Faces catalog on CD currently?

I don't own any Faces and material and I'm interested in buying some. There are some Faces cd discussions from 5 years ago on here but now we have a new box set that contains all of the studio albums and also a rather neat looking disc that has the remaining non album A and B sides. Is this new box set the best sounding Faces on cd? Or should I seek out the first Japanese issues from 1990 or the Warner Bros. Archives remasters from 1993?

Thanks

 

Avoid the 1993 Warner Archives CDs, they blow. While not a CD of course, have you heard the hi-res versions (HDtracks, etc.)? They sound fantastic and are now my go-to versions of all titles, except for the AF gold CD of Nod.

 

Just get the new CD box 1970-1975 You Can Make Me Dance, Sing Or Anything. It has the four studio albums and a stray singles & b-sides disc.
Then get the Five Guys Walk Into A Bar box and you're good to go...seriously!

 

Agree completely. Have both myself and love em.

Mark

 

What's wrong with them? I'm just curious.

 

Compression, loudness, noise reduction.

 

The definitive answer.

 

This looks like the way to go. Thanks for all the suggestions

 

I agree except I would get the Five Guys box first!

 

I'm pretty sensitive to compression, etc., and I've never been bothered by the Warner Archives versions. I quite like their white trays, too.

 

Whom mastered those?

 

Lee Hershberg

 

I would get them both in the same order and save on shipping.

 

CD Japan announced a shm-cd mini lp replica version of the 1970-1975 box for Feb. 2016.

http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/WPCR-17057

 

I'm very happy with my early Japanese editions (WPCP-....), but I do not find the Warner archive releases annoying.

 

Yep. This is pretty much it.

If you want to add a great single-disc comp for when you want to just grab and go, then "Good Boys... When They're Asleep" is a good addition, too.

 

Really didn't know their material all that well but picked up "Five Guys....", highly recommended.

 

Beyond the two box sets, is there anything else from the Faces that would be considered "essential"? I noticed that there are a few live tracks from the Fillmore East '70 that are included on the Faces Anthology 2 CD set. Thanks!

 

I'm not sensitive to compression, but i bought the whole lot when I saw them in the bins of Tower Records on South Street in Philadelphia. I've enjoyed the sound and the white trays ever since.

 

I love the "Good Boys..." compilation and I'm eyeing the new box (and/or the Five Guys box. I do have the 1993 First Step and Nod CDs but I haven't critically listened to them yet...

 

I feel the new CD box wipes the floor with the Warner Archives releases from 1993. Not even close. That and the Five Guys box, and you're solid, IMO.

 

For those titles that I compared, the early Japan WPCP and the Warner Archive cds had identical EAC peaks. I thought I read somewhere on the Forum that they were likely flat transfers. I can certainly hear tape hiss on these. If you want to hear loud, treble oveloaded masterings, try the 40th AnniversaryJapanese mini-lps from a few years ago of First Step, Long Player and Ooh La La. Can't speak for A Nod's... mini-lp as I've never owned that one. I've only kept them for the replica sleeves, which are quite nice.

 

I originally (1990's) had the Warner Archives Nod, then replaced it with the HDtracks release (full Faces albums set) which I thought was quite an improvement. More dynamic range, less fatiguing, more natural sounding. Then I got the AF CD which I like even better. I didn't know that the Warner Archive releases shared the same mastering as the WPCP CDs, which are usually highly regarded, but for me I'm happy with the hi-res and the AF CD for Nod.

 

And I've pre-ordered it!

 

I got the 1970-1975: You Can Make Me Dance, Sing Or Anything box set on CD for Christmas as I only really knew their famous stuff. All I can say is: "Man, this is some good ****!" The sound is wonderful and it's a very good price when considering the amount of stuff you get. The guitar playing alone is absolutely phenomenal!