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I suddenly seem to have a bunch of duplicate records to go with all of the duplicate CDs that I already had. One of the great marketing tricks that target “collectors” or enthusiasts is to find some way to get them to buy products that they already own. The CD was the original “upgrade” – but once we had bought the CD – the music industry managed to persuade us to part with our cash for the “remastered” CD, the “Deluxe” edition, the “Mono” edition, the “Superdeluxe” edition and the “Box Set.” Once the vinyl renaissance happened, it was inevitable that the music industry would follow the same strategy. And suckers we are – hence my four vinyl versions of “The Nightfly,” 2 DVDAs, an SACD, a cassette version and a couple of CDs. Honestly, I still think that (aside from the MOFI 1-step – a ludicrous luxury) the original vinyl version sounds the best.# When reissues or remasters appear, very few reviewers seem to go to the trouble of comparing previous re-issues in some quantifiable way. I hope that the approach here is of some use to you.

Several months ago I came across an offer on Amazon to buy the most recent Derek & the Dominos Layla Boxset at a knock down price. Never mind that I already owned several versions of this record. This was the 2020 Miles Showell 1/2 speed Abbey Road remaster with some bonus material that had not been previously released on vinyl – for which I would have paid the £40 or whatever. I have many digital versions of the album also – from a 1980s CD, to the various remasters, the 20th anniversary box set (this was a remix), deluxe, super deluxe, SACD, BD audio etc. For what it is worth, they all sound very good, if a little bit “muddy.” My go to version has been the 2003 SACD for some years, but all of the remastered and high resolution versions sound great – and the Super Deluxe DVD surround version is very good indeed (but lossy). If you don’t have the album, just buy the latest CD version. But what of the vinyl versions? Please note, I have never heard an original pressing of this album in mint condition on audiophile equipment for comparison.

I have 5 vinyl versions of the Layla album: the first was a 2008 reissue, the second was the 2011 superdeluxe edition that was subsequently released as “Back on Black” (yellow label), the third was the 2017 Mobile Fidelity audiophile reissue, the fourth was the 2016 version in the “Studio Albums” box. Finally the fifth was the Showell Abbey Road version from 2020. I sat down one afternoon, during lockdown, and listened to the first song on all four sides of the album – five times for five albums. Strangely, I went into the process completely unbiased – as, frankly, I still sort of prefer the digital versions.

My scoring system weighs very heavily on the sound quality – and, I must confess that I value clarity: you may not. As you can see (in the tables below), and I was surprised by this, the best sounding version turned out to be the Mobile Fidelity release – one that I have found hard to love. The album is easily available from audiophile dealers and discogs – but quite expensive. However, the best buy version (and you need to be careful here) is probably the 2011 40th anniversary Yellow Sticker Back to Black version. This was remastered by Showell from the original (better condition but slightly different) London (UK) masters – I’m not sure if it is AAA (it should be) – but it is the same version that is in my Superdeluxe Box set. It will set you back about 50% of the price of the Mofi version. Neither the 2008 nor the 2015 versions sounded better to me than the CD. The 2015 version is particularly puzzling – the cover is so poor that it looks like a bootleg (the box set is nice and otherwise well packaged), and the record sounds very digital. I’m not sure why they didn’t use the 2011 version (both were mastered by Showell at Abbey Road – but the inscriptions on the run out groove are different).

As an aside, and I might include this in future reviews – one of the great things about vinyl albums, when you play them is “engagability” that is – you sit down an listen: you don’t want to go making coffee or browsing your phone or anything else. The music grabs and holds onto you. Although it didn’t score as highly as other versions for sound quality, if found the 2020 remaster strangely engaging – far more so than the MoFi version and, honestly, I am more likely to listen to that version despite it’s (apparently) inferior sound quality.
One final comment you might ask – 77% seems a little stingy for such a legendary album? If you look carefully, the music is a 10/10 – but it is unfortunately a Tom Dowd lumpy muddy production and does not meet 1970 audiophile standards (in my opinion). The surround remixes on on SACD and DVD (superdeluxe box) – sound better and more modern.

LAYLA VINYL VERSIONS 2011-2021

*sandpaper inner sleeve

2008 was the original Back to Black version

2011 was the Superdeluxe Box-Set and subsequently the Back to Black yellow sticker version

2015 Was the “Studio Albums” version

2017 was the Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab version

2020 was the ½ speed Abbey Road version

SOURCE

#I think a similar comparison of versions of “The Nightfly” is in the offing.

~ by Pat Neligan on July 15, 2021.

Posted in Uncategorized
Tags: Audiophile Vinyl, Derek & the Dominos, Derek and the Dominos, Eric Clapton, Half Speed Remastering, Layla and Other Associated Love Songs Vinyl, Layla Superdeluxe, Layla Vinyl, vinyl reissues