River Deep, Mountain High

Postby **lukpac** » Sun Aug 15, 2004 9:14 pm

Is there a stereo mix of this somewhere? Even just the backing track?

It just seems like there's a LOT getting lost in that mono mix, the low end for one thing. Cranking up the bass helps, but I sure think the song would sound a lot more glorious if it were actually somewhat "hi-fi" (even in mono).

Patrick M · Postby **Patrick M** » Sun Aug 15, 2004 9:25 pm

Here's a stereo version, mastered by Steve:

http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.a ... id=6647628

Dob · Postby **Dob** » Mon Aug 16, 2004 10:14 am

I think the MFSL version is stereo, but it goes for big bucks.

The Alvorado import CD is in stereo as well...it's mentioned in this Amazon review (you'll need to scroll down), which was written by none other than SHtv mainstay Bradley Olson:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... 5?v=glance

Postby **lukpac** » Mon Aug 16, 2004 11:46 am

Are you sure? The way I'm reading things he indicates it's mono:

Bradley wrote:I actually have another CD pressing of this album that features this album in stereo plus "Sonny Charles & The Checkmates, Ltd.'s "Love Is All We Have To Give" on CD in stereo, featuring "Black Pearl" as a Spanish import The Sonny Charles album is not available on CD otherwise. As mentioned in another review, all songs from this album that are on the Back To Mono boxed set are in mono, the stereo versions are great while I'll add that another mono copy of the title song is on Tina's "Simply The Best" compilation from 1989 on Capitol with her 1980's comeback hits.

Dob · Postby **Dob** » Mon Aug 16, 2004 6:11 pm

lukpac wrote:Are you sure?

Yes. I didn't mention that Bradley himself ripped me a copy of the twofer that he is referring to. It's been a long time since I've listened to it, so I pulled it out to make sure the River Deep album is in stereo, and it is. Every track.

You want a copy?

BTW, Bob Seger does a great cover of this song as well...ever heard it?

Postby **lukpac** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 7:47 am

Ahh...that post wasn't very clear.

Send me a PM or e-mail.

Haven't heard Bob Seger do the song. I kind of picked up on it with the Animals' version.

Ok, now I'm confused. I just checked Circuit City - same title, same track lineup, "Polygram Int'l" but different cover. RDMH is in stereo, but it doesn't seem like the same recording. Is CC's clip from another album? The notes and credits would seem to indicate it's the right album.

Ed Bishop · Postby **Ed Bishop** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 8:43 am

The mono mix isn't the problem; the mastering is. BACK TO MONO is in definite need of a serious re-do....

As for the stereo..for a guy who started wearing a "Back To Mono" button in the '70s(PS's XMAS ALBUM reissue on Apple), Spector nonetheless didn't mind mixing to stereo when he was in the mood, and Ike & Tina's RD-MH is one example. Issued by A&M in 1969(after the aborted--and somewhat different--1966 Philles album was mixed to mono, then cancelled), it's a nice sounding album, and the '80s CD referenced above is more than worthy. Haven't heard the MFSL, but it's probably at least just as good. Why neither single sold much is open to speculation, though certainly not due to lack of sonic or artistic quality, as both were right up there with his very best.

ED

Postby **lukpac** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 8:54 am

Ok, now I'm really confused...

The mono LP was or wasn't issued in 1966?

The stereo LP wasn't issued until 1969? What was different about it?

IMO the mono mix (of the song, anyway) is a bit too much of one giant wash, but what do I know?

Ed Bishop · Postby **Ed Bishop** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 2:20 pm

lukpac wrote:Ok, now I'm really confused...

Do what I do: go with its gentle flow.... :wink:

The mono LP was or wasn't issued in 1966?

Very, very limited pressings...if it was officially released, it didn't hang around long, the beast goes for obscene prices these days...

The stereo LP wasn't issued until 1969? What was different about it?

Well, it was STEREO--heh--but a few tracks were dropped, IIRC, and a few added in their place, and probably the sequence was reshuffled, also. The A&M Lp was the first stereo appearance for all of it. Don't remember ever hearing about a stereo Philles edition, but it's been a long time since I've even thought about it.

IMO the mono mix (of the song, anyway) is a bit too much of one giant wash, but what do I know?

The better your system, the better it plays...it's supposed to sound 'huge,' and under the right conditions, it is exactly that. Spector obviously spent a lot of time mixing it to his liking, and its disappointing sales must have devastated him; Philles, as a company, was pretty much dead after that, except for a few more 45's...

ED

Postby **lukpac** » Fri Aug 27, 2004 2:59 pm

Dob wrote:Yes. I didn't mention that Bradley himself ripped me a copy of the twofer that he is referring to. It's been a long time since I've listened to it, so I pulled it out to make sure the River Deep album is in stereo, and it is. Every track.

Thanks to Dob, I've now heard this...

Compared to the mono mix (from Back To Mono), there's actually some bottom end, and everything doesn't sound like it's coming out of an AM radio (there still isn't much high end, though). And it really doesn't seem like there's anything "lost" in the separation of the stereo mix. That said, the main track is right-center, rather than hard right - I have to wonder if that's what the mix is like, or if it was narrowed in mastering. The EQ differences could be in the mastering as well (vs. the mixes).

One caveat about the stereo mix on this CD - it's got some *really* bad noise reduction. Almost no hiss (there's tons of hiss on the mono mix), and everything is pretty shrill (even with the lack of high end). Some tracks are a lot worse than others.

This is actually a little helpful, other than "Almost sounded like a soundboard recording" (what the hell does that mean?).

Dob · Postby **Dob** » Sun Aug 29, 2004 7:45 pm

lukpac wrote:One caveat about the stereo mix on this CD - it's got some *really* bad noise reduction. Almost no hiss (there's tons of hiss on the mono mix), and everything is pretty shrill (even with the lack of high end).

It might be worthwhile to hunt down the Mofi then. Seeing as it's one of the silver (not gold) ones, it probably has no noise reduction whatsoever. It might be better mastered as well...even though it didn't "float" someone's "boat." Although when "you know who" complains of a recording being lackluster, it's probably really bad (i.e., no treble at all).

Pity about the Mofi price, though. Kinda scares me off...even though I keep telling myself that if I pay the going rate I should be able to sell it for nearly that price if I don't like it.

Postby **lukpac** » Sun Aug 29, 2004 9:50 pm

Wasn't there also a CD release on A&M?

Dob · Postby **Dob** » Fri Sep 03, 2004 3:00 pm

I'm not sure if the A&M CD is in stereo. It seems like it should be, but I thought that Bradley told me that the stereo is only available on the MFSL and on the Alvorado CD. I'm probably remembering it wrong, though...

Postby **lukpac** » Fri Sep 03, 2004 3:11 pm

It would make *sense* that it was in stereo, since A&M never released the mono LP, but I suppose you never know.