New Who Japanese mini-LPs

[Rspaight]

Not hearing much if any NR on Who's Missing, either...

[lukpac]

Playing O&S right now, and my first impression (without rigorous comparison) is that it's still a bit goosed but it doesn't seem as painful as the '98 disc. "Naked Eye" is playing right now, and if there's any NR it's very minimal. Don't know if any of the fuckups from the '98 have been fixed. "Leaving Here" seems as loud as the '98 disc. I'll actually compare 'em eventually, but I'm lazy.

(Edited to add: I don't hear any double-tracking on YMB, just some reverb.)

Is Young Man Blues perhaps the THTTB version, but prior to final overdubs?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BC4GnrWOtkU

I would expect NR to be minimal, if at all.

A shame that BBC wasn't remastered.

Still nothing here. Hopefully tomorrow.

[Rspaight]

Is Young Man Blues perhaps the THTTB version, but prior to final overdubs?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BC4GnrWOtkU

I would expect NR to be minimal, if at all.

A shame that BBC wasn't remastered.

Still nothing here. Hopefully tomorrow.

It's possible. The vocal is a *lot* drier, and the whole thing sounds less "produced" than the THTTB version (there's different/less feedback at the very end, too), but it sure sounds like the same *take*.

I got the cheap air mail shipping, so yours should be here shortly.

Oh, and in addition to "Baby Don't You Do It" being longer (and awesome), Bargain and My Wife have some extra stage patter, too (but I didn't notice the songs themselves being longer).

[Rspaight]

So, I'm assuming this:

http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=UICY-93748

is just the same old mastering?

[lukpac]

So, I'm assuming this:

http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=UICY-93748

is just the same old mastering?

I would assume it's just the DE, although I suppose it is possible that it uses the Super Deluxe mastering. Either way, I'm not going to find out.

[Rspaight]

So, I'm assuming this:

http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=UICY-93748

is just the same old mastering?

I would assume it's just the DE, although I suppose it is possible that it uses the Super Deluxe mastering. Either way, I'm not going to find out.

Oh, good. I'm out of money, anyway.

[lukpac]

And...nothing in today's mail.

[lukpac]

Some cross posts, with thanks to Ryan...

Young Man Blues:

- Same take as on The House That Track Built (and the Tommy Deluxe Edition). Runs slightly faster.

- Relatively dry mix, compared to THTTB. Also, everything seems to shift to the left a bit.

- Single-tracked lead vocal. This seems to be one of the two vocals used for the final mix. Roger doesn't sing in a few spots on this vocal track. For example: "(and the) young man, (ain't got) nothing in the world these days".

- Initially I thought the guitar solo was a bit longer, but on listening again, it sounds like the vocals are simply mixed out for some of the solo and come in later.

Interesting, but IMO the actual THTTB mix is still definitive.

Baby Don't You Do It:

Matches the Join Together B-side/Rarities version exactly, other than the edits on the B-side. Those edits are as follows:

- Approximately 17 seconds of opening banter edited out.
- First edit at 1:52. 1:22 was edited out here. This corresponds to approximately 2:11 to 3:33 on the new disc.
- Second edit at 1:55 (yes, the previous section is only 2 bars long). 0:58 was edited out here. This corresponds to approximately 3:36 to 4:35 on the new disc.
- Third edit at 4:20. 0:11 was edited out here. This corresponds to approximately 7:00 to 7:11 on the new disc.
- Fourth edit at 4:58. 0:16 was edited out here. This corresponds to approximately 7:49 to 8:05 on the new disc.
- Fade is approximately 12 seconds earlier than on the new disc.

All put together, that's about 2:47 of music edited out of the single mix via 4 different edits, plus an additional 29 seconds of banter and applause that wasn't included.

I'd say the unedited version is *great*. This was already my favorite performance of the song, and I think the extended sections make it even better.

[Rspaight]

Agreed on the long Baby Don't You Do It. Getting that is quite a pleasant surprise.

[lukpac]

It appears Universal is trying to gauge interest in domestic releases of these. Let me know if those would interest anybody and I'll pass it on.

If there were domestic releases, I'd be content with those for the ones I didn't already order. Other than BBC...don't really need that again if it isn't remastered.

[Rspaight]

Well, of course I've bought the ones I want. But I think sweeping out the remixes and replacing them with these would be a dandy idea.

If the SQ on The Singles is good, I'd pick that up as a domestic issue.

[Xenu]

I'd be interested, in the sense that I have no intention of purchasing expensive imports but would consider purchasing domestic/European issues (although I see no point in reissuing things like the BBC Sessions). That said, I would hope that they would be priced like the Universal reissues of the early T. Rex catalog, which were also stuffed with bonus tracks. Domestic, bargain-priced versions of the AQO and My Generation sets would also be appreciated.

[Rspaight]

They could seriously upgrade the catalog for very little cost at this point. In all the cases below where the DE contains the original mix, they could simply replace the remix disc with disc one of the DE. (Either disc in the case of the mono/stereo Quick One and Sell Out.) The mono disc of My Generation could be issued as a low-price alternative to the DE. Ahem:

My Generation -- delete the DE and replace with DE mirroring the content of the Japanese box set
A Quick One -- issue DE mirroring the content of the Japanese box set
Sell Out -- current DE is fine
Tommy -- current DE is fine, possibly fix bizarre bonus track stereo mixes with original mix tracks from new Japanese CDs
Live At Leeds -- remaster DE to be listenable
Who's Next -- current DE is fine
Quadrophenia -- just issued a DE -- I'd prefer original mix, but OK as is

For everything after that, just delete all the current remix discs and replace with the just-issued Japanese CDs.

Of course, then you'd remaster Ultimate Collection (adding "Relay," "Athena," and something from Endless Wire) and call it something new, just for the heck of it.

And the in-print catalog suddenly becomes a thousand percent better. Not perfect by any stretch, but much better. And the only new work that would have to be done would be the LALDE remaster.

[lukpac]

A Quick One -- issue DE mirroring the content of the Japanese box set

If nothing else, at least fix the problems in Batman, Bucket T and Disguises (all stereo).

Live At Leeds -- remaster DE to be listenable

Somehow I don't see that happening...

Who's Next -- current DE is fine

Maybe sub in the SACD mastering.

[Rspaight]

Who's Next -- current DE is fine

Maybe sub in the SACD mastering.

Is it much better?