Abkco Stones CD remasters Round 2

I think of "High and Dry" and "Doncha Bother Me" as blues/roots pieces that maintain the somewhat menacing atmosphere of the rest of the American version of AFTERMATH, a path they would abandon until BEGGARS BANQUET while they imitated Bob Dylan (BETWEEN THE BUTTONS) and The Beatles (SATANIC MAJESTY'S REQUEST).

I don't hate "Take It or Leave It" or "What to Do," which come from pure pop in the British invasion mode. Admittedly I'm not fond of them, but more importantly I don't think they fit in AFTERMATH as I imagine it.

 

I'm not sure Luke. Perhaps I was unclear....I have only heard "Get Yer Ya, Ya's Out". I compared only Jumpin Jack Flash, Midnight Rambler, Sympathy For The Devil, Honky Tonk Woman, & Street Fighting Man with these tracks on Hot Rocks2 and for me there was no comparison as to which was better.

 

Wait...which songs/albums have you heard? Just Ya-Yas? Or others as well? As the only song that's common between Ya-Yas and Hot Rocks 2 is Midnight Rambler.

I don't disagree that some of the London CDs are better. On the other hand, I *strongly* disagree with your statement:

"The new RS hybrids are a far cry from the regular red-book releases but the Londons still shine the brightest for me."

Which (to me anyway) implies that the London catalog as a whole is superior to the SACD hybrid catalog.

Assuming you're talking about *studio* tracks above (which isn't clear), there's little doubt that Honky Tonk Women is better on the London CDs - it's narrowed down on SACD. The same goes for several other songs/albums - Aftermath, Ruby Tuesday, etc, all for various reasons. However, Sympathy for the Devil and Street Fighting Man come from far better sources on the SACDs. The differences in tape hiss and clarity are quite remarkable.

 

Actually, all of the songs that I previously listed are on Get Yer Ya Ya's Out, at least on my hybrid and on my Hot Rocks2 as well. No I wasn't comparing studio tracks, which I know isn't totally fair, but I know when something doesn't sound natural. GYYY's has a more in your face sound unlike the laid back sound on the London Hot Rocks, at least on my system.

Yes, I shouldn't have used the plural term and am in no way referring to the whole remastered catalog, but I'm also not a really huge Stones fan and am happy with what I've heard on the Londons and not so happy with the one SACD hybrid that I've heard (redbook only).

Which album has the best sound of the SACD's? Anyone?

 

But Dave, you're comparing different recordings. It's kind of like saying an LP of Please Please Me sounds better than a CD of Tommy. It's simply not a fair comparison. If you had said "I've heard both the SACD and London CD of Ya-Yas, and the London CD sounds more natural", I'd be inclined to accept that opinion. But you can't compare the merits of different mastering efforts based on recordings that were made at different venues on different equipment.

That would be kind of like me saying "the only Steve Hoffman CD I've heard is Best Of The Doobies, and I didn't really like it, which tells me that his work is generally bad." I think you'd agree that's not really a fair assessment.

IMO, Beggars Banquet.

 

Ron,

I guess I'm belaboring the point, but a blues/roots menacing album (my condensation of your words)?

I can see your point regarding the menacing atrmosphere (though I don't buy it as such - lyrically I go with mysoginistic), but I don't see the USA version or the UK version having a specific blues/roots approach. There is variety, but even the USA version has more of a pop approach to me.

Again, it's points out the differences in hearing and seeing the same thing.

 

If I had to favor one set of reissues over the other, I kind of like the London CD's more. Maybe it's the EQ (supposedly done to match the vinyl), but the Stones SACD's are a bit on the harsh side compared to the London CD's. I guess it's in the spirit of the recordings, but they've already got enough of the "nasty stuff" there when you listen to the London discs. Beggar's I would still go with the SACD. Let It Bleed is a bit different, again like it's 'cloudy' or something. I hear it in the vocals, like on the title track. Maybe it's a higher generation tape, but I still prefer the London CD for this reason.

BTW, if it's not too off topic, what happened to Dave? Is he temporarily out?

 

Go to the "Who's Next DELUXE Early Report" thread, page two.

BC

 

Buttons also had the Stones sounding (on a few songs) like a "Vaudevillian" version of The Kinks!!!


I don't hate "Take It or Leave It" or "What to Do," which come from pure pop in the British invasion mode. Admittedly I'm not fond of them, but more importantly I don't think they fit in AFTERMATH as I imagine it. [/QUOTE]

I saw Steve Earle do "Take it or Leave it " for encore on his "I'm Alright" tour at Toads Place here in CT! Just Fantastic!!

 

I guess I'm missing something here- how can one compare Hot Rocks 1 or 2 to the live "Get Yer Ya, Yas Out" (the exception being ofcourse "Midnight Rambler") - the only live track on either Hot Rocks?
It's comparing Apples and Oranges, regardless of what label and SACD, etc.

TO Answer your question - Without doubt "Beggars" is the best SACD!

 

Ah. Say no more.

 

I noticed a "revised" sticker on recent SACD Stones (digipack) discs. There is NO MENTION of the words: Includes Inaugural Edition Certificate".

Do these issues no longer have the certificate/puzzle? Any info?

 

Yes, I've bought some new issues without the certificate. Also, Hot Rocks and MHR, at least, are available as non-hybrids at cheaper prices in Canada than the SACD's are selling for.

 

Today I lucked into a Rolling Stones SACD sampler.Haven't compared it back to back for differences with other SACD's I have.My initial impression of She's A Rainbow though,WOW what a piece of work they did there.I think they're onto something with this SACD business.

 

I bought one SACD that wasn't an inaugural edition. Looks exactly like the inaugural editions, but with no certificate and no "inaugural" sticker.

 

Same with my "Got Live If You Want It", no certificate or sticker.