy of The Wall, although I do own an original VHS tape of the movie, I remember being so proud of my Stereo HiFi VHS VCR big grin I do agree with you about listening to the whole thing in one session but I can't remember how the vinyl divides the quarters.

-John

Posted on: 14 April 2002 by Rico
quote:
The 24k CDs are obscenely expensive ($80-150) so I wondered if there was an audible difference between the remastered and original CDs?

John

if it's MFSL then it most probably sounds great for that round earth stuff, carefully eq'd and adjusted to banish all of the music to discussion in the liner notes, leaving you with only the sound of the wall as a memento.

IIRC their sought after by audiophoile collectors lamenting the demise of MFSL, hence the higher price. As you know, expensive don't always mean better! smile

Rico - SM/Mullet Audio

Posted on: 14 April 2002 by Mike Hanson
You definitely don't want to get the original version. It's quite awful (muddy, noisy, compressed, etc.). The remasterered one is good. As to MFSL discs, I've got a few and they're hit and miss. Some of them are good, and some are worse than the original.

I would go with the remastered version.

-=> Mike Hanson <=-

Posted on: 14 April 2002 by Mark Dunn
Hi John:

The original CD sounds atrocious compared to vinyl. The original vinyl was pretty damn good but you might also fight a Japanese pressing if you look hard enough. I've used both and the Jap pressing is superior both musically and round earthily.

Best Regards,
Mark Dunn

Banging his head on some mad accountant's wall. (sic)^

Posted on: 14 April 2002 by Adrian Mehlig
quote:
Originally posted by Ron The Mon:
The Wall is one of those records that must be played start to finish in one listening session.


I disagree. Ideally, yes, The Wall is best appreciated in one listening session. However, if you're pushed for time (and being a family man, I frequently am), Side Three stands on its own rather well:

Hey You
Is There Anybody Out There?
Nobody Home
Vera
Bring The Boys Back Home
Comfortably Numb

Not a bad selection, eh?

Posted on: 14 April 2002 by Ron The Mon
Yes, I'd agree about side three. However, John lives in San Francisco and has year round availability of Anchor Brewing Company's Old Foghorn. Active SBLs, a six of Old Foghorn, The Wall, Spring in San Francisco; sounds like a perfect recipe to me.

John,
Get the vinyl. Any LP version sounds better than the CDs. I have the English import which sounds better than the American I had. I haven't heard the Japanese pressing. Post a "borrow" or "will trade" thread on the Hi-Fi Corner and I'm sure you'll find some MC boards quick.

Ron The Mon,
Arch Kan defender and wall driller.

Posted on: 15 April 2002 by Pete
You could always pick up the live version they put out last year. Doesn't really do much the studio version doesn't, but then again if you're short of a studio version at the mo. then might be worth your while getting.

Pete.

Posted on: 21 April 2002 by JohnS
My $18 eBay remastered "The Wall" CD arrived Friday. This is the first time I've had a chance to relax and listen to it. Fog came in, wind got up and, although I didn't have any Anchor Brewing Company's Old Foghorn, I did crack a six-pack of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Aaaah. Yum.

"You! Yes, you behind the bikes sheds! Stand still laddie!"
Posted on: 22 April 2002 by garyi
Just found that Virgin has the wall on sale for 15.99 at bit late for this thread but worth bearing in mind
Posted on: 22 April 2002 by JohnS
Weirdly enough, in this age of globalization and internet commerce, there are a few CDs that seem to cost much more in the US than in the UK, due to being classified as Imports (and thus Rare). These include:
  • Eels- Souljacker
  • Robbie Williams - everything except The Ego Has Landed
  • Kate Bush - Hounds of Love
and I'm sure there are lots of other examples. Means I still have to be nice to my friends to make them send the stuff over! wink

-John
Posted on: 23 April 2002 by steveb
I have also just got remaster from HMV clearout, can't go wrong at 11.99. Have not listened to my vinyl version for ages so can't compare as yet but initial impression of Cd is excellent. I remember distinctly the hassle in getting a reasonable vinyl copy on initial release-went through 7 copies before getting a copy i could live with- including sending direct to EMI and still getting back crap copies-UK pressings were terrible-local shop at time did get excellent canadian copies-unfortunately i didn't. Experience means wife can't listen to it without remembering my hassles. Cannot really understand the absolte faith some still have in vinyl-my experiences of faulty vinyl from 70's & early 80's put me off buying any more-do still listen and enjoy but am slowly replacing some faves with Cd-hence The Wall purchase.