Pink Floyd - The Division Bell (20th Anniversary)

[Johnny Vinyl]

From PinkFloyd.com:

20 May 2014

PINK FLOYD TO RELEASE 20TH ANNIVERSARY BOX SET OF 'THE DIVISION BELL'

• RELEASED: 30 JUNE 2014
• PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED 5.1 SURROUND SOUND MIX
• BLU-RAY DISC INCLUDING NEW 2014 FILM OF MAROONED
• 2-LP VINYL FEATURING FULL-LENGTH TRACKS FOR THE FIRST TIME
• REPLICA 7" AND 12" COLOURED VINYL AND MUCH MORE

Pink Floyd is releasing a 20th anniversary box set of The Division Bell, the band's 1994 multi-million selling album that included the Grammy Award winning track Marooned. Set for release on 30 June 2014, 'The Division Bell' was the last studio album to be released by the band: David Gilmour, Nick Mason and Richard Wright. This 20th anniversary box set features six discs, including three replica coloured or clear vinyl discs, 5 collectors' prints, a Blu-ray disc and for the first time Andy Jackson's 5.1 audio mix of 'The Division Bell'.

'The Division Bell' debuted at No 1 in the UK and in the USA, staying at the top of the US charts for 4 weeks; it also went to No 1 in eight other countries and, to date, has reached total album sales of over 12 million. The album was recorded by the band at Astoria and Britannia Row Studios with the majority of the lyrics being written by Polly Samson and David Gilmour.

David Gilmour said at the time: "The three of us went into Britannia Row studios, and improvised for 2 weeks. Playing together and starting from scratch was interesting and exciting, it kick started the album and the process was very good, it was collaborative and felt more cohesive".

The Division Bell 20th Anniversary collector's box set will feature a new 2-LP vinyl edition of the album, remastered by Doug Sax at The Mastering Lab from the original analogue tapes, including all the full length tracks (originally edited to fit on a single LP) in a gatefold sleeve designed by Hipgnosis/StormStudios. Five other discs are included: a red 7" vinyl replica of single Take It Back, clear 7" vinyl replica of High Hopes, 12" blue vinyl replica of High Hopes with reverse laser etched design, the 2011 Discovery remaster of 'The Division Bell' and a Blu-ray disc including 'The Division Bell' album in HD Audio, plus the previously unreleased 5.1 surround sound audio mix of the album by Andy Jackson.

Another addition included on the Blu-ray disc is a new video for Marooned, the track that won a Grammy for 'Best Rock Instrumental' in 1994. Filmed in Ukraine during the first week of April 2014, the video was directed by Aubrey Powell at Hipgnosis. It will appear on the disc with audio tracks in both PCM Stereo and a 5.1 mix by Andy Jackson.

Bob Ezrin and David Gilmour produced the original album, with orchestral arrangements by the late Michael Kamen. The anniversary box set discs have been remastered by long term Pink Floyd audio associates James Guthrie and Joel Plante.

 

[Alrainbow]

You vinyl people always get all the good stuff.
l

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

You can buy just the 2LP album on Amazon if you don't want the boxset.

Not sure what I'm going to do yet, but I am most excited to hear that for the first time we'll get every track IN FULL on vinyl for the first time.

Such an underrated album IMO.

 

[rockitman]

Replica colored vinyl...hmmm, what purpose could that serve ?

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

Replica colored vinyl...hmmm, what purpose could that serve ?

Don't know, don't care. It's a marketing thing, you know that. Just like the new Jack White album.

 

[mep]

Bet the LPs are cut from a digital file.

 

[rockitman]

Bet the LPs are cut from a digital file.

I agree...

 

[MadFloyd]

Bet the LPs are cut from a digital file.

Ahh, but that's the good news. They are not.

Remastered by Doug Sax at The Mastering Lab from the original analog tapes!

"The lavish box set includes a vinyl pressing of the album, remastered from the original analog tapes and for the first time pressed on two 180-gram LPs featuring the full-length tracks that had originally been edited to fit on '90s-era vinyl."

 

[XV-1]

I have ordered the Euro vinyl.

Doug Sax mastering from the analog tapes with the album spread over 2lp's should sound better than my original UK pressing - but who knows?

I just hope Sax does not overblow the bass like he did on the DSOTM vinyl 30th reissue.

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

I have ordered the Euro vinyl.

Doug Sax mastering from the analog tapes with the album spread over 2lp's should sound better than my original UK pressing - but who knows?

I just hope Sax does not overblow the bass like he did on the DSOTM vinyl 30th reissue.

Same here...ordered the EU vinyl from Amazon UK.

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

It shipped from Amazon UK on the 28th. The Royal Mail to Canada is usually pretty quick, so I might have it by the weekend!

 

[MadFloyd]

Same here...ordered the EU vinyl from Amazon UK.

Why the UK vinyl instead of US? I have the deluxe set on the way from Amazon US so I'm wondering...

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

Why the UK vinyl instead of US? I have the deluxe set on the way from Amazon US so I'm wondering...

Two reasons. Usually Amazon UK is cheaper for me when you include shipping, and delivery is quicker as well. Amazon US automatically charges me duties and taxes....screw that. I also wanted to be sure I got vinyl that was pressed in the EU as I believe they have higher QC standards. YMMV.

 

[MadFloyd]

Two reasons. Usually Amazon UK is cheaper for me when you include shipping, and delivery is quicker as well. Amazon US automatically charges me duties and taxes....screw that. I also wanted to be sure I got vinyl that was pressed in the EU as I believe they have higher QC standards. YMMV.

Thanks for the reply. We'll have to compare notes on the pressing quality.

 

[mbskeam]

Thanks for the reply. We'll have to compare notes on the pressing quality.

X2



funny I have the album on 16 showing up soon....

in the past month things have been totally outa hand....

 

[MadFloyd]

X2



funny I have the album on 16 showing up soon....

in the past month things have been totally outa hand....

16?

 

[mbskeam]

oh crap wrong thread....LOL
16 refers to buying to much vinyl

 

[XV-1]

Two reasons. Usually Amazon UK is cheaper for me when you include shipping, and delivery is quicker as well. Amazon US automatically charges me duties and taxes....screw that. I also wanted to be sure I got vinyl that was pressed in the EU as I believe they have higher QC standards. YMMV.

Absolutely.

US pressings as a whole suck in qc to the Euro counterparts. Especially if from United pressing plant or Rainblow.

Why do you think the Beatles mono box set is being pressed out of Optimal in Germany for the world.

Why do you think Warner's press all their domestic vinyl out of Pallas in Germany.

Mine has also shipped from Amazon uk.

 

[MadFloyd]

From what I can tell, these were pressed at Quality Record Pressings (QRP) in Kansas. I'm not sure there was more than one pressing plant involved.

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

From what I can tell, these were pressed at Quality Record Pressings (QRP) in Kansas. I'm not sure there was more than one pressing plant involved.

I'm not sure either, although I've tried to search for the info. I made the assumption that UK ordered vinyl would be UK/EU pressed, which is in part why I ordered from the UK. QRP does good work however (better than Rainbo or United for sure), and if that's the only facility used for all worldwide pressing we probably have a nice product on our hands. I'll have a look at the deadwax on my copy once it arrives.