shm cds verdict.

Has anybody got Arthur The Decline and Fall of the British Empire by the Kinks and could tell me if the SHM version has an undistorted version of Shangri-La?

Every vinyl and CD version I've heard distorts horribly when Ray sings

And all the houses in the street have got a name
cos all the houses in the street they look the same
Same chimney pots, same little cars, same window panes
The neighbours call to tell you things that you should know
They say their lines, they drink their tea, and then they go
They tell your business in another shangri-la
The gas bills and the water rates, and payments on the car
Too scared to think about how insecure you are
Life aint so happy in your little shangri-la
Shangri-la, shangri-la la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la

Many thanks, Rotf

Thanks munch

I suspect the master tape is also distorted, but I keep hoping that one day I'll find a magic copy.

ATB Rotf

Sorry Stuart
Can't find the bloody thing! I'm sure it's here somewhere! I'll keep looking. The recent deluge of product from Japan has rather swamped my modest storage capacity so I have cds on almost very flat surface! Will try to sort them out at the weekend.
Cheers.

Ordered the Who and Stones hits packages from HMV Japan and have just received an email from the


"HMV Fulfillemnt Centre"


sounds like a nice place!



SJB

quote:

Originally posted by Chris Kelly:
Sorry Stuart
Can't find the bloody thing! I'm sure it's here somewhere! I'll keep looking. The recent deluge of product from Japan has rather swamped my modest storage capacity so I have cds on almost very flat surface! Will try to sort them out at the weekend.
Cheers.

Hi Chris

No worries on my account, I was talking to munch about this. I've been searching for the undistorted Kinks for some time. Heard the Victoria track on the SHM compilation and thought I may be on to something. Would have ordered the full elpee from CD Japan, but it is no longer available. So couldn't listen for myself - hence the question.

If you can shed any light on it then great, but doesn't matter if you can't.

I put all my CDs is a set of racks I got from John Lewis, but they are designed to hold standard shaped CDs. Some newer case designs are too big - so I understand the storage problem.

ATB Rotf

I listened to Tom Waits 'Beautiful Maladies' SHM-CD last night.
Sounds brilliant!




SHM CD rules! (Sorry Munch ...)

just received my steely dan cds first up gaucho , a big steep up from the standard cd .had to cheek that that it was the same remastered version and it was its that good ,think that the uk market is missing a trick,they dont seem to be bothered about quality of sound the japanese versions of cds are usually of a better quality of sound and packaging.by the way has anybody got the la,s deluxe shm ? .

I can highly recommend the John Mellencamp Best Of. Absolutely tremendous sound. I really like the guy's music even though he's not that well known over here. He, Bob Seger and Bruce are the three great blue-collar American musical voices of the late 20th century.

Camel have been for a couple of spins. I’m having a bit of difficulty believing what my ears are telling me. It sounds so clear, unforced and life like – like Keith I’ve been checking sleeves and doing research to check that I haven’t ended up with a hitherto undiscovered remaster. The tracks from Moon Madness are so far ahead of those on my Moon Madness remaster that I can’t believe I’m comparing like with like.

Caravan are up next. The SHM-CD has arrived and this time I’m 100% acquainted and definitely have the most up to date remasters of the albums covered by the SHM-CD compilation. Now we’ll see what’s what.

Cheers

There’s certainly more detail and separation. Unfortunately, this goes against Caravan, only serving to highlight the half finished, sometimes gritty, often gutless production. A turd that only responds to polishing by smelling worse. I remain very impressed with the Camel compilation and the 10cc is a real treat in (the) parts (I can stand to listen to – about 50% of it). I’m not familiar with much of the martial on CD, but most of it sounds remarkably clear and life like.

The perfect antidote to the teeth grinding Caravan session turned out to be another recent arrival from CD Japan – Steve Hackett’s Tokyo Tapes in a Japanese produced cardboard sleeve issue. Clear, weighty, full of subtly and perfectly sound staged. I wonder how that would respond to the SHM-CD treatment?

Cheers

just listened to the royal scam by steely dan , this is not such a good sounding shm cd as aja and gaucho but the original recording if my memory serves me right was not one of the best. there are a few highlights where you sit up and hear something that your sure you did not on the standard cd and lp , so on that its still an improvement over the standard copies and worth a listen.seem strange that some cd tower over the standard cd and other creep over the line to better the standard copy .

quote:

Originally posted by keith waring:
just listened to the royal scam by steely dan , this is not such a good sounding shm cd as aja and gaucho but the original recording if my memory serves me right was not one of the best. there are a few highlights where you sit up and hear something that your sure you did not on the standard cd and lp , so on that its still an improvement over the standard copies and worth a listen.seem strange that some cd tower over the standard cd and other creep over the line to better the standard copy .

You are right Keith, IIRC The Royal Scam and Katie Lied were the poorer sounding originals. I notice it on the Becker/Fagan re-masters.

Steve

quote:

I wonder how that would respond to the SHM-CD treatment?

Blimey Harry I just bought 4 of the Steve Hacketts in the cardboard sleeves. I don't want to splurge again on SHMcd versions!

Same here Chris. Well, six actually. There is no hope for me. At least SHM-DCs don't cost arms and legs

Cheers

HMRC spotted my package for these two ...





When the postie arrived she was deep in conversation on her mobile,
& she forgot to ask for the money (£4.73 VAT + £8 rip-off P.O. collection fee).

Naturally I did the decent thing & said nothing!

How much was the package total? If you don't mind me asking. I'm unsure at what level they start looking. John (JN) recently got the whole 7 CDs of Steely Dan and no charge.

I usually get them sent individually from e-bay or CD Japan - purely to avoid the double VAT and absurd PO collection fee.

Steve

5,714yen (£27.07)

Officially goods purchased & imported into the EU valued over £18, or goods from one private person to another as a gift valued over £36 are subject to custom charges.

IME it's very rare for small packages to be spotted, & this is the 1st time I've had a package detected from CD JPN. Could partly be due to the weight - this package was two releases each containing two CDs.

I usually order two CDs per package for the same reasons as you Steve. Of course when I buy overseas from Amazon Marketplace or eBay you can ask the seller to help with the customs dec'. So far I have received 14 packages of SHM CDs from CD JPN, & this is the 1st one with a customs charge (although the PO didn't collect!) Ironically this package had the lowest value of all 14, & the highest was 15,233yen (£72.16).

I wouldn't mind paying the VAT, it's the P.O. complete rip-off £8 collection fee that make me

Yes I know what you mean, but I had assumed that the purchase tax (VAT) is already paid, albeit to Japan. So adding VAT to a (tax paid) purchase still strikes me as a business I ought to be in with Arfur Daly.

If the goods were duty or tax free I would not quibble, but I don't think they are.

Steve

quote:

Originally posted by keith waring:
just listened to the royal scam by steely dan , this is not such a good sounding shm cd as aja and gaucho but the original recording if my memory serves me right was not one of the best. there are a few highlights where you sit up and hear something that your sure you did not on the standard cd and lp , so on that its still an improvement over the standard copies and worth a listen.seem strange that some cd tower over the standard cd and other creep over the line to better the standard copy .

Heard the SHM "Aja" against my Becker/Fagan remaster (Show Biz Kids) yesterday. The SHM is much better....

More expense.

Steve

quote:

Originally posted by munch:
Steve,
Are you getting the lot?

Probably Munch. I realise they will then release the Show Biz Kids comp in SHM.

Also, I seem to remember that The Royal Scam and Katy Lied were not quite in the same class (sound wise) as the others, so jury is out at the moment.

But I'm minded to get Pretzel Logic, Aja and Goucho whatever happens.

Steve

quote:

Yes I know what you mean, but I had assumed that the purchase tax (VAT) is already paid

Fair assumption as most countries charge sales tax to overseas buyers, not Japan.
From the CD JPN website ...

Japanese Consumption Tax
In Japan, there is a 5% consumption tax applied to the price of every item purchased. Non-residents are exempt from this taxation.

If you look at any disc on the CD JPN website you'll see two prices -
e.g. 'Price: 2381yen (2500yen Tax incl.)'

When I've purchased goods from the USA (for example) the sales tax is charged,
so I suspect Japan is the exception.

Have you guys got the complete Manilow on SHM then?

On order the ONLY way to listen to him!

Who nose ROTF?

I guess I have had one in four or five intercepted by HMRC. I don't object to the duty but the RM handling charge is a total ripoff. Mind you parcelforce is even greedier.

Slowly working through my huge pile of new albums. Haven't had a duff one yet. I am definitely sold on SHM.