Just The Way You Are was one of my favorite karaoke songs when in Manila...... but I don't have the album here with me. Probably a couple of different copies in Singapore, but I don't recall if there was anything outstanding.
My Canadian pressing is pretty good, although I have nothing to compare it to.
Another aside.. Listened to my Can pressing of WYWH and it's quite lovely....gonna pickup up the new remaster and see what it's like. Some friends have this and they were quite pleasantly susrprised.
Even if it's from the "same tape" - they will remaster it for any re-issue. When I spoke to Chad and complained about the QRP Tea for the Tillerman, he said that they had to remaster because none of these tapes will be useable to cut from. Then, it is the decisions made by whoever took the original tape remastered it to a new tape or a digital file, and runs the cutters. There will be few if any original mastertapes which can be used as-is for cutting acetate or even making digital copies as the magnetic-orientation which is created by the recording process tends to want to revert to its random pattern over time.
I've been listening to test pressings, and from one test pressing to another test pressing - even from the same tape - it sounds different...... and can sound VERY different. When I was talking to Steve McCormack about the direct disc process, and he was telling me that I would cry if I heard what was lost between the acetate and the first direct disc.
While going through my albums looking for demo music, I noticed that a number of my better-sounding pop/rock/jazz radio station promo records had this label on it. A Google search didn't turn up anything definitive. Anyone have insights?
Even if it's from the "same tape" - they will remaster it for any re-issue. When I spoke to Chad and complained about the QRP Tea for the Tillerman, he said that they had to remaster because none of these tapes will be useable to cut from. Then, it is the decisions made by whoever took the original tape remastered it to a new tape or a digital file, and runs the cutters. There will be few if any original mastertapes which can be used as-is for cutting acetate or even making digital copies as the magnetic-orientation which is created by the recording process tends to want to revert to its random pattern over time.
I think that most of the foreign pressings are made with back-up tapes. The Japanese always sound weirdly eq'd to my ears. Of course, some of the tapes sent for pressing overseas may already be pre-Eq'd so the mastering engineer's work is made easier.
I've been listening to test pressings, and from one test pressing to another test pressing - even from the same tape - it sounds different...... and can sound VERY different. When I was talking to Steve McCormack about the direct disc process, and he was telling me that I would cry if I heard what was lost between the acetate and the first direct disc.
There's a problem with test pressings that most don't talk about. That's when the test pressings are made. Now think about why they make a test pressing. Normally, it's not about sound but to check for noise, rumble, pops and ticks, groove narrowing, etc.. So many times, test pressing are done first thing at many pressing facilities, before the presses have warmed up and beginning runs of scheduled work.
I recently picked up a copy of Joe Cain's "Latin Explosion" (Time, 1960) on vinyl. I had read about this on the great jazz blog "Orgy In Rythym" http://orgyinrhythm.blogspot.com/
My copy is a little beat up and mint copies are pretty dear. I love this type of music and the sound quality is reference, especially, especially Israel "Cachao" Lopez's bass. If you find a copy -- grab it.
Just picked up Blue Mind by Anne Bisson, and it's already getting tremendous play in the room at Salon Son et Image. Her first album on vinyl, so limited copies - get it before it's all gone. Pristine, very quiet surfaces - pressed on 180gm vinyl by RTI. A superlative hot pressing!!
She's got a bell-clear voice like Jacintha, and lovely story-telling song craft just like Rickie Lee Jones. Very highly recommended!!
She is also at the show and autographed Gary's copy for him. Wait til Gary posts the rest of the hot stuff he has picked up (or recommended to others since he has the original first pressings)
Anne Bisson is a lovely lady, and with the spectacular quality of her first album, deserves all the publicity I can give her. The goosebump-inducing quality of track 1 on side B made it fantastic demo material to ensure that show-goers remember my speakers. The wife of one audiophile was wiping away tears while he was nodding away. She tells stories with heartfelt emotion that comes through on the vinyl.
What Carolyn is saying above is that I did damage to the credit card of a friend here by leading him to Liberty Trading to load up on vinyl.
I don't know if it's generally available yet, but the legendary Three Blind Mice albums from the 70's Blow Up, Midnight Sugar and Misty were released as a 6-album 45-rpm box set. I convinced one of my friends to buy it, and lend it to me to demo. I have the first press of both Misty and Midnight Sugar, and the 45-rpm double album of Misty, and the new re-issue is spectacular. Definitely another hot pressing.
I had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Bisson in the Oracle room at last years' T.A.V.E. Show and we chatted briefly. Lovely lady indeed. My only regret is that I didn't pickup her CD and have it signed......was already well on my way burning a hole in my wallet and just couldn't do any more.
Anne Bisson is a lovely lady, and with the spectacular quality of her first album, deserves all the publicity I can give her. The goosebump-inducing quality of track 1 on side B made it fantastic demo material to ensure that show-goers remember my speakers. The wife of one audiophile was wiping away tears while he was nodding away. She tells stories with heartfelt emotion that comes through on the vinyl.
What Carolyn is saying above is that I did damage to the credit card of a friend here by leading him to Liberty Trading to load up on vinyl.
I don't know if it's generally available yet, but the legendary Three Blind Mice albums from the 70's Blow Up, Midnight Sugar and Misty were released as a 6-album 45-rpm box set. I convinced one of my friends to buy it, and lend it to me to demo. I have the first press of both Misty and Midnight Sugar, and the 45-rpm double album of Misty, and the new re-issue is spectacular. Definitely another hot pressing.
Just got it myself. Actually had Misty and Midnight Sugar already on the Cisco issues (now Box Star) 45 rpm as well as the TBM 33 1/3 issue. Only one of the three in the box that didn't have at 45 rpm was Blow Up. Not sure who cut the original 45 rpm reissues for Cisco but it might have been Bernie. Haven't compared the Cisco with the Box Star 45 rpms issues yet.
Just got it myself. Actually had Misty and Midnight Sugar already on the Cisco issues (now Box Star) 45 rpm as well as the TBM 33 1/3 issue. Only one of the three in the box that didn't have at 45 rpm was Blow Up. Not sure who cut the original 45 rpm reissues for Cisco but it might have been Bernie. Haven't compared the Cisco with the Box Star 45 rpms issues yet.
I don't have my TBM and Ciscos with me here in Montreal, but from what I can recall, the new Box Star is quieter, may be a little more dynamic as a result, but the Cisco 45rpm is more detailed and has more "presence". I always thought that the Cisco 45RPM was better than the TBM 33 1/3 issue in every way.
Myles, please post your impressions when you get the chance to compare them. Thanks!
First heard these on a demo disc, one of the MBL's I believe. Liked these tracks enough to hunt down the individual disc's and have found them over time to just sound better and better.
Paganini for Two Gil Shaham: Goram SollscherDG 4D
Works for Violin and Guitar
They also have a Schubert for two that's just as good with performance/sonics
Sonate per Archi #1-6 Rossini - NBK | Michael ErxlebenCapriccio 1plus
This is one that could be used in the soundstage thread. Solo's image well and on good
days the strings seating arrangement does the same.
Wait til Gary posts the rest of the hot stuff he has picked up (or recommended to others since he has the original first pressings)
