Did you purchase one or more RCA cds of Bowie because of SHTV?

I voted twice:
1. No, most are too expensive; 2. Vinyl only or SACDs (but substitute SACDs for EMI 1990 UK CD's with extra tracks, which I play mostly these days. (UK RCA Orange label vinyl is hard to beat, in my opinion.)

 

Yep, and very glad I did. I wasn't a Bowie fan before and didn't have any of his albums in any format, and then about 10 years ago found a used Japanese RCA Lodger for like $8 and got it 'cause I knew I could I could sell it here for a modest profit. (More money to buy DCC McCartney albums!) But when I actually listened to it, I really liked it and so kept it. Eventually via eBay, record shows, etc. picked up most of the individual albums for not silly money, knowing that if I didn't like the album, I could get back what I paid or more. (Never bothered with the comps.) And indeed I ended up keeping them all.

Same thing with Elvis Costello actually. Had the Ryko This Year's Model since the early 90's and thought I didn't like Elvis Costello because of the annoying, screechy Farfisa organ (a sound I don't really like anyway). Then grabbed an original Imp Fiend CD again 'cause I knew I could sell it and went "Oh hey. This isn't anywhere as annoying. Wait a minute! This is actually a good album." Now I've got both Imp Fiends and the 2-CD sets for all of his 70's-mid 80's albums.

 

a fresh link, let me know if it works: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/24721385/RCA CD comparisons.pdf

 

Yes, I purchased the RCA "Aladdin Sane" CSR edition based on its rave reviews here after having owned the Ryko mainly because that was the one title with no bonus tracks, so I figured I wouldn't lose anything (except for a lot of cash - $60 on ebay!). While the sound on the CSR disc is fuller with more bass response, if that is the best the RCA series has to offer then I think I'll stick with my old Rykos until something truly better comes along (not holding my breath there).

 

Thanks for the try, but it wants me to sign up before I can view the pdf. Another Forum member was kind enough to send me a copy from his PC so I'm covered.

 

It works fine now. Thanks, this will be a benefit to anyone who was locked out like I was.

 

Many thanks to karmaman for the excellent PDF. I started collecting the RCAs recently and I have to say that I've not been disappointed so far, they really are better than the Rykos in terms of warmth but also in detail I think - they really are the best I've heard, definitely on a par with clean vinyl. I decided to get whatever I could but as it happens so far they've all been West German (I'm in the UK, mainly buying from UK sellers on Bowie facebook groups and Discogs).

A few comments - I can't hear any unexpected noise near the start of the WG Space Oddity, likewise I don't feel that Changes & OYPT are veiled sounding - but I don't have a US RCA to compare just the Ryko, which sounds thinner to me. So, for me, both of those two are the best versions of the respective albums you can get.

Young Americans and Scary Monsters - oh my god - audio heaven throughout (both WG). Diamond Dogs & Aladdin Sane are both good but not as good as those or Hunky Dory IMHO, I actually prefer the mastering of the title track Aladdin Sane on ChangesTwoBowie - in fact that's a really nice disc overall.

My only disappointment is the Japan for WG ChangesOneBowie which just doesn't sound as good - not terrible but not as good as anything else I've got yet.

Why are the WG Heroes, TMWSTW and Lodger so expensive? The other titles were OK to find (bagged Low in an auction)

 

No. I bought a couple during the 90s before this forum was even up.

 

Some very interesting comments on the RCAs here:

http://picknmixed.blogspot.co.uk/p/the-bowie-rca-cds.html