This is a well covered topic, but not recently, or so it seems. Over the years, you have introduced me to some fabulous music and I thank you.
Being a child of the 60s, my musical ‘sweet spot’ was the early 80s. I often listen to those albums, and some delight and others shock, lol.
My favourite for production has to be ABC - Lexicon of Love. It has punch and takes me straight back to sneaking in to clubs, lol.
There are others of course, such as Simple Mind Minds - New Gold Dream and Talk Talk - Colour of Spring. I loved Ultravox back then, and they are none too shabby either.
What are your favourites from that time, which I need to revisit?
Interesting idea, but for me it’s which master should you get as much as the original production values, case in point, Another One Bites The Dust from Queen…
Top to bottom, original CD release, 1994 Remaster Series, 1998 Japanese 25 Anniversary Remaster, and then the 2011 Universal abomination. All the red lines on the bottom one indicate clipping! Just gets louder and louder ….
The ABC original vinyl sounds absolutely fabulous as does The Nightfly.
I love New Gold Dream but it has always sounded dense and cluttered to me - I have a remastered Cd of it but if anyone can point me at a really clear sounding version I would be most grateful. Maybe its just my old ears!
I would also add The Christians 1987 debut album to the mix, fabulous production.
Welcome to the Pleasure Dome by Frankie Goes to Hollywood. Production doesn’t get much bigger than this.
A Secret Wish by Propganda, also on ZTT Records, is equally superb.
I remember getting Love Over Gold on LP and being shocked at the brutal NR on Telegraph Road. I loved the album, still do, and Private Investigations is simple and timeless. But, I have never forgotten that hiss….
