shm cds verdict.

The edition is limited, future editions aren't!

Hmmmm. Even for a completist I think that's a bit too much!

And not an anorak between them!

"What We Did on Our Holidays" by Fairport Convention arrived today, along with the Allman Brothers "Wipe the Windows etc". Both sound really good - and no contribution to the Royal Mail pension fund denanded!

My latest batch of SHM-CDs have arrived: all the Fairport Convention albums with Sandy Denny and Judy Dyble, and all the Gong and Gong-related ones. Here's my report (on packaging and sound quality only, since I discussed the music on the Gongs a few pages back, and I'm sure most people know Fairport Convention well).

FAIRPORT CONVENTION
The packaging of these CDs quite simply sets new standards: they're absolutely exquisite. In addition to the packaging detailed below, each SHM-CD includes a full colour booklet in English (basically the booklet from the European remasters), a black-and-white booklet in Japanese, an individually numbered insert with the original labels, and an obi. All albums feature the bonus tracks from the European remasters.

FAIRPORT CONVENTION (1968)
Three different minisleeves (UK original, US original, UK reissue)

WHAT WE DID ON OUR HOLIDAYS (1969)
Two different minisleeves (UK original, US original)

UNHALFBRICKING (1969)
Three different minisleeves (UK original, US original, Australian original - the latter is a gorgeous reproduction of a sixties "flipback" cover)

LIEGE AND LIEF (1969 - double CD deluxe edition)
Gatefold minisleeve, second minisleeve (with the same artwork) for the second disc

FAIRPORT LIVE CONVENTION (1974)
Two different minisleeves (UK original, US original - where it was issued as "A Moveable Feast"), two different inner sleeves (UK original, US original)

RISING FOR THE MOON (1975)
Minisleeve, minisleeve for the promotional-only tour compilation, inner sleeve

But what of the sound? I couldn't notice much difference on "Fairport Convention", though the SHM-CD might be slightly clearer, but on the others the SHM-CDs were notably (although not enormously) superior. All were tested against the latest European remasters.

GONG

After the Fairports, the packaging of these didn't strike me as so stunning, although they're very well done in their own right. In addition to the packaging listed below, each comes with a black-and-white Japanese booklet and obi. Some also have a Japanese black-and-white insert or a second, small black-and-white Japanese booklet with English lyrics.

MAGICK BROTHER (1969)
Gatefold minisleeve (the Japanese and German originals and UK reissue had totally different artwork, and it's a shame these weren't included as variant minisleeves)

CAMEMBERT ELECTRIQUE (1971)
Gatefold minisleeve, two inserts

THE FLYING TEAPOT (1973)
Gatefold minisleeve (which annoyingly uses the variant artwork from the semi-legitimate French pressing, not the UK original)

ANGEL'S EGG (1973)
Gatefold minisleeve, booklet (the front cover amusingly has a replica sticker over the obscene portion - the band were forced to do this back in 1973 when the production line refused to look at it). This does not contain the bonus tracks from the UK remaster.

YOU (1974)
Single sleeve, insert. This does not contain the bonus tracks from the UK remaster.

LIVE FLOATING ANARCHY '77 by PLANET GONG (1978)
Minisleeve (with white background - I've always believed the original to have been blue and red, but I've seen copies with both colouring, so I'm not certain which came first!)

MOTHER by GILLI SMYTH (1978)
Minisleeve (many discographies insist this came with an insert, but I've never seen one, and the SHM-CD reinforces my point)

FAIRY TALES by MOTHER GONG (1979)
Minisleeve, insert (which I've never encountered before - my vinyl original lacked this)

Now, as to the sound. I've only cross-checked four so far: "Magick Brother" and "Camembert Electrique" against the French remasters, "The Flying Teapot" against the Japanese remaster, and "You" against the original Virgin CD from the early nineties. All are very significantly improved - much more so than the Fairport Conventions. "Camembert Electrique" in particular is transformed, making me think they used the mastertapes (for the first time on CD). Similarly, "Magick Brother" (despite a very poor recording) is much, much better, and I suspect that this may be the first time I've heard it from the masters (I've previously owned the reissue vinyl, original CD and CD remaster). If anyone wants a comparison on any of the other titles, please let me know.

The Who "Sell Out" arrived this morning. Fantastic packaging as we have come to expect with these Who reissues. I had forgotten just how good this album is though. Perhaps the first genuine "concept" album?

quote:

Originally posted by Chris Kelly:
The Who "Sell Out" arrived this morning. Fantastic packaging as we have come to expect with these Who reissues. I had forgotten just how good this album is though. Perhaps the first genuine "concept" album?

I don’t count Sgt. Pepper as a concept album but I’ve often heard it cited thus. If that’s the case it beats The Who Sell Out by six months. Having got the pretenders to the award out of the way, I’ll go with Days Of Future Past, which preceded Sell Out by one month, is also available on SHM-CD and sounds bloody amazing in that format. Worth every penny, pseudo limited edition of not.

God Harry, that's weird. Literally just ripped it to iTunes from the SHMcd. And yes, it is tremendous and I had overlooked it when I made the comment about "Sell Out".

Haha. See? I haven’t lost my touch. I come wandering after several months and immediately cause an X-Files moment!

You were very instructive to me when I was new to all this. Happy Easter!

Thank you Chris. Same to you.

My Summer just got a bit more organised. The Rush catalogue up until Presto has just been announced – paper sleeve ltd editions. I took a swipe at Retrospective 1,2 and 3 on SHM-CD and thought it was a good job apart from the later wall of sound CDs which were sacrificed on the altar of the loudness war. Turd polishing never reaps rewards, so no surprises there. Pity, some good writing and performances forever lost in a dense fog of distortion. Tracks from the beginning up to Counterparts responded very well to the SHM-CD treatment and it was on balance a thumbs up. I was particularly impressed with the resolution, bass depth and micro dynamics of the more paired back, tending to brittle stuff from Power Windows to Presto and I’m looking forward to hearing all the albums in their entirety. Happy days and a good system work beckon – I hope.

oops, quoted when I wanted to edit.

more rolling stones cd shm format in july , inc black and blue and sticky fingers about 13 cd new remasters but not card sleeves .

And no "Exile" as far as I can see, which leaves a huge hole in the project.

chris, the exile on main street cd is coming out later in the year as a special release as it deserves,deluxe ,box or anniversary edition ?

That's good news. I have lost count of how many versions I have of these albums now Stu!

After reading this thread, I ordered the SHM Beggars Banquet from Cdjapan. The delivery was delayed by a Post office strike (I live in France), but the package made it finally.

I compared the SHM CD to the SACD release, using my CD5x + FC2. To my ears, the SHM version is slightly better for the acoustic tracks, with more details. The electric tracks sound very similar with the SHM and the SACD. I was expecting more. By contrast, my old London LP (played with an antic Thorens TD125 MKII) sounds remarkably different, the singer is quite louder compared to the instruments, one some tracks the singer on the LP and the singer on the CD sound as two different persons. Altogether the sound is less detailed with the LP (but this LP has been played many times), but the LP is less tiring.
I would love to hear a mint LP with a top level TD.

I'm coming a little late to this SHM party but received today 10 titels from CD Jpn I had carefully selected to compare them to some nice masterings I have of them.

The packaging of some of the SHM CDs is amzazing, e.g. Physical Graffiti or Angels Egg. All of them were as well significantly louder than the masterings I compared them to - unfortunately not in a good way.

Almost all of them did not even come close to the titles I compared them to - in terms of detail, range and soundstage.

Doubt I will get any more titles at this stage.

Some of the ones I compared them to:

Honkey Chateau, MoFi
Physical Graffiti, 55XD
Musiquarium, VDP
Gaucho, SACD
Rumours, Target

The only title that kept me somewhat interested was Ben Webster's Soulville, but maybe only because I dont have a good one to compare it to.

did anyone get the yes close to the edge shm cd ? just wondering if it was any good, as the rest of the yes cd are coming out in shm format and in paper sleeves .

I've just received my latest batches of SHM-CDs – Magma, Sandy Denny and Siouxsie & The Banshees. Can write detailed reviews, if anyone is interested in these artists?

quote:

Originally posted by keith waring:
did anyone get the yes close to the edge shm cd ? just wondering if it was any good, as the rest of the yes cd are coming out in shm format and in paper sleeves .

I did Keith, and it's really excellent.

Seconded.

was it the dan hersch and bill ingot remaster with the bonus tracks on rhino or the earlier remaster with just the lp tracks .