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I can’t tell you how many – but there were a lot – records that I bought during the analogue era – based on reputation – that sounded absolutely horrible. Among them were “Exile on Main Street,” “Layla & Associated Love Songs,” “Aqualung,” “Let it Be” & “All Things Must Pass” (and anything that Phil Spector touched), “Disraeli Gears,” “Katy Lied” (astonishing bad sound for a Steely Dan album)”, early Tony Visconti Bowie albums, “The Smiths (Troy Tate vinyl reissue please)”, “Buffalo Springfield,” all of the John Coltrane Atlantic sides (and, virtually everything engineered by Tom Dowd), most of the Led Zeppelin albums. Then of course there were the 5000th record pressed on the stamper (my version of “Rumours” for example) that has no top end, no bottom end and no middle!

Fortunately, CD arrived in the mid 80s and by 1995 every album had been digitally remixed and remastered.* Many of those ADD remixes were wonderful. For example, Bob Ludwig’s work on the Rolling Stones catalogue is fantastic – in many ways the Virgin CDs (mid 1990s) and the ABKCO SACDs (early 00s) are the definitive versions of their albums. I have at least 8 versions of “Exile” (1980s CD, 1995 Virgin CD, 2000s UME Deluxe Edition, 2010 Vinyl Reissue, 2016 1/2 Speed “Abbey Road” Vinyl, 24/96 Pure Audio Blu-Ray, 2014 SACD) – and I still think that the Ludwig CD is the best sounding (i.e. the most modern sounding version). The 2010s versions on Universal were horribly loud, almost to the point of unlistenable.

*There is an endless issue with terminology here: remixing involves taking the original multi-track masters and adjusting the sound levels of individual components, manipulating the EQ and usually widening the sound-stage. Remastering involves adjusting the EQ of the original master tapes – in terms of loudness, EQ (bass and treble and balance). It is likely that most of the “digitally remastered” CDs from the 1990s were actually remixed and remastered i.e. ADD or DDD.

Here is the rub – all analogue (AAA) enthusiasts demand that the best version of a recording is derived from the original master tapes. What if the sound on the tape is, frankly, crap. Remember that the majority of “new” reissued records that have come out over the past decade are digitally sourced, principally from those remastered CDs – and yes – they frequently sound better than your original vinyl version.

Two records are being reissued this autumn that caught my eye: a half speed master from the original tapes of “Layla & Assorted Love Songs” by Derek and the Dominoes (Eric Clapton) and “Aqualung” by Jethro Tull – a UHQ reissue by Analogue Productions. I don’t plan to buy either, despite loving both albums.

Like “Exile” Layla has been re-issued 300 or 400 times – I have at least 10 versions also – ranging from the “Back to Black” vinyl pressing to the Pure Audio Blu-Ray at 24/96. Like Exile – my first version was the 1980s CD – that sounded murky (like a veil was dropped on it) and like Exile – the 1990s CD remaster made the record listenable, at last. There have been a bunch of vinyl reissues – including a decade old Super Deluxe version – that sounded – mmm – just like the CD. So, when Mobile Fidelity announced that they were using their ultra gain thingy magic to bring out the original master tapes from the mirth – I jumped all over it. Every few months I take the record out and give it a spin – meh – it just doesn’t do it for me. On the other hand, for 15 years or so, I have had the SACD sitting in my listening area – and I frequently put it on an enjoy the album. What is really astonishing is the 5.1 mix on the SACD – which is entirely different – there is no soup – it is crystal clear, and – folded down into stereo – this is the best version of the album that I have heard. Stuff the original master tapes – they were not well engineered or mastered!

Strangely, when I bought the 40th Anniversary super deluxe box set – what I was really after was a 5.1 mix that could be ripped easily from the disc. Instead of a high quality PCM 24/96 version, or even a 16/48 stream, what I got was a Dolby Digital or DTS 48kHz lossy version that was ok, but not as good as the SACD (it might have been as good if in lossless format). Robbed. An wait, there’s more – the engineers who did the surround mix received a Grammy for their work.

If you want to assess your version of this album (let’s face it everybody has a copy) – then listen to the line of “Bell Bottom Blues” where they all join in to sing <Do you want to see me crawl across the floor to you?> On my multiple vinyl versions and 1980s CD this is screechy, compressed and brickwalled. On the newer digital versions, with the lower noise floor and greater dynamic range – it sounds good – almost in tune.

Atlantic was probably the greatest ever record label and Ahmed Ertegun the greatest music mogul – they invented 8 track recording but their records are universally muddy sounding. It is worth noting that, like them or not, we are stuck with the Atlantic masters forever. The multitrack masters were destroyed in a fire in Long Branch, New Jersey, in 1976.

One of the first CDs that I ever bought was “Aqaulung” by Jethro Tull. Again this was AAD (most CDs from the 80s were) – i.e. a direct lift from the original master tapes. And it sounded bloody awful. We are talking mushroom soup here. A lot of the Tull albums sounded bad. However, about 10 years ago – I was given a new box set version of the album, on CD and vinyl for Christmas. I had low expectations, but, giving the album a spin – I was spellbound. I could actually hear….everything! And the mix was crisp and dry (i.e. not loud and compressed) and modern. Behind this was the wunderman Steven Wilson. Of course, when you buy a Wilson related product (with the exception of the Pink and Grey by Caravan), you get about 6 different versions on the Blu-Ray – including a 5.1 surround mix, that was also wonderful.

It is only when you read how Wilson goes about remixing albums that you realize that, for classic albums that were badly mixed originally, a new digital master derived from the multi-track tapes is the only way to go. This is, of course, how the surround versions of Layla were produced. This is what Giles Martin has been doing, somewhat controversially, with the later Beatles albums. And yes, remixing 1960s albums is ok because the fidelity of the master tapes was superior to the fidelity of the playback systems back then – and, mastered for modern ears with modern hifi they sound amazing. I may be in a minority of one, but I think that I prefer the Giles version of Sgt Pepper to any of my 1/2 dozen other versions, including, possibly, the legendary mono mix.

Unfortunately, after 1995, the world of digital audio was ambushed by the “loudness war” – and album masters from that era (up to 2010) must be close to unlistenable. A whole heap of loudness era CDs need careful remixing and remastering – “Be Here Now” by Oasis, “Pop” by U2 and, more than any “Californication” by Red Hot Chili Peppers.

On a final note, and I eluded to this is a previous post, I have spent much of this year listening to jazz from about 1953 to 1964 almost exclusively on AAA vinyl (a combination of original pressings, Japanese reissues and audiophile reissues) – and there is no doubt that these sound better than the digital releases of the same music. However, today, virtually every album released is derived from a digital master – and many of the LPs pressed – particularly on ECM and Nonsuch – sound spectacular. “Valentine” by Bill Frisell is spellbinding on vinyl, but digitally recorded.

Final gripe: I listened to a stream of “Goats Head Soup” – super-deluxe during the week and really enjoyed it. The group at this stage still featured Mick Taylor, and some of the music is exceptional. The “Brussels Affair” bootleg is finally issued officially. So, rush of blood – I ordered the set for €100 from Amazon Germany, principally for the 24/96 surround version. Then I discover that the remainder of the material is not on the Blu Ray – i.e. Brussels Affair – which I presumed would be presented in hi res. No – you pay your money and get the downgraded CD version. Never mind – for €25 I can download the whole set at 24/96 from Qobuz (sublime). I think if the record company are going to stick us with lousy CDs for these box sets, the least that they could do is furnish you with a high resolution download code.

~ by Pat Neligan on September 30, 2020.

Posted in Box Sets, High Resolution, Vinyl
Tags: AAA DDD ADD, Box Set, Digital Remaster, Exile on Main Street, Goats Head Soup, Layla, Muddy Sound, Remaster, Remix, Steven Wilson, Viny;