NEW ENGLAND: best CD pressing?

any recomendations?

 

???

 

perhaps a tad bit more information on what you are asking about would be helpful?

 

Are you referring the band New England that released three albums: S/T, Explorer Suite and Walking Wild? I have the vinyl when these were originally issued but never seen them on CD.

 

And there Wishbone Ash's "New England" lp, also.

As I said......

 

I have a New England cd....I was not aware of other editions though.....

 

They were released on CD by a reissue label (Wounded Bird?) a couple years ago and are still available AFAIK. I have a Japanese pressing of S/T that sounds great.

 

Well, the debut album - New Enlgand - was only issued originally on CD as a Japanese import on MCA records (MVCM-346) in 1993.

It was later re-issued in the U.S. on Renaissance Records (RMED00187) in 1998.

Of the two, the Japanese pressing is definitely the way to go. Not only is the sound a bit better, but the graphics are as well. The Renaissance version look very cheaply reproduced, but, on the other hand, can be had far more easily and cheaply, too. You can often pick a copy up on E-bay directly from the manufacturer for about $5.

The other two albums - Explorer Suite (2nd) and Walking Wild (3rd) - were first issued on CD in 1998 via GBMusic (GB1000 and GB1001 respectively), and were officially licensed and sanctioned by the band. These sound and look great!

GBMusic would also release a couple other CDs. One called 1978, which was essentially the demo version of the debut album, plus a few other unreleased tracks. The other is called Greatest Hits Live an was taken from a show recorded on their tour of the first album. Given the limits and quality of the original production of the source material, they are good but not essential listening, unless you're a real fan of the band or completeist.

Wounded Bird acquired the rights to reissue Explorer Suite and Walking Wild after GBMusic's license ran out, as they have an ongoing deal with Elektra (and WEA) to produce reissues from their catalog. I have not heard these versions. personally, but given what product I do own from Wounded Bird, they should be decent.

For more info on the band, here's their website... http://www.newenglandrocks.com/

 

The original New England 'S/T' CD released in Japan on MCA is the better sounding version on CD. The U.S. 1998 CD is not bad sounding, plus it has a remix of 'Don't Ever Wanna Losa Ya'. If you can find the U.S. 1998 CD of the 'S/T' album for a reasonable price, I would pick it up.

As for 'Explorer Suite', and 'Walking Wild', both albums released on CD by GBMusic, are the ones to get. The artwork on the CD itself, and the liner notes in the booklets, are miles ahead of those of the Wounded Bird reissues. I have both 'Explorer Suite', and 'Walking Wild' on the Wouded Bird label, and they both have unique mastering as those on the GBMusic label. I haven't done an A/B test of them yet, but on listening to the Wounded Bird issues, on a stand alone basis, they both sound very good.

 

Oh man !! NEW ENGLAND baby !! I still have all the lps (promos for 1 or 2 of them). Will have to look at doing needle drops or checking out these CDs someday. Great post Rocketdog. I might have even seen them live opening for someone else way back then ...

Gotta love SHF for mentions of bands like this.

 

Sadly, the only time I got to see them live was opening for KISS on the Dynasty tour - but they were great! I've got all the vinyl, too. Great underrated band that never quite got their due.

 

I believe the first album was produced by Paul Stanley.

 

Yep.

 

Oh man, that might be the tour ...

Just looked, I have just the 1st one and a Live promo disc with 6 tracks total, maybe 32 min total. Same thing?

 

Could be, just a shorter version of it. Here's the track listing...

Alone Tonight
Shoot
Hello Hello Hello
The Last Show
Encore
Hey You're On The Run
Shall I Run Away
Nothing To Fear
Don't Ever Wanna Lose Ya
Explorer Suite
P.U.N.K.
You'll Be Born Again

 

Hi, to everyone
just for the records
Renaissance and japan MCA shares the same mastering

here are the peaks (without the extra track of the renaissance issue)
99.3 - 100.0 - 97.9 - 100.0 - 97.0 - 100.0 - 100.0 - 98.1 - 98.8 - 100.0

 

New England (the band), have reunited, and are currently making an attempt to put together an official tour. They just finished the first official reunion concert on August 15th, at the Regent Theater in the Boston area. They sound as great as ever, and are hinting at possibly putting out an album of all new material. I for one as am excited as he!!.

Here's a performance from the Regent concert on August 15th, 2014...It is so awesome seeing these guys together on stage again. Please fellow forum members, show these guys all the love you can!

 

Great article about the New England reunion concert in Arlington, MA on August 15th 2014...

http://standing-room-only.info/arti...s-new-england-return-first-show-over-30-years

 

The first new song from New England in 33 years!

 

Oh, I wanted to go to that show so bad, but just couldn't swing it. The good news is that they are planning more shows, and hopefully I'll be able to catch one of those. Been listening to all three of their studio albums a lot this week, though. They still hold up, and I can't believe they never hit bigger.

 

I saw them open for KISS at Madison Square Garden in 1979. This was my first arena show, so New England were the very first band I ever saw play in an arena. I couldn't believe how LOUD they were..

 

I saw them open for KISS here in Maine on the same tour. It was my first ever arena concert, as well.

 

Man....the dudes hair still there and still looking the same! With some added grey of course. The keyboard player went on to play with Alcatrazz.

 

As did bass player Gary Shea. Both also played with drummer Hirsh Gardner in a short lived project with Vinnie Vincent (former KISS guitarist) called Warrior. John Fannon had left New England, and the three wanted to carry on, and hooked up with Vincent. Material was recorded, but it never made it past the demo stage

 

Gardner has had a good career producing records in the Boston area.