Best sounding Van Der Graaf Generator on CD?

You got that right. Imagine 5.1 sets with a hi-res master of the original album for "Least We Can Do", "He to He" and "Pawn Hearts". I'd be in heaven.

 

so its seems that 1st 2 logs peak levels are complete different than UK/US pressings, so are different masters? the 3rd match, look:

Pawn Hearts [1971]

1987 - Charisma, Virgin / CASCD 1051, 0777 7 87549 2 3 / CD Reissue / CD
and
1992 - Caroline Blue Plate / CAROL 1639-2 / Reissue / CD

Peak level 64.4 %
Peak level 60.8 %
Peak level 86.5 %

===========================================================================

H to He, Who Am the Only One [1970]

1992 - Caroline Blue Plate / CAROL 1638-2 / CD

Peak level 100.0 %
Peak level 62.4 %
Peak level 100.0 %
Peak level 90.5 %
Peak level 80.7 %

===========================================================================

Still Life [1976]

1988 - Virgin / CASCD 1116 / Mastered by Nimbus / CD

Peak level 95.5 %
Peak level 87.9 %
Peak level 95.5 %
Peak level 77.5 %
Peak level 79.7 %

 

SACD news: http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/products?term.media_format=&q=van+der+graaf

 

However, it doesn't mean they are equal. I've "Godbluff" on different pressings, the Nimbus pressing (CASCD 1109) and the JVC pressing (VJD-28084) have the same peak levels but they are quite different. The running times are different, the Japanese is a bit loud (or with boosted sound levels) and above all it has symptons of no-noise.

 

Anyone have the sacds 2015 ?

 

I have heard some of them, they are very close to the sound of the original CDs. The bonus tracks are copies of the extras of the standard remasters (same very compressed mastering).

 

so the SACDs not worth the money

 

Apparently the SHM-SACD's are already out of print, might be hard to find a copy at a reasonable price.

 

Apparently one SACD album in particular sounds slightly better than the original CD, but I don't remember which one.
The difference is not big; the rest is a personal choice...

 

I've got most of the 2015 Plat SHM-CDs and love them. Sadly Plan9 is right and the bonus tracks seem to come from previous issues, just level-matched to the main album. I'd hardly call them brickwalled though.

Here's some DR values for the 70-76 albums, if anyone's interested:

Code:

foobar2000 1.3.13 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1
log date: 2017-10-14 11:51:30

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analyzed: Van Der Graaf Generator / Godbluff
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DR         Peak         RMS     Duration Track
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR11      -1.40 dB   -16.76 dB      7:34 01-The Undercover Man
DR11      -1.17 dB   -15.58 dB      9:43 02-Scorched Earth
DR11      -1.91 dB   -17.16 dB      9:47 03-Arrow
DR13      -0.23 dB   -15.92 dB     10:42 04-The Sleepwalkers
DR9       -4.87 dB   -18.75 dB      7:58 05-Forsaken Gardens (Live)
DR8       -4.90 dB   -15.78 dB     12:48 06-A Louse Is Not a Home (Live)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Number of tracks:  6
Official DR value: DR11

Samplerate:        44100 Hz
Channels:          2
Bits per sample:   16
Bitrate:           555 kbps
Codec:             ALAC
================================================================================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analyzed: Van Der Graaf Generator / H to He, Who Am the Only One
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DR         Peak         RMS     Duration Track
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR11      -0.61 dB   -14.90 dB      8:25 01-Killer
DR10      -3.34 dB   -18.06 dB      6:38 02-House With No Door
DR12      -0.54 dB   -16.49 dB      8:19 03-The Emperor in His War Room
DR11      -0.89 dB   -15.47 dB     11:18 04-Lost
DR12      -1.26 dB   -17.67 dB     12:52 05-Pioneers Over c.
DR9       -5.09 dB   -15.54 dB     15:24 06-Squid 1/Squid 2/Octopus
DR8       -4.93 dB   -15.17 dB      8:51 07-The Emperor in His War Room (First Version)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Number of tracks:  7
Official DR value: DR10

Samplerate:        44100 Hz
Channels:          2
Bits per sample:   16
Bitrate:           731 kbps
Codec:             ALAC
================================================================================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analyzed: Van Der Graaf Generator / Pawn Hearts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DR         Peak         RMS     Duration Track
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR10      -2.06 dB   -16.45 dB     11:40 01-Lemmings (Including Cog)
DR10      -1.90 dB   -15.67 dB     10:26 02-Man-Erg
DR11      -0.13 dB   -15.57 dB     23:15 03-A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers
DR6       -6.80 dB   -13.95 dB      3:16 04-Theme One (Original Mix)
DR8       -7.57 dB   -18.42 dB      5:03 05-W (First Version)
DR8       -7.04 dB   -18.11 dB      4:48 06-Angle of Incidents
DR10      -6.98 dB   -18.92 dB      1:28 07-Ponker's Theme
DR8       -7.44 dB   -18.96 dB      6:00 08-Diminutions
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Number of tracks:  8
Official DR value: DR9

Samplerate:        44100 Hz
Channels:          2
Bits per sample:   16
Bitrate:           611 kbps
Codec:             ALAC
================================================================================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analyzed: Van Der Graaf Generator / Still Life
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DR         Peak         RMS     Duration Track
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR12      -0.83 dB   -15.68 dB      7:13 01-Pilgrims
DR11      -2.64 dB   -18.68 dB      7:24 02-Still Life
DR12      -0.23 dB   -14.55 dB      9:52 03-La Rossa
DR12      -1.18 dB   -16.62 dB      8:00 04-My Room (Waiting for Wonderland)
DR12      -1.08 dB   -16.25 dB     12:32 05-Childlike Faith in Childhood's End
DR7       -5.48 dB   -14.37 dB     10:30 06-Gog (Live 1975)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Number of tracks:  6
Official DR value: DR11

Samplerate:        44100 Hz
Channels:          2
Bits per sample:   16
Bitrate:           869 kbps
Codec:             ALAC
================================================================================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analyzed: Van der Graaf Generator / The Least We Can Do Is Wave to Each Other
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DR         Peak         RMS     Duration Track
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR11      -0.15 dB   -14.66 dB      7:28 01-Darkness (11/11)
DR10      -2.49 dB   -15.84 dB      6:22 02-Refugees
DR10      -0.14 dB   -15.15 dB      8:18 03-White Hammer
DR11      -2.37 dB   -17.47 dB      6:07 04-Whatever Would Robert Have Said?
DR11      -3.77 dB   -18.52 dB      4:08 05-Out of My Book
DR9       -1.27 dB   -13.55 dB     11:37 06-After the Flood
DR10      -3.09 dB   -15.21 dB      3:55 07-Boat of Millions of Years
DR11      -0.63 dB   -17.09 dB      5:27 08-Refugees (Single Version)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Number of tracks:  8
Official DR value: DR10

Samplerate:        44100 Hz
Channels:          2
Bits per sample:   16
Bitrate:           623 kbps
Codec:             ALAC
================================================================================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analyzed: Van Der Graaf Generator / World Record
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DR         Peak         RMS     Duration Track
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR12      -0.15 dB   -17.60 dB      8:04 01-When She Comes
DR12      -1.03 dB   -16.14 dB     10:05 02-A Place to Survive
DR12      -0.73 dB   -16.18 dB      7:02 03-Masks
DR13      -0.08 dB   -16.14 dB     20:50 04-Meurglys III (The Songwriters Guild)
DR11      -0.65 dB   -15.52 dB      6:43 05-Wondering
DR11      -1.99 dB   -15.61 dB      8:14 06-When She Comes (BBC Sessions)
DR11      -2.00 dB   -14.33 dB      7:25 07-Masks (BBC Sessions)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Number of tracks:  7
Official DR value: DR12

Samplerate:        44100 Hz
Channels:          2
Bits per sample:   16
Bitrate:           877 kbps
Codec:             ALAC
================================================================================

 

I think the original CD's sound very good - warm and dynamic. The remasters are a compressed disaster. The same goes for Hammill solo.

 

Is there any version of Godbluff that cleans up the horrible, trebly overdriven ride cymbals and organ on 'Arrow'? Vinyl or cd...

 

Not for the platinum SHM-CD's which use the masters without Hammil's mastering.

 

VDGG or Hammill solo?

 

The VDGG’s.

 

If you want good sounding CDs and the bonus tracks, sure but not the outrageous price being charged now.

 

Ok.

 

Are VDGG cd reissues from around 2000 the same mastering as the 80s cds or are they to be avoided like the 2005 ones?

 

If they are pre-2005 they should be reissues from the 80s masterings.

 

I like the original Virgin mastering from the 80s -it doesn't hurt my ears and are not goosed in any offensive manner. I have 3 collections that contain about all the VDGG I need (all available cheap used). The only glaring omission for me was the lack A House With No Door, but considering how well they chose (and no overlap or redundancies among the 3) I can't really complain.

I Prophesy Disaster:
1 Afterwards 4:57
2 Necromancer 3:36
3 Refugees (single ver.) 5:24
4 The Boat Of Millions Of Years 3:50
5 Lemmings (Includes Cog) 11:37
6 W 4:26
7 Arrow 9:46
8 La Rossa 9:50
9 Ship Of Fools 3:46
10 Medley (live, Parts Of 'A Plague Of Lighthouse Keepers' And 'The Sleepwalkers') 13:32

First Generation (Scenes From 1969-1971)
1 Darkness (11/11) 7:27
2 Killer 8:17
3 Man Erg 10:21
4 Theme One 2:55
5 Pioneers Over C 12:43
6 A Plague Of Lighthouse Keepers 23:07
7 Refugees (album ver.) 6:19

Second Generation (Scenes From 1975-1977)
1 The Undercover Man 7:00
2 Scorched Earth 10:10
3 Sleepwalkers 10:26
4 Pilgrims 7:05
5 Still Life 6:40
6 When She Comes 7:58
7 Siren Song 6:40
8 Cat's Eye - Yellow Fever (Running) 5:00
9 Wondering 6:30

 

No "Lost"



Or "Emperor In His War Room"

 

What does this mean to our ears? I recently got that Japan 1st press cd of H To He because it has original artwork included unlike the UK/US original cd's.

 

Emperor was another sad omission, but you do get all of Pawn Hearts and Godbluff plus more than half of Still Life and He.

 

I just got original UK vinyl pressings of In Camera and Over. Over doesn't sound to me as you describe it.

 

I like the original CDs, but sometimes I do like the edginess of the newer remasters. One of the problems with the remasters is several of the albums have peculiar issues. One of the main ones that I remember is on Godbluff --- there’s an indexing error (it might be between The Undercover Man and Scorched Earth). Another issue was there was a kind of glitch in A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers from Pawn Hearts. There might be more but it’s been quite some time since I’ve listened to any VdGG’s albums.