Best sounding David Bowie albums on the RCA CDs (only)?

I agree about Aladdin Sane, but vehemently disagree about the WG Diamond Dogs (at least my pressing of it), which sounds like it was mastered underwater.

Glug, glug....(gargle)

 

Does anybody know how the WG ChangesOne compares to the Japan cd? I have the Japan RCA and "John, I'm Only Dancing" in particular sounds awful. It almost sounds like a cassette dub. Is the WG any better or is it the same mastering?

 

No German RCA CD is the same mastering as its Japanese counterpart.

 

So is the German superior to the Japanese disc on "John, I'm Only Dancing"?

 

Don't know about that but I've heard that the German versions of "Young Americans" and "Diamond Dogs" don't sound so good.

"Aladdin Sane" and the second pressing of the Japan for U.S. version of "Station to Station" sound extremely good even if there are some drop outs on the "STS".

 

I saw this mentioned earlier in the thread. Is there any way to tell which version you have for the Japan for U.S. Station To Station? Except for the volume being a little too low, I can't find any fault with mine. I think it sounds great.

Here are the XLD peak readings for the one I own:


Track 01
Peak : 0.447327

Track 02
Peak : 0.454163

Track 03
Peak : 0.404785

Track 04
Peak : 0.453094

Track 05
Peak : 0.404266

Track 06
Peak : 0.415649

The matrix info on the inner ring is the following: PCD-11327 1A3-4Z

 

I did an extensive A/B with the JPN and WG Diamond Dogs. The JPN was cleaner and had nice detail, but after a while I found myself enjoying the sound of the WG more. It was a bit muddy, but the sounds meshed together better. It just had a feel that I think really worked for that particular album. So I kept it and sold the JPN.

That's the one. JPN for WG.

 

The RCAs Who Rule The World...

So your'e saying go with the germans for first three, and the Japanese for the next four (all I really need...)


Seems straight forward and clear enough... unless...



:

 

The track is in very low volume on the Japanese CD, but once it is turned up, I don't really hear any significant difference between the two.

 

Thanks. I guess I won't be seeking out the WG anytime soon then if they sound about the same.

Is it just me or does that one particular track sound really bad on that RCA cd? I think the rest of the disc sounds great, but "John, I'm Only Dancing" sounds almost like a bad needledrop. Is that the way the single sounded? I think this the only version of the original single that I have on cd. I have the sax version on a Ryko disc, but I can't really compare that one since it's a different mix.

Here's a sample of the Japanese RCA ChangesOne version :

http://audiosamples.wikispaces.com/file/view/02+John,+I'm+Only+Dancing.mp3/82330663

 

Nothing to add other than nice new avatar, Mr. Bill!

 

I just spun my changesone cd for the first time, purchased yesterday...it is low volume, but sounds excellent cranked...I think "John, I'm only dancing" sounds as good as it can, I've always thought it wasn't recorded as well as Bowie's other singles, and I have the Gold ChangesBowie to confirm my suspicion

 

Farewell...

Thanks, this angel is appearing for one day only, she'll be leaving for joy lee manana, to be replaced by a depressing white english bloke...


(Not David Bowie...)

 

Coming in very late to this thread, and apologies if I'm being redundant here.... but I came across a Japan for US RCA Low CD the other day. I a/b'd it with the two other Lows that I have: the '99 Virgin remaster, and an original US RCA LP. Of the three, the LP wins, but the RCA easily smokes the Virgin remaster (not surprisingly). The main difference between the RCA CD and the LP is the RCA CD was a bit bassier, and I swear the left channel seemed a tad bit louder. So now after skimming through this thread, I'm super curious to hear a track from the WG RCA Low to compare/contrast it with the Japan for US pressing.

Not having heard the WG RCA Low, I can hear how the Jpn RCA is not quite ideal, but it's still miles more natural sounding and more listenable than the Virgin remaster. I don't know how much better the WG is, but the Jpn holds up well against what I have. So, while I obviously have nothing new to offer to this discussion, chalk me up as another who agrees with the overall consensus regarding the RCA CDs.

 

You can hear a sample of/comparative on "Breaking Glass" here:

http://www.levipeckham.com/weblog/2009/08/on-david-bowies-low-album-emi-rykodisc-rca-masterings/

 

No, sorry I don't.

 

Hey, thanks so much! I a/b'd it with the Jpn version, and while the two are very similar sonically, the main difference I noticed was that the Jpn version is a little quieter in the right channel, making the WG the winner. I mentioned above that the the left channel seemed a tad bit louder on the Jpn CD, but it's probably more accurate to say that the right channel is quieter. At any rate, for whatever reason, coincidentally, this issue seems most pronounced on "Breaking Glass." It's much less noticeable on the other tracks (of course I didn't have WG versions to compare them to, but still). Maybe I'll have to take the Jpn CD back to the shop and hold out for a WG copy.

 

I got to this thread late, but here's what I have (and as far as I know, these are the best ones for each - most are German, but there are a few Japanese ones)

Space Oddity (German)
Aladdin Sane (Japan)
The Man Who Sold The World (Japan)
Ziggy Stardust (German)
Hunky Dory (German AND Japan - prefer German one)
Diamond Dogs (Japan)
Young Americans (German)
Station To Station (German)
Low (German)
Heroes (German)
Pinups (Japan)
Lodger (German)
Scary Monsters (German)

I think I remembered everything. As good as the German Ziggy sounds, I still prefer to listen to this awesome needledrop I have of the MFSL LP (I also have a killer needledrop of the original UK LP, but I prefer the Mofi rip). It's got all the punch in the world, and it sounds lively as hell. The German RCA is great though.

The RCA versions are great because they have the quieter masterings with great dynamics, and they're the original mixes. Didn't they remix the current remasters? I can't remember what the deal is with the Au20 discs - No-noised, I think. The RCA's are very relaxing. It's very easy to detach yourself and get into the music. They're not distracting at all.

I can't remember what the deal was. Didn't Bowie not like the RCA's. or was it the other way around?

 

Oh, now I remember. When Bowie first heard the RCA CD's, he didn't like them as much as the original LP's. I have to wonder how he feels about the RCA's now - I wonder if he's ever compared any of them to the current remasters. I'm into Bowie so much more now since I started listening to the RCA's.

(I'm listening to the German "Ziggy" right now - Oops, it just ended - Make that the German "Station To Station" - great-sounding disc)

 

So, here's a question: is there a way to tell a Japanese RCA CD from a West German RCA CD without opening it up?

The only way I knew the copy of Low I picked up was the Jpn mastering was because the store in which I bought it helpfully wrote that info on a small sticker on the case. Were it not for that, I don't see how I possibly could have known.

 

Generally, catalog numbers are different. The West German ones were made for the European market, and look it.

 

I'm not sure, but I think all the WG pressings were done for the European market and the JAP ones were for US. If that's right, the JAP ones have orangey color bands on the spine while the WG ones are more metallic.

I know all my J-for-US copies of the Bowie RCAs have the orangey bands and the European ones have the metallic bands.

So AFAIK, just looking at the spine is the easiest way...

 

Kind of... they're essentially stripes

W Germany pressings = Dark Red, Medium Red, Orange and Yellow
Japan for USA = Dark Blue, Medium Blue, Light Medium Blue and Light Blue

 

Thanks, both! That helps. Only thing is, my Japan for USA copy of Low has the Red-Orange-etc... band on the spine, which fits with Oatsdad's description but not with Dave's. But either way, sounds like looking at the spine is the way to go.

 

The Japan made versions have the red-ish bands and the German made versions have the blue-ish bands.