Restocking the back catalog and Kate Bush

Posted by: JohnS on 09 December 2001

Although I have bought a few new things this year (can't think what, maybe Parachutes, the Strokes and Natalie Merchant) most of my purchases in 2001 have been from yesteryear. I took the advice of a Forum poster and decided to upgrade the software as I was very happy with the performance of the hardware. To this end I have been filling in the CD back catalog, most of which I already own on vinyl but can't play. Purchases have included Roxy Music, The The, Wonder Stuff, Alice Cooper, Iggy Pop, PiL, Joni Mitchell, Lloyd Cole, Suzanne Vega, T-Rex, Police, Nick Cave, Guns'n'Roses, Eno, Bowie and Kate Bush.

Now, today I bought "The Kick Inside" which is a USA pressing with a funny cover picture, not at all like the old girl-on-kite--in-front-of-giant-eyeball vinyl cover. The second side (in vinyl terms) sounded wonderful but the first side (up to Wuthering Heights) sounded funny, sort of compressed or something. So, my question is (and you can blame the widow cliquot for the rambling it took to get here), can anyone recommend the best pressings for early Kate Bush albums on CD? A quick check on eBay shows German, UK, US and other pressings and I'm a bit nostalgic about getting the ones that sound most like the vinyl.

Also there is, apparently, a "digitally remastered" version of Hounds of Love available. Does this mean "digitally buggered-up" or is it a genuine improvement on the sometimes muddy original. Hard to mix down 96 tracks and retain clarity I suppose.

Thanks

John

Posted on: 10 December 2001 by redeye

Mine either mate
Oh those thighs........

And THOSE LIPS

Hells Bells, better go

redeye

Posted on: 10 December 2001 by Bruce Woodhouse

Interview with KB in this month's Q magazine. Remember 'Don't Give Up' video-4mins of standing being hugged by her made me jealous of Peter Gabriel as I have never been before or since.

Bruce

Posted on: 10 December 2001 by Tony L

quote:
I took the advice of a Forum poster and decided to upgrade the software as I was very happy with the performance of the hardware. To this end I have been filling in the CD back catalog, most of which I already own on vinyl but can't play.

I notice from your profile that you have a damn fine turntable (LP12 / Ittok / with a broken K18). Why spend out loads getting duplicates on CD of stuff that you already own (on a superior medium!) when the price of a decent cartridge will get the TT back in the game? If I were in your position I would go for a decent moving coil, say a MC25FL, OC9, or 10X4 - each would easily better your K18 when it was unbroken.

Tony.

Posted on: 10 December 2001 by Stephen Bennett

Totally with Tony on this one - my LP12/Rega RB300/klyde is just wonderful and now I have a moth record cleaner my records sound absolutely crackle free.

However, if you do sell old records - post a list here!

regards

Stephen

Posted on: 10 December 2001 by JohnS

I have about 400-500 albums stashed in the garage and I will definitely keep a few hundred e.g. original Ziggy Stardust with lyrics on inner sleeve and much better pressing than micro-mil thick later versions. However I can see myself disposing of the rest at a garage sale for $1 each. Heck, I'll probably give them away by the end of the day. Good for SaturnSF but not so good for the rest of you

Maybe I'll put a list together and if anyone wants anything they can just send me the shipping costs.

Tony is right, I do need to fix up the LP12, its my next project really. I need to buy some phono boards for the NAC82 and get the LP12's suspension and bearing checked over. For the moving coils mentioned (MC25FL, OC9, or 10X4) which type of phono boards (S/K/E) would be required?
As I am a terrible victim of upgradeitis I would probably plan to buy a Prefix soon after (Oh, do I need a 52? Oh well). I love the sound of vinyl.

-John

PS. I saw Kate Bush in Harrods once; beautiful but petite.

Posted on: 11 December 2001 by Stephen Bennett

quote:
This woman is an absolute babe!

She's 42 ish now isn't she? I hope you're not still picturing her at 16

quote:
Am I the only one who thinks that Tori Amos sounds like an inferior KB wannabe?

Yes you are. Tori is nothing like Kate Bush - except she's a damn fine woman singer.

More on records. I cleaned & listened to the 'Colour of Spring' by Talk Talk last night. The LP12 blew away my CD 3.5/flatcap using a CD of the same. More controlled and extended bass (a pointer that upgrading the source can work wonders in the bass dept), dynamics and general musicalynessthingy. And it was crackle free.

Regards

Stephen

Regards

Stephen

Posted on: 11 December 2001 by Stephen Bennett

I'm OK with Women, but know nothing about Katie Bushy CDs.

Doesn't she have some Naim stuff?

Regards

stephen

Posted on: 11 December 2001 by Stephen Bennett

...if you can't face Q is at

http://members.brabant.chello.nl/~m.gatti/index2.htm

Stephen

'eeets meee oim Kathyeeeeee...............'

[This message was edited by Stephen Bennett on TUESDAY 11 December 2001 at 13:16.]