Post by Owen Y on Jul 21, 2017 17:02:09 GMT 12
Blue & Lonesome - The Rolling Stones - (this copy Made in France)  This one can be difficult for audiophiles - but easily succeeds on the music front. Forums have criticised it for poor sound quality, but the only signif area that bothers me is that it is mixed loud with consequent compressed dynamic range (ie. does not have much DDR, what Allen Wright called Downward Dynamic Range). Otherwise, this album kicks, musically. Charlie Watts esp is afforded appropriate horsepower - drums & bass helped no doubt by generous groove pitch (spread over 4 sides with only 3 tracks per side). Some have condemned the murky sound. Yes, it is a very grungy, 'dirty', "live' mix, with lots of seeming 'crosstalk', not a lot of 'separation' (except the drums). Mick's singing (which is impressive) often sounds like it's been given extra 'reverb' - maybe to increase presence & 'scale'. Mick's harmonica, enjoys terrific front stage presence. The guitars maybe could have been highlighted more, for the Richards/Wood fans. But overall, this sounds like the relatively 'live' recording that The Stones did - tight & instinctive at the same time. The music (Chicago Blues covers) BTW is great, back to their roots, regardful but uninhibited. Surfaces are generally quiet but a record clean is recommended - greatly increases treble presence, adds some 'shine', cymbals & transparency. Again. all IMHO of course.
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Post by Citroen on Jul 22, 2017 0:13:28 GMT 12
did some research - that upc could be either 180g or 200g ? also not convinced by 45rpm but no other choice for dusty  Damn, doesn't UPC stand for UNIQUE product code? 
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Post by Owen Y on Aug 13, 2017 16:19:01 GMT 12
 Having suffered through some grief with the Rhino/4MWB Dusty in Memphis, I thought it worthwhile to report on a relatively decent 4MWB production... I Never Loved a Man the Way I Loved You - Aretha FranklinAlthough not my personal favourite Aretha album, this one, like Dusty in Memphis, is regarded by most pundits as one of the great albums. Aretha's landmark 1st album under Jerry Wexler at Atlantic in 1967, deserves the best sound & I can say that my Rhino/4MWB 2001 reissue actually sounds better than a s/h USA Atlantic copy that I also have - despite visually appearing to have narrower groove pitch than the Atlantic. The latter requires a lot more volume (2-3dB), has narrower tonal bandwidth (solid mid-bass but less low bass) - however I will watch out for a better orig USA Atlantic copy to compare again. The 2001 4MWB vinyl has a couple of 4MWB glitches (they can't seem to get QA spot on), but the sound is overall excellent, showing some scale & 'air' - which Aretha's earthy & dramatic arrangements really benefit from.
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Post by guitardude on Aug 14, 2017 9:54:47 GMT 12
Cheers Owen,
Must check out my copy. Favourite of hers is "spirit in the dark". I think mine is a NZ pressing.
Checked out Aztec Camera again over the weekend too. Found I have quite a few of theirs. "High land, hard rain" I found a bit twee for my taste now, but "knife" is still really good.
Still cant agree with you on "Blue and Lonesome" though, as I find it unlistenable.
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Post by Owen Y on Aug 14, 2017 16:03:54 GMT 12
Thanks guitardudeI must play 'Knife' a lot more. My fav Aretha happens to be this dble live 1972 soul-gospel album 'Amazing Grace', recorded at the New Temple Baptist Church, LA. I was fortunate to acquire this (Australian) copy from an AEnz member. 
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Post by Citroen on Aug 14, 2017 18:44:34 GMT 12
That's one of my favourites of hers.
Rhino 2014 EU reissue which sounds damn fine to me.
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Post by guitardude on Aug 15, 2017 9:52:42 GMT 12
I've got that as a NZ pressing, sounds ok but not one of my favourites. In a similar vein check out Dylans Gospel by the Brothers and Sisters: recently reissued by Light in the Attic. Great album. Fremer panned the reissue saying it wasn't as real as the original but as I've never seen an original its a moot point.
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Post by Owen Y on Aug 15, 2017 10:34:03 GMT 12
I read that the CD issue of Amazing Grace is a more complete recording of that Baptist Church event. I expect that would be a more more continuous, 'live' document.
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Post by Owen Y on Aug 15, 2017 17:28:39 GMT 12
This is usually the pinnacle recommendation for this Beethoven masterpiece: Beethoven Symphony No.5 - Vienna Philharmonic Orch./Carlos Kleiber (1975). I have a German copy (also an English one) & it is a gripping, engaging listen - the 70s DG sound is not entirely satisfying, taut & clean but for me, just a little band-limited, lacking the last bit of openness, LF 'bloom' & top end 'air'. Still, you have to find a copy if you care for this music. Edit: Modifying the above comments... refreshing my memory with a listen last night, this DG sound is very good, actually no real complaints. Not as big & expansive as von Karajan's huge orchestra in the Berlin Philharmoniker hall & maybe not quite as well engineered either, but LF-HF balance is plenty satisfying. The playing, not as relentlessly 'propulsive' as v Karajan, but the ebb-and-flow, 'light & shade' of Kleiber's version is very nice indeed. 
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Post by Citroen on Aug 15, 2017 17:43:21 GMT 12
I have this but with a different cover but I think its the same recorded in 1974 version. 
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Post by michaelw on Aug 15, 2017 18:16:12 GMT 12
This is usually the pinnacle recommendation for this Beethoven masterpiece: Beethoven Symphony No.5 - Vienna Philharmonic Orch./Carlos Kleiber (1975). I have a German copy (also an English one) & it is a gripping, engaging listen - the 70s DG sound is not entirely satisfying, taut & clean but for me, just a little band-limited, lacking the last bit of openness, LF 'bloom' & top end 'air'. Still, you have to find a copy if you care for this music. i have that one too ! nz copy
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Post by Owen Y on Aug 16, 2017 10:46:26 GMT 12
I've had to modify my comments a bit on this, after refreshing my memory last night, sorry  (See above.)
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Post by guitardude on Aug 16, 2017 10:55:42 GMT 12
Not sure where my copy was pressed, but i've always found it a fairly thrilling listen.
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Post by Owen Y on Aug 16, 2017 11:39:34 GMT 12
Citroen - I've not seen that cover - probably just an earlier or later release.
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Post by michaelw on Aug 16, 2017 12:11:25 GMT 12
i played my nz copy last night. had this so long there's no record of when and where i bought it from. maybe wrc ? it sounds a little congested, with a closed-in soundstage but smooth and engaging. better than the stokowski reading. 
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Post by Owen Y on Aug 16, 2017 14:59:48 GMT 12
Further on this theme (as everyone samples Beethoven somewhere along the way).... Herbert von Karajan recorded the complete B'hoven Symphonies twice on DG in '77 & in '61-'62. (Also on Columbia in the '50s.) The 5th from either of the DG cycles is worth having. The afficionados mostly prefer the '62 version, but they are similar - thrilling, urgent, weighty, extended, atmospheric. Impressive dynamic range. Arguably the '62 recording is tonally smoother. Both tonally excellent in all respects. Soundstage width, depth, placement, is pretty good. (The '77 & '61-'62 box sets.)  Of course, they were released also as single LPs: (DG records often do not have a date on them, but the earlier, pre-multi channel recordings, with the blue 'tulip-border' label, are preferred by some enthusiasts.) 
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Post by guitardude on Aug 16, 2017 15:08:25 GMT 12
I seem to recall they also did a digitally remastered series ? Not sure what other Beethoven 5th's I have, I know I have the Rene Liebowitz symphony box set on Readers Digest label, which is generally very good.
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Post by sub on Aug 16, 2017 15:18:37 GMT 12
A later issue came in a box with a different illustration, although the booklet confirms the performances were recorded in 1961-62. Issued post the reunification of Germany? as all the records say "Made in Germany", although the booklet says "Printed in West Germany". 
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Post by Owen Y on Aug 16, 2017 15:22:31 GMT 12
I heard that those Decca 'Phase Four' discs are not so good?
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Post by guitardude on Aug 16, 2017 15:35:03 GMT 12
I dunno, I've got a bunch of those Decca phase 4 discs and they can sound pretty spectacular. Not sure about accurate or neutral, but spectacular is sometimes good too. Latest couple I bought were light orchestral pieces themed for Spain and Italy, got a couple of Ted Heath ones as well.
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Post by michaelw on Aug 16, 2017 15:46:22 GMT 12
originals were generally pretty good, across a wide spectrum of music - pop, sound effects, classical, film. the best were about par with emi asd etc. for sound quality some were good enough to rate mention in tas.  
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Post by guitardude on Aug 16, 2017 15:53:34 GMT 12
Would eagerly snap up either of those if I saw them !
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Post by michaelw on Aug 16, 2017 18:15:50 GMT 12
michael fremer zooms in on a copy of the decca herrmann in his latest video. $1500hkd/ $270 nzd !  
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Post by Owen Y on Aug 16, 2017 19:06:10 GMT 12
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Post by Owen Y on Aug 16, 2017 19:31:25 GMT 12
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Post by Citroen on Aug 18, 2017 15:58:58 GMT 12
This lp has all I could ask for in a vinyl release. Quiet background, full solid sound, with lots of palpable presence/ambience. Really does sound like they're playing in your room. If only all lps sounded this good. 
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Post by Owen Y on Oct 9, 2017 15:50:22 GMT 12
I'm not aware that Ry Cooder has ever made a bad sounding record, none that I've encountered anyway. Anyone? Paris Texas or Jazz would have been my Ry Cooder benchmarks, but I've not spent any serious time on his back-catalogue. Such as.... Paradise and Lunch, regarded by many, as his masterpiece. I now have an Australian copy of this ancient 1974 recording & the sound is ballsy & rhythmic, with typically super-crisp instrumentals. A record that demands near 'live' SPLs 
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Post by michaelw on Oct 9, 2017 17:52:19 GMT 12
i passed up a copy of that recently.
also aus pressing, mint cover but the vinyl was in poor shape.
the search continues....
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Post by Citroen on Oct 12, 2017 15:56:44 GMT 12
I thought I was a Ry Cooder fan, but I have to admit I'm not familiar with that album So listening on Tidal now.
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Post by Owen Y on Jan 15, 2020 9:11:42 GMT 12
Initial impressions only, but I'm impressed with the overall quality of this World Circuit 2019 release, a 'remaster for vinyl' of the Omara Portuondo (Buena Vista Social Club presents) album from 2000. Sound quality of the EU-manufactured vinyl is excellent, the mastering clean & natural, with vocal especially clear & 'present', bandwidth pretty good (I was surprised by the double bass once or twice), dynamics easy & open. (Instrumentation perhaps overall a touch 'dialled back', respectfully maybe, behind the voice.)No gatefold cover or download code, but a nicely produced, LP-sized, lyric booklet is included (with English translations). The music of course, is the splendid, unique variety of rhythms & elegant styles of Cuban music. I'll be looking for a vinyl of her Flor de Amor later album, if it exists. I have both on CD, but this vinyl release is a significant improvement in sound quality. 
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(See above.)
