Universal "Back To Black" vinyl re-issues

I have Rico's The Man from Wareika from that series. Sounds great. Good pressing. Nice poly lined inner sleeve. Super album (obviously). Recommended

Yes Rico's Man From Wareika is a classic album.

I got a reply from Universal;

Hi Richard,

Thanks for your email with regards to your back to black
enquiry.

I have sent your email over to the label and they can advise me
is that they use the best source available at the time, but they are unable to
confirm if it's the original master.

Please accept my apologies that I
couldn't be more definite about this, and if I can be of any further assistance,
then please let me know and I will be happy to help.

Kind
Regards,

Anthony O'Brien
Universal Music

Hi Anthony,

Thanks for this. I am aware that some record companies are in the practiceof re-issuing LP's that have been mastered off CD copies. Although you are unable to confirm whether the Island reggae re-issues are sourced from master tape are you able to confirm whether or not they are mastered off CD
copies? The record label should know and therefore be able to confirm what source material they are using.

Thanks again
Richard

Hi Richard,

well what ever it was made from, the Rico sounds damn fine to me! Unfortunately, I've now taken a look at the other releases (the Heptones, Jah Lion, Burning Spear etc) and have concluded that they are too good not to buy...Damn!

Hi Martin,

Spotted a 3 for the price of 2 offer (see link), so likewise cant resist. these haven't been around on vinyl for years and are all bona fide classics. there are 11 in total so have ordered 9 taking best advantage of the 3 for 2. Will let you know what I think when I have received and listened to them.

I have just returned from a week in the South Of France taking in the wonderful 4 day Garance reggae festival. So hopefully these vinyl re-issues will be the antidote to the post festival blues.

http://store.universal-music.co.uk/icat/bossshots3for2?utm_source=BossShots220713&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Back+to+Black+product+alert&utm_content=UMGUK7883-292580

Richard,

excellent, thanks for the tip...Think I'll just get the lot!

notification in my inbox, due for delivery today

Just played my new btb reissue of Nick Drake's Bryter Layter. Packaging is very nice BUT as is so common nowadays - not an antistatic inner sleeve! Sure, I appreciate the photo of an old sleeve on the inner sleeve (!) but I'd prefer a proper antistatic one - extracting the record was a right pain. The centre hole is...central! And the right size! The record was nicely flat too, as you'd expect nowadays. First side played very cleanly, no pops or crackles. Sound quality seemed very good but this was in isolation, as I do not have originals. Second side started with a snap crackle and a few pops. These came and went during playback. I hope they might play out actually. I'll take it into the shop on Saturday and clean it, perhaps the guys might bring in their copies so we can compare. We shall see.

Overall, I'm disappointed at the noise on the 2nd side. I expected better. However, the actual sonics are rather good. There's a fair amount of tape hiss which I don't recall on my CD but again, that's shown up by the otherwise very quiet vinyl.

Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.

Hi Frank,

If your not happy with it I would send it back, I think its the only way to make sure that these companies get it right is by us demanding acceptable standards!

With regards the inner sleeve, I find that often where companies are trying to make their re-issues faithful to the original they produce the sleeves likewise, so if the record had a card printed inner sleeve that's what you get, I use Nagoka poly sleeves which slip nicely into inner sleeves.

I just bought 9 Back To Black vinyls, all but one had poly lined sleeves, the other had a printed card inner

Richard

Hi Martin,

I spent the last couple of days listening to these and am pleasantly surprised. They sound overall very good and involving, the pressings are clean and quiet. They certainly sound better than my CD re-issues and I think would stand favourably compared to original pressings which would not have been on 180g vinyl. Its worth noting I think, that these titles mostly date between 75-76 which was a time notorious for poor quality vinyl pressings due partly to rising oil prices and record companies skimping.

Feeling Irie!

Richard

Richard,

Have you not found that sometimes, pops and crackles will iron out after a couple of plays? I have found this to be the case.

I couldn't live without Nagaoka inners...

Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.

Hi Frank,

Yes sometimes, but it depends on the cause of the snap, crackle & pop, as I am sure you know there are many reasons why a record may pop. Sometimes the pressing process can leave a slight burr on the record groove which some stylus profiles polish out after a few plays. Sometimes it can be the cause of poor quality vinyl compounds or poor "hygiene" in the pressing plant. Or static...or..or..or it goes on. Of course it can also be present on old master tapes.

I think it really comes down to how much you feel it detracts from your musical enjoyment, if it doesn't subside after a few plays and all else is well I personally would insist on a replacement or refund.

Cheers

Richard

Well, I've played it again and all the pops have gone bar a few at the very start of side 2. Looking at the side, it looks like there's something on there, so I'll try to clean it on Saturday.

Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.