What I just sent to ICE's CD Watchdog

[Xenu]

Hi all,

Yes, I realize you've done your ABKCO Stones SACD special already. And yes, I realize that if the issue of the Ruby Tuesday gaffe isn't going to be addressed, there's little hope of THIS issue being resolved. That said, I thought that it couldn't hurt to draw your attention to another little glitch of the ABKCO reissue programme, one which is potentially even more nightmarish to resolve than the Ruby Tuesday gaffe.

In short, Metamorphosis has...some problems.

To elaborate: the album is plagued with digital garbage, most of which is in the form of digital clicking. Now, the clicking isn't quite as audible or obnoxious as the clicking on, say, the remix of Tommy (which never got resolved). That said, it's there, it *shouldn't be there*, and once you hear it you cannot un-hear it.

(note that this isn't a case of defective discs, as it's on every copy I've listened to *and* on the Metamorphosis tracks on other discs...for example, the Singles Collection tracks. So it isn't an isolated problem, and it isn't me/my system going crazy. Note that these problems are *not* on the ABKCO promo...for example, the click right as the drums enter in "Jiving Sister Fanny" isn't on the promo!)

While problems persist throughout the whole album, the clicking really cranks into gear on "Some Things Just Stick in Your Mind." The EQ job on the demo tracks obscures the clicks somewhat, but they're definitely there: a spectral analysis reveals solid, steady clicking every few seconds, most audible in the right channel. The clicking is far more obvious on some of the later tracks, where neither the arrangements nor the EQ cover them up. For example, listen to "I Don't Know Why"'s left channel, right when the guitar in that channel fades up (before the vocals enter). Hilarious amounts of digital garbage...it sounds like samples are being dropped or something. It almost sounds like surface noise! Totally unsubtle. Again, the EQ (and weird instrumentation/processing) covers it up in earlier songs somewhat.

Now, some tracks seem to have fewer problems than others ("Out of Time," "I'm Going Down"), which makes this whole thing even weirder. At what stage were these clicks introduced? I have more than one counterfeit of Metamorphosis on CD, and they don't have the clicks, so it's certainly not an issue that was buried under vinyl mastering way back when (besides, the tracks on the old-ABKCO Singles Collection--notably I Don't Know Why--don't have the issues). Ruby Tuesday's a gaffe, but it isn't a big deal, as it isn't like the "real" version of that song is particularly rare. Metamorphosis has *never* been officially in print before, though, and to have the only available version plagued with Tommy-itis makes the whole thing very, very disappointing. Now, the only way to resolve this issue in all probability is a remastering from the original tapes, which I can't say looks all that possible. Is there ANY chance that this title will be revamped, or that ABKCO will publicly address the problems inherent in its remaster?

Thanks for entertaining my rant,

-David Goodwin
Chicago, IL

[lukpac]

"un-hear"?

<g>

Still haven't heard anything about the Paul Simon Songbook yet.

[Xenu]

"Un-hear" is some sort of reference to the most famous "once you hear it" gremlin I've yet to be exposed to: the SFF edit. You might not notice it the first thousand times you listen to the song, but the instant someone points it out...

[lukpac]

What do you mean you've "yet to be exposed to"?

[Xenu]

Just ignore me. I can't type at present. Final paper nightmare!

[lukpac]

You're not done with classes yet?

[Xenu]

Never. God bless quarters.

[Patrick M]

Still haven't heard anything about the Paul Simon Songbook yet.

Maybe because PS Songbook was recorded under conditions that make Robert Johnson's recordings look like the Katy Lied sessions.

[lukpac]

Speaking of which, how long till we get hi-res Robert Johnson?

[Patrick M]

SACD is going the way of quad.