What I really enjoy these days is finding records in my collection that sound excellent and I’ve owned since before things like mastering engineers and pressing plants where things I concerned myself with.
First up
Joss Stone - The Soul Sessions
Mastered by Chris Gehringer at Sterling Sound in 2003.
My best is Herbie Hancock, Headhunters, Analogue Productions, 180 gr.
No doubt it’s a fantastic sounding record but my main idea of the thread is to discuss records that have been mastered well at the time of recording and or release and sound excellent in their own right without the help of say Analogue Productions. Please feel free to post records that are mastered and sound excellent but not the obvious reissues.
The record above by Joss Stone always sounded very good sonically to me but back then when I bought it around 20 years ago the fact that it was mastered at Sterling Sound meant nothing to me it just sounded good but a couple of years ago when I played it for the first time in more than a decade and read in the credits that it was mastered at Sterling Sound I thought ok that is part of the reason it sounds good.
I have many records like that and in almost 100% of the time they have been mastered at a particular studio or by a particular engineer who are recognised at being excellent.
Ok Bob, it was not obvious in your post. It’s clear now.
I have many very well recorded at that time :
Dire Straits first album
Donald Fagen the Nighfly
The Temptations Masterpiece
Al Jarreau. Live in Europe
Chico Hamilton Peregrinations
Ramsey Lewis Salongo
Tony Scott. Meditation
…….
I know I’m biased, but I always thought The Doors albums were beautifully produced & mastered. I remember (iirc) Disc & Music Echo’s review of Waiting For The Sun in 1968 saying that it (was so clear that it) ‘sounded like it was cut out of diamond’…they weren’t wrong.
Very interesting topic!
I don’t know much about vinyls and I’m only starting to very slowly grow a collection as side hobby.
I did get a Wish You Here Here from the 80’s and a The Wall from 1979.
How can I know the story of vinyls print?
There’s a label and reference number but after that? Is there web sites keeping print/process info records?
Thanks
Discogs is very good.
Off the top of my head, Crime of the Century (Supertramp), Hotel California (the Eagles) and the War of the Worlds sound track.
Just played This is the Kit “Careful of your keepers” mines a green vinyl version and besides the music it sounds amazing. Digital mastering done well.
Mastered at “Loud Mastering” in 2023
Not just the mastering on to vinyl, as the CD replay is excellent too (IMHO).
First press of Prince & the Revolution - Parade is great…
I can think of several but for now, I suggest these four.
Joe Jackson - Body & Soul (however digitally mixed but the rest is analogue)
Judie Tzuke - Sportscar.
Cat Stevens - Tea for the Tillerman
Steely Dan - Aja
I started buying LPs (I refuse to call them vinyl) in the 1970s and have collected them ever since. I do like pure analogue and particular people’s mastering however, I do not reject all digital processing.
Does any else find thew new remastered albums to be less satisfying than the originals. Yes, they are quiet and dynamic but just not the same for intangible enjoyment.
Generally, yes. Prefer the originals.
Paul Simon’s have always been very good in my experience, amongst many others.
Regards,
Lindsay
I guess not so much remaster as also remixed with A different balance lighter on the low end and tipped at the top. Mostly classic rack 60 and 70’s
I generally found the audiophile reissues cleaner but the original more lively.
I cite Lou Reed Transformer.
I bought the Speaker’s Corner (? I think it was) and thought it sounded very good…
But then after awhile I pulled out my US first press (that I hadn’t I admit played for some time), just to see.
It wiped the floor with the reissue in terms of life, vivacity, verve and sheer atmosphere.
Guess which one I kept…
Lately, I’m happy if the disc that buy isn’t dished or has horrible IGD. The latter affecting about half the second hand discs I pick up. The former about 50% of the new ones I order online.
My local hi-fi shop dedicates an entire floor to selling new vinyl and CD that they have vetted for pristine manufacture quality and audio mastering. And they have all been superb to listen to without picking out one. But they are also entirely jazz and classical - neither genres I’m hugely fond of.
