Paul Simon - Graceland

[pweg]

when i was a kid my dad used to play this record and it sounded great and i have fond memories listening to it with him

recently my dad was over at my house and i ordered a couple of Paul Simon records to use on my system. The Graceland record turned up first and ive got to say it sounds so bad on my system ( which is very very good) that it almost reached the point of not being able too listen to it

i called my TT technician to discuss why it sounded to so bad and he said that those records in the early 80's are all just awful

does anyone have a version of Graceland that actually sounds good?

 

[tima]

when i was a kid my dad used to play this record and it sounded great and i have fond memories listening to it with him

recently my dad was over at my house and i ordered a couple of Paul Simon records to use on my system. The Graceland record turned up first and ive got to say it sounds so bad on my system ( which is very very good) that it almost reached the point of not being able too listen to it

i called my TT technician to discuss why it sounded to so bad and he said that those records in the early 80's are all just awful

does anyone have a version of Graceland that actually sounds good?

I have the US Warner Brothers original and the 25th Anniversary edition. Both sound fine, I prefer the original, the anniversary edition is a bit too over done. There were a bazillion different country specific versions released. Check your catalog nbr. on discogs.com. If other records sound okay, it's probably not your turntable.

 

[pweg]

I have the US Warner Brothers original and the 25th Anniversary edition. Both sound fine, I prefer the original, the anniversary edition is a bit too over done. There were a bazillion different country specific versions released. Check your catalog nbr. on discogs.com. If other records sound okay, it's probably not your turntable.

thx Tima ..... other records sound great

 

[Elliot G.]

FYI Roy Halle is an audiophile ( i hope he is alive and well) but I haven't seen or talked with him in many many years. Back in the day at Lyric Roy used to come in regularly and we listened to lacquers of Graceland for months on end. He cared about his work and what the final result sounded like. I don't have a TT nor do I play records any longer but my memories are the original record had pretty decent sound.
I think your TT guys statement is total BS ( just my two cents)
FYI he owned Infinity IRS, Wilson Watt puppies, ARC , MLAS , Goldmund Turntable etc

 

[dan31]

Agree with Elliot. Graceland is a well done pop record. Check your setup. You may have a bad pressing, but I have the original and a reissue, no issues.

 

[Lagonda]

Not a bad sounding recording(86 original pressing), but as my system improved the early digital signature shines trough. Same for the later Police and Dire Straits recordings, early ones sound great, the later ones not so much !

 

[astrotoy]

i have a safety master of Graceland. 15ips 2 track. Sounds quite fine to my ears, even with its partially digital origin.

Larry

 

[microstrip]

I have praised Graceland because it sounded great on big Magnepanar Tympani 's and Apogee Duetta's - the bass was nicely balanced for panels and his is a key point for the album.

I only own the original LP since long and curiously I was not aware of its digital mixing - just saw it. But was disappointed by what I found about the pseudo HiRez version:

https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/topic/13771-graceland-2496/

 

[MPS]

I have the 2012 pressing which is okay:
https://www.discogs.com/Paul-Simon-Graceland/release/3673709
and also 1986 pressing which I greatly prefer:
https://www.discogs.com/Paul-Simon-Graceland/release/795278
In absolute terms the differences are not that huge but it's all those small things that make all the difference in how the sound is more "real" or "organic".

 

[astrotoy]

Discogs shows 260+ different versions of Graceland, from 1986 to just a few years ago. LP, cass, CD, download. Larry

 

[MPS]

Discogs shows 260+ different versions of Graceland, from 1986 to just a few years ago. LP, cass, CD, download. Larry

Exactly, that's why it's good to reference which pressing is being commented about. Same goes to other popular pressings like Pink Floyd stuff etc...

 

[pweg]

this is the pressing i got -

https://www.discogs.com/Paul-Simon-Graceland/release/1719389.... its a 1986 Greek pressing..... hopefully i don't offend any of the Greeks reading

 

[tima]

this is the pressing i got -

https://www.discogs.com/Paul-Simon-Graceland/release/1719389.... its a 1986 Greek pressing..... hopefully i don't offend any of the Greeks reading

Graceland was made by different manufacturers. Consider this:

Greece
Made By – G.P.I. S.A.
Lacquer Cut At – G.P.I. S.A. – W581
Pressed By Record Service Alsdorf

Europe & UK
925 447-1
Made in Germany

Paul Simon - Graceland

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1986 Vinyl release of "Graceland" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

US
1-25447
Manufactured by Columbia House Under License

Paul Simon - Graceland

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1986 Vinyl release of "Graceland" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

- this is my best copy

You might want to try an edition different than the one you have, made somewhere else.
If the record was poor sounding across the world it would not have become the hit that it was.

I also like the album that followed Graceland

The Rhythm of the Saints
Warner Bros. 9-26098-1

 

[pweg]

i think ur right Tima .... will try a diff pressing

coincidently also got this https://www.discogs.com/Paul-Simon-The-Paul-Simon-Song-Book/release/14749746...... 1965 pressing from England and it sounds magnificent

 

[Addicted to hifi]

when i was a kid my dad used to play this record and it sounded great and i have fond memories listening to it with him

recently my dad was over at my house and i ordered a couple of Paul Simon records to use on my system. The Graceland record turned up first and ive got to say it sounds so bad on my system ( which is very very good) that it almost reached the point of not being able too listen to it

i called my TT technician to discuss why it sounded to so bad and he said that those records in the early 80's are all just awful

does anyone have a version of Graceland that actually sounds good?

A excellent album. I to used to listen to my dads system spinning this great album.

 

[Lagonda]

Graceland was made by different manufacturers. Consider this:

Greece
Made By – G.P.I. S.A.
Lacquer Cut At – G.P.I. S.A. – W581
Pressed By Record Service Alsdorf

Europe & UK
925 447-1
Made in Germany

Paul Simon - Graceland

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1986 Vinyl release of "Graceland" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

US
1-25447
Manufactured by Columbia House Under License

Paul Simon - Graceland

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1986 Vinyl release of "Graceland" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

- this is my best copy

You might want to try an edition different than the one you have, made somewhere else.
If the record was poor sounding across the world it would not have become the hit that it was.

I also like the album that followed Graceland
View attachment 79041
The Rhythm of the Saints
Warner Bros. 9-26098-1

I love "The Rhythm of the Saints ! "Concert in the Park" is a great sounding album too, even with its digital origin. But my favorite is "Live Rhymin' " the first time he embraced "world music' with the South American group "Urubamba" also known as "Los Incas". "Live Rhymin'" with it's all analog live recorded sound was probably the album that made me realize how much "spooky, in the room" sound was possible with a good stereo system !

 

[Addicted to hifi]

I love all of Paul simons music.