Rolling Stones CD/SACD hybrid remasters

Posted by: Ron Toolsie on 09 September 2002

Well I just got hold of some of these much-touted re-releases, lavishly (according to them) remastered and packaged in cardboard sleeves without jewel boxes. So far I have listened to only 'Let It Bleed' and compared it to both my US CD release as well as the US LP re-release circa mid-80s.

The newest release has vocals that are punched up and less hiss than the original CD- either this has been gently filtered, or it is mastered from a higher generation master tape rather than a dupe of a dupe of a dupe. But there really doesn't seem to be the great improvements promised by some of the press reports; at least on this particular disk. Inspite of the Prefixed Helikon SL'd etc LP12, the album seemed flat, compressed and uninvolving. I'm sort of tempted to get a $300 Sony SACD player just to try out. I have not as yet listened to the other 2 Stones remastered disks, but I haven't got either of them on previous CD or LP, so would be unable to comment about the success of remastering.

The just-remastered Crime of the Century (Supertramp) however is vastly better than the Mobile Fidelity CD remaster.... highly recommended.

Ron
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