Is there a definitive version of a recording?
At some stage, in the late 1980s a friend of mine announced that he had sold all his vinyl and cassettes and was replacing his “record” collection with these new – state of the art – CDs. At the time I was surprised because he would have had to pay roughly 5 times the trade in value of an LP for a CD. Embedded in each one of those records were memories of when the LP/tape was recorded, where it was purchased, what you were doing at the time etc. Fast forward 25 years and those LPs are worth significantly more now than they were then. Was he right?
Browsing through my record collection from my original LP buying years (1977 to 1994) and my tape buying years (1979 to 1991) and I realise that virtually every LP that I have ever treasured has a matching CD in my collection. So, presumably, at some stage, I decided that the definitive version of the recording was 16 bit digital. Of course, over that time, with remasters and deluxe editions, I have purchased several different CD versions. Indeed, at one stage, I decided that SACD/DVDA was the definitive version, until I realised that SACD, in particular, is a locked in DRM based con-job for which 200 years down the road you won’t be able to find a player. I also think that they sound poor (just an opinion). I have never had much time for purchased MP3s, and have continued to buy CDs at a steady rate (except for 2011 which was an out of control year) More recently, we have had high resolution downloads – surely now – THE definitive version: if one believes in digital then a 24 bit 192 kHz lossless file must be the way to go? Maybe.
Here is the thing: my generation like to own our music. 24 bit flac files sound great – and I have accumulated a fair amount of my favourite recordings in that format – but they don’t feel real, which brings me back to ownership. At the end of the day, one can’t help feeling that the definitive version of a recording is on vinyl. Don’t get me wrong – there is no record that I treasure that I don’t want a flawless playback version – i.e. digital – I just feel that if I don’t have it on vinyl, well I don’t really have it. So here is the rub: Camera Obscura bring out a new album, and in the LP bag you get the CD. Price difference £6 or £7 (and it is still only £18). This is a no brainer. The new Queens of the Stone Age album is £35 (deluxe) £21 (standard) with an MP3 download code. Surely, if you are coughing up £35 for the deluxe version you should get the lossless CD version (or better still a 24 bit download). In fact, this is the one situation where I wonder if “illegal” downloading should be acceptable – where you have paid a premium price for a recorded product and they furnish you with a second rate audio download.
Anyway, if vinyl is the definitive version – which vinyl version is definitive. Collectors will say that the first issue in the country of origin is definitive. Clearly they haven’t purchased too many 1980s pop albums, which were made of vinyl the with of flexidiscs, much of which was recycled. Yes, the 1960s Blue Note and Impulse records from the US were probably great – but how can you be sure? I have accumulated a number of “Music on Vinyl” recordings – so of which are now replacing original LPs in my collections: they are 180g virgin vinyl, well pressed with high quality artwork. In many cases the original LPs of mine sound shocking. I do accept that the majority of these arise from digital remasters (24/192 or above), but they sound great and are reasonably priced.
On the other hand you have Analogue Productions: these are 45rpm analogue reissues that likely sound superior even to the first generation recordings. Given a choice – I would take the analogue production version every day: the only thing is – standard LP versions of Blue Note recordings can be bought of $10; the reissued 180g LP (with free CD) are approx. $20, the 45rpm analogue productions version is $50 – and almost impossible to obtain in Western Europe. If I order from the US on Amazon, the taxman will charge me an additional 50 euro per album. This is staggeringly expensive. Another question also arises: one of the great pleasures of the LP is that it is a Long Player. There are two sides of roughly 15 to 20 minutes each. By moving to 45rpm, you are, with Jazz, looking at 1 track per side, and getting up and flipping/changing every 7 minutes. This is analogous to playing 78rpm discs. I like to hear LPs as they were originally conceived – Side 1 and Side 2: so I am not so sure about this whole double album thing for higher quality (and there is no doubt that 45rpm sounds better to audiophile – although likely not mine – ears).
It is interesting that Vinyl reissues are a major source of profit for record companies and record 
shops. You NEVER get a discount, rarely encounter a sale, and even Amazon are using the RRP. However, the music industry will need to do better. “Limited” reissues are a real pain – yes they yield tremendous long term collectability, but I always seem to miss the boat. For example, XTC released an expensive deluxe vinyl version of Skylarking a year or two ago. I want it; I can’t get it – APE records tell me it is out of stock. So here is a suggestion Andy Partridge – take my £50 now, and take orders from all of the other frustrated potential purchasers, and when you have sufficient pre-orders, print off another couple of hundred copies. Or at the very least – take my email address and inform me if you do another run.
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