I just found out you are correct. That is the RCA Club version. I'm going to play them tonight to see if there's any difference in sound quality. I found out that version was remastered by RCA from original tapes from ABC Records Inc. I'm not sure if that will make it better or worse sounding. ??
Boy, I have written about it before, but the Cisco (which I own), while having bass extension and lower end presence, sounds muffled and woolly compared to my US.
It doesn't sound muffled on my setup at all. Sometimes a systems characteristics can accentuate a particular quality/perceived flaw. We all know you don't like it
"....compared to my US". Haven't you ever thought you had a good copy of something only to get another and think that a layer of gauze was wiped away in hindsight?
Yes, twice! The 1957 UK HMV Ella Sings The Cole Porter Songbook - first layer of gauze comes off after acquiring the late 1970's UK Polydor re-issue! Second layer of gauze 'blown away' with the 3LP Analog Spark 2016 re-issue!
The midrange, clarity, and transient response on the original is startling in my system compared to my Cisco copy.
I have no problem with the Cisco, it's a great-sounding record. But I managed to find a mint U.S. first press (for $7!) and it was clearer sounding and had better dynamics IMHO. The Japanese promo was almost identical. They all sound great!
I have the Cisco Aja, which sounded a bit rolled off in spots but sounded great in certain spots (I think the drum intro to "I Got the News" comes to mind?) I need to find one of these "AB" pressings. Are all "AB" pressings equally good as long as they are clean, or are we in Tom Port territory? Thanks.
Well, there's always the chance of a pressing off a tired stamper, but I think any one in good condition is going to be great. Someone mentioned one pressed in the Santa Clara plant, if I'm not mistaken, was the best one he came across. Don't ask me how to identify that.
Thanks. I take it that since it is a late 70's US pressing, vinyl quality can be an issue in addition to general wear and tear, so that adds to the challenge.
I bought a gold stamp promo of Aja on EBay recently, and sure enough, it's an AB. Smokes my old AA, which is now in the trade in pile.
I know I shouldn't be lazy and should just dig through the thread about it, but can someone please list the specific deadwax details I'm looking for for the AB pressing?
AB preceding the catalogue number in the deadwax, along with a 1A or 1B in there as well will be your best bet...I believe those are the early Santa Clara pressings.
Second Stock will be AA with the B scratched out, mine has RE-3 also (Revision) , <---this also carries the better mastering: My AA carries RE-4 You can see the B scratched out, kind of tough to photograph SRC liked to use RE tags, not sure if the west coast has them or not, me being towards the east makes sense that this was probably a Pennsylvania press
I've noticed the same kind of thing when comparing (casually, not in a formal shootout per se) the original AB1006 & the Cisco. Prefer the former, it is perfection to my ears.
On my system, the Cisco packs much more wallop - in midrange, and especially in bass and drums - and it's not close. And the more you crank it up, the more it breathes. I also keep an original domestic AB and Nippon Japan pressing because I'm obsessive and adore the album, but I find the Cisco the clear winner. With the Cisco it's like I'm listening to live music; with the other two, a compressed recording of the music.
The top end and midrange are more open and detailed than your AB pressing?? Or do they just have more "whomp"? Because most of the bass and drums don't live in the midrange. How clear, open, and present are saxes and the vocals? How airy on top is the Cisco vs. the AB domestic?
For those with high end systems, you might try increasing the height of your tonearm slightly when you play the Cisco. As I recall, it's a pretty thick record, kind of felt like 200g. You may lose some lower end, but it might provide the added clarity you are hearing on the original pressings.