Classic to reissue Who catalog on 200g vinyl

[lukpac]

Listening again, I remembered why I like the remix -- the original mix has too much midbass "cloud." I think that's the main reason that the guitars sound more prominent in the remix, as that cloud was covering them up too much. In addition, the drums seem slightly farther to the left in the remix. What I don't understand is your "open" comment...to me, the remix has more ambience. I did notice that it's easy to turn up the original mix too loud in an A/B comparison, in which case the remix will seem like it's "a few feet back."

Yeah, that "cloud" is part of it, plus the upper midrange is *really* extended on the remix. To me the original mix sounds very warm, full, natural, while the remix seems a bit cold and thin.

I had put the digital clicks on WNGTI out of my mind.

That's one of the things they "cleaned up," but I was using that phrase to refer to the overall clearer sound.

I'd say the EQ is ever so slightly less "pinched" on the remix (compared to the SH mastering), but other than that, I'm not hearing much of a difference. There's certainly no big reduction in hiss or something.

Hey guys, am I the only one that makes comps of albums, using tracks from both mixes? It seems like such a natural thing to do. It is that you find that sort of switching back and forth jarring? Or it's just not high on your priority list?

I'll do that with *comps* if/when I make them, but almost never with albums proper. I think it's pretty rare where I like one track from here and another from there. The exception might be something like AHDN, where I've taken a bunch of stuff from the Capitol CDs, and a few things from vinyl.

Ok, My Generation...

The CD is really bright/harsh. There's also a LOT of hiss compared to the old CD - seems like it's from all the high end EQ. Perhaps the SACD is better here.

As for the mixes...Out In The Street, My Generation, I'm A Man and Daddy Rolling Stone (from disc 1, anyway) are ok for what they are - mono with the guitar to the side. The rest (on disc 1) go from "that was dumb" (echo/delay on the guitar on tracks like The Good's Gone) to "is this fake stereo?" (Much Too Much, It's Not True, etc).

The old MCA CD is a tad low-fi in places, but at least it's just mono, and it doesn't give me a headache after listening for 5 minutes (the DE really does give me a headache, ala Fang).

[Andreas]

So where does one find the unedited version of "The Kids are All Right"? Is it available at all nowadays?

On the Maximum R&B box set. Also, on the (out-of-print but easy to find in Europe) Polydor version of Who's Better Who's Best. The stereo remix on the My Generation DE is also the long version, and soundwise quite good (but missing some background vocals).

[Sound]

I never could figure out why, pricewise, the MFSL of this one went nowhere while the Who's Next went through the roof. -Dob

Dob - I hope I've understood your question. I've been up most the night working on our 2 upcoming releases. Forgive me if I'm stating the obvious.

The MFSL Who's Next is valuable because only about 2,000 were released.
I'd guess that is a ridiculous amount for an MFSL Who cd.
Nothing to do with sonics that I am aware of. It is typical when a company like MFSL closes it's doors. They advertised it, took orders and created a market. Then didn't deliver the orders, nor did they answer their phone calls at that time. Very often the last releases for a company are the hardest to find for that reason.

If I recall correctly, we received our Leeds orders but not our Who's Next.

[Ess Ay Cee Dee]

nt

[Rspaight]

If I recall correctly, we received our Leeds orders but not our Who's Next.

I'd always been curious about this question myself -- that explains it a bit.

Ryan

[Sound]

Whoa, stop the presses! You work for MFSL?

We (Sound Advice) were their largest distributor long ago. (pre cd age)

I made many friends there, we had a great relationship.
Many friends there still.
That is why Stan Ricker is our mastering engineer.

[Rspaight]

$33.00. And it's from the 50's.

http://www.themusic.com/groove/classic.cfm?sku=2408102

Ryan

[Sound]

I got the $33 right.
I would have missed on the 50's.

[Dob]

I had put the digital clicks on WNGTI out of my mind.

Which mix has the clicks? I like the tonality of the original mix for this track...

I'd say the EQ (on WGFA) is ever so slightly less "pinched" on the remix (compared to the SH mastering), but other than that, I'm not hearing much of a difference.

Well, the differences would probably go unnoticed with casual listening, but for a classic like WGFA that's probably a good thing.

Ok, My Generation...The CD is really bright/harsh. There's also a LOT of hiss compared to the old CD - seems like it's from all the high end EQ. Perhaps the SACD is better here.

I borrowed a copy of the CD and compared. IMO the SACD does have different mastering, and it does sound noticeably less harsh and pinched...in some spots more than others. For example, It's Not True sounds very close (with the SACD still a bit better IMO), whereas the guitar that starts The Good's Gone sounds much better on the SACD. I didn't find the hiss level objectionable on either the CD or SACD.

One interesting thing -- on the CD, the beginning of The Kids Are Alright has a brief instant of what sounds like studio chatter before the music starts. On the SACD version, however, that extra bit is trimmed off and the track starts with the music.

The old MCA CD is a tad low-fi in places...

You're being too kind. I haven't heard the old MCA CD, but based on the sound of the cuts from MBBB, I'd describe the sound as no-fi. It's brutal.

...the DE really does give me a headache.

Make an effort to listen to the SACD. You'll probably still find it bright, but IMO it's considerably "easier on the ears."

[lukpac]

Which mix has the clicks? I like the tonality of the original mix for this track...

The remix. There are clicks elsewhere too.

The sound on WNGTI never seemed right to me on the remix, even before I really put this stuff under the microscope.

Well, the differences would probably go unnoticed with casual listening, but for a classic like WGFA that's probably a good thing.

I'd say the differences are pretty minor even with critical listening, so...

You're being too kind. I haven't heard the old MCA CD, but based on the sound of the cuts from MBBB, I'd describe the sound as no-fi. It's brutal.

You'd be surprised. My Generation and TKAA are probably the worst sounding cuts - I was amazed at how good Out In The Street sounded the first time I heard it.

[Xenu]

Besides, that's just how the album's always sounded.

[Chris M]

Anyone have an opinion of the 2 MONO bonus tracks (My Gen and A Legal Matter) on the My Gen SACD?

I ditched the redbook My Gen DE after the SACD was released but as I recall the SACD had much more bass than the redbook and (of course) wasn't mastered as loud. Same crap remixes though. Having said that there are a few tracks I get a kick out of. Out in the Street, Can't Explain, I'm a Man and a couple others escaped the Much Too Much treatment. If all of the tracks were mixed like these I'd be satisfied.

What's up with AAA on the SACD? The backing vocals are on the redbook DE but not the SACD? Did ICE ever cover this? I figured they would fix it but I guess it's not going to happen...

I remember White Fang posting something on Odds and Sods about versions of Out in the Street with different guitar tracks that featured some pretty different feedback stuff. How could they leave these off in favor of the vocals on Anytime You Want Me?? Also, does anyone else HATE when they fade outtakes too early? would it of killed them to let Instant Party Mixture have a cold ending so we could hear them run through Johnny B Goode????

[Xenu]

They did cover it, actually...they saw fit to print my letter about the AAA issue (yet, curiously, never bothered conveying all of my complaints about Ruby Tuesday).

You know what would be nice? If WF would share all of the rare material he loves to hoard.

[Chris M]

They did cover it, actually...they saw fit to print my letter about the AAA issue (yet, curiously, never bothered conveying all of my complaints about Ruby Tuesday).

You know what would be nice? If WF would share all of the rare material he loves to hoard.

Yeah, that would be nice. I assume he has dubs of the My Generation 3 tracks right?

[lukpac]

In mono, yes.