Black Sabbath's Vol. 4: Best sounding version?

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Agent of Fortune, Jul 9, 2015.

  1. yesstiles

    yesstiles Senior Member

    Has anybody explained why "Wheels of Confusion" on the 2016 WB "Vol. 4" runs 12 seconds shorter than the other cd versions out there?
     
  2. Sondek

    Sondek Forum Resident

    The fade out is shorter.
     
  3. Music_dude

    Music_dude Forum Resident

    Location:
    Canada
    Why would they do that?
     
    yesstiles likes this.
  4. rnranimal

    rnranimal Senior Member

    Location:
    Ohio
    I recall that the '96 CD had extra music at the end that wasn't heard on the original releases. So maybe the '16 went back to the way it was on the original.
     
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  5. Sondek

    Sondek Forum Resident

    Vol.4. Snowblind.

    WB 2016 vs Sanctuary 2009.

    The WB sounds nice to my ears. I'm not keen on the Sanctuary.


     
    Last edited: Aug 27, 2017
    sandimascharvel and yesstiles like this.
  6. Music_dude

    Music_dude Forum Resident

    Location:
    Canada
    Where did that extra piece of music on the 96 version come from? Any idea why it was included only on the 96 release and nowhere else? (Not even on the original release as far as I'm aware).
     
  7. Tim1954

    Tim1954 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Cincinnati, OH
    I believe it has been reported here that it first appeared on the 1976 Nems LP reissue. Sounds like a guide track or something that was underneath the whole outro ("The Straightener").

    Not sure there ever has been an answer to your second question. Engineer error? Special surprise? Don't think anybody knows.
     
  8. Efus

    Efus Senior Member

    Location:
    USA
    The WB has no midrange, it's real sizzle on the high end especially on those cymbals.
    Sanctuary sounds clearly boosted in the midrange. (Which I believe is what is noted about the UK Porky cut)

    Not wild about either soundclip, but I'd take the Sanctuary over the WB 2016.
     
  9. zen

    zen Senior Member

    It's also included on the 2009 re-master and the Creative Sounds CD.
     
  10. Sondek

    Sondek Forum Resident

    I've never gone back to the Sanctuary. It sounds even worse on a stereo.
     
  11. Efus

    Efus Senior Member

    Location:
    USA
    I got the 2009 Pearce on vinyl, cut by another engineer.
    I was not real impressed with it, bought the Bellman and liked it much better.
    I'm assuming that Pearce was using the original UK tapes, whereas the Bellman version was probably dug out of Warners vaults here in the US.

    Sabbath is so weird in what gets released and how.
     
  12. hvbias

    hvbias Midrange magic

    Location:
    Northeast
    Very well said, I think Jeff Carney was where I first read about the mids (he might have said upper mids) being boosted on the Porky and I definitely agreed with him. IMHO not that it was a bad choice for this album. It just gave that cut a very distinct sound.
     
  13. sandimascharvel

    sandimascharvel Forum Resident

    Location:
    NJ USA
    Can anyone describe the differences between the original WB CD and 1986 Castle?

    I only have the original WB and 2016. The lack of midrange on the 2016 really affects the guitar tone and vocals and it has the long dropout in the first track. The WB has midrange but has little low end and is bright. This is the only 1970-78 title that I don't prefer the 2016 over the WB but I wish there was a better choice for CD.
     
    John Bliss likes this.
  14. Tim1954

    Tim1954 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Cincinnati, OH
    Night and day.

    Just get it. As long as your CD player decodes Pre-Emphasis, the '86 is made to be cranked. Not bright. Great mids and nice bass.
     
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  15. sandimascharvel

    sandimascharvel Forum Resident

    Location:
    NJ USA
    Thank you very much for the info. Are there any pressing differences between the U.K. and France pressings? Does it have the right channel dropout in "Wheels of Confusion" at 4:53 right when Ozzy begins "Yeah, when you're gone" that the 2016 has, or any other dropouts?
     
  16. Tim1954

    Tim1954 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Cincinnati, OH
    No difference in any pressing from France, Japan or UK. No difference in NELCD or CLACD except NELCD has a bonus track from Live At Last.

    I'm not big on worrying about dropouts, so I can't answer your other question.
     
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  17. Music_dude

    Music_dude Forum Resident

    Location:
    Canada
    The 2009 sounds a lot like the 86 Castle, just a bit louder with more of a boost to it.
     
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  18. kevin5brown

    kevin5brown Analog or bust.

    You're sort of contradicting yourself. :) How can a 2016 CD release be the best on CD there is, if the masters have deteriorated?
     
    Music_dude likes this.
  19. Music_dude

    Music_dude Forum Resident

    Location:
    Canada
    The 2016 has too much high end for my taste... the cymbals are overpowering.
     
  20. BDC

    BDC Forum Resident

    Location:
    Tacoma
    Having just received a copy of the 2012 version with only my old WB for comparison.

    My observations,
    As noted cymbals are much more present in new version, IMO serves the music.
    Pierce 2012 master just seems to catch more detail.
    Pierce 2012 master has the guitar less in your face, which for a minute I wasn't sure I liked, until I played the WB a second time.
    The pierce version has warmth.
    It's damn nice to not have to buy vinyl or some big $$ special edition to get a decent mastering.
     
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  21. razorball

    razorball Forum Resident

    Location:
    Switzerland
    Who is Pierce? I have a 2011 Chris Bellman, and it sounds really good.
     
  22. BDC

    BDC Forum Resident

    Location:
    Tacoma
    Andy Pierce mastered Sabbath in 2009 and 2012.. Some like it some don't..
     
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  23. Music_dude

    Music_dude Forum Resident

    Location:
    Canada
    For Volume 4, the 2009 cd smokes the 2016, imho.
     
    zen likes this.
  24. BDC

    BDC Forum Resident

    Location:
    Tacoma
    My quest isn't over. I would appreciate if anybody can comment on sound differences in LP versions.
    UK Porky LP
    Green US Warner
    Later US Warner maybe up to the 80s

    What versions don't have dropouts and sound as one would presume the band wanted.
    Thanks
     
  25. Tim1954

    Tim1954 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Cincinnati, OH
    UK Porky is heavy on the midrange. Sound is open and airy.

    Green US Warner that I have has a really warm, very bassy sound. But there are surely many cuts even just of the greenie.

    "Later US versions" is a bit too wide reaching. Warner repressed this album so many times it would be difficult to narrow this question down. Most I've heard are quite decent.
     
    BDC likes this.

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